Page 61 of The Burnt Heart

But my father had put a weapon in his sweet girl’s hand and made her wield it. I would do the opposite. The promise was a collar. One I thought tamed the danger that loped on their heels. It gave me the stability I needed as I curled my free hand toward them, urging closeness. I was Adelaide Orazio. My father’s mistakes wouldn’t repeat with me.

“You don’t know what you’re offering me.” My mouth watered; their bodies so close it was dizzying.

“Can’t we try?” Their matching gazes didn’t waver. A hunger ached so sweetly inside of me. I longed to dance in the rain of their unsaid devotion, to let it soak through my cotton clothes and coat my skin. Longing for everything that was carved in their faces. Open, vulnerable, and desperate for me, too.

“I want you, so badly,” I admitted, and their relief was instant. The tension dropped out of their shoulders, replaced with heat.

“Are we about to have a group hug? I want to press up against my girl.” Logan waggling his eyebrows. I tossed my head back, tumbling into his waiting hold. What did that make the three of them? My men. My boyfriends? It felt too ineffectual, too small for the universe of stars in their eyes. I knew they would string them across the sky for me, anchor me to them for a millennium. The collar tightened around my throat, becoming a noose. But their lips promised sweet oxygen, relief and safe harbor. The dark shadow that had plagued me since I’d cut myself off from them faded.

“Before we do that, can I ask you a question? What’s with the gun toting guards? Are you some kind of princess?” Jesse joked, his hand stealing around my waist like it belonged there.

I shrugged sheepishly.

“Kinda.”

29

Logan

Adelaide Orazio was an inferno. Her disapproval licked heat over my body, the hard emerald coals of her eyes scorching. Tie me to a pole and give me to her pyre. I wanted to die with the taste of ash coating my tongue.

“If you don’t get out of my office, I will call security.” Adelaide’s tight jaw was the only sign she was close to losing her temper. She might have come to us, begrudgingly, for help, but this wasn’t what she’d asked for. But we only needed one opening. A tiny crack in her steel facade. Enough to wedge our fingers around her jaded edges and slip inside. I rocked back on my heels, hands tucked behind my back. The ache on my ring finger pulsed like a heartbeat. But I ignored it, widening my eyes to Adelaide in mock surprise.

“Siren, you invited us for lunch,” I insisted. Loitering in her office doorway.

She hadn’t.

But nobody else knew that insignificant detail. The news Adelaide had taken back her three worthless boyfriends had been masticated and spat out in disgust by a majority of those who knew her already. The wide-eyed stare of the receptionist had followed us as we each kissed her cheek this morning. Dropping her off at work was discussed as a good way to ‘soft launch us’ as Adelaide called it. Intense curiosity had met us, and stoic disapproval emanated off the guards. But no surprise. It was clear someone had told them we were back together again. Jesse pushed past me with his hands jammed in his pockets, too eager to play games. Briar took the seat opposite Adelaide. We all ignored the hissing sigh of exasperation.

“I have work to do.” She rubbed her forehead. We knew she did, which was exactly why we’d come. Adelaide wasn’t going to stop until she found the person who was coming for her. Rest, sleep, even food would be put aside in favor of catching them. My cock jerked in my pants as I recalled the desperate taste of her mouth. A devouring. She’d swallowed pieces of me and there was a hollow ache where the absence lay. Fear had driven her into our arms, and I wouldn’t let go again. What she’d admitted made the base of my skull throb. It was our fault she was being targeted like this. We let our fears and insecurities out and made the worst decision of our lives. Left her vulnerable.

“Princess, do you know what day it is?” Jesse rifled through his bag and pulled out a silver picture frame. He swiped the corner of his shirt over the silvery fingermarks marring it. Until it was pristine, untouched. It held the photo of all of us at Calder Place. The one she’d removed. Jesse angled the frame on her desk, with a satisfied sigh. Adelaide’s shoulders hiked up around her ears and she growled.

“The day you give up on us?”

“Never,” we hissed in unison. Briar thumped his fist on his thigh for emphasis.

“No can do, siren. Today is your standing lunch with Raimondo.” I snagged the napkins Jesse held out and made space for him to arrange the takeaway containers. Adelaide looked at her phone and a crease dipped her forehead before she smoothed it away. But her fingers trembled until she clutched them into fists. My chest burned. Had I ever seen Adelaide scared before? No. Not even when her car exploded. The flames that had been made to consume her had mirrored in her eyes, opening a gateway to hell. Her life had almost become untethered, and she was ready to fight. Now she picked up her phone reluctantly and flicked through her notifications.

“I forgot,” she murmured. “I’ve been so busy today.”

“We know.” Briar flipped the containers around and gave Adelaide the fish tacos one-handed. “We come bearing food as your backup.”

Her phone sliced through the tension with its shrill demand. Blaring down my ragged nerves. Adelaide’s brief jump was smothered as she answered, grim.

“Yes.” She cocked her head, curious and bold as a crow. “No, send him up.” She pulled her shoulders back, bracing herself for a fight. The weight of it sent the barely there tremors through her body. It was something most people would miss. Not us. The three of us exchanged determined nods. Adelaide thought she had to endure this on her own. We needed to prove she could trust us.

“Eat, siren.” I nudged her container, but she shook her head with a grimace. She flicked back her blonde hair, taking her frustration out on the glossy locks.

“Can’t,” she admitted. The word too timid for someone swathed in courage and power. She didn’t move, except for thedart of her eyes. We were all left waiting and choking on the silent passing of time. My throat tightened in response, wanting to reach out and grip her shoulder. But I couldn’t. I looked at Jesse and he whipped out our second back-up plan.

“I got donut balls as well, from Sweet Buns, your favorite,” Jesse coaxed. He unraveled the bag with a flourish. The scent of cinnamon and sugar wafted out, the bag tepid with its bounty of soft dough. Her face lit up. My heart eclipsed at the sight as she shoved two in her mouth, looking like an adorable chipmunk.

God, I love her.

We all heard the elevator ding and the warm call Raimondo made to the front desk.

“Addy, why is everyone so damn tense today? Something happen that I don’t know about—Oh.” He froze in the doorway, his stupid, handsome face morphing with confusion. The trim, dark suit he wore emphasized the shadows of his cheekbones. Sharp and lean. “I didn’t know you had visitors.” He invited himself in without confirmation, heading toward the corner of Adelaide’s desk. I shot up from my seat, planting my ass down instead. We traded a look. His was dry amusement, a slow smile creeping over his face. Mine, unmoving, a silent snarl as he shrugged and plopped into my empty seat across from Adelaide’s desk.

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