Page 46 of Saviors

They were turning against each other. Choosing me when they should’ve picked their family. As much as I longed to be, I wasn’t a part of that.

“Stay.” Reid’s voice made my heart jump. “At least until we find them and know you’re safe.”

There was logic in that. If Simon was looking for my brothers, it could be dangerous for me to search. The last thing I needed was to step back into his path.

The truth was, I didn’t want to leave. Even if I had somewhere to go. I wanted to stay with them. I felt comfortable here.

Reid lifted his head, but he didn’t glance at his brothers. His deep blue eyes bore into me. The intensity in them stole my breath. He was saying more with that look than with his words. Like he was begging silently.

“Okay.” With him staring at me like that it was the only answer I could form. “Thank you.”

I felt Maverick’s sigh of relief beneath my palm. He grasped my wrist, bringing my hand to his lips. I shivered as he kissed me there.

Before I could process the tangle of emotions he created in me, he was stepping back. I loathed the space between us. But maybe it was necessary to make this thing, whatever it was, work.

Last night wasn’t a mistake, but keeping distance would be the smart plan. Even as I thought it, my heart clenched, hating the idea.

My lips twitched into a small smile as Reid put the plate of food in front of me. It was delicious, like everything he made. I might never leave just to keep eating his food. But this wasn’t where I belonged long term. I knew that much.

This was temporary until my family was safe. “Have you heard anything about my brothers?”

Connor’s eyes flicked to Reid for a brief moment before he looked at me, shaking his head. “Sorry, little bloom.” The pancakes turned stale in my mouth. “Their phone numbers have been disconnected.”

Maybe they knew they were in trouble. That could be why they lied to mom and dad, to protect them. It was the only possibility that made sense.

“Could you tell us more about them?” Reid asked. “It might help. What did they do for work?”

“I’m not sure. Something in investing. They met someone in college who got them interested. They started a business together a few years ago.”

Reid’s gaze bounced to Connor’s again. I wondered what they were thinking. Wondered if they could really help.

Maybe I should’ve gone to the police, but the idea of having to admit what happened to me was too shameful. If my mother hated me now, I could only imagine how she’d feel when I was a news story. My dad wouldn’t want our name attached to something like that.

“And Simon was a client of theirs?” Connor asked.

“Yeah.” I pushed my food around on my plate. “I was thinking maybe my brothers stiffed him somehow. Because when he took me, he said he was ‘taking what he was owed’.”

Bile clogged my throat. I didn’t want to talk about this. Didn’t want them to know how broken I was. I couldn’t stand the idea of them seeing me that way.

It was silly. They’d seen me at my worst. But last night, they hadn’t looked at me like that. They’d viewed me as someone worth wanting. I needed that feeling again. Craved it.

25

Violet

The sound of the front door opening was my savior. Ivette’s heels clicked on the floor and a second later, she appeared.

“Good morning.” She greeted in a bright voice, but her face fell when she saw the guys. She crossed the room and grasped Connor’s chin. She clucked her tongue. “Pendejo.” Idiot.

He twisted from her grip. “It wasn’t me.”

She rolled her eyes as she gestured towards them. “You’re all stupid.”

A laugh burst from my chest. She was five feet tall, but she sassed them as if she was the one who would win in a fight. Sometimes, with her attitude, I thought she might.

“Come on.” She looped my arm in hers, pulling me from the chair. “Let’s get out of here. I think you need a break from the testosterone.”

Mav jerked as if he wanted to snatch me from her grasp. “That’s not a good idea.”

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