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When all I want to do is scream and run—chased by my mortification and the bone-deep knowledge that I’ll never meet a man that can live up to these three—Grant’s calm is as seductive as the motion of his hips was earlier.
I’d love nothing more than to stay sheltered in their arms all night.
Or forever, for that matter.
But I can’t.
Every second I delay is one more my brother suffers.
River is certainly sick. He might be hurt, or worse, by now.
Tears well. How could I have forgotten even for a second? How could I have enjoyed what these three billionaires did to me when River is suffering? He’s not able to save himself. I have to do it for him. “My brother. He’s in trouble. I need to go. Right now.Please.”
It might be the first time I’ve begged in my entire life.
“Let us help you. Whatever’s wrong, we can fix it. We owe you that at least.” Briggs tenses beneath me, his muscles bunching.
“No!” The thought of them being dragged into our filth is sickening. “The jerks who have him are dangerous.”
“So are we,” Briggs insists. And I believe him.
I saw the way the other men at the club tonight backed down, how they respected this trio, even if they’ve been kind to me and honorable in their own twisted way.
“Just not to you,” Grant reassures me, swiping the tears I didn’t realize I shed from my face.
“You don’t need my trouble. No one wants this kind of disaster.” I know, because nobody’s ever stuck around before.
Why the hell would they when they’ve already gotten what they paid for?
“Tell us and let us decide for ourselves.” Briggs spreads his legs, and I sink deeper into his hold.
“Fine, but then you’ll let me go?” It’s probably the fastest way to get out of here.
It was easier when I could pretend this was only about money.
Why are they being like this? First, making me enjoy their claiming and now trying to take care of me? Those are my weaknesses, though I’ll be damned if I show it. Letting strangers take my V-card is one thing, but allowing them to undermine the walls that have kept me safe on my own…
I’m not that reckless.
Except, what if they can help me save River?
I swallowed my pride to be here. I can choke down some more if it means he has a better chance. “My brother got mixed up with some bad stuff.”
“Details, Clover.” Wesley is impatient, earning glares from Grant and Briggs.
It’s fine. I don’t have time to waste. “He told me he had a plan to get us out of the trailer park and on our own. For me to go to school. For us to make a better future for ourselves. Our parents were never around, lost in their own issues. Drinking mostly. River didn’t tell me he intended to sell drugs to buy our freedom or I never would have let him do it.”
“I’d hate to see how he reacts if you inform him of what you did for him.” Grant pinches the bridge of his nose. “If I was your bro, I’d kick our asses.”
For the first time, maybe I understand a little more about how River got started on this slippery slope. I would do anything for him, and I think he would say the same. We’re all each other has.
“The problem is, our parents are drunks, and I’m pretty sure he inherited some of their addictive personalities. Once he was around that stuff all the time…” The tears flow faster, and Briggs starts to rock me, helping me tell the whole story.
“He started taking them instead of just dealing?” Grant asks. They really do understand.
I sniffle. “Yeah. And now he’s so messed up, he even stole from his bosses. He couldn’t help it. A little less than two weeks ago, he overdosed. They brought him back, but probably only because they want their money. They tracked me down, abducted me, and took me to some scary dude’s house.”
Fear threatens to suffocate me, but Briggs’s unflinching grasp helps me keep going.
