Page 49 of The Truths We Seek

“I don’t think Carlos—”

“I don’t mean Carlos,” I tell him with a smile. “Let’s go grab lunch!”

* * *

After the bust of trying to help with the “family business”, since I got back from my lunch with Bruno, I’ve been scrolling online looking at part time jobs and volunteer work that I might be able to do, just to pass some time. I’ve never really sat well in the housewife role, and since Carlos does the cooking and grocery shopping and the guys have a freaking team of cleaners, there’s nothing in that role for me to do anyway.

The only things I have to pass my time are TV and working out, and I’m getting restless. I want to do something. Find some purpose. Too many sacrifices were made for me to get to this point. The whole point was so that I would be free to live my life, and while I am free—admittedly with constraints, which are mildly understandable after what Meyer told me last week—I don’t feel like I’m free.

Even knowing there are threats, I can’t just do nothing. I’m still tucked away like a little lost bird in a cage, like I have a broken wing. And I’m not saying I’m not broken, lord knows the multiple weekly sessions with my therapist are testament enough to that, but I don’t need to be squirreled away.

A broken wing never mends if it isn’t given the chance to stretch and fly.

Which is exactly how I find myself in Meyer’s office with Rory and Hunter, trying to plead my case.

Again.

I tug on the cuffs of my sweater, giving them the best puppy dog eyes I can muster, before saying, “Pleaseeeeee.”

It feels gross having to almost beg, but all things considered, between Trent, Tommy, and the other stuff they have going on, I realized going full-scale wild child and just doing it without speaking to them would be childish.

Even if I feel like a child right now, this is definitely the better path.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

“You know if you guys are on my side, Meyer will cave.” I flutter my lashes at them and Hunter starts laughing.

“You definitely make a compelling case, Angel, but I don’t know if now is the right time. I know you hate being cooped up, God knows I would too, but we’d have to send Eddie with you wherever you went, and that might raise more questions. We have to think about potential collateral as well.”

“Well, I’m on board,” Rory says with a shrug. “I know the benefits of being team Quinn.” He winks at me and I grin wide, thinking about the night I cornered him in his room and had him join team me for my last battle with Meyer.

“Benefits?” Hunter asks, wagging his brow. “No one said anything about benefits.”

“Oh, the benefits are fucking great,” Rory tags on and I start to laugh. “Might be even better if we got to share those benefits.”

He stares at me and I feel my cheeks heat. “You’d want that?”

He nods in answer and I glance over at Hunter, who is already on his feet and moving toward me. “You have no idea how much we’d want that.”

He kisses me with so much want that my toes curl as I clasp his t-shirt. When his lips leave mine, he moves so he’s standing behind me, his hands on my hips, and Rory stands.

“You sure you want to play this game, Angel?” Hunter whispers to me, and I suck in a raspy breath. It’s not something we’ve done, but I can’t say it’s not something I’ve thought about happening.

“Yes.” The word falls from my lips like a whisper then Rory is in front of me, his lips on mine as Hunter kisses down my neck.

Holy fucking shit that feels so good.

I have a tingly sensation with every touch of their fingers and lips. Every whisper they breathe across my skin.

"Turn around." Rory murmurs over my lips just as the warmth of Hunter's body leaves me bereft.

Still, I do what Rory tells me to do and turn so his front is now flush against my back.

Hunter has taken a seat on one of the sofa chairs, his demeanor calm and collected, almost bored. Until, that is, I look into his eyes and see it all like a high-definition screen. With eyes fixed on me, his irises dilated and his nostrils flaring with every touch of Rory's fingers down my sides, his hunger is plain to see. Legs apart, elbows pressed on the arm of the chair as he fists his fingers under his chin, he licks his lips as though he can already taste me.

"Aren't you going to join us?" I'm suddenly feeling shy, like maybe he's not interested, which is crazy, right?

"I will. But first, I want to see what these benefits are." The glint in his eyes is filled with both humor and dark promises to come and goddamn, I'm here for it all.

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