Page 83 of Their Dark Rose

I can’t breathe.

I can’t breathe.

Muscular arms envelop my waist. I’m pulled into a firm chest. Lips and hands touch me all over, and soothing voices plead with me not to cry over it.

Minutes or hours pass in the comforting embrace Mason, Falk, and Finn engulf me with. When I’m done mourning my old life once and for good, I lift my watery eyes to them.

“I’m fine.” I rest my head on Mason’s chest, opening my arms to hug Finn and Falk. “Thank you for telling me. I needed this. I won’t talk to Mallie or Thorn ever again.”

“You’ll do better than that, flower.” Mason’s jaw tics. “You’ll thrive. We’ll be there every step of the way, but eventually, that’ll be your win. All yours.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

I’m slipping my sneakers on when I hear the doorbell ring. It’s the weekend. No one’s supposed to be here.

Unless…

Mallie’s here. Has to be her.

My heart starts to drum in my chest. My palms grow clammy. My breaths leave my mouth in quick, short pants.

I haven’t responded to her and Thorn’s cruel messages. Couldn’t, even if I wanted to since my phone’s screen shattered. I imagine they didn’t stop at the ones I read. That they sent dozens of them.

Maybe they got tired of texting.

Maybe they haven’t given up.

They’re here to collect the money they claim I owe them. Here to collect my life. Just like Aunt Mallie took my mother’s.

They’re definitely capable of murder.

The room spins around me, and I slump onto the edge of the bed. I cling to rational thought, desperate to tame my looming panic attack.

My mother was alone when Mallie got to her. Alone and vulnerable.

I am not vulnerable anymore.

And definitely not alone with Mason, Falk, and Finn here to protect me. Their strength far outweighs hers and her repulsive stepson combined.

They’ll be my shield. A force against them.

I’m safe. I don’t have to worry.

I…

“Princess.” Falk’s looming figure appears in my doorway.

My eyes blink, trying to focus on him through the haze of anxiety. At one of my saviors.

His smooth forehead crinkles, his shoulders squaring. Usually, it’s a foreboding stance. Whenever I’d fuck up my homework or taunt him, he’d have this air around him.

He’s not mad, though, not at me. This evening they’re planning on driving me to our headquarters to show me around and have me familiarize myself with my kingdom.

This is just Falk going into full protective mode. This man—my man—is here to take care of what’s his.

“What’s going on?” He wraps a comforting arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his warmth. His eyes dart to the broken cell phone on my desk. “Does it still bother you? I’ll fucking kill them.”

I’m pretty sure this isn’t an empty threat he’s issuing. It alleviates my earlier concerns, despite worrying about the murmurs I suddenly hear from the first floor.

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