Page 21 of Room Nine: Masters of Control

I consider their words, taking a couple bites of burrito, my stomach rumbling from almost twenty-four hours without food. I didn’t realize how hungry I was after yesterday’s excitement. The guys also dig into their food, and I’m impressed how clean they are—napkins and all. Meanwhile, a piece of guacamole-covered Carne Asada drops out of my burrito and lands on my chest.

Of course.

I clean myself up, glancing up to see Kerr’s lips curled in a smile.

I stick my tongue out as a silent response. Then I decide to get to the topic at hand: why they are really here right now.

“What about Bobby?” From what I’ve learned about these guys in the short time I’ve known them, I bet they’re tracking Bobby and probably know where he is right now.

“Bobby’s a problem. The Feds are going to want him as part of their giant prosecution, but we’re not willing to wait around for them to figure it out.”

“What does that mean?”

“That means, Kitten, if you want us to make him go away, we can do that.”

“Are you saying you would kill him for me?”

Kerr shrugs, but says nothing.

O’Dell clears his throat. “We would make the problem go away, and that’s all you need to know.”

I shake my head. “Why would you do that for me? You don’t even know me. I’m nothing to you. Is it an overwhelming sense of chivalry that you can’t stand to see a guy like that breathe?”

“True, we still have a lot to learn about each other—” Dem captivates me with his gentle voice and dazzling gold-green eyes “—but never think you are nothing to us. You mean more than we can explain.”

All the mental armor I wear for everyone else falls off me. I don’t know why, but I trust these men with everything I have, including my body and my heart.

Dammit. Who knew blowing up a house would also blow up my entire insulated existence?

8

DEM

Isee the moment Kyra drops the last of her guard with us. I don’t think she would’ve done it willingly, but sometimes our souls or spirits or whatever’s guiding us through life knows who we can trust and be ourselves with. Just like I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that she was meant for us.

“I don’t want you totake careof my problem for me, but I appreciate your willingness to do so.” Kyra smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes as she casts her gaze down at her burrito. “I will say, your offer is the most romantic thing one man, much less three, has ever made me.”

“We take care of what is ours.” O’Dell’s voice drops an octave, causing her to bring her head up.

She stares at him for a good five seconds before whispering, “I’m not yours.”

He arches his brow. “Not yet, but we’re hoping to convince you to think otherwise.”

“Let us show you how good we could be together,” I lean forward with my elbows on my knees, causing her to swing her beautiful eyes my way.

Her gaze shifts to Kerr, who only smiles with one eyebrow cocked in challenge as his response.

“How does one woman date three men?”

“From what we’ve seen, not lightly,” O’Dell states, pushing off the island to retake his spot near the window.

She tilts her head. “Are you saying that from experience with prior relationships, or do you know other couples—is that even the right word—who date like this?”

“We know otherfamilies.”

This seems to surprise her. Kyra takes a second to think, the gears in her beautiful head churning. “Why? I mean, why date the same woman?”

“We are men who enjoy being the best at everything we do, and we learned a long time ago we are best when we do things as one. Together, you get the best of us—”

---