Page 52 of Reckless Thief

Jasper was the same, while Kellan was more circumspect. Rome and Vaughn didn’t seem to care one way or the other, but Freddie remained cautious and wary. Milo’s reactions, on the other hand, held far more curiosity. Then again, his relationship with Mickey was a lot more fraternal than mine, so…

Flattening a hand on either side of me, Mickey tilted his head. “You’re not going to bend on this, are you?”

“Nope. Unless there’s a compelling argument for why I need to go.” I pressed a hand to his chest, right over his heart. “We’re still figuring some of this out and I know you want to keep me safe. All of you do, and I want the same thing for you. If I thought that leaving would protect you…”

His gaze leveled. “You going back to that monster wouldn’t do anything except hurt you.”

“I’m never going back to him,” I said. “Not willingly.” Had I said that aloud before? The words were sharp, new, and tasted acrid on my tongue. “I know I’m still figuring things out with everyone…though the one thing we’ve all agreed on—” I hesitated. “All of us except you, it would seem, is that you can’t just hide me or send me away. I belonghere.”

That earned me a bland look.

I shrugged. “You’re the only one who keeps talking about sending me away…” And that hurt more than I wanted to admit. “You bring it up to everyone who isn’t me, too.” The guys weren’t having any of it anymore, not even Milo. “They’re planning how to get to Vegas and back, with my father… and whether any of us should go.”

“Or if we use my guys for it,” Mickey admitted with a sigh. “Little Bit, putting aside that last piece…I don’t want to send you away.”

I would have protested, but he pressed a finger to my lips.

“I don’twantto do it. I worry that if I don’t fight for it, fight for you, something else will happen.” He moved his hands to my wrists, lifting my arms so we could both look at the scars along them. “You have suffered so goddamn much…these are just the scars we see.”

“But you’ve seen the other scars.” The ones inside.

He nodded, and I sighed. “I think you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met, nevertheless it would kill me if something happened to you again. Especially if we could have prevented it by not being selfish with you.”

“How is it not selfish to put my safety above yours? Or theirs?”

“What if I could persuade Freddie to…” Thankfully, he didn’t finish the question. “That isn’t going to work, is it?”

“No,” I told him, even as I licked my lips. “They’re my family. This is my home.” Goddamn, those words felt so good to say. “I want you to be my family too.”

Surprise flickered over his face.

“But I won’t be hidden away like some victim who can’t lift her head or take the light. I’ve been a victim my whole goddamn life.” Even before Milo’s and my mother died from the sound of it. I was helpless to protect my brother; he sacrificed everything for me. “I refuse to be a victim anymore. Was I raped? Yes. Was I molested for years? Yes.” Every word burned in my throat. “Have I tried to escape before? Yes. Am I terrified of what he will do to all of you in his sick little quest? Yes.”

Mickey’s eyes fixed on mine as I raised my hand to touch his face.

“The scars say we survived, Mickey, so stop looking at me like a victim.” I needed this from him if he could offer me nothing else. “Please stop treating me like that. Please—let me be your family and your partner and a Vandal…just like you. I need to protect you too.”

Eyes closed, he leaned into my palm. “Goddammit, Little Bit.” Then his mouth was on mine, burning me up from the deeper possession. Dragging his head away, he stared at me again, and I was gasping for another taste. “Do you trust me?”

Did I? It had been rocky for a while. I could admit that. His rejection and the harsh words had driven the wedge that the time with my uncle and Pinetree had blown wide and left me raw.

I had forgiven him. I adored him. But did I trust him?

Unnerving as it was, the answer was right there. “Yes.”

“Will you come with me?”

“Right now?” I blinked. We weren’t supposed to…

“Yes. We’ll have backup, and the guys won’t have to worry. I promise.”

“Will I be able to come back?” Please don’t be a trap. Please don’t be a trap.

“You can go wherever you want,” he promised. “I’ll kick down the damn doors myself if I have to. I won’t cage you, Little Bit. No matter how damn much I want you hidden and safe, I won’t.”

“Then I’ll go with you.” The words were barely out before he crushed me to him in a hug that squeezed out my breath. He leaned away and palmed his phone before he gave me a once-over.

“Jacket, heavier clothes. Something to hide the hair.”

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