Page 37 of Fatal Vengeance

Creed breathes out a cruel laugh, my eyes falling closed at the sound. He sounds deliciously unhinged and it should not be hot, but fuck it, it is. I turn to look at my wild storm of a man — who’s still in trouble, Prudence, don’t forget! — right as he slowly and methodically begins to undress. His amber eyes seem darker than ever as he stares at me, his trembling hands still for the first time in days, as if those palms are steady and waiting for the moment to strike my ass.

It sends a tiny shot of fear through my veins, but it’s a feeling I welcome. I’ve been numb too often lately. Shut off, drowning in the most suffocating emotions. I need this. I need these men to remind me what being alive feels like.

A low whine slips out of me when Creed steps out of his jeans and reveals his beautifully lean body. Even though he’s the smallest out the guys, he’s not scrawny by any means. No, Creed is built to strike. Strong, quick, and deliciously sculpted in all the right ways.

“Little flame,” Griffin murmurs as he climbs on the bed, but I can’t take my eyes off Creed. He’s stalking toward the bed with the grace of a jungle cat who’s just caught sight of their next meal.

I’ve never wanted to be someone’s dinner more in my life than I do right this second.

Asher and Griffin move in closer while Asher says, “I didn’t think I’d see the day you turned my cousin against you, pet.” He gets in close to my side, his breath heating my neck and his lips whispering against my skin while he adds softly, “What’d she do, Creed? Tell us why Prudence needs her ass spanked.”

Creed’s eyes flash with pain and then fury, and my muscles lock up tight. “She wants to leave us,” he rasps roughly, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.

Asher and Griffin both go eerily still, like I don’t even think they’re breathing. I’m sure as hell not. After the longest few seconds in history, Griffin mutters, “Prudence?” That’s all he says, but it’s all he needs to; I hear the shock and hurt loud and clear in his beautifully rough voice.

I give Creed a withering look, my palms sweating as nerves and guilt fight for dominance within me. Turning to look at Griffin, taking in his sad, confused eyes, I shake my head and reach for his hand. He pulls away at the last second, right before I can touch him, and my heart sinks.

“Someone better explain right the fuck now,” Asher grits out, looking between Creed and me with a furious scowl. He settles his cutting gaze on me, and if it weren’t for the flash of vulnerability in his forest eyes, I’d have thought he was right back to hating my damn guts.

"It’s not… what it sounds like. I don’t want to leave you guys," I whisper, taking the time to look at each of them, hoping they see the truth in my eyes. I wring my hands together in my lap while Creed finally gets on the bed, settling in close so I’m surrounded by the three of them with no way out. They’re all gloriously naked, while I’m caught in the middle fully clothed, and there’s a weird angry lust charging the air that has my nipples tightening with need.

Focus, Prudence. Jesus, now is so not the time for thoughts of our first foursome.

From behind me, Creed trails his fingers up my back and then curls his hand around my throat, pulling me back into his body. I gasp a little when he squeezes his hand, like a warning and a promise. Griffin is right in front of me, frowning as he waits for me to explain, while Asher is on my left side, practically vibrating with anger. His cock is still hard, though, so I’m counting that as a win. He’s mad, but not so furious that he forgot the heat between us a few minutes ago.

“Tell them, Ember,” Creed growls in my ear before biting the lobe, drawing a hiss of pain from me. “Tell Ash and Griff how you were going to run away and offer yourself up for slaughter.”

“Excuse me?” Griffin snaps as Asher barks out a deep laugh and drawls in a lethal tone, “Please tell me this is a bad fucking joke.”

With Creed’s hand locked around my throat, my back to his bare chest, I roll my eyes up to the ceiling and just blurt it all out. “I was doing it to save you! All of you. Slip away, go back to them, and make a trade. My life for… for sparing yours,” I admit, my voice growing weaker with each sentence.

Saying it aloud sounds really fucking dumb and my cheeks heat under the flat, unimpressed look Asher gives me. Before he can flay me open with his sharp tongue, I close my eyes and quickly add, “The Celestials want me. We all know that. They’ve gone to extreme lengths to tear me down and make sure whatever trouble my mom caused years ago ends with me. For whatever reason, they think I have the power to destroy them…” I trail off for a second, trying to wrack my brain for any information my mom might have given me that could mortally wound that fucking cult, but nothing comes to mind. Anything she shared with me over the years was distorted due to her fragile, broken mind. Even if she did tell me something invaluable, I might not have realized it. “I thought if I could just secure your guys’ safety, your futures, then—“

“There is no future without you,” Creed snarls, tightening his grip and cutting off my air and everything else I had to say. Chills skate down my body, a potent mixture of fear and arousal coursing through me at the rough gravel in his tone and the feel of his hot breath against my neck. I whimper, for fuck’s sake, like some wanton creature. Creed ignores my reaction, breathing out, “You don’t seem to understand that, Prudence, so let me make myself perfectly fucking clear. If you run, I will chase you. If you hide, I will hunt you. And if you die, baby, I will be right behind you, following you into hell, where we can burn together for eternity. I’m not ever letting you go. Not in life, nor in death. I’m yours forever.” His voice cracks with that last vow, his emotions breaking through the rage that’s been riding him, and it cuts me so fucking deep I’m surprised I’m still breathing.

My eyes sting from the intense passion and possession in Creed’s voice. I knew how he felt about me, of course I did, but hearing him say all this now? It’s like a sucker punch right to my gut. Clarity seeps into my chaotic mind, and it’s terrifying. Because he’s right; if I went off half cocked and got myself killed, Creed would probably dive into oncoming traffic just so he didn’t have to live a second without me.

That realization is suffocating, panic suddenly clawing at me at the thought of such an amazing, loyal, and fiercely protective man leaving this earth.

Why I thought he, or the other two, would just move on is beyond me. Clearly, my brain has been in a dark place lately and not thinking rationally.

“I’m sorry,” I croak, reaching up to grab Creed’s wrist, stroking my thumb over his skin. “Creed, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I just want you guys to be safe. You’re only running, in danger, because of me. This whole mess is my fault, and I just don’t know how else to fix it.” A tear slips down my cheek, and I drop my gaze to my lap instead of having to face Griffin and Asher. I’ve seen enough of the hurt and anger in their eyes to last me a lifetime.

Griffin grabs my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look up. He studies my face for a moment and then shakes his head with a sad smile. “There is no me without you. No future that doesn’t include you in it. We figure this out together. Win this fight together. So stop trying to be a hero all on your own, baby.”

I nod, unable to speak because I know the emotional tides will crash into me the second I open my mouth.

“Prudence,” Asher murmurs softly, drawing my attention to him. His brows are furrowed, his teeth indenting his bottom lip — which looks incredibly kiss swollen from whatever he and Griffin were doing. “I know I’m still a new part of this dynamic, and that I maybe haven’t proven myself completely to you yet, but you need to know… losing you? It would destroy me. We’re just getting started, you and I, but I can already tell that loving you will be my greatest achievement. Having the chance to make you smile and laugh, ensuring you’re cared for and protected, fucking you right any and every time you need it because these other two won't leave you sated the way I will.” He breathes out a soft laugh at that last part, which Griffin matches with a playful roll of his eyes, but then Asher’s face is growing serious once more as he moves forward and cups my face between his hands. “The four of us, together, we’re family. Do you understand me? We’ve had kinks to work out, we’ve fought and nearly killed each other, but things are finally settling, and I can see the promise of a good fucking future just out of reach... Don’t take that away from me, sweetheart.”

I’m still so not used to hearing that tender tone coming from Asher. I don’t even know how to respond to it. Do I tell him that the past is forgiven? That he doesn’t need to go out of his way to prove anything to me? Or do I just keep my mouth shut and let him sweat over winning me over for a while longer? I know my sister would vote for the latter, but I’m torn. On one hand, yes, Asher should kneel at my feet and worship the very ground I walk on. It’s the least he can do after what he put me through. But also… time is precious and life can be brutally short. I don’t want to waste what little we may have by holding grudges and making him jump through all these hoops. I just want to move on from the pain of the last several months and start fresh. I want to be happy and safe, I want to love and be loved in return. And dammit, maybe it’s stupid of me, but I want that with all three of these guys.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper again, this time to Asher and Griffin. Creed hums, his lips pressed to the soft skin just beneath my ear while his hand gives my throat a little squeeze. “I won’t run off, I promise. I want that future too, Asher. So much that it scares me. Loving the three of you is a terrifying thing; I could lose you all to The Celestials in the blink of an eye. And I've already lost so much, I won't be able to handle anything more.” I sniffle back my emotions, lift my chin with a wave of fury, and add darkly, “I will rip every member apart with my teeth if that happens. I don’t want to be without any of you, either. That’s why I…” I don’t finish that statement, we all know where I was going. That’s why I was going to hand myself over to save them, so I didn’t have to face a world without these men in it.

Creed strokes his thumb over my pulse point, curling over me more as if he can shield me from the world if he just tries hard enough. “Sweet Ember. It’s not your job to try and save us. If we have to run and just let the world burn under The Celestials’ influence, then so fucking be it. You will not be sacrificing yourself for us. Not for three ruthless assholes who’ve got blood on their hands. You’re far too pure; the devil wouldn’t accept your soul in place of ours, anyway,” he tells me softly, but oh so seriously. I’ll likely have Creed’s observant gaze locked on me for the next year after the scare I’ve given him.

"I think," Asher starts, pausing and running his thumb across his lower lip, the hunger in his eyes flaring again as he studies me.

Griffin tilts his head, trailing his gaze down my body and back up. "We need to teach our girl where she belongs," Griffin finishes.

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