Page 65 of Tangled up in You

I pressed a kiss to her bloodied knuckles. “You’re our whole world, baby. We will always be here for you.”

CHAPTER 1

LAYLAH MOORE

“Sit right here, baby,” Aiden said as he set me on the hotel sofa. He wrapped my thick blanket around me. I felt like I would never be warm again. I also felt like I would never have a good night's sleep again. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my father, beating me with that damn broomstick, and then leaving me. The sound of him pushing things against the door played over and over again in my head. The door opened to the inside, so I was pretty sure him stacking things in front of it was just the drugs, but it didn’t make it any less haunting. I’d been locked in the room for five days.

We’d stayed in the hospital three days after Aiden, Justin, and Micah found me. It had been a blur. The police were always there, wanting to ask more questions. That had made the boys growly. Apparently the police hadn’t been interested when I was missing. They’d found my dad. He’d been high out of his mind. He’d confessed and was going to prison. I wasn’t sure what his charges were, but I’d applied for a lifetime no-contact order. After leaving the hospital, we’d stayed in town to settle some things and today was our first day on the road. Damn weather.

I jumped when Aiden sat on the cushion beside me.

He held his hands out placidly. “It’s just me, baby, I’m sorry.”

“I really wanted to get home.”

“I know, baby.” He held out his arms, and I shifted into his lap slowly. I was still very sore and bruised. His big hands rubbed circles over my back.

Only seven hours into our trip back, the weather had gotten bad. They were calling for icy conditions and the guys had decided to stop for the night just to be safe. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it didn’t make it easier to accept.

Justin sat on the sofa beside me and gently moved my legs to his lap before rubbing my feet.

“Do you feel like you could eat something, little love?” he asked. My stomach flipped at his endearment. My stomach flipped at all of their endearments, actually. They were all so good-looking and very kind—big heartsandbig dick energy. I’d had a crush on them for as long as I could remember. I’d never admitted that until I’d been tied up and left in that disgusting trailer. Thinking back over my life, never sharing my feelings with them had been my biggest regret.

“No, I’m okay. Thank you,” I answered.

“You didn’t eat very much at lunch,” Micah pointed out. He crossed the room and sat down on the coffee table in front of me.

“I just don’t have an appetite.”

“I know, but we can’t have our best girl getting sick,” Aiden said.

“I’m sorry.” To my horror, I felt my lower lip tremble. I’d put them through so much and they were still worried about me. I was so blessed to have them.

“Oh, baby. Don’t cry. It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Aiden’s soothing voice rumbled below me.

“We’re right here with you, little love,” Justin promised.

“Forever and always,” Micah added.

I wiped at the tears rolling down my face.

“I’m so lucky to have you all,” I said, trying to control my emotions.

“Oh, you silly girl. We’re the lucky ones,”Aiden chuckled.

“I’m sorry I went to him when he called. I just thought…”

“You thought your dad was doing better, baby, and you wanted a relationship with him. Nobody can fault you for that,” Aiden interrupted.

“And nobody can fault you for that big heart you carry. You wanted to help a man who didn’t deserve your help. You’re such a wonderful person,” Micah said.

“I just… I did want a relationship with him, but I have everything I need with you guys. Support, unconditional love, encouragement, you provide it all. It was selfish to go.”

“Oh, honey, it wasn’t selfish at all. It was a very normal wish,” Justin said, pulling my legs a little more into his lap. “Hell, I think we all still hope we get a call that we have a biological family out there that wants to meet us, it’s just a part of our human nature.”

I rested my head on Aiden’s shoulder and traced the tattoos up his thick arms.

“I love you,” I said.

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