Page 99 of Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas

Waking up this morning, I knew something was wrong. Even though my mind told me Travis had just popped out to meet Layton like he always does, my heart was telling me he’d left. The bed was too cold, and I knew I didn’t fall asleep holding my doll.

I’d turned on the light, saw the ring box and the letter, and knew what it would say. The pain that tore through me with those first few lines was like nothing I had ever experienced. When my dad left, it was partially expected, but this was so out of the blue I couldn’t make sense of it.

Last night, when Travis made love to me, we had a connection I’d never experienced before. Everything felt deeper and perfect, and I know I wasn’t the only one who felt it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he was saying goodbye.

The pain rips through my chest raw, forcing the air from my lungs as I cling to my doll and cry into it.

He left me.

I know he has done it to save me, to make sure I don’t have to marry someone I don’t love, but I lost the man I do for that to happen. Because I love him, I love all three of them, and I never got to tell him. I was so busy trying to protect my heart that I hadn’t even told him it was his, that I’m his. My heart, body, and soul are divided equally between the three Donavon brothers, and if I don’t have all three, then a part of me will always be missing.

“How you doing, Baby?”

I don’t move; I can’t speak, and all I can feel is the pain in my chest where part of my heart is missing.

Ethan squats down in front of me and places a hand on my cheek. I’m still curled up in Travis’s bed, needing his scent from the pillows to try and numb the pain. The thought of leaving this bed and losing that last part of him causes me to feel physically sick. So, I lay here and miss him and wish I could have told him not to go. Because I know there is a real chance he will never return.

“Baby, you need to eat or drink something. Travis will want you to look after yourself,” Ethan whispers, running his hand over my head. I can’t find my voice to tell him that I need to stay here and wait for my missing piece. I need them all here with me so I can be whole again.

Ethan sighs as he stands and places a kiss on the top of my head.

“Ryan will be back soon. He went to see if he could find out when he left. We will get him back for you, Baby. We will get him back for all of us.”

I want to tell him we need to leave and find him now. We must find him before it’s too late, but I can’t find the words.

Sometime later, I feel the bed move as Ryan put his arm around my waist, hugging me from behind.

“I said I wanted to be a daddy to you too. I promised you that night that I would always put you first and love you no matter what. I plan on keeping that promise. I’m not implying that your daddy hasn’t, but as much as I want to run off out there and find my brother to bring him back to you, I won’t.” Ryan removes his arm, and I hear a piece of paper rustling before he holds a folded piece in front of me.

“Travis left a note for us, too. I want you to read it, and then I want you to understand why I am choosing you over my brother. I want you to see that the three of us love you more than life itself and why we are all doing what we are right now.”

I take the note from him and feel his arm fall over my stomach again, so he holds me as I read it.

Guys,

I know you will hate me; I know our girl will be heartbroken, but I need you to stay with her no matter what.

I found a way to end this so we can move on as a family of four and give our girl all the love she deserves. Doing this without you two having my back is fucking hard, but you need to do something more important than back me up; you need to protect Verity.

I will never say I love her more than you; we have all proven that we love her in a million different ways. But this is something only I can do. She is my whole world, as she is yours, and I know I can make life better for her again.

That being said, there is a chance I won’t make it back. If that’s the case, then pay attention.

Everything I own is in your name, but to go towards keeping her free. I have a huge savings account and the money in the bank. Sell the house and everything in it, sell my company, the full works and run. Take our girl and hide her wherever you have to; keep moving and keep her safe. That is all I will ever ask of you. I know you can shower her with the love she deserves, so do it. Marry her, make her a Donavon and give her the world.

If you go to my house, there is a safe hidden under the floorboards in the bathroom. The code is Verity’s mum’s birthday. Inside are the contact details for a guy who will make up fake IDs and passports for you. He is already working on Verity’s; there is also the five thousand each for your new IDs in the safe and an address to a garage where I have hidden a car.

I have provided everything for you to get her away from this shit show. Protect her with your life.

If I’m successful, I will be in touch in three days. If you don’t hear from me, start running. I will find you.

I’m proud of both of you and honoured to be your brother. I know we don’t ever say it, but I am now. I love you both and hope you know that.

Take care of each other and love our girl enough for all three of us.

Travis

“I know it may seem like we are doing nothing. Like, we are choosing to stay with you over going to find him. But for me to keep a promise to him as well as the one I made you, I need you to survive this, little Kitten. I need you to eat, drink, and live through this long enough for him to find us. Because he will return to us, I can feel it in my gut. I can’t lose my brother and you; I love you both too much. So, I need you to live, Verity. If not for me and Ethan, then for your daddy. It’s what he would want you to do.”

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