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Christmas Eve was supposedto be a big night for me. I was going to deal the biggest transaction of the year. Just send drugs overseas, get a big payout, spend the night with Boogie and King, fuck in front of the fire, or something equally as romantic, before I gave them their gifts.

I had this planned out before everything had happened and the rage I had as I got the delivery ready was the only thing keeping me going. My body was sore and tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep, but I had a fucking job to do, and I was going to do it if it was the last thing I did.

Arthur was dumb enough to leave Christmas Town exactly the way it was and by the time the triplets brought me back, it was exactly as I had left it. Well, almost. Boogie and King had decided to run Christmas Town since they had me hidden away like a Disney Princess.

Lance and the triplets loaded a big truck with “the presents” containing various drugs inside of them, and our buyer would be here in about thirty minutes.

“Uh, Noelle, Roman is here,” Lance said, as I looked behind me.

He walked in with a few men, and I looked around, waiting for King or Boogie to come behind him.

“I’m alone,” he said, holding his hands up and so did the other men. “This is for you.”

He handed me a sleek black envelope with my name in loopy script. The handwriting was so elegant, it always shocked me it came from King. I reluctantly opened it.

Noelle,

Merry Christmas. This wasn’t how I envisioned spending our first Christmas together, but I know I have us to thank for that. I hope you are feeling better and you are not stressing about the big deal tonight. It will go off without any problems. I’m sending Roman and some of our most trusted men. They are yours now. Roman has a few more contacts coming tomorrow and you should have a dozen men at your disposal. We should have started with this instead of locking you away.

I’m sorry,

King

I clenched my jaw in anger as I glared at his beautiful handwriting. I looked up from his letter to see Roman and the men on their knees.

“We swear our allegiance to you, Noelle,” they said in unison.

“Damn, is this where they start groveling?” Winchester asked as he stood next to me.

“He only sent you six men?” Maverick stood on the other side of me.

“Six more arrive tomorrow.” Roman rolled his eyes at her.

“Get up, these packages aren’t going to get themselves on this truck,” Ruger said and the men moved without any hesitation.

“Here’s another one.” Roman gave me another note, but it wasn’t in a pretty envelope like the one before, this one was from Boogie. “If it makes you?—”

“It won’t, Roman, their pain doesn’t make me feel better,” I snapped. “You think I want this? I think this is a bad idea, you should take?—”

“Keep us, it’s the least they could do, and I know this is a hard decision for you,” he sighed. “They should have figured out a way to protect you with your freedom intact. King and Boogie acted irrationally. I don’t think they’ve ever been so scared in their lives. They’ve never had a reason to be. I just hope you realize that you belong together before it’s too late. Some of us don’t get that choice.”

“Forgive them even if I don’t trust them?” I asked, not sure whathe was saying.

“No, make them get on their knees for you, but don’t waste too much time apart,” he said softly. “We never know how much time we have left onthis earth and regret is a bitch.”

He walked by me, leaving me to think about his words.

“They are also jealous assholes, and I know they are goingto call me tonight so I’m sure if they hear you laughing or flirting with the triplets, I can’t say they would be too happy about it,” he smirked, walking away to help the rest of the crew get the truck ready.

I was too mad to entertain the thought that I could forgive them. I knew I couldn’t be mad at them forever, but my biggest worry was, could I ever trust them again? That was our foundation, if I couldn’t trust them, then what was the point of being together?

“Noelle, he’s arrived,” Lance said, I took a deep breath.

“Ok, let's do this,” I said, and we walked to the gate.

The man they called Saint was waiting for us. He came with a small group of men and I appreciated that he hadn’t brought an enormous amount of people like he usually did.

“Noelle.” His deep timber was soothing.