Page 34 of Snows Sinful Seven

“Ohhh, Gabby, I bet you’re creaming in your pants right now. She’s wearing your shirt,” I hear Henry teasing and laughing in the hallway, followed by a loud thud and a curse. “Asshole!”

“I don’t fucking wear pants, you dumb ass,” Gabe shoots back.

Dallas sighs. “Don’t mind them. They’re harmless, I swear.”

“I can tell.” I laugh.

“You really aren’t afraid of us?” Dallas asks curiously.

“No.” I shake my head. “I really am sorry for screaming before,” I say, guilty. “I was taken by surprise and a bit overwhelmed. It’s been a hard twenty-four hours.

“That is completely understandable,” he chuckles. “Are you sure you’re okay to talk about everything?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “But maybe tea first.”

WITH TEA IN HAND, SITTINGon their large sofa, I tell them everything. From the plan, my father has to kill me to my plan to get far away from here and start over new. My eyes tear up as I tell them about Regina helping me escape and the possibility she’s paying the price for my actions. I’m still riddled with worry, and I hope she’s okay.

I tell them about the storm and how I got lost, running all night.

“Your cottage was the first place I found. I was tired, hungry, and I honestly, don’t think I would have survived if I hadn’t come inside. I really am sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” Dallas insists. “Really, we don’t mind.

“Are you really going to leave?” Henry asks. “Where are you going to go?”

“I’m not sure,” I sigh, sinking back into the couch. “Mrs. Bark, she runs the bakery stand in town; she’s been helping me with the plan I’ve been slowly working on to get away from my father. My running so early was unexpected, and we were not prepared for it.”

“Why did you have a plan to run away before?” Brady’s soft voice joins in. “Before you knew your father wanted you dead, I mean.”

“I always knew my father wasn’t a good man. He’s only gotten worse after my mother died.” My heart aches at the mention of her. The guys all share a look at the mention of her as well. “She was the best.” I laugh, smiling. “The perfect queen.”

“She really was.” Dallas gives me a sympathetic smile.

“My father turned into a selfish man who only cares about himself. All while the people of his kingdom are suffering. It’s wrong. We have so much to offer the people. More than we know what to do with. But he’s crazy. Crazy for power. Of course, he won’t share it with anyone. He’s willing to kill me to make sure no one can take it from him.”

“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Sullivan vows. “Honestly, I think you're the safest here.”

“How so?” I ask, brows furrowing.

“We have a deal with your father,” Sterling interjects. “We work for him in the mines, and he pays us a pretty penny.”

“Part of the agreement is we leave them alone, they leave us alone,” Henry adds. “None of his men will come within miles of here.”

“He knows we would kill them if he did,” Gabe growls.

“You don’t like him, I take it?”

“Not a single fucking bit,” Gabe scoffs. “We would love to rip his fucking head from his body after what he did to Derek.”

“Who’s Derek?” I look between the group of them.

“That's a story for another day,” Dallas cuts in. “But I do agree, you would be safest here.”

“Oh no.” I shake my head. “I couldn’t intrude.”

“Intrude away,” Henry encourages eagerly. “Make yourself at home. Please.”

“Ahh...” I blink a few times, not sure what to say or what to do.

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