Page 329 of Redeemed

“Please promise you won’t leave me alone again. Please, I can’t—I can’t go back there.”

“Promise,” Xander says, his voice thick. “I promise, Haven.”

That only makes me cry harder, because I know he means it. None of them meant for me to get hurt. I may have been the one who got kidnapped, but I know how terrified they were for me.

The bed dips, and I look up to see a blur of blond hair and green eyes.

“Colt?” I whisper.

“C’mere, angel.”

Lucas and Xander let me go so I can crawl into Colton’s lap. He’s showered since last night because his cedarwood and lemon scent is back. I curl up into him while he gently rocks me back and forth.

“You done?” Xander asks quietly.

“No. Heard her crying.”

I clutch at Colton’s shirt as I gasp, trying to get enough air. “Don’t… please don’t go. I know you have work to do, but—”

“I’m going to be wherever you need me to be,” Colton says firmly. “You’re my priority, you hear me?”

Xander takes my free hand and kisses my knuckles. “Same with me and Luc.”

“You don’t have to worry,” Lucas adds as he strokes my hair.

Only with all three of them touching me does the feeling of Isaiah’s body on mine fully vanish. Calmness descends on me, slowly spreading through my body. My breathing slows, and I let myself close my eyes for a few minutes.

None of them rush me. There’s no talk about my duties or what my place is or God’s will for disobedient women. Just soft, patient touches from three men who’ve broken my heart, only to heal it. And now, they’ve vowed to protect me no matter what.

Sometime after my tears have dried, hunger gnaws at my stomach. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, and even then, I could only choke a few bites down.

“Breakfast?” I ask tiredly.

Xander chuckles. “Considering what time it is, I think it’d be lunch, but that sounds like a good idea. Just a heads up, my family is downstairs, and Rachel will probably pounce on you the second she sees you.”

The thought makes me wince. My body is still sore from Isaiah taking out his anger on me. Falling down the stairs last night didn’t help, either.

With a grimace, Xander squeezes my hand. “I’ll tell her to be gentle.”

It hurts, knowing that Rachel will have to tamp down her enthusiasm. I love how energetic she is. Phil is obviously an amazing father because she never seems to feel the need to hide her emotions.

Colton shifts. “All right, you guys need to get dressed and all, so—”

With a panicked sound, I grab on to him. “Don’t leave, please.”

“I’m staying with you,” he says, amused. “Just promised you I would, angel.”

“Right,” I mumble.

I have to force myself to let go of him so I can go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Once I’m done, I do my hair the way I have over the past couple of days, braiding as many of the shorter tufts of hair as I can and pinning the rest down.

When I step out of the bathroom, Xander and Lucas are just returning, having brushed their teeth and gotten dressed in their room.

“Ready?” Colton asks.

I nod. I’m not, but I’m too hungry to stay up here for much longer.

Colton picks me up, saying something about me needing to stay off my feet. And while that is was Cal ordered, I think he’d do it anyway. I’m not the only one who needs closeness right now.

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