Page 61 of Fatal Vengeance

My sister shakes her head when I don't say anything, scooting down on the couch and resting her head on my shoulder. I drop my cheek onto her while she murmurs, "How are you doing? With the FBI questioning and all the crazy shit coming out?"

I hum a noncommital noise. I don't know how else to answer her. How am I doing? Well, I hate the constant back and forth with the FBI, but there's nothing I can do about it. We may have managed to slip away from Blackwood that night and wash all the blood off, but that didn't mean we were in the clear. That 'anonymous phone call' that Asher made to tip them off about his father's files didn't stay anonymous, and only days after we ran from Blackwood University, the FBI had tracked us here, to my sister's cozy little house, and brought us all in for questioning.

None of us are being charged with anything — even though Creed killed several Celestial elders that night — but the FBI want to know every last detail that we may have so they can solidify their case against any of the members who are still alive, and anyone who was in The Celestials' pocket all this time. It's draining, and every time I think we're done, the guys get a call to go back in. That's where they are today, while I've been obsessively watching the news all morning and driving Genevieve insane.

But I can't help it. It feels like I'm still waiting for another strike against me and my family, like the reality of my safety hasn't truly set in yet, so watching the news coverage helps put me at ease.

I never did get the chance to speak to my sister's reporter ex, but she went ahead and pushed it through with just the guys' statements once it was clear the story was about to be huge. Her piece was one of the very first to go live after the mess at Blackwood, and even though I haven't said as much, I'm glad my personal story wasn't included. I'm relieved that I didn't have to share it with the world like that, even if it would have been anonymous.

I don't want to talk about it right now, but that's alright, I'll get there one day. After lots of therapy. Like years of it. Which me and the guys will all be starting in a few weeks, because I refuse to let any of us suffer silently with any of the lasting trauma The Celestials gave us.

"Well, I'm here if you need me," Genevieve tells me, giving my thigh a supportive squeeze. "Just don't need me today, because I'm heading out for a few hours. But the guys should be back soon, so you won't even miss me."

"Where are you going?" I ask as she peels herself away and stands up.

She plays with the ends of her ponytail, shrugging like it's no big deal. "Just, you know, a date. But it's super casual, and it probably won't go anywhere, so don't be all up in my business about it," she tells me sternly, but I can tell she's feeling very awkward about the whole thing.

I narrow my eyes at her. "A date… with your ex?"

Genevieve bites back her smile, flipping me off as she strides from the room. I gasp in mock outrage, earning myself a middle finger over her shoulder.

"Okay, well, have fun! And maybe don't call her a cunt tonight!" I call out, giggling when I hear her groan in exasperation at me.

Half an hour later, once my sister has left without a word and I laughed at embarrassing her, the front door opens and my three gorgeous, deadly men walk in. I sit up straighter on the couch, smiling as Creed sweeps past Asher and Griffin, coming over to me.

"Hey, you," I say, laughing when he grabs my hand and pulls me up from the couch. He yanks me against his chest and kisses the life right out of me, and I break away with a content sigh. "I'm guessing today went well, then?"

Creed grins wickedly, nodding as he takes my hand again and leads me to the bedroom we've been sleeping in. "Creed, what are you doing?" I say with a soft laugh, peering over my shoulder at Asher and Griffin. They both shrug and look like they're just as lost, which really is not surprising. Creed is just a force of his own.

He gets me into the bedroom, but leaves the door wide open as he lifts me with ease. I curl my legs around his waist and rest my hands on his shoulders, grinning at him. There's something wild and free in his eyes that's been growing and blossoming every single day since we took down The Celestials, and it warms my heart to see it.

"What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?"

Creed licks his lips as he walks us over to the bed. "Just how much I adore you, Ember. Now are you going to be a good girl for us?" he purrs as he gently lowers my back to the mattress and cages me in.

"Us?" I ask breathlessly, already getting hot and bothered.

Just then, Asher and Griffin come into the room, both of them gloriously naked and already hard. I can barely see them over Creed's shoulder, but goddamn, the sight of them takes my breath away.

"That's right, pet. Us," Asher confirms, coming closer as he holds something in his hands. My gaze drops to it, and I swear I ruin my panties.

"What is that?" I ask, even though I know damn well what it is.

Asher grins while Creed gets off of me and starts stripping down. "It's a collar, of course," Asher drawls cockily. "Sorry it took me so long to get one, pet. I had to make sure it was perfect for our sweet girl."

I think I die.

Holy. Shit. Yes.

I sit up on the bed and reach for it, surprised by how eager I am to have it locked around my throat. All those times Asher had called me pet out of hatred, and now it's a term of endearment. And I want to show him how much I like it, how willing I am to be his good little pet.

Asher lifts the gorgeous black strap out of my reach, tutting at me with a shake of his head. "No, baby. Not like this," he warns me. Creed and Griffin step up beside him, all three of them bare and delicious. Asher smirks at me and says, "Get your clothes off and then kneel for us. Show us how well behaved you can be."

I stand up from the bed and damn near tear my clothes to get them off. My leggings, panties, and Creed's shirt — which I had stolen, of course — all land in a pile on the floor, and the guys all groan when they realize I hadn't had a bra on.

I bite my lip and sink to my knees in front of Griffin, who's in the middle, with Asher on his right and Creed on his left. Creed is already stroking his cock, biting into his lip as he stares at me with lust bubbling in his eyes.

"Good," Asher says roughly, stepping out of line to walk behind me. "Griffin, can you lift her hair out of the way for me?"

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