Page 60 of Hero Worship

The waiter approached with fresh coffee, his cheerful "Bonjour!" faltering slightly as he registered the charged atmosphere. Ash's hand slid to my thigh under the table, grip possessive as he tracked the server's movements. Across from us, Xavier's eyes caught the shift in position, cataloging one more piece of evidence in whatever profile he was building.

"Let's be clear about something," Xavier said, switching to English. His voice carried that dangerous edge I rarely heard – the one that made even Papa pay attention. "If anything happens to my brother—"

"X," I started, but he cut me off with a sharp look.

"No. He needs to understand exactly what he's gotten himself into." Xavier leaned forward, all pretense of civility gone. "I've spent twenty minutes watching how you touch him. How you position yourself. The way you track threats while maintaining physical contact. This isn't just a cover for you anymore, is it?"

Ash met his stare evenly. "No. It's not."

"Then you should know that if you hurt him, if you let anyone else hurt him..." Xavier's smile was lethal. "Well. Let's just say there are worse things than death."

"Both of you stop," I snapped as Ash tensed beside me. "X, I know you're worried. But this isn't what you think. I trust him."

"You trust too easily," Xavier shot back. "Always have."

"And you don't trust enough," I countered. "Look at me, X. Really look. Do I seem afraid? Uncertain?"

Xavier studied me with those too-sharp eyes that saw everything we tried to hide. I felt his focus narrow, felt him reading the currents of emotion between Ash and me. His expression shifted slightly.

"No," he admitted finally. "You don't. That's what worries me."

"You shouldn't be investigating this," Ash cut in, his voice hard. "The less you know, the safer you'll be."

"Bit late for that, isn't it?" Xavier's laugh held no humor. "My sibling is playing bait for a killer while working for our sperm donor. I think we're past plausible deniability."

"You know I can't walk away from this," I said quietly. "Not with what's at stake."

"I know." Xavier's smile was grim. "That's why I'm staying.”

"Absolutely not," Ash and I said in perfect unison.

"Try to stop me." Xavier's voice held that edge that meant he'd already made up his mind. "Unless you want me calling Papa to tell him his favorite child is working for Algerone."

"That's blackmail," I protested.

"That's family," he corrected, the words coming out in Russian again. "Get used to it."

I looked between them. My overprotective brother and my possessive handler were both trying to keep me safe in their own ways. Both were more alike than either would admit.

It hit me then how perfectly they mirrored each other in their need to control, to protect, to possess. Xavier with his emotional radar and carefully maintained surveillance, convinced his interference was justified by our bond. Ash, with his tactical positioning and marking touches, transforming his possession into something that looked like love. Both of them were so certain their version of possession was the right one.

My throat ached where Ash's marks branded me, each bruise a reminder of how completely I'd surrendered to him. I shifted in my seat, making the marks on my thighs throb. Ash's fingers tightened on my neck, while Xavier's eyes caught the minute flinch the movement caused. The triplet bond hummed with his disapproval, but there was : recognition of a shared impulse. The same possessive instinct that made him fly across an ocean just because I'd gone quiet for too long.

"Fine," I said finally. "But you follow our lead. No interfering with the operation. No calling home. And absolutely no trying to hack Lucky Losers' systems."

Xavier's innocent expression fooled exactly no one. "Would I do that?"

"Yes," Ash and I chorused again.

"Speaking of the operation," Xavier said, his expression turning deadly serious. "Tell me about tonight's party. And don't leave out any details about security."

"It's a private showing," I explained, keeping my voice low. "Very exclusive guest list. Starts at seven."

"Roche's security team handles the door," Ash added. "Former military. They'll be looking for weapons, but..."

"But they won't check too closely if the guests look pretty enough," Xavier finished. His eyes lingered on the marks visible above my collar. "That's why the bruises. You're establishing ownership before letting him play bait."

"Among other reasons," Ash replied, voice dropping lower. His fingers traced one of the marks on my neck.

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