Page 309 of Bad for Me

“I can take a shower by myself, just like I have two legs that aren’t broken,” she says as I sit her on the counter to turn on the water.

She’s noticing too much, and I can’t be soft for her because it feels too good.

“I’m glad you’re not planning to lie about,” I tell her, hiding my smile. “Chop, chop. Don’t dawdle.”

Leaving her in the bathroom, I head to my room and take a quick shower, confident I’ve beaten her as I dry off and pull on a pair of jeans and black T-shirt. Walking on bare feet, I hurry downstairs, feeling dread pool in my stomach. I don’t know what’s wrong, but something’s up.

I always pay attention to my hunches.

Walking into the kitchen, I find Gerald talking to Jameson and Adrian, though he stops as I walk in.

“It’s not like you to wake up late,” he says, surprised.

“There was a dark-haired girl pinning him to the bed.” Adrian smirks. He makes it sound as if we were fucking, so I shrug as I move to join my best friends. No matter what happens, we’ll show a united front. It’s the reason we’ve survived in this life this long.

On the counter there’s a jewelry box, and my eyebrow lifts in askance, looking up at Gerald.

“Oh, yes. As you remember, I lifted the command to stay away from Kyna,” he says. “My understanding is that you fucked her most of the night, and hopefully she’s with child now. It’ll make it easier for me to tell her mother that she’s engaged to Adrian. He needs a wife.”

“I remember you discussing that with him,” I admit. The muscle doesn’t have a voice typically, but Gerald seems to be waiting for me to speak. “How do you want to handle this?”

Kyna is now a project, even as the words taste sour on my tongue. I am most likely going to be helping to force whatever the boss has decided is our next step.

“It all depends on what she says,” Gerald says as the girl in question comes into the kitchen. “Ah, there’s my lovely stepdaughter now.”

Kyna stiffens as she sees her stepfather, making me wonder if he’s done anything to her. I’ll have to pay closer attention.

“Good morning, Gerald,” she says softly as she stops in the middle of the room. She looks as if she wants to run away.

“Kyna, look at me. I have a question for you,” Adrian says. There’s no room for her to ignore me, so she turns to face him.

“I’m listening,” she says. Kyna appears acutely aware of her stepfather behind her, and I decide to ask her if he’s ever done anything to her. Adrian has mentioned a possible takeover. While I was hesitant before, this woman’s skittishness is getting me on board with it quickly.

We do everything for the man already, are in every deal and meeting, we could run shit if necessary. It’s not how I saw my life going, but fuck it.

“I’m not going to bite, come here,” he commands. Her feet are moving before she realizes it, and he tugs her between his thighs. “I know this is going to seem really confusing, but I promise to explain it. Last night was incredible, our chemistry equally explosive. While this is a bit fast, I need an answer… Will you marry me?”

Kyna’s eyes widen as Adrian whispers in her ear. I can’t understand what he’s saying as he opens the ring, but tears well in her eyes. They seem to be the happy kind that girls get when they’re overwhelmed by emotion, making me relax for a moment as I move closer to them.

“Holy crap, Adrian,” she says softly. “This isn’t a joke? Seriously?”

“I’ve always loved you,” he says in response. “Things would be different from the last six months, I promise.”

Taking a breath, Kyna nods as she watches him slide the ring over her finger. Gerald doesn’t wait for her to say anything else as he claps for them.

“My son needs a wife, and he actually knows you. He’s refused the last four women I’ve picked out for him over the last six months and I’m coming to the end of my rope. I’ll handle your mother when I see her. Congratulations,” he says before taking a phone call and striding out of the room.

“There’s a lot of questions in your eyes, Baby,” Jameson says furtively, pushing her chin up to meet his gaze. “Can you trust us? You’ve always wanted us, now one way or another you’ll be tied to the three of us. We don’t do anything alone.”

There’s uncertainty for a moment in her gaze before she nods. “I’ll agree to be Adrian’s wife, but I want a guarantee that I can walk after a year if I’m unhappy and a prisoner again in my own home.”

Her money is still burning a hole in my pocket in the pants from last night. I had completely forgotten about it. Shit.

“Done,” I rasp, refusing to think about a reality where we don’t have it. “Whatever you want.”

This girl is changing us all, but all I want is a future where she’s in it. As Jameson kisses her, I hold back my chuckle as Adrian wrestles her back to devour her lips.

“Save me,” Kyna gasps playfully, reaching out for me. Pulling her to me, I kiss her hard, muttering, “Mine,” against her lips.

Her eyes widen as she nods in awe. I don’t think she realizes what she just agreed to, but that’s okay.

She’ll learn, and we’ll do anything to keep her safe.

“We’ll make you happy, Kyna,” I rumble. “I promise.”

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