Page 171 of Retribution
“Because of what happened?” I ask, almost bitterly.
“No,” he says, kissing my temple. “You’re ours to take care of. It’s that simple, and it always will be.”
Relaxing more against him, I nod. My fingers run over his legs absently since he’s behind me, stilling when I feel his boxers. Smiling softly, I realize that he wanted me to be comfortable while he bathed me. My skin feels like it can breathe now without a layer of crusted blood over it, and I can’t see any evidence of it on me either.
“Okay,” I say, yawning again.
“I think it’s time for you to get out of the tub,” Oli says, leaning in the doorway. Coming inside, he picks up a fluffy towel for me. “Take it nice and easy, Kitten.”
Leaning forward, I get out of the water, grateful that my legs are working again. The sedative had a wild effect on me, and I never want to feel that way again.
Lucas’ hands guide me up as he stands as well, and Oli wraps me in the towel before he lifts me out of the tub.
“My legs aren’t broken anymore,” I tease him, enjoying the princess treatment as he puts me down and begins to dry me off thoroughly.
Lucas grabs a towel for himself, tossing his wet boxers into the hamper as he dries off and wraps it around his waist.
“I’ll be right back,” he says, leaving the bathroom for a moment.
Oli wraps his arms around my towel covered body, and I soak in the happy feelings of safety it gives me.
“I’m so ready to go to bed,” he groans. “It’ll be nice to sleep, knowing you’re safe with us.”
“Who am I sleeping with?” I ask curiously.
“All of us,” Lucas says, reappearing in a pair of joggers. He holds up a sweatshirt that I recognize as his and I smile as he helps me into it, and Oli pulls the towel away to drop it in the hamper.
“Is there enough room?” I ask, taking Oli’s hand as he leads me out of the bathroom.
There’s a bedroom waiting for me as we walk in, and my jaw drops when I see the two mattresses pushed together. It’s on a pallet that reminds me of my nest, nice and low to the ground. The ceiling isn’t high vaulted, and I can easily identify all the exits.
Yes, it’s perfect.
Crawling onto the mattresses, I move until I’m in the middle without being in the crack, and face plant happily into bed.
“This is so fucking amazing,” I groan.
“Where have you been sleeping?” Grant asks, his teeth gritting together. They’re all surrounding me on the bed, and slowly lay down around me.
“You don’t want to know,” I say honestly.
“Yes, we do,” Grant says. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
Flopping onto my back, I blow out a breath.
“Ophelia extracts great pleasure in my suffering. It started with an ice cold shower with a high powered spray hose, and she made sure the water was directed into very tender areas,” I explain. “Ophelia was pissed about everything, and she thought Leila was biologically mine. Fuck, where is she?”
Sitting straight up in panic, I see the bassinet on the far side of the bed, beside Alesso.
“Oh my god, she’s sleeping by herself already?” I wail.
“Only here and there,” Alesso admits. “She’s going to realize that she’s not able to hear someone’s heartbeat and get mad.”
“She’s so pretty,” I mutter, my eyes glued to her long lashes and little nose. “Promise me nothing bad will ever happen to her.”
“I promise that we will protect her to the best of our ability,” Lucas says. “She’ll learn how to defend herself, and be a badass like her mama. No one is taking advantage of her and living to tell the tale.”
“Good enough,” I say, still whispering in my head that I’ll kill anyone who hurts her as I lay back down.
