Page 98 of Pray for the Damned

Emmett grasps my chin and drags my attention to him. His smile is softer, but no less beautiful, and I don’t need him to say the words to know he feels the same. It’s written all over his face how he feels about me, and I don’t know how I possibly got lucky enough to have not one, but two men who feel so strongly about me.

“I think I loved you the minute I saw you that night in your father’s house. The way you looked at me like your savior.” He pauses, overcome by his own emotions. “Maybe that’s why I’ve spent the last decade trying to live up to that. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, a life the three of us are going to build together.”

Tears fall against my cheeks, but they’re quickly wiped away by Kade. “You’re stuck with us now, baby.”

“Good,” I whisper. “Nowhere else I’d want to be.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

EMMETT

It’s been a little over six weeks since Waverly and I were shot, and every day has felt better than the last.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure Kade and I were capable of settling down in the most traditional sense of the word, but we both fell into it with ease.

But then again, our girl makes it easy. She didn’t argue when we moved her into Kade’s apartment, or when we slipped an engagement ring on her finger while she slept, or even how casually we discussed filling our home with babies in the not-too-distant future.

She seems to love our new life as much as we do.

Well, other than the fact we haven’t let her come back to the Scarlet Lounge since she was taken.

She’s been like a feisty kitten, spitting and hissing every time we say no, but we weren’t ready to let her out of our sight or home just yet.

Within the confines of the apartment, we can ensure her safety. We can control who has access to her, and we can watch her every move even when we’re not home, which is rare. One of us is always with her, and that’s something I don’t intend to change. Especially as we start growing our family.

But tonight, we relented. Kade has some surprise he wants to show us, and Waverly didn’t care as long as it meant coming back to the place we officially met. She’s also been begging to see Abigail for weeks, but we couldn’t make the times work until tonight.

Waverly tugs me further into the club, the smile spread across her face so carefree it’s miles away from the fake ones she used to give, and I can’t help but be a little smug that I’m part of the reason that smile exists.

Kade is on her other side, his eyes scanning the club for any possible threats. Tonight may have been his idea, but he’s struggling not having complete control over our girl’s safety.

As soon as the bar comes into view, Waverly slips her hand from mine and takes off toward Abigail, who drops the empty tray in her hand to hug her friend.

“Oh my god, it’s so good to see you,” Waverly says.

“Girl, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you. When are you coming back to work?”

Kade opens his mouth, and I quickly smack his arm, giving him a sharp glare. We may want to control every aspect of Waverly’s life, and we do for the most part, but there are things she has to decide for herself, and this is one of them.

“I’m not sure.” She looks over her shoulder at us as if asking when we think that might be, but I just smile.

“Whenever you’re ready, Little Temptress.”

“You’re here to play tonight?” Abigail asks, a soft smirk on her lips.

Waverly nods. “Thank God. These two have been holding back on me, and I am ready for some kinky—” She’s cut off my Kade’s hand over her mouth.

“Careful what you wish for, baby girl,” he murmurs against the shell of her ear.

Abigail smirks. “Well, you three have fun. I hear the bosses set up a brand-new theme room just for you.”

Waverly and I look to Kade, who just shrugs and takes Waverly’s hand, dragging her further into the club. What the hell does he have planned for us? And why hasn’t he told me what it is?

Fucker.

I wave to a couple of the regulars I’ve gotten to know over the years I’ve been coming here, but I’m focused on my girl.

She’s right. We’ve been holding back since she was hurt, and both Kade and I have been able to tell how frustrated she’s been. But we wanted to wait until after she had her appointment this week to reintroduce rough sex.

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