Page 39 of Mistress Mayhem

I need to stop underestimating the woman Avery became because she certainly isn’t the Avery I grew up with. Sage suits her and the woman she’s become. Even though I’ve seen her in action, I still keep doubting her abilities. That’s something that’s going to need to change if I want her in my life—and trust me, that’s all I want.

Do I like the fact that she wants all three of us? Not a damn bit, but it doesn’t come as a surprise. I’d seen the way she looked at all three of us as a teenager, and I couldn’t stand it. That’s why I’d asked her out. Yes, it had pissed off my best friends, but I needed time, just the two of us. Even back then, I’d known that one day I wouldn’t be enough for her. That she’d need all of us.

Avery always had a big heart and loved hard. It was one of the things I loved most about her. Sage seems to have hardened her heart, but I know the girl I knew is buried down inside her somewhere. She wants all three of us, and if that’s the only way I can have her, then I’m damn sure going to take it.

I’m sure that sounds like I’m settling, but I’m really not. How can I be when she’s the love of my life—of all three of our lives? Being without her for the last ten years has been torture for all of us. When she disappeared, my heart had shattered. I’d tried to push away my best friends, but they weren’t having any of it.

That’s why we decided to leave Lockwood in the first place. We needed to escape the pain of what we’d suffered—the loss of Avery that we were reminded of every day. This is the first time we’ve set foot in the town since we left. We almost turned down the job because we didn’t want to return to Lockwood, but damn, am I glad that we didn’t.

None of us could have ever been truly happy without Avery. No, that’s not true. Because Sage and Avery aren’t the same girl. I know we can be happy with Sage because we’ve changed, too. We’re harder now, and just as bloodthirsty as our girl.

I’m going to have to try to stop being such a dick. I know I’ve been an asshole to her since the first word I spoke to her, but it’s hard. While seeing her again is amazing, and probably the happiest moment in my life, I’m not a fan of letting her put herself in danger. Yeah, I don’t like that. She’s more than proven that she can take care of herself, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

A part of me still sees her as Avery, the girl who needed to be protected. I couldn’t protect her then, and she certainly doesn’t need my protection now. It’s just hard to wrap my head around it. Mind you, it’s only been a few hours. After this is all said and done, we’ll have time to see who we all are and how we can make this work.

Because wewillmake this work—for her. Always for her. Anything she wants, it’ll be hers. Even if she pisses me off along the way.

“You alright back there?”

I startle at Sage’s voice, my eyes snapping up to meet hers and realizing that I’ve fallen back. I give her a sharp nod.

“Just thinking.”

One corner of her mouth turns up into a semblance of a smile before falling away. “Better be careful. I’ve heard that it can be dangerous to your health. Wouldn’t want your head exploding, after all.”

I bite back my response because I can see she’s struggling and that worries me. I don’t know what she went through in that room with Cary—though the red marks on her neck and the blood caking her face give me some idea—but it’s obvious that it was traumatizing to her.

I readjust Cary on my shoulder with a grunt. “Why the fuck does he have to weigh so much?”

“Need me to call Austin so he can take over for you?”

I glare at her. “I don’t need Austin’s help.”

She shrugs. “It seems like you’re struggling. I’m sorry if me making the suggestion made you feel emasculated.”

And that’s when I realize she’s trying to provoke me. As I meet her eyes, I can see her begging with me to distract her. That I can do.

“You don’t have to worry about me ever feeling emasculated, princess. I know how much you love my big dick.”

“Austin’s is bigger.”

Having seen my friend’s dick, I know this to be sure. “Look here, wench. Keep it up, and I’m going to turn you over my knee and spank that ass of yours until it’s red and throbbing.”

She flutters her eyelashes up at me as I catch up with her. “Promise.”

And there goes my cock, thickening in my pants. She’s fucking perfect—there’s no question about it.

“Sage!”

We both look up as Fox comes running down the hallway, and I realize we’ve finally made it to the library. Thank fuck because Cary is getting really fucking heavy.

Fox pulls Sage into his arms, kissing the hell out of her as he spins them in circles. Sage laughs as she breaks away from him, batting playfully at his chest. “Put me down, you oaf.”

“Need some help?” Austin asks as I step into the library.

I throw Cary to the ground with a grunt, hoping I broke something. “Feel free to take it from here. Fucker is heavy.”

“But you did such a good job carrying him all the way across the mansion,” Sage coos, coming up to lean against my side, her eyelashes fluttering.

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