Page 70 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

"Always, sweet girl," Zane murmurs, his lips brushing my temple.

"I love you, Angel," Levi adds, his fingers threading through mine.

I feel their words more than hear them, like echoes reaching down to where I'm floating. But I stay in that faraway place a while longer, where Garrett's games can't touch me. Where three minutes of darkness can't shatter everything I keep thinking I can have. Where I can pretend, just for a little while, that I really am free.

Later that night, I wake gasping from another nightmare. The house creaks and settles around me as I count my breaths. One—two—three. Zane stirs beside me, hand reaching out automatically.

"Just a dream," he murmurs.

"It's not though, is it?" I whisper back.

Levi rolls over, pulling me closer. "We've got you, Angel. The whole damn house is ready."

I know they mean it, and that they believe what they're saying. Every single man here would die before letting Garrett near me again. But that's exactly what terrifies me—the thought of anyone else getting hurt because of me.

I curl deeper into their arms, trying to focus on the present moment. The steady rhythm of their breathing. The familiar scent of laundry soap and cologne. The way they automatically shift to keep me comfortable between them.

But even here, in what should be my safest place, I can't shake the feeling that Garrett is out there, watching, waiting. Planning his next move while we all hold our breath.

The code Colt gave us earlier runs through my mind on repeat. 7—2—5—9—4. My new mantra, my emergency escape route. Because that's what my life has become again—a series of just-in-case and what-if plans.

But this time it’s different. This time I'm not alone. This time I know how to fight back. I'm just not convinced it's going to matter.

I press closer to Levi's chest, reaching back to touch Zane's arm. Their presence holds me, reminds me that whatever comes next, I don't have to face it by myself.

The house creaks again, and somewhere downstairs I hear Wolf's boots on his security rounds. The sound should be comforting—proof of how protected I am. Instead, it just reminds me why I need it.

Five days since the power outage. Five days of waiting.

I close my eyes and start counting again.

Chapter Thirty-One

Zane

Istandatthewindow of my office, watching the new security team make their rounds. The longer we go with nothing happening, the heavier the monotony of the heightened security weighs on everyone. The safehouse compound feels more like a prison with each passing day.

"Another sweep complete, Sir." Chase's voice crackles through my earpiece. "All clear."

"Copy that." I turn from the window, my gaze falling on the security feeds displaying every corner of our property. Six new cameras, three motion sensors, and enough firepower to start a small war. Yet something nags at me.

Movement on one of the screens catches my attention. Sunny and Jade pace the length of the indoor gym like caged animals. Even through the grainy footage, their restlessness is obvious. Jade throws her hands up in frustration while Sunny sits cross-legged on a yoga mat, sketching—something she's started doing again since being here.

"They're going stir crazy." Colt's voice makes me turn. He stands in my doorway, coffee in hand, watching the same feed.

"I know." I run a hand through my hair, the strands falling back over my shoulder.

"Especially Jade. She's not built to be contained. She's like a loaded weapon with the safety off. I mean, none of us are built for this kind of waiting." Colt steps inside, closing the door with a soft click. "But she's really struggling."

I gesture to the chair across from my desk, and he takes it—the leather creaking under his weight as he settles in. "Have you noticed how she's getting more... explosive during training? Yesterday she nearly took Wolf's head off while they were sparring."

"Hard to not to see it." I know he's right. I've been trying to come up with a solution for days.

"It's not sustainable." I say as I lean back in my chair. "We can't keep them locked up inside indefinitely. Especially not Jade—she's going to either try to break out or kill someone."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Start small. Those drinks you two share at night? Move them back out to the porch." I watch his reaction carefully. "We've got the area secured, clear sight lines. Let her get some fresh air before she combusts."

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