Page 67 of Under Their Protection

“No,” I lie. “Just trying to clean up. Can I help you with something?”

“No. Just checking in,” he says simply.

“Well, I’m good,” I say as I slip away from him and rinse the bowls. When I’m done, I dry them off and put them away. I turn to leave the kitchen and all three men are staring at me. “What?”

“You are lying,” Max says.

“About?” I ask.

“Something else is going on,” Max says.

“I’m okay. Really,” I say, forcing a smile. “Are you guys still wanting to go?”

“Do you want to go?” Theo asks, challenging me.

“I do,” I say honestly. If I’m going to inevitably fuck everything up by running my mouth eventually, I’d like to get monster fucked by him onelast time.

Theo looks me over for a second but pushes off the counter, breaking me free from his gaze. “Okay. Let’s go then.” I nod and step out of the kitchen and go to the bedroom to get my phone off the charger. I see a text from an unknown number and my blood runs cold for a moment.

Unknown

Dead Bitch Walking.

Before thinking it through, I delete it. I know It’s Isaac and I know he’s been following me. I also don’t want to tell anyone because I don’t want anyone to worry. I easily shake off the text and go out to the living room.

“Ready?” Max asks.

“Yep,” I say, forcing another smile. He kisses me gently and we all go out to my 4runner. Max drives but at the last second Theo grabs me and pulls me to sit with him in the backseat so that Rowan is sitting up front. I move over to the other side and Theo looks at me strangely.

“Are you going to tell me why you are suddenly acting weird towards me?” Theo asks after a good bit of silence.

“I’m already getting punished for everything earlier. What’s one more thing?” I say flatly as I stare out of the window.

“Nika, What has gotten into you?” Max asks.

“Nothing,” I say.

“Obviously something is wrong,” Rowan says.

“I’m okay,” I repeat.

“Are you mad at me?” Theo asks.

“Did I say I was mad at you?” I snap and glance over at him for a second. He raises his eyebrows at me.

“Right now it’s because you are pestering the shit out of me,” I snap.

“Just me? Not them too?” he asks. I don’t answer that. Instead, I turn back to look out the window.

“It’s about me, isn’t it?” Theo asks as we pull into the parking lot of The Cherry. “There is something more to the dream situation. Now that it has nothing to hide behind it is overwhelming you.”

“Good job, Dr. Dathe,” I say with more attitude than I intend as I get out of the truck. Rowan is the one to grab me this time. He grabs me by the throat and pushes me against the driver’s door. He doesn’t cut off my airway, but he has a firm grip on me. Max and Theo join us on either side.

“What is your problem?” Rowan demands. I stand my ground and just stare at him. I’m not saying it. I’m not ready to fuck everything up for everyone. They can all be mad at me if they want but at least they'll have their relationships.

“You are so fucking stubborn sometimes, you know that?” Rowan asks.

“So I’ve been told,” I deadpan.

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