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Ace and Romeo are by my side within seconds, and I can feel the anger bristling through them. But we can’t afford any kind of scene. Not here, not now. The guy’s attention bounces between the three of us, and he sneers. “So why don’t you call off your attack dogs and let me finish my drink in peace.”
A low growl rumbles from Ace, and I suppress a smile. Meanwhile, Romeo snorts a laugh. I arch one eyebrow, keeping my gaze trained on the steely gray eyes of the man directly in front of me. “My attack dogs?”
“That’s what I said.”
Ace inches forward, but I hold up a hand and he stills.
“Yeah. Stay, boy,” Gray Eyes says with a snort.
Who the fuck does this guy think he is?
Romeo laughs openly now, and I glance over my shoulder at Ace to gauge exactly how pissed he is, but he’s smiling too. His eyes bore into the other man’s as he says, “My girl could rip out your throat and leave you a bloody mess at her feet without breaking a sweat, fuckface. She doesn’t need attack dogs. But make no mistake, she gives me the word and I will remove you from this facility by your balls, and I’ll make you squeal like a fucking pig while I do it.”
His mouth drops open and the blood drains from his face. I guess Gray Eyes isn’t used to people speaking to him that way. And one look at Ace is all anyone needs to know that he is more than capable of carrying out his threat.
Romeo plucks the glass from the asshole’s hand. “So leave nicely, or all of these good people are going to watch you piss your pants.”
Without another word, the jackass storms out.
I spin around to face them. “Thank you both for that.”
“For what? Letting him keep his tongue?” Romeo arches an eyebrow at me. “I’ll be remedying that before the week is out, baby.”
I have no doubt Romeo means every word of his threat, but I’m not going to try and stop him and neither will Ace. We both adore our mildly unhinged yet completely lovable guy way too much to curb his fun.
I shake my head. “No. Thanks for letting me handle it. Well, at least until you threatened to throw him out by his balls.” I link my arms through theirs and we head toward the door to say goodbye to the last of our guests. “I mean, what would that even look like?”
Ace laughs. “Should I go drag him back in here so I can show you?”
I laugh too. “That won’t be necessary. It’s just a hell of a visual. You carrying some guy out by his balls.”
“I’m sure there’ll be plenty of opportunities to flex your muscles working here, buddy,” Romeo says, and although he’s joking, the reality of the world we’re about to become a part of hits home. We have four traumatized people on their way here, and we have no idea how they’re going to react to everything. To me. To this place. To Ace and Romeo who, even with a smile on their faces, appear menacing as hell.
As if reading my mind, Ace speaks up. “Romeo and I can stay out of the way until you’ve spoken with them and see how they’re doing. And if they don’t want to see us, we’ll just keep out of their way until they do.”
I don’t want them to stay out of the way. I want them here to help build the place that’s become the dream and future for all three of us. I want the women and kids who come here to see examples of men who are good and just. I take in the two of them. Muscular and fierce. I know how intimidating they appear on the surface, Ace with his thick tattoos and Romeo with his pierced tongue and wild hair, but they are the best men I’ve ever known, and it doesn’t take anyone who gives them a chance long to see that.
“We’ll still be here, baby,” Romeo assures me. “Just hidden.”
“I don’t want you to hide,” I admit. “But maybe you shouldn’t be the first ones people see when they first get here. Still, this isn’t going to work if you have to hide away all the time.”
Ace stops walking, causing Romeo and me to stop too. He takes my face in his hands. “Listen to me, Trouble. Whatever the fuck happens from here on out, we’re gonna make it work, okay? However it looks and whatever we have to do, because this place is fucking amazing and we’re honored to be a part of it. Even more honored that we get to be a part of you. So stop worrying and second-guessing and just chill the fuck out. Okay?”
Romeo murmurs his agreement.
“Okay,” I relent, finding comfort in giving in to him in a way that I never would have thought possible.
He gives me a gentle kiss on my forehead that damn near turns my legs to jelly. “Good girl.”
Chapter
Fifty-Seven
KERES
“I’m gonna leave you with Keres now. You’ll be safe here, okay?” the social worker says to Ellie, a young girl with black and purple hair and matching purple and black eyes. Yeah, she’s a girl. Barely eighteen years old. The family who just got here is a group of four siblings. They were finally removed from their father’s care after Ellie told him no and fought back for the first time in her life. The three kids, two girls and a boy, cling to their older sister’s legs and waist as they eye the social worker and me with suspicion. They haven’t moved since they got here twenty minutes ago and have remained silent while the social worker and I filled out some paperwork. The kids can stay with their big sister for now, but there’s no telling how it will all turn out for them. All I know is that I will do every single thing in my power to keep them safe and together.
After the social worker leaves, I suck in a deep breath. Showtime, I guess. “Ellie.” She looks up. “Shall I show you all to your apartment?”
