Page 54 of Ginger

I thought about Bronx and Reno, about whether they would protect me if Vegas accused me of helping KiKi. I didn’t want them to get hurt. Which was why I wouldn’t tell them about the note. I didn’t need them to feel like they had to hide something from Vegas.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the jangle of keys. I moved quickly to the kitchenette, busying myself with the coffee maker as if I'd just woken up. As if nothing had changed. As if I didn't know that a storm was brewing on the horizon, one that might sweep all of us away.

The door swung open, and Bronx filled the frame. His eyes found mine immediately, dark and unreadable.

"Morning, babe," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Coffee?"

The door closed behind him with a final-sounding click. Whatever happened next, there was no going back. KiKi had made her choice, and I had made mine. Now we would both live with the consequences.

For the most part, I’d found my happy ever after. Bronx and Reno would die for me. That much I knew for certain. They cared for me, had chosen me out of all the women in the world. And for that, I’d be eternally grateful. In the short time we’d been together, I’d fallen for both of them.

Bronx came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and kissing the top of my head. “You should still be asleep.”

“I’m not sure what woke me. Maybe it was being alone in that big bed.”

He chuckled softly. “Sorry. Memphis asked for help with his bike, so Reno and I went to take a look. You okay?”

“Yeah. A little hungry. Thought I’d start with coffee.”

“Get dressed. Reno and I will take you out somewhere.” He released me and stepped back. “We have the rest of the day free.”

I turned to smile up at him. “All right. Just give me twenty minutes so I can shower.”

He pulled me against him, kissing my lips softly. “Love you. You know that, right?”

My throat grew tight and my eyed burned with unshed tears. “I love you too. Both of you.”

He smacked my ass and grinned down at me. “Go get ready. We’ll have breakfast then go wherever you want. Make a day of it.”

I nodded and hurried to do just that.

I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my shoulders, washing away the tension that had coiled inside me like a serpent. Steam billowed around me, creating a cocoon that felt safe, if only for a moment. With my eyes closed, I could pretend that KiKi's note had never arrived, that Vegas wasn't a ticking time bomb, that my world wasn't balanced on a knife's edge.

But pretending had never saved anyone.

I scrubbed my skin until it turned pink, as if I could wash away the knowledge of KiKi's escape.

Who knew how many pleasant days we’d get like this in the future? I’d grab hold of these quiet, special moments when I could. Because if there was one thing I’d learned since coming to the Dark Wrath, it was that shit could hit the fan at any moment.

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