DAHLIA ALDRIDGE
Everything. They knew everything.
“It’s not as bad as you think,” Lincoln offered as I sat on the bed and nibbled my bottom lip, trying to decide how I felt about this.
“I don’t mind that they know about us.” I looked at both of them, wanting to make sure they understood it wasn’t about that. Our relationship was unique, but I wasn’t ashamed of it, I just had imagined us…telling them differently?Had I?What would that have looked like? Sitting around the living room and saying ‘hey, just wanted to announce I am dating your sons’? Maybe this was better.
I continued my thought tangent, “I just am worried it will change how they think of me… I don’t want them to not like me.”
“Not like you?” Sterling’s eyes rounded in shock and confusion.
“I mean, it looks bad to some people, one woman with six men.” I shrugged, trying to not let it get to me. Honestly, I didn’t want them to think it over either. I suppose Abby’s words had gotten to me just a bit. I didn’t doubt our relationship, but I worried how others’ opinions would affect my boys.
“First of all, our families could give a shit what something looks like to the general public,” Lincoln said. I sighed, knowing that he was right.
“More so, everyone loves you, Dahlia. The only people at risk are the six of us because your father is not someone to be messed with, especially regarding you.”
“Stop it.” I rolled my eyes at Sterling’s statement.
Lincoln chuckled. “Trust me, Dahlia. Plus, you weren’t there for the conversation yesterday.”
My brows went up in surprise. “You had a conversation? With my dad?”
“Oh yes,” Sterling murmured.
“We didn’t die, so that was a plus,” Lincoln grunted.
“What was said?” I asked curiously.
Sterling grinned. “Sorry, sugar, top secret. But don’t worry, everything is going to work out just fine.”
“As long as we never make you anything but absolutely perfectly happy.” Lincoln flashed a smile.
“I feel like that’s manageable—we have a lot of help.” Sterling shrugged.
“But we also have Yates to manage,” Lincoln pointed out.
“And King’s temper.”
“Stratton’s inability to handle some situations.”
“Don’t forget Dermot wanting to take on an entire gang for her—”
“Stop!” I squeaked, pausing their back and forth. “I officially decided I am not awake enough to deal with any of this.”
When the door opened to the bedroom, I instantly stood, relief filling my chest at the image of Dermot standing in my bedroom door. His emerald gaze was darker and filled with more shadows than I cared for, and unlike the twins and Yates, Dermot didn’t look polished. He was wearing a simple shirt and dark pants, a bulletproof vest hanging unbuckled on his chest. Where had he come from?
“I need a minute with her,” Dermot told them, his thick accent running over my skin as I sat back down on the bed. Both twins kissed me and disappeared through the door, Dermot closing it behind them. When the massive man turned his gaze back on me, I was rocked to the core by the pain there. I let out a soft worried sound as he came towards me, his dark reddish hair out of place as he knelt down and put his hands on either side of my waist, both of us now eye to eye.
“You’re okay,” he whispered, almost to himself.
“I’m okay,” I promised, cupping his face.
Guilt filled his gaze as he exhaled and let out a pained noise. “My father…this is my fucking fault, baby girl. I should have killed him before. I should have never let it get this far—”
“No.” I shook my head, refusing to let him think that way. “No, Dermot, I am not letting you do this. What’s done is done. He’s dead and Ian’s dead. They are both gone, and we are not going to think about it anymore. Okay? It isn’t your fault or anyone else’s that this happened, we couldn’t have expected it—”
“I should have thought about him pulling shit like this.” Dermot’s eyes darkened. “I should have been right by your side. I failed you. I can seem to give you everything else, every part of me, but I failed in the most fundamental way by not keeping you safe. I don’t even feel worthy of your affection—”