Page 125 of Villain Era

I don’t want to be this version of me, but there is not a damn thing I can do to stop him from taking complete control. My only saving grace is knowing that there is someone out there who will pay for what they have done to her. I will make it my life’s mission to bring June the justice she deserves, and then I will disappear into the shadows, never to be seen or heard from again. I refuse to continue plaguing her. I can’t stomach watching her lose faith in me—inus.

She’s better off without me, and I will make sure of that once I’ve enacted my revenge.

I can't stand another moment of watching her slip away into the arms of a man more capable of giving her what she needs than I am. It's not even about jealousy—I've grown familiar with sharing her. It’s about recognizing that I am not a suitable choice for her. And maybethat’swhy I hate Simon so much. Because he loves her in a way that I will never be able to.

The things I have done are not redeemable—I’m well aware of this. But there is one thing I can do, and that’s kill the bastard responsible for hurting the only girl I’ve ever loved.

Even if it kills me, I will make sure it’s done.

June walks down the stairs with Beckett on her heels.

He slept in her bed, and even though it’s something we all would have killed him for two days ago, we don’t push the issue. June said it herself last night, we’re lucky she’s still here. And if it takes Simon being that fucking close to her, I’ll accept those terms.

She clutches her arm to her side and comes closer, putting somewhat of a distance between us and them.

Simon and June on one side, Dom, Magnus, and me on the other.

A line in the sand.

“I’ve slept on it,” she says, her voice raspy from a heavy night’s sleep. “I will stay on one condition.”

“What is it, princess?” Magnus blurts out immediately, nearly chomping at the bit to do whatever it is she asks of us.

I internalize that same exact feeling without acting on it. Dom, no doubt, does the same.

“You let me help.” She glances between us. “You let me help figure out who wants me dead.” June chews at the inside of her lip. “It’s either that, or I walk out of here and never come back.”

27

JUNE

The guys agree to my terms, but demand that I take at least one day to recover from my traumatic experience. They actually pushed for a whole week, but we negotiated down to one day.

“We need to seem unbothered by what happened,”I had told them.

Whoever attacked Simon and I are banking on the fact that we’re trembling in our boots and afraid it might happen again. And it’s not that we aren’t, but that isn’t the front we’re going to let them see.

They’ll be expecting us to be rattled, to put more of a divide between us. To anyone in the organization, they’re aware our entire relationship is rocky. We’re hardly ever seen together. And when I’m out in public, I’m usually with Simon. That has to appear suspicious for anyone with a set of eyes and a fucking brain.

I want whoever might be watching to witness all of us, all five, getting along and acting completely fucking normal. Well, as normal as a criminal poly relationship can be. Simon isn’t my boyfriend, and we still haven’ttrulycrossed that line, but after almost losing him, I’m well aware he’s so much more than just my bodyguard. Only time will tell what comes from it, but for now, he’s part of this family whether the guys want him to be or not.

Non-fucking-negotiable.

“Are you going to call Bram, or do you want me to do it, princess?” Magnus leads me through the garage toward his car.

“I already did,” I tell him. “He sounded worried but told me to take as much time as I needed.”

"He's a good man, that Bram." Magnus opens the passenger door and glances at the man behind me. "You coming, Beckett?"

Simon hasn’t left my side other than to take a shower or use the bathroom. He hasn’t even gone home, but instead has been borrowing clothes and necessities from Magnus. I’d venture to say there might be a friendship budding between them.

“Yep.” Simon slides into the seat behind mine. “These windows reinforced?” He taps his knuckle against the glass.

“Mmhm." Magnus shuts me in and strolls over to the driver's side. "Dom and Hayes said they'd meet us there."

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the office.” I fidget with a thread on my jeans.

“United front, right?” Magnus pushes the button to start his car and reverses it out of the garage. Once he’s done shifting, he settles his palm on my thigh.

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