Page 16 of Mated to Four Bears

“We’ve also made sure the whole house is secure,” Thomas insisted. “And the window is already fixed, so you don’t need to worry about a thing. We’re going to make sure that you’re okay, no matter what. Nothing will happen to you here.”

“But we would like to know everything we can about this ex-boyfriend of yours,” William jumped in. “So we can make sure he can’t get to you. I know this might not be something you want to talk about, but we do need to know.”

I sighed heavily. Yeah, I didn’t really want to spend a lot of time thinking about Antonio, never mind talking about him, but I got what William was saying. The Osbornes needed to have all the information they could so they could to keep Antonio and anyone having anything to do with him away from me.

“Sure, yeah, I will talk to you about him,” I replied with a sigh. “I’ll tell you everything.”

We all took a seat in the living room, back on the couch I left not so long ago.

“Antonio was one of the first people I met in college,” I began, shifting uncomfortably as I started to think back to a time in my life that I really didn’t want to think about. “We shared a couple of classes, and he often joined me for lunch. I thought he was really sweet and charming, that he was trying to romance me. But now I know he was just trying to manipulate me.”

I felt idiotic. So small and stupid for falling for Antonio. Even with Richard knowing a bit of my history and maybe understanding why this had happened a little better, it was super embarrassing. I hated that I had been so God damn foolish.

“And then we started dating. We were the college golden couple on campus for a while. Until he dropped out. Then I started to see a new side to him. The love bombing slowed down and the nastiness started. Plus the gambling got really bad. Unfortunately, at that point, I was in love with him. Or I thought I was. So, I was desperate to hold on to him and willing to do anything to help him. That was when the money borrowing started. Or should I say stealing?”

HeknewI didn’t have much. Antonino knew about my past and where I came from, so he was well aware of how little I had. Yet he stole from me anyway and I was stupid enough to keep on loving him. I might as well have been under his spell.

“That went on for a long time, until he’d basically drained me dry.” I couldn’t look at anyone as I was saying this. I didn’t want to see the reaction of any of the Osborne brothers. I was sure they thought I was a massive idiot. “Then the cheating began, and that’s basically what ended the relationship. I don’t know if I would have found the strength to leave if it wasn’t for that. Something that’s humiliating to think about now.”

I stopped talking and a thick, unpleasant silence filled the room. I could almost hear the cogs spinning in their brains. I didn’t know everything about the Osborne brothers yet, but they were all very different. I hoped that would be a good thing. Thatthey would all have very different opinions about this and advice for my future. I liked to look at things from every single angle, so that I knew I was making the wisest choice.

“So, he is obviously still knee deep in gambling debt,” William commented. “Which is why he’s come to you for money again. I guess he has bled his latest source dry, which is why he has come back to you.”

Those words didn’t make me feel too good about myself, but that wasn’t William’s fault. It was Antonio’s, because it was true. That was exactly how he saw me. Not as a human with thoughts and emotions, not a person with my own problems. But just as a bank for him to use to feed his own addictions. What a God damn asshole.

“We need to go to him,” Henry growled, anger in every syllable. “We need to get him before he can come after Samantha himself. This isn’t just a defensive issue anymore; we need to go on the offensive. I don’t want him to do this to anyone else.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” I asked, alarmed. “I don’t want you to put yourself in the line of fire. You don’t need to get in to trouble for me.”

Defending and protecting me was one thing, but actively going out there and putting themselves in danger was something else. My blood ran icy cold at the mere thought of it.

“We have to stop him, though,” William agreed. But not with me. “We have to make sure he can’t keep abusing other women. I won’t have this kind of behavior in my city. It isn’t right. Especially not when he’s using magic incorrectly.”

Oh great. Just great. So, they were doing this anyway. I really did want Antonio to be stopped, because I didn’t want anyone else to be left with nothing like I was, but this terrified me. The Osborne men was determined to do this, I could see it in their eyes, which meant I was going to have to accept this, no matter what.

11

THOMAS

Samantha had been living with us for almost two weeks now, and during that time, I’d fallen absolutely head over heels for her.

I needed to tell her—and that was the problem. I kept my emotions inside because I knew that I wasn’t the only one. Knowing that I was in direct competition with my brothers was hard. I loved my brothers, and I didn’t want to fall out over Samantha, but if I couldn’t have her, I didn’t know what I’d do. I’d never felt so strongly for anyone before.

She was all that I thought about, all the time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every moment in between. While healing her, the connection had started, and it was getting stronger. I just wanted to hold her, to be in her bed, to have her always…

“What are you thinking about?” Samantha asked me when she caught me staring at her. “You look really pensive. Is there something on your mind? Anything you want to talk about?”

What did I tell her? That she looked utterly stunning when she studied? That I loved the expression on her face when she read something she found interesting? That I was struggling tokeep away from her, when all I wanted to do was kiss her and claim her as my own?

No, I couldn’t tell her that. I didn’t want to make things weird between us, and I didn’t want to do anything that would put her off me. Plus, I knew living here was important to her, I could see it in her eyes. Not just for the protection and safety, but to get back on her feet as well. She currently had one shift a week at the local book store, but she was hungry for more. It just wasn’t the best time because people weren’t hiring.

“I was just worrying about your health,” I said out of habit. “I wouldn’t mind checking you again to make sure there isn’t any residual magic inside you. Is that okay?”

Her eyes widened, then she nodded. I cringed internally because this was a shitty excuse. If I was reallythatworried, I would have checked on her days ago. But she was rolling with it, so I was going to do the same thing. I rose and headed over to her.

“So, uh, maybe you should lie down on the couch for a moment.”

The air suddenly got all hot and thick between us. The look in Samantha’s eyes shifted. This was about so much more than just healing, and we both knew it. It seemed like she wanted to see what this was between us as much as I did.

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