Page 48 of Adored By Them
Dani holds tightly to my hand.“It’s over, now, isn’t it?”
I lean over, breathe in her sweet scent.Tate Vorsong won’t be getting out again, and even if he does, that life debt will keep us safe forever.“Yeah.For good.”
16
Danica
One week has gone by.Edmund got an all-clear from his doctor to resume normal activities.Which in his case, means being an absolute menace with Arky and Cackle, getting them all riled up so they chase each other around the house.
Edmund, Troy, and I have settled into a routine.I go to work in the afternoon at Isabelle’s Creamery and do some consulting accounting on the side in the mornings.In the evenings, we relax together—reading, watching TV, swimming.Cackle is ridiculously spoiled.He has Edmund, Troy, and Arky waiting on him.I once called Edmund a “pretty prick of a prince,” but Cackle is the one who really deserves the title.
I keep waiting for the guys to get pulled back into jobs for the Layton Family.But so far, they haven’t.They go to Finch and Fox, as well as Salt.Edmund even had paperwork drawn up to make Troy his business partner, so they own them together.
Everything feels too good to be true, and yet I’m optimistic.Maybe it’s dumb, but a gut feeling tells me that all is well, and all will be well.We’re set.This is the bright future we wanted, within our grasp.
At least, I thought it was.Saturday night rolls around.One week since Tate Vorsong tried to rip everything good away from us.One week since it all could have fallen apart.
And Edmund and Troy are acting off when they return from Finch and Fox.
“I’m going to swim.”Troy brushes a kiss on my forehead before rushing out to the balcony.
“I’ll join you.”I start pulling off my shirt.
Edmund whirls me around.“Not so fast, princess.You haven’t given me a kiss.”
His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
I frown up at him, and smooth my fingertips over his brow.“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, of course.”
But it isn’t.That smile is false.Something has him rattled.Is it the Vorsongs, and he just doesn’t want to tell me?Except they are all locked up and there isn’t a single chance they could get free.Did I do something to make Edmund and Troy upset?I don’t think I did.Everything has seemed so great.
“How was work?”I ask.
“Oh, good.Same old shit, you know.”
I narrow my eyes at him.Do I know?Right now, I don’t think I do.He’s hiding something.
“Edmund, you have exactly two seconds to tell me?—”
“Dani!”Troy calls into the living room.“Come swimming, little girl.”
He’s trying to distract me.They both are.
Edmund must see the flash of fear over my face, because he dips his head toward mine and whispers, “There’s nothing bad, angel.I promise.Now get that sweet little ass in the water.”
Not entirely reassured, I strip down and head to the balcony.Troy tosses rings into the pool and dives down to retrieve them.Tragically, the water ripples too much, distorting what would be a most excellent view of his ass.
The sound of running footsteps is my only warning before Edmund runs from behind me and leaps into the pool.The resulting splash covers me in water and I shriek in surprise.Then I get my revenge, jumping in just behind him so my splash hits his face when he emerges.
“Where’s Arky?”I ask.Usually when we swim, he anxiously stands near the edge, trying to monitor our safety.He seems nearly equally invested in all of us, although I’ve noticed he gives Troy a little extra care.I think it’s great, because Troy’s always looking out for everyone else—it’s about time someone took extra special interest in him.Besides me, of course.
“I put him in the bedroom to keep Cackle company.”Edmund’s grin is too easy, too ready.
Something really is up, and if I have to fuck them to get the full story, well, desperate times, desperate measures.
I swim over to Edmund, ready to give him an underwater blowjob for as long as I can hold my breath.But just then, Troy tosses another ring past us.
