Page 53 of Sold on Them

“He is in your possession?”

I lift the man off the floor high enough that Santos can see his face clearly. “He is.”

“Leave him there. I assume you’re at the warehouse Carlos purchased in Detroit?” At my nod, he continues. “You’re free to go. I’m having the hit lifted off your head as we speak, Parker. I’m sorry you were caught up in this, but all of the evidence said you were the one who killed her. There isn’t anything I can do to make up for losing the last few years of your life, but if there comes a time that you need my assistance, call me. I’ll do what I can. Assuming you can find my number?”

Parker laughs. “I’d find it eventually, but since we have Carlos’s phone, I think I’ll take it from there.”

“I’m not a man who likes to be wrong, but I will admit it when I am. I didn’t realize how much I hurt Carlos. I never felt for him what he felt for me. Teenagers experiment from time to time, you know? I care for him, but never like that.” Santos shrugs. “Not that you care about that. I’m sorry. Thank you for getting me this. We’ll take it from here.”

“Thank you,” Parker says with a sigh of relief. “I’m not going to lie—I hope I never need your help.”

He laughs. “I hope you don’t either, but at least the option is there. Good day, gentlemen.”

The call disconnects, and I turn to Parker with a smile. “It’s over.”

“It really is.” He pulls me into a hug as he laughs. “Finally, we can move past this.”

“We can, but we should probably get out of here. Santos is sending men over. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not be here when they arrive. Plus, I want to see how Damon and Mackenzie are doing.”

Parker nods. “Yes. Let’s do that.”

As I follow him out of the warehouse, I smile. There will be no more looking over our shoulders or worrying about being seen by the wrong person.

We can finally live again, and what a happy thought that is.

Chapter Twenty-one

Parker

Once we’re all in the SUV, Cormac heads to Mackenzie’s house. Royce takes his usual seat in the front while the rest of us sit in the back, Mackenzie between me and Damon.

We haven’t been on the road long when I turn to look at the two of them. “I’m so fucking sorry—“

“Nope.” Mackenzie cuts me off with a shake of her head. “Your apologies aren’t needed or accepted. This wasn’t your fault. What happens lays at the feet of that asshole—not you. You have no reason to feel guilty, and I’m not going to put up with it. In fact, every time you apologize, I’m taking a nut shot.”

I gape at her, ignoring the muffled laughter from the front seat. I don’t even know how to respond to that.

Of course, I feel guilty. How can I not?

If it wasn’t for me, neither of them would’ve been dragged into this mess.

“I’m with Mac on this one,” Damon says with a shrug. “I don’t want any apologies unless they come in the form of blowjobs, and I think a nut shot is the perfect punishment if you try to apologize to us.”

I shake my head. “But…”

“No but’s. You, Cormac, and Royce rescued us just like I knew you would. None of the physical damage is permanent. The mental? Well, that might hang around for a while, but I’ve been meaning to see someone since my family died. This might be the push I need to stop making excuses and finally make an appointment.” Mackenzie reaches up to cup my cheek, wincing slightly at the movement. “But none of that is on you—on any of you. Would I prefer to not have gone through that? Of course. But I wouldn’t change a damn thing if it meant you didn’t come back into my life, Parker. Or meeting Cormac and Royce.

“What the three of you have is what I want for myself. I want that sense of family that the three of you share. I want to be a part of it with you all—including Damon. I’m not sure if this is the right place or time to have this conversation, but here we are. Try as I might, I’ve never been able to let go of what I feel for the two of you.” She glances between me and Damon. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember, and something tells me I’ll love you until the day I die. I can’t claim to love Royce and Cormac but only because I haven’t had enough time to get to know them. I feel drawn to them, and that’s enough for now.”

Damon hums. “It should’ve been easy to let go of a childhood love, but it never was. My love of the two of you and the memories I clung to is what helped me make it through the last few years. I never thought I’d get a chance to have you in my life again, but now that I do, I’m never letting go. You can run,but I’ll find you—both of you. Know that now. As for Royce and Cormac, I think we can work something out between us.”

Royce snorts. “Thanks for that, Damon.”

I can practically hear his eyes rolling, but a glance in his direction shows he’s pleased.

“I love both of you, too. You’ve never been far from my thoughts. It’s why Cormac and Royce knew so much about you. They helped me keep my memories of both of you alive. The fact that I was able to love them and you at the same time was all the reminder I needed that the heart doesn’t hold a definitive amount of love.” I glance down at my lap. “I hear you when you say you don’t want my apologies, but this guilt isn’t just something that’s going to go away. I’ll try my best, though.”

Cormac sighs, his voice gruff when he speaks. “This really isn’t the place for this conversation considering I can only half listen to it while I’m driving. Plus, I hate having these fucking conversations—they give me hives. Just know that whatever you three decide, I support. Not only would I never deny Parker something that clearly means so much to him, but the two of you fit with us. It’s like you’re the piece we didn’t know was missing.”

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