Page 56 of Demise

Vincent

This morning, I woke up on the couch. I don’t remember falling asleep; I try not to often, but every once in a while, my body has no choice, and I shut down. It’s a dangerous habit that is going to get me fucking killed one day.

When I woke up to the empty room and Skyla wasn’t there, I panicked. I began searching each room until I found her tangled in bed, fast asleep with Liam and Asher. My heart rate steadied a bit, but I had to get out of there because I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing my woman with other men, even if it’s them. I tolerate it for her, but I’ll never like it.

I spent the remaining hours of the early morning catching up on work. I have two tasks that are urgent. I’ll need to head out as soon as we are back in Salem. It was difficult enough coming up with a reason that these targets wouldn’t be taken care of immediately; having my appendix taken out seemed to do the trick, though. I scroll through my private email server, pulling up the forged hospital records and notes before sending my approval. They’ll be uploaded into the Mass Gen hospitalrecords, and as far as anyone who is willing to dig will know, I’ve been there this whole time.

As soon as I hear movement in the house, I’m on my feet in hopes of finding my siren. When I walk across the walkway, I look down to see Skyla in the kitchen stirring something in a bowl. A smile almost touches my face as I look at her before two thick arms wrap around her waist and haul her into a chest.

Ronan.

Makes sense, he’s basically our resident cook, same with Wesley on occasion. Ronan also has no problem staking his claim with Skyla at any moment, anywhere. I don’t doubt he scooped her right out of bed from Asher and Liam and carried her down here before she was even fully awake. She is only wearing an oversized dress shirt that hits her mid-thigh. Probably his as well.

I’m not sure why he assumes he has some superior claim over her. Is it because he technically had her first? Sure, maybe he did, but I saw her first. I was the first person besides her father and his men to see her, first person to watch her set foot on this campus. If anyone has a claim, it’s me, and rightfully so.

When I step into the kitchen, her eyes come to mine, practically sparkling in the early morning sun.

“Good morning,” she cheers happily.

The ghost of a smile touches my lips as I nod my head, closing the distance between us as I press a kiss to her temple.

“Good morning, siren,” I murmur against her skin.

She leans into my touch, forcing my inky black heart to beat a little harder than usual. Swear to God, without her, I know it would stop beating right on the spot. I honestly don’t know how it worked all these years without her.

“We’re making pancakes, eggs and bacon,” she says. “Are you hungry?”

I shrug my shoulders as I take the kitchen island seat closest to her, reaching my hand out to hold her hip so that I can maintain some point of contact at all times. The heat of her body grounds me, the feel of her soft curves in my hand calms me. It’s a peace I’ll never tire of, never stop treasuring.

One by one, the rest of the guys start filing in. Sleepy, Happy, and Grumpy. I’m not sure what that makes Ronan and me. Skyla could definitely be Snow White but with golden hair. There were seven dwarfs in that fairytale, and let me tell you, five is more than enough.

Sleepy takes a step towards Skyla, wrapping his arms around her waist as he buries his head into the crook of her neck.

“Come back to bed,” Liam whines.

She smiles and shakes her head.

“It’s ten in the morning.”

“And we went to bed at three. Come back to bed,” he tries to reason.

She gives him a smile as Grumpy leans in, placing a quick kiss to both of their lips before he goes and takes a seat on the couch. He’s gotten more affectionate with Liam, at least in front of the rest of us lately. Based on the position I found them last night, something tells me they are a lot more affectionate behind closed doors. Good. Maybe now Liam will stop bitching and whining about Asher topping him.

To round out the crew, Happy strides up to Skyla, all smiles with a freshly showered look and a new set of clothes for the day.

“Good morning, little one,” he says as he steals a kiss as well.

I force my eyes away, my fist clenching on my thigh so I don’t do something like hit the son of a bitch. Ronan and Liam, I had to tolerate. She was already dating them before she even considered me. Then Asher was her fiancé turned husband, hard to kick him out of the picture, though don’t think I didn’t try. This motherfucker though…I don’t like him. I know I don’t haveany good reason to, but something just feels…off. I can’t explain it, but you bet your ass I’ve been spending any amount of free time I have to dig into him. If he’s hiding something, I’ll find out what it is, and soon.

“Good morning.” She smiles like the blissful angel she is. “What does everyone want to do today?”

I shrug, as does Asher and Ronan.

“Whatever you want,” Wesley says. “This is your trip.”

She frowns at that. “No, it isn’t, it’s all of ours, right? It’s our Christmas, our vacation.”

“He’s got a point, babygirl. If this was my vacation, we’d all be in Cancun at a nude beach sipping mai tais under the sun,” Liam answers.

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