That sassy tone, the fact she’s biting back, that she’s not crumbling or caving, it’s so intrinsically Valerie that I can rest assured this isn’t a dream. It’s not some hope-fueled dissociation. I tangle my fingers in her hair and kiss her softly.
Her mouth doesn’t move for a moment, but then her lips mold to mine for a moment. I let out a shaky exhale against her lips as I hug her tightly. “I was scared, little viper.”
“You’re too big and lethal to be scared,” She argues.
“Terrified,” I murmur in her ear. “Of losing you. Of being too late. Chase is right, you’re not a toy.”
“No, just convenient then?”
I snort. “Not even close.”
The door opens and Hunter comes back in. “We have to go deal with Father.”
“Guess our counseling session made a lot of progress,” She grumbles. “Still not setting those boundaries, Hunter?”
“Not when it comes to keeping you safe. Chase is going to stay with you until we get back. We’re going to make sure no one knows who you are and that you’re taken care of.”
“I haven’t said I’m still yours,” She hisses as I let her go.
“I don’t care. Ours, or not, you deserve to live without looking over your fucking shoulder, Valerie. Stop being sassy for five seconds,” Hunter orders.
“Or what, are you going to shut me up?” She uses actual air quotes.
Hunter smirks, tips her chin up, and kisses her.
“There are plenty of fun ways to do that. Be a good girl for me, just one more time, sweetheart.”
She sucks her bottom lip.
Hunter and I leave, but I don’t have the strength not to look back at her. I know she’s terrified, but I also know she’s still interested in us. That war will wage in her head forever if something doesn’t change. And I’m not ready to give her up. Not close to ready.
“Stop stalling. We have to go deal with my father,” Hunter growls. “Chase will make sure she’s safe and then we’ll have all the time we need to win her back.”
“You hope.”
Hunter missteps, but nods. “I hope. Either way, we’re not close to done.”
“Hunter,” I warn.
“She knows too much to be left without our protection,” He says over his shoulder. “We’re keeping her close. All of us will make sure of it.”
VALERIE
Chase gives me space which I appreciate because I can’t process anything in my head. I end up getting a shower, but after scrubbing my skin raw to get the feel of my kidnapper off me and actually washing my mouth out with soap because I can’t believe I let Lief and Hunter kiss me, I just sit in the tub with the water beating down on my head.
A part of me knows that these are the same men I’ve started falling for. Did they hide their mafia connections? Absolutely, but has anything really changed? I chew my bottom lip and bang my head against my knee.
Don’t be stupid, Valerie.
I can’t just give them another chance because they’re great in bed. Can I? God, what is wrong with me?
Sure, Chase took me out on an amazing date, he listens when I talk, he shares, he’s eager to have fun with me and show me the world in a way I’ve never seen. Lief started opening up to me, and told me more about him and I had already imagined building a blanket fort or something and challenging him to chess. And Hunter … under all that cocky attitude, he’s so much more. I sigh. He challenges me, makes me consider things in different ways, pushes my buttons, and lets me push his.
I’ve never felt for anyone the way I do for the three of them and the last few weeks getting to know them, and talking to them, all of it has been amazing times ten. But I have a life, right? And I should be protecting it.
“Valerie?”
I jump slightly and knock my shampoo bottle over. “I’m fine.”