“I’ll give you a moment alone, but don’t be long.” Sylan slips out, leaving the bathroom open so he can watch. I look at myself in the mirror. I’m no longer the mousy-looking woman who wanted to blend in with the world. I have a rosy color in my cheeks from the hot water and tenderness from my mobster. I’m surprised by the brightness in my eyes, Something I haven’t seen in myself, well, in forever. Sylan, Grey and Drake are the reason for that, and I can’t wait to be back in their arms.
I find my laundered waitress outfit folded on a shelf next to a few essentials. He’d kept me so busy I never noticed anyone coming or going, but I’m grateful for the clean clothes and toothbrush.
I take a few minutes to dry my hair before slipping into my clothes. I open the bathroom door and find Sylan waiting at the edge of the bed, silver platter in hand.
Grey and Drake are there too, Their expressions calm and patient. Neither are wearing a shirt and their belt buckles are loose. I can’t help but let my eyes wander over their refined abs, the way their hips dip with that sexy V that has almost every woman wanting to follow the treasure trail.
And that’s when I see it. The scar left by the bullet.
Grey holds a hand out and I take it, loving how easily I slide into his arms.
“Sleep, well, baby?”
I nod, my hand coming up to settle over the scar. I press my palm down and shake away the tears. I turn my focus back to his question to help keep me from looking like a baby about to cry. “But I missed you when I woke.”
I hold a hand out for Drake and Sylan to come to me and they silently obey me.
Grey takes my hand away and presses a kiss to my palm. “What’s on your mind, beautiful” Sylan brushes my hair to the side.
So much for shaking off the past. I spill all my doubts and worries, everything I've kept pent up inside in one, huge word vomit.
“You all bleed for me.” I touch Grey’s scar first and then move to the one running the length of Drake’s cheek. Sylan’s knuckles held signs of gashes. “You fought off Marcus to protect me. Sylan, you literally beat them back while Drake took a knife to the face. Grey, you nearly paid with your life.”
Worry cross their faces and I hold a hand up. “Let me finish. You bleed for me. No one has ever done something so selfless for me before.”
“You’ve come to mean the world to us. We would but it to as if it would protect you. Give every last drop of our blood.”
“And it seems we’ve touched your heart, too.”
Sylan passes the pad of his finger over three small letters I had tattooed in white ink over my heart.
“I did it the night after I left. I needed to make sure I never forgot the men who risked so much for a nobody.”
Grey pulls me to him, his body a glove around mine. A shield of protection I didn’t know I needed or wanted until this second.
“Fuck, baby, don’t cry. I can’t take tears, especially yours.”
I lean my head back to stare up at him. “They are happy tears. Until now I didn’t know where I fit in this world, if at all. You’ve given me a place and I’m not talking about four walls.”
The three men grin down at me all wearing roguish grins and I give them one back.
“Go, take your shower. Sylan and I’ll be right here when you get out.”
I shoo Grey and Drake toward the bathroom before the real waterworks threaten to kick in.
Sylan turns me toward the bed. “What’s this?” I ask, inhaling the smell of fresh fruit.
He doesn’t answer, only holds out a hand for me to join him, and I follow his silent command willingly. I slip my smaller hand in his larger one and sigh the second my skin glides over his.
He pulls on a pair of black dress slacks with the button open. Sexy as hell.
I settle in his lap and shimmy a little until I’m comfortable. “After all I put you through, it’s about time I feed you, mo chroí.”
The tray balanced on the edge of the bed beside us was topped off with all my favorite fruits.
“Open.” Sylan dips a fat strawberry in fluffy, deliciously sweet whipped cream, and I moan the second it hits my tongue. My second weakness, so it seems.
“Why are you back in your uniform? I thought I told you that you will no longer be going back to work at Sally’s.” He presses another strawberry to my lips.