Page 10 of Vail

The elevator dinged its arrival as I took a deep breath and stepped into my home. The place was always cold before, which I’d done on purpose. No warmth. No inviting feeling. Hartley and Vail were leaving their touches in small ways, making this a place I wanted to return to. They could pack up my belongings and put them in storage for all I cared. They were all that mattered, and here I stood on the cusp of possibly losing them.

Hartley came to me first, with tears shimmering in his eyes. He hesitated for only a second before throwing himself into my arms. His face tucked against my neck, hot puffs of breath skating over my flesh, warmed me in a way I so desperately needed.

I vaguely heard the elevator doors close, signaling we were truly alone.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” he said between soft cries. “We knew you’d get out but seeing you handcuffed then driven away…” He sucked in a shuddering breath. “Now you’re here and I never want to let you go.”

My arms were tight bands of steel around him. No one could pry me off.

When I lifted my gaze, I found Vail leaning against the back of the couch, watching us with an unreadable expression.

I didn’t move Hartley away, giving him the time he needed to feel what he did. These men were so much more than I deserved.

Hartley finally leaned away, swiping at his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He gave me a watery smile. “I just cried all over your suit.”

“You think I care about my clothes when it comes to you?”

“But I made it, and it looks good on you. It’s okay.” He brushed over my lapel. “I’ll make you more.”

“Thank you, Hart.”

His bottom lip trembled. “Only Vail and my brother call me that. And you say it like Vail does.”

“How’s that?”

“Like my name is more than just something to call me. Like when you say it, you’re pouring how you feel for me into it.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him I loved him. While I didn’t think Hartley would leave me, I couldn’t say what would happen with him if Vail walked away. And that thought alone kept me from speaking the words I felt in my chest, in my damn soul. I didn’t want to utter them, only for them to be pushed aside as I watched the men I loved leave. There was only so much heartbreak a person could handle. I’d met my quota years ago with Malik’s death.

Cupping Hartley’s cheeks, I brushed his tears away with my thumbs. “That’s because you mean the world to me. When I speak your name, it’s from in here.” I placed a hand over my heart. It was as close to a declaration as I could speak.

Hartley pressed forward until his lips met mine in a far too chaste kiss. When he pulled away, he turned to look at Vail, as did I.

My legs shook, and I nearly stumbled forward like a newborn deer.

Maybe I had to learn to walk again.

Maybe I had to learn to truly put my heart in someone else’s hands for the last time.

Because there was no one after them. If they walked away, I was done. No more women. No more men. No more anyone.

5

VAIL

It took everything in me not to go to Jordan. The way his face fell, and pain filled his eyes. Fuck, I wanted him in my arms. But I knew myself. If I did that, I wouldn’t walk away if I needed to. I had to hear him out, listen to his side of things. He could lie to me, but I hoped he would tell me the truth.

There had been many situations when he didn’t need to. When he could have lied and made up a story instead of pouring his heart out. I had enough information I could go to the cops and give them evidence to help convict him. Would I? Never. Even if Jordan killed Gil, I wouldn’t turn him in.

I loved Jordan, but I wouldn’t allow him to walk all over me.

“Vail,” he whispered, his voice rough. He looked the same as he did when he was pulled away from us, except his clothes were a little wrinkled.

“Tell me.” There was no point in trying to avoid the situation.

“I didn’t do it. I said I wouldn’t go after him, and I held true to my word. Nor did I have any of my people do it. Gil disappeared, but it wasn’t by my hand or orders.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a couple of sheets of folded paper. “Here.” He handed them to me. Then he opened his phone and started scrolling before giving me that as well. “Watch this.”

“What is this?”

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