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His body sags in relief, his head falling to my shoulder as more tears fall. This crying has to stop or I’m going to cry!
Too late.I hold him tight as the waterworks spring free.
“Thank you,” he whispers.
“You don’t have to thank me for accepting you, Akio. That's the bare minimum. What happened with your family?”
We wipe away our tears as he explains that his father has always thought his transition was just a phase. Apparently, his father and mother stopped having children after they had him because the Triads’ leader rules for two generations.
During Akio’s reign, his father would have been second in command. However, Aiko is required to produce an heir to take over and keep the organization passed down by blood.
“When I brought home Adrian, I think he finally realized this is who I am, and he just lost it. When Adrian left with me to come meet my family, his family told him not to come back if this is what he believed love was. They all kept saying we were confused.”
We’re laying in the bed now, surrounded by all the snacks. Havoc, Arrow, and Adrian dropped off the bags after I madethem. Then, I shooed them away while Akio and I had super secret BFF time.
It’s been three hours, and we’re high as kites from the brownies. Akio finally looks relaxed. It makes me so happy to know he can let down his guard with me.
This house will be a designated safe space for people from all backgrounds and gender identities, always. I would kill for Akio, just like I would my men.
“So, do we need to start a hit list?” I ask, making Akio laugh.
“No. Fuck him. If he doesn’t want me to rule by his side, then he can give up the blood reign of the Triads. His loss.”
He crunches on a pretzel before rolling over to face me and dumping all of the crumbs on the bed.I’ll need to change these sheets for them.
A knock sounds at the door, and all three guys come in when Akio yells, “You may enter.”
I wheeze with laughter, causing Arrow to smile while Havoc takes in the scene. I’m in my floor-length, fluffy pink robe with a crown on my head and chocolate all over my face. Akio is in his t-shirt and boxers. We’re both covered in crumbs and chocolate. And dang proud of it.
Havoc scoops me up as Arrow shows Adrian where he can get more sheets or anything they need. I blink and we’re back in our room.
Did he just teleport? Nope, that’s the drugs.
I lay in bed, tucked between my men, sighing in relief and comfort.
“I love you guys,” I say, pulling them close. They both laugh.
“Did Adrian tell you?” I ask.
Akio said the plan was for him to talk to me while Adrian talked to the guys.
“Yeah. It changes nothing for us,” Arrow says, his breaths on my skin making me all tingly.
“We will keep him safe here as long as he needs.” Havoc says, tugging my robe down and off of me. I roll into him as my body floats through the sky in my mind.
“Just when I thought I couldn’t love you both more.”
Chapter 30
Having Akio and Adrian at the house has actually been a good time. Akio makes Laney laugh and smile constantly, and Adrian has this level of fierceness to him that makes me trust him with Laney. Not to be with her, but to protect her if needed.
I, however, can’t seem to join in on their happiness. I feel weighed down by everything around us. The people I love are at risk because of me and my past.
I’m remembering more and more about a mother who didn’t love me. While the nightmares no longer get to me, the memories that pop up at random times do, and it’s like I can’t escape them.
I haven’t reached out to Klara nor Dr. K because I know she’s busy trying to help us hunt these people down. But I think I might need to take this step. Dismissing myself from the room, I head to our suite and text her.
Arrow: The memories keep coming back and I can’t seem to let it go. It’s keeping me from being able to enjoy the present.
