Page 75 of Her Filthy Reverse Harem Romance Collection

Leaning in, he presses his forehead against mine. “You’re in danger of never leaving this room. Don’t tempt me to tie you to this bed.”

I almost fall for that devilish glint in his eye. “We do that and I know I’ll end up pregnant, and another day with you three between my legs and I won’t be able to walk.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing,mo chroí. As for the latter, well, I’d carry you to the ends of the world.”

I look at him, all humor aside, and I know he’s telling the truth. He leans in and takes my lips with his. A soft brush and then something a little deeper that speaks volumes more than anything either of us could say.

“This feels right.” The words don’t do the stirring emotions in me justice. I take his face between my palms and look him in the eye. “I want you to know that.”

His gaze is dark and intent. “Forget about leaving here. Let’s stay. I’ll buy you all new stuff. You don’t need anything from your old life. I’ll give you everything you want and more.” He nuzzles me close and rubs the tip of his nose against mine.

I wish I had known my life would someday be brightened by men who want me so much that they’ll do anything to keep me safe.

“It’s not that simple, Sy. I owe people an explanation of where I am and I can’t justnotreturn for my things. Sally depends on me. I can’t let her down. I either need to cover until someone can fill in for me, or at least tell her I’m okay. I don’t have much, but what I have is worth something to me, and I have possessions that money can’t buy. Things my mother gave me. Plus clothes that are not an ugly yellow or polyester.” I give a pointed look at my current state of clothing.

“Drake, Grey, and two of my enforcers will accompany you. You have one hour before I want you back safe in my arms. Or I’ll come looking.”

I know he means well, so I don’t call him out on his high-handedness. I draw in a shaky breath unsure of the answer to my next question but needing it all the same. “Why are you doing all this for me?”

He wraps his arms around me and locks me in his embrace. He nods his head as if telling himself it’s okay to share a deep part of him. I feel like I am about to be shown a hidden side of Sylan he doesn’t share with many and I give him all of my attention.

“When your father walked through our doors needing money, believe it or not I felt a change coming. We all did. It had been building for a while and I was growing restless more so than Grey and Drake. In less than twenty-four hours after signing with your father, we made a plan to get you to work for us so we could keep you close. Months of watching you did something to us. We fell in love with a woman who didn’t know we existed. Then when you left we had men trailing your every move. You were not so good at covering your trail so they did it for you at our behest. Why do you think the shitty landlord of yours never kicked you out no matter how late you were with rent? It tore me up inside not to swoop in and take you back, but we had to wait. Bide our time until your father couldn’t hurt you anymore. Only it was his righthand man who we should have been watching. Each of us took turns sitting outside your apartment building making sure no one bothered you. Sally didn’t send those boxes of food from her diner.”

As he speaks, Sylan’s gaze drifts off to the corner of the room, his gaze glassy and distant before turning back to me with laser focus.

“It was you,” I whisper, eyes wide. I can’t determine if I was in awe of his kindness or of Sally’s ability to lie to my face when I asked her and then hugged her tight.

“We’ve put enough evil men in the ground to know an angel when we meet one. The men and I did what we could. It took incredible strength not to put a bullet in your father’s head for what he did to you and your mother. Every night I spent in my car I crafted ways to put him six feet under, and then I would see your shadow move in the window and my soul would calm, and I would be at peace for another little while.”

I’m having a hard time taking in what he’s telling me. “Did you kill my father? You can tell me the truth. I won’t be mad.”

“No. But don’t for a minute think we didn’t want to. When I speak, you will only get the truth. Do you understand?”

His eyes are on me and he gauges my reaction to his words. “And Sally? She was never my friend?”

“She was. Is. She looked out for you because I asked her to. Our associates are far and wide, but that’s where my influence ended. Everything else you have with her is genuine. You have my word.”

I nod but don’t really understand the whole picture.

“This is all so much. First Nikki and now Sally.”

“You have to understand, we have nothing less than respect for you. And love.”

My eyes widen and so does my heart.

“Love?” I ask in a hushed whisper, afraid I didn’t hear him right.

“Love,mo chroí. I’ve never said that word outside my family. You’re my first. You belong to us entirely, and no one will take you from us.”

It’s crazy but I love him too. Him, Grey and Drake. My heart hurts right along with his, and I’m honored he’s opened up to me.

“Now you know something about me. You don’t have to say anything. Not until you’re sure.”

I nod, and he presses his lips to my forehead. “My father was a good man. But he couldn’t save my sister who was hell-bent on doing things her way. She fell in with a bad crowd out of high school and she died on the streets a junkie and prostitute for the likes of men like Marcus. And your father. When you get to know our business, you’ll see I don’t tolerate that shit and why I will never work with a man like him.”

Disgust coats his words and he stands, taking me with him, and gently places me on my feet.

Everything about his demeanor says he doesn’t like the idea of me stepping outside his walls but I can tell he doesn’t want to scare me off by controlling my moves either. I don’t for a minute believe he would stand in my way if I were to walk out those doors. It’s a delicate balance, I know, and I don’t like this any more than he does. But I won’t live in fear either.

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