Page 57 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

Her cheeks turn pink instantly. “You heard us?”

“I think everyone on the yacht heard you.”

She leans forward and hides her face in my neck. “That’s not mortifying at all.”

I chuckle and push her back. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m glad you were there for them.”

“Did Cy tell you about his uncle?”

“Yeah, he couldn’t sleep, and I was on the phone with Dad.”

“How do you think he was?”

I take a deep breath and think back to how he was last night. “I think he was relieved, to be honest. His uncle’s hold on him has been a huge source of pressure for him over the years. It got worse with every job he was sent to do. Especially if he put up any kind of resistance. I don’t think Georgios would have ever truly set him free. There would have just been another newtask, one last job, and the threats would have always remained steady.”

“I’m glad it’s over for him.”

“Me, too.” I cup her cheek and pull her face back to mine for a brief kiss. “Maybe with your father’s death, everything will be over for you, too.”

“I hope so. How amazing would it be to go back to just living a normal life?”

“What would that look like for you?” I look down at her hand where Banks’s ring sits on her finger. “Do you still want to say yes to him?”

She looks down, toying with the diamond in silence as she formulates her answer. “I do.” She looks up at me. “But I don’t want to lose you. Or Emerson and Cyrus.”

“Are you absolutely sure he’s okay with that? Can he share you with us?”

“Yes.” She answers with no hesitancy. “It was his idea. Well, not his idea per se, but he’s okay with this. More than okay. You three give me something he can’t, just as he gives me something you guys can’t. I feel like that about everyone. I’m sure that Emerson and Cy do as well.”

“Speak of the devils.” I lift my hand as they walk out of the living room and onto the deck. They’re both in swim trunks with towels draped over their shoulders. Neither of them asks if they can join us, they know they don’t have to. This is a conversation we all should have together anyway.

“What are you two talking about?” Cy sinks down into the water across from me.

“The future,” Harper drifts over and gives him a kiss.

“That sounds ominous,” Emerson sits down beside me.

“I don’t think so,” Cy throws an arm on the edge of the hot tub. “The future is looking pretty fucking amazing from where I’m standing.”

“My father was killed last night in a prison fight,” Harper declares matter of factly.

Surprise flickers through Emerson’s eyes as he takes in the news. Cy, on the other hand, shutters his expression. Harper doesn’t seem to pick up on the subtle change the way that I do. Not that I expect her to, especially with the shock of finding out the news.

I know she said she’s numb to it, but I have a feeling that won’t last. She’s going to fall apart at some point, either with sadness or anger or guilt. Perhaps some combination of the three. We’ll be here when it happens.

“Dad wants us to meet them at home when we get back to the states tomorrow.”

“All of us?” Emerson asks.

“No, just Harper and me. Dad and Annabelle are laying low in one of vacation homes, but we need a family meeting, apparently.”

“So we just have one more day.” Harper sighs and looks out over the ocean. “I’m not ready to leave.”

“Me either.” Emerson reaches over and pulls her onto his lap and kisses her shoulder. “How do you feel after last night?”

Her cheeks turn the sweetest shade of pink. “Good. A little sore, though.”

“Sore from what?” I ask, knowing full well what the three of them were up to last night. “This sweet girl took both of us at the same time.” Emerson looks at Cy first, and then they both turn their attention to me.

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