Harlon roars with anger and I throw my arm out to stop him from burying his fist into Gage’s face. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you for violating my sister!” The rage in his eyes rises to lethal levels. If he mentions the basement this will turn into an all-out brawl with me in the middle.
“Stop your dick measuring and posturing,” I yell right back. “No one did anything to me that I didn’t want. And you don’t get to kill them because I’m going to kill them.” I whirl on my men. “What the fucking hell? You leave me at your home to come and confront my brother? Why?”
“Confront? No. Talk to, yes.”
Gage’s expression is as flat as his tone.
“Do I look like a damsel in distress? Do I need you coming here to ask permission for me to see you three? Do I look like I need the three assholes taking my problems on their shoulders for me? And why the fuck are you all smirking.”
Aziel answers first. “You’re pregnant?”
I nod. Damn them. My anger slips when they all smile.
“I never thought it could happen.” I’ve never spoken those words aloud. Hearing them from my own mouth makes my heart cry and quiver with hope.
Blue eyes hold me captive. “What? That we would have a family? The three of us? Or that you would find love?”
“That I would find men strong enough to take a mafia princess on and win her heart.”
My men surround me and anyone else in the room is forgotten.
“And have we?” Rush catches my chin with a finger. “Won your heart?”
“Yes” I take all their hands and settle them over my belly. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know you are our life now. Our world. Our everything, We will not let anything happen to you.” Gage’s words have a ring of finality.
“Damn straight.”
We all turn to look at my brother and his two friends. All three of them have peculiar looks on their faces. “Care for her and you’ll have our support in anything you need. Hurt her and the walls of God’s heavens will not keep me from finding you.”
“There’s not a being or force in this world who will harm your sister, Harlon.”
“You have all of our promises on that.”
“All three of ours.”
All three swear their devotion to me and with each promise, I feel the ties binding us strengthen around my heart.
“Harlon, I’m sorry. I owe you an explanation. Reasons why I did what I did. Hell, I haven’t even told you what I did.”
He holds a hand up. “This family is really good at keeping secrets. Keep yours. You don’t owe me anything but your happiness. I’m only sorry you thought you had to lie to me. I thought we trusted each other.”
I go to him. “You controlled me. The walls only drew closer the older I became. I couldn’t live like that anymore.”
His eyes narrow on me, his tone curt. Cold even. “Only out of love.”
I’m already shaking my head. “You loved too much, Harlon. You suffocated me.” I hate the weakness in my voice. The tears and emotions bombarding me.
I’m crushed to his chest. “Do you dare fucking cry, woman. I didn’t want to lose you, Belle. You’re the one good thing left in this world.”
I kiss my brother’s cheek. “You haven’t lost me, Harlon. I’m here. I’m still here.”
He chuckles softly, looking down at me with not an ounce of humor in his eyes. I see pain, loss and hurt there. Plenty of all three, but not humor. My heart breaks for the man. “I won’t admit this outside this room, but I was wrong. You deserve happiness. Go with them.”
“I don’t mean to leave you carrying the family burden.” I have been so busy thinking of what I want I forgot to think of him.
“You’re not, kiddo. He has us.” Cassius and Santi each kiss me on the cheek and tap the end of my nose. They lean their weight against a nearby lounge seat. They cross their arms, arrogance written all over their faces.