Page 98 of Dangerous Devotion

I took a deep breath. Hero and Dante were handling operations back home.

It was strange relinquishing control. But if I’d learned one thing in the past couple of weeks, it was to trust my brothers more, to give them a chance to prove themselves. I just hoped they wouldn’t burn the house down while I was gone.

Well, there was nothing I could do about that.

Right now, I needed to focus on getting Isabella and Mirabella back safely. And once I got my hands on Bella, I would slowly strangle her myself. What was she thinking putting herself in danger? And to think she’d done all that right under my nose… I still couldn’t believe it.

What was it with these young women? Where did they get the audacity to do stuff like that? Jemma, Bella. I narrowed my brows; I didn’t even want to know what Mira was up to. What kind of risk was she taking as a hobby?

And here I thought I was in control.

Matt’s voice broke through my thoughts. “You think Zotov’s going to play fair in all this?”

I sighed. “Are you high? He hasn’t played fair from day one, so why would he start now? But we don’t have much choice right now. We have to play along, at least until we can figure out his endgame.”

Dom leaned forward, his expression serious. “Whatever happens, we’re all with you in this. You know that, right?”

I nodded, grateful for the support. I’d been a loner my whole life—the oldest, the one responsible and in control of everything.

Not anymore.

My gaze drifted to Jemma, who caught my eye and offered a reassuring smile. That small gesture steadied me, reminding me that no matter how dirty I had to fight, the price was totally worth it.

As if sensing my thoughts, Jemma and Fee made their way over to join our little group.

I instinctively reached out and pulled Jemma into my lap. Her warmth and familiar scent instantly calmed my frayed nerves.

Alex mirrored my actions, pulling Fee onto his lap.

She gave him an exaggerated eye roll. “Feel the need to cuddle because they’re doing it?”

He grabbed her neck and squeezed. “I always feel the need to cuddle,” he said softly, his eyes full of love, somehow in contrast to his grip on her neck.

“Glad you didn’t get rid of me?” Fee whispered, but something in her voice told me they still had a way to go to get over that poisoning scare.

They stared at each other, completely unaware of everyone around them.

Alex nodded, swallowed, and his Adam’s apple jumped. I would bet everything that he was getting choked up right about now.

Fee grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Well, if you ever want to get rid of me, poison clearly isn’t the way to go. I’ve got superpowers, you know.”

Alex chuckled, playing along. “Noted. If I ever want to get rid of you, I’ll probably have to off myself instead. Because the thought of being haunted by your ghost is far more terrifying than death.”

“You bet your ass it is,” Fee retorted with a teasing smile and planted a quick kiss on his lips.

A kiss Alex deepened by holding her neck and keeping her locked in place.

They went from playful banter to deep emotions and back to bickering.

Somehow, their dynamic was similar to mine with Jemma. They shared the same mix of challenge and deep affection and the ability to find humor even in the darkest moments.

“You know how it is with the Donnelly women—never a dull moment, right?”

Did Gabe and Sophie share a similar turbulent relationship? I’d only met Sophie very briefly, and I’d been preoccupied with Matt in the hospital and everything.

But it was hard to imagine my stoic friend dealing with a whirlwind the likes of Jemma and Fee. But then again, these Donnelly women had a way to turn your world upside down. Until you couldn’t even imagine ever living without them.

Jemma sure had done that to me.

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