AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wipe the tears from my eyes and glance at Zeke, who’s still bent over, one hand gripping the kitchen counter for dear life. West ushers me out of the room with a warning to Zeke to pull himself together.
“Why didn’t you tell me we had guests?” I ask when we reach the safety of my bedroom.
“Because it was supposed to be a surprise. And fuck me, but it was.” He unfastens Zeke’s jacket, and his eyes roam the contours of my body. “Promise me this is how you’ll greet us every night from now on.”
I fold my arms across my chest and scoff. “I think not. I just almost gave a group of strangers a peep show!”
West’s eyes drop to my boobs, which are now squeezed together beneath my arms, and licks his lips. “Are you trying to fucking kill me?”
“Shouldn’t I get dressed?” I whisper. “I don’t want to keep your guests waiting.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he offers me a warm smile and runs his fingertips down my arm, making me shiver. “They’re your guests too, princess. And they’re definitely not strangers.” Then he gives me a hard swat on my ass and tells me to get dressed.
Zeke is waiting for us in the hallway, and the look of amusement on his face elicits another giggle.
West glances between the two of us, his lips twitching. “Are you two done?”
Zeke snorts one more laugh, then closes his eyes. When he reopens them, his usual serious demeanor is perfectly in place, and he nods. Rolling my eyes, I nod too.
Waiting for West to go ahead, I lace my fingers through Zeke’s and whisper, “I’ve never ever seen you laugh like that.”
“It’s been a long time, baby doll.” He gives me a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
My chest swells with pride that I was able to bring out that rare side of him. “So who are these guests who aren’t strangers?”
Waiting for us at the end of the hall, West gestures toward the den. “You’re about to find out. And when you do, you’ll understand why Zeke almost pissed his pants at the sight of you in nothing but those sexy little panties.”
I enter the room, and my heart almost stops beating when he stands. “Hey, Lily Pad.”
“Nico!” Dashing toward him, I throw my arms around his neck. He embraces me, and tears drip down my cheeks. When we finally pull apart, I just stand and stare at him, unable to believe that he’s really here. That Xander, West, and Zeke brought him to their apartment. “This is the best surprise ever.”
“Don’t I get a hug too?” Another voice pipes up from behind me, and I spin around.
“What?” I shriek, launching myself at Dean. I’m sobbing while he rubs my back and tells me how good it is to see me again.
I don’t know how long it takes me to get over my shock at their presence, but as soon as I do, I bombard all five of my favorite men with questions—what, how, why are they here?
“Sit down and breathe before you pass out.” West guides me to the couch and goes to pour drinks.
Zeke takes a seat beside me and grips my hand tightly as Dean and Nico sit on the couch across from us. I hope they know they don’t have to hide who they really are from anyone in this room. After handing everyone their Scotch, West perches on the arm of the chair next to Xander and runs a loving hand over his hair. With that one simple touch, he manages to make my brother and his lover visibly more comfortable, and I love him even more for it.
“This is the best surprise ever,” I repeat, my smile threatening to split my face in two.
“Well, we’re hoping that it can happen more often, shorty.”
Just like that, the reality of the situation sinks in. As incredible as it is to have all the people I love most in one room, it isn’t safe. And not a single one of them understands why. “That would be great, but it can’t happen. It’s too dangerous, no matter how careful we are.”
Zeke squeezes my hand, and West shakes his head. “It can, princess. Soon we won’t need to be careful. Your time of living in fear of your father finding you is almost over.”
I blink at him. “But if he finds out what we did…” I look to Nico now. “You know what he’ll do.”
“Not if we do it first, Lily Pad.”
It takes my brain a few beats to register what he just said. Is that why they’re here? Are they conspiring to— “No.” I shake my head. “It’s too dangerous, Nico. You know it is.”
“It’s been a long time coming. We both know that one of us should have put a bullet in his head years ago.”
“B-but—” I suck in a deep breath to calm my racing heart, but it doesn’t work. “Can’t you just wait him out a few more years? Maybe he’ll step down. Wouldn’t that be safer, easier than killing him? I mean he’s not just anyone. He’s Carmine Constantine. He has an entire army and God knows who else at his disposal.”
