Page 40 of Forever Filthy

“Nova needs them!” It’s not his tone that has me snapping my mouth shut, it's the mention of my best friend and the reminder of what she has lost.

“You should be with her, Vox. She needs you.” He scrubs a hand down his face and sighs.

“I know. But the last time she lost someone, she pushed me away and blamed me. I… I just?—”

“You left because you were scared that if you stayed she would do it again and this time, you wouldn’t survive losing her.” His shoulders deflate as he drops his gaze to the floor and nods.

“Yeah,” he mutters. I rise from my seat and move around the counter to stand before him. He still won’t look at me so I poke his side like I used to do when we were younger. It brings a ghost of a smile to his lips but I can see the torment in his eyes that are mirrors of my own.

“That girl is crazy in love with you and she would never leave you, but right now, you being here isn’t where youneedto be.”

He shakes his head denying what I say. “No, I need to do this for her.”

“Vox, you’re being a coward and you know it. Nova needs you to be with her right now and you know it. She needs you to hold her. Ezekiel is her brother and I know for a fact he will do whatever he has to so his sister can get the closure she needs. I know the four of you are at odds right now but you have to know that no matter what, they will always have your back. Nova isn’t just your girlfriend, she’s Ez’s little sister and he will protect her like you protect me.”

“She’s right.” I spin around at the sound of his voice and fight not to smile at the three of them standing in the entryway, the fact they are all shirtless and wearing sweats that hang low on their hips has my mind growing foggy with X-rated thoughts. “I’ll kill whoever I have to so my sister can get the justice her mother deserves. You can hate me for loving your sister but just know that I love mine the same as you love yours, and no matter how we feel about each other will never change that. But, Vivian is right, Vox, she needs you right now more than ever. I may be her brother but it isn’t me she wants wrapped around her, it'syou.”

Vox eyes the guys and I can see he is warring within himself with his decision, but we all know what he will choose and I don’t want him to feel guilt over his decision so I say, “I know you love me and want to be here to help, but you also love her more.” He opens his mouth to argue but I push on. “There is nothing wrong with that. You should love her more than anyone and I want you to go back to Washington and be by her side while she grieves the loss of her mom—” I clamp my mouth closed when my front door bursts open and one of my guards rush inside. He was briefed on my way out earlier about myguestsand knows his silence is key with who they are. “What is it ,Adam?”

“Miss, there is a car approaching, two occupants. What are our orders?” Within two point five seconds the guys claim control. I’m slung over Archer’s shoulder while Vox, Hayze andEzekiel race around the house turning the lights off and shouting at Adam to get outside. Archer doesn’t put me down until we are in the corner of the living room. He pushes me into the corner and keeps me there with his body.

“Don’t move, I mean it, Vivian,” he orders.

“Screw you, Archer!” I bite back.

“They can’t be worried about you while trying to kill whoever the fuck it is at this time in the middle of the damn night.” His words hit me right in the chest and I snap my mouth closed. I wait with bated breath, my nerves are shot and I’m starting to panic as fear slowly grips me in its clutches. What if this is the person who sent me Kelly’s head? Oh my God, are we all going to die? I reach out and grip the back of Archer’s shirt in a vice-like hold. He turns and peers at me over his shoulder. “Shit,” he curses beneath his breath, then whirls around and grips my face between his hands as he bends down until we are eye level. “I won’t let anything happen to you, baby.”

“Arch, I’m scared,” I whisper, making his eyes soften.

“I’m right here, baby, and I swear to you, your brother and the guys won’t let any cunt get near you.” When we hear the sound of a car door closing, Archer turns away from me and faces the others. I peer around him when I can hear the sound of voices outside. If it was a bad guy surely they wouldn’t be talking, right? Vox is hiding behind the wall with a gun in his hands, Ez is crouched down behind the breakfast counter while Hayze is across the room using the sofa as a shield. The front door opens and all the guys turn rigid but the instant she speaks, everyone moves.

“If you shoot me, I’ll kill you all!” she says. Vox is the first to reach Nova, shoving his gun in his waistband, then he’s wrapping his arms around her and crushing her tiny body against his. Ez moves toward them and waits for Vox to release her while Hayze and Archer move to flank me on either side.

“What are you doing here, witch?” Vox asks when he pulls back. Nova doesn’t answer him, instead she pulls out of his hold and hugs her brother who seems to relax in her embrace. Seeing that brings a smile to my face.

“Nova, are you okay?” Ez asks her when she finally releases him. Her face is red and her eyes are bloodshot from all the tears, she looks rundown and utterly shattered. She darts her gaze around her brother and when she sees me, tears well in her eyes. My feet carry me across the room and within seconds of our arms wrapping around each other we both break down. She clutches me like a lifeline and I do the same to her. My heart breaks for Nova and the loss she has suffered.

“She’s gone, Vi, my mom is gone! I’m sorry but I had to see you. I tracked Vox’s phone and I just… need you!” she screams, then begins sobbing hysterically. I spy my brother out of the corner of my eye tugging on the strands of his hair helplessly, he has no idea what to do to ease her pain. It turns out we were all wrong, she didn’t need him or Ez, she neededme.

“I know, sweetie. I am so fucking sorry. I wish I could change what happened,” I say, meaning every single fucking word. Nova continues to cry into my shoulder as I hold her. I look at Vox and motion with my eyes for him to come to her. He looks like he’s in agony but manages to do as I asked. The instant he places his hand on her back she rips out of my hold and clings to my brother. He picks her up and without another word or so much as a backward glance he marches them up the stairs, while the rest of us stand here staring after them.

“Well, I guess that means he isn’t leaving.” The three of us turn and pin Hayze with a look that has him scrunching his face. “What? You were all thinking it, so don’t act like it was just me!” I shake my head, suddenly exhaustion weighs heavy on me and the need for my bed overwhelms me as I sway on my feet. For the second time in the space of ten minutes I’m lifted off my feet,but this time it's bride style. I don’t fight Ez as he carries me up the stairs, I just nuzzle into him and sigh in contentment. I feel guilty for being so at ease while my best friend is in one of the guest rooms breaking apart in my brother's arms.

Ez kicks my bedroom door shut behind us and manages to lock it without dropping me. When I hear fists pound against it from the outside I can’t help but chuckle. “Fuck off, dick heads, you had your turn,” Ez snaps. My breath hitches and suddenly the sleep I was craving vanishes and I’m wide awake and wired. He places me on my feet at the edge of my bed and grips my waist in a firm hold. The smoldering look in his eyes sends a shiver down my spine and need coursing through me. “Did you do what I said? Were you able to keep them inside of you like a good girl?” Fuck the filthiness of this situation isn’t lost on me and I should be worried about how turned on I am.

“Some of it came out,” I admit.

“Where?”

“In my panties,” I answer and blush.

“Show me.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Ezekiel

Her eyes are wide and her cheeks are tinged pink, but she has nothing to be embarrassed about. I release her and step back. She opens her mouth and closes it a couple of times. She’s trying to think of a reason why she shouldn’t show me so I wait, eventually she will realize that she has no other choice but to do as she is told. I’ve waited long enough and the sight of their cum in her panties will fuel the beast inside me that craves her and wants to claim her.

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