Page 205 of Heart of Frost and Scars

As the crowd mingles and celebrates, Rhett turns his attention to me.

“I have to know…” He stares at the gorgeous Strakh men across the room, his pupils dilating. “Are you involved with all three of them?”

His question catches me off guard, and for a moment, I hesitate. But the alcohol in my bloodstream melts my walls and loosens my tongue.

“Yes. No. Kind of. Not exactly.”

“I assume the truth is in there somewhere?”

They’re mine.

I want to scream it so every woman here knows, but that would be unhinged. So I settle on whispering it to the one person who asked. “I’m in love with them. All of them.”

“Oh, shit.” He chuckles, finding amusement in my predicament.

“Yeah. A huge, heaping pile of oh, shit.”

“What’s stopping you from being with all of them? Who says you have to choose?”

“Do they look like the kind of men who share?”

He looks at them. He hasn’t taken his eyes off them. “No. But if anyone can change their minds, it’s you.”

“I love your confidence in me, but I already know how this will end.”

“How?”

“They’ll make me choose, and I can’t do that.” My ribs tighten. “I would shatter my own heart if it means keeping theirs intact.”

“They might surprise you. Do you know how many times they’ve looked over here in the past five minutes?”

“They’re possessive. All of them. Makes everything complicated.”

“Life is complicated, Frankie. Sometimes the simplest answer is the most scandalous one.”

As I ponder that response, Sirena saunters in.

“Fuck my life.” I grab my vodka, tipping it to my lips.

Her attention homes in on the Strakh men as if they’re the only three people in the room.

“Who is that?” Rhett braces an arm on the table, leaning forward.

“The bane of my existence.”

Dark hair flows around her like a silken curtain, and her short, low-cut dress barely covers her ample chest and long, beautiful legs. She makes a beeline for them, for my entire world, her flirtatious demeanor on full display.

“She leads Monty’s investigative team.” I gnash my teeth.

“She has a laser focus on your boys.”

“Thanks, Dr. Obvious.”

“You’re just going to sit here?”

“Yep.”

I’m going to keep my ass right here and talk to my friend. Because, unlike Leo and Kody, I have self-control. I went to therapy. I journal when I feel angry and murderous.

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