Page 38 of Sold on Them

Parker gapes at me. “I…I…I just want—“

“To keep us safe—so you’ve said.” Damon runs a hand through his hair. “But Mackenzie is right. That’s not a decision you get to make for us.”

Parker scoffs. “So what? The two of you are just going to give up your lives and go on the run with us? Damon, what about your mom? Mac, what about your parents’ house? Isn’t that why the two of you were in the damn auction to begin with?”

“There are other options,” I say quietly. “Even if we don’t go with the three of you, it doesn’t mean we can’t be in contact. There are things called phones, in case you forgot.”

“Phones can be traced. They could find you from one text.” Parker jumps to his feet, hands pulling at his hair. “I just want you to be safe.”

“And that’s why we went out to get the encrypted phones for the two of them.” Cormac’s voice startles all three of us, our heads jerking toward the door.

I hadn’t heard him and Royce enter, and it’s clear neither had Parker or Damon.

“Encrypted phones?” I ask when silence surrounds us for much too long. “I feel like that’s some high-tech spy shit from the movies.”

Royce laughs. “Well, I’m sure you have seen them in movies, but they exist in the real world as well. The three of us already have them, but this will allow us to continue contact once we’ve moved on.”

“But—“ Parker starts, freezing when Cormac pins him with a glare.

“Don’t act like you don’t want to keep in contact with the two of them, Parker. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you never lose them like you did before. All three of you deserve the world, and I’m damn well going to do my best to give it to all of you.”

Tears fill my eyes as I stare at Cormac. I can’t believe he included me and Damon—not just Parker—in his statement. As if he can feel my stare, he turns his head to meet my gaze.

“Don’t cry, little one.” He pulls me into his arms. “We might not know one another yet, but I plan on making sure you and Damon are around. It’s clear all four of us love Parker, and Parker loves all of us. That settles matters in my mind. This is forever. No matter what else happens between us, we’re family now.”

His words set me off, sobs wracking my body. I’ve been alone for months, just trying to keep it all together and trying not to think about how I had no one in my life.

All the grief I’ve pushed back rushes from me, and it’s only Cormac’s arms wrapped around me that keep me upright. He pulls me further into him as I feel the other three surrounding me, each of them hugging me and one another as they support me.

I don’t know how long we stand there, but eventually, my sobs stop.

“Are you okay, Mac?” Parker’s voice is quiet as if he doesn’t want to startle me.

I sniffle, a smile making its way onto my lips. “Not yet, but I will be.”

“And are you going to share with the class why you burst into tears?” Damon asks.

“I’ve barely been hanging on by a thread since I lost my family. I’ve been alone, and hearing Cormac including me in his statement, then calling us family… It was just such a relief. I don’t have to be alone anymore. I don’t have to do this on my own.”

“Fuck, no, you don’t.” Damon turns my head to face him, kissing my lips. “Parker, Royce, and Cormac are going to figure this shit out, and then we can all be together. Until then, it’s youand me, baby. You’ll never have to be alone again—none of us will “

Royce hums, his lips grazing the back of my head. “Now we have extra motivation, don’t we?”

Parker nods vehemently. “This is not the end. We’ll figure it out, and then I’m coming home to the two of you.”

“We’re all coming home to you,” Royce adds. “Come on, let’s snuggle for a little while until I have to take you back to Club Lust.”

I let them maneuver me to the mattresses, sitting me between Parker and Cormac. Damon takes Parker’s other side with Royce beside him. Someone turns on a movie, but none of us pay it any mind as we cuddle together, chatting.

At least when we say goodbye, it won’t be forever.

Chapter Fifteen

Damon

The drive back to Club Lust is quiet. Royce keeps glancing between me and Mackenzie, who’s cuddled into my side. It was so hard saying goodbye to Parker. More tears were shed—even a few from me.

It’s hard because we don’t know when we’ll get to see each other face-to-face again. At least it’s unlikely to be another ten years. If we went that long apart, we can figure it out for just a little while longer.

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