Page 17 of Treasured By 3

“We’re buying it,” Lief argues.

“Like hell you are,” Sophia and I say together.

We laugh, have dinner, and things get easier. It feels good. I like not having to hide things from Sophia. I show her the pretty knife Lief got me and she rolls her eyes. Chase excuses himself, still not happy with the situation or me, but overall, everything feels good.

Sophia sighs. “I’m tempted to ask to stay, but I have a feeling you guys make up as violently as you live.”

“You’d be correct.” Hunter raises his glass to her. “You’re as quick as Valerie is.”

“And I have a feeling your husbands want to make the most of having a babysitter right now.” I wiggle my eyebrows at Gunner.

He shoots me finger guns. “You get me.”

“Yeah, yeah. You guys get out of here. I’ll try to come up to New York this weekend so I don’t have to take off more work than necessary,” I say, promising.

“We’re still going to talk about you working on one of those online platforms,” Lief says.

“Agreed,” Sophia chirps. “Keep her away from the dangers of the public.”

“Hey!” I butt in. “I enjoy helping people.”

“You can do it online,” Sophia says before kissing my cheek and hugging me. “Stay sane until we see each other in New York?”

“I’ll bring some guests,” I say, as I squeeze her.

“Good. And call Danny. She’s waiting to hear from you. She doesn’t know about all this.” Sophia motions to Hunter and Lief. “And if Chase raises his voice at you, I’ll send Nick over. You should hear his dad voice.”

Nick stands a little taller and winks at Sophia. “You like it far too much.”

I slump on the couch when they leave. Hunter walks over to me and offers me a shot of flavored vodka. I throw it back and sigh. “It’s been a long day. How was the meeting?”

Hunter shrugs. “I couldn’t focus on it. I was thinking of you crying, feeling guilty. In all honesty, I slipped once. How do you think Lief got brought in?”

Lief waves at me. “I told my mom.”

“You what?” Hunter jerks around to face him.

“She asked what was new. I told her I joined the mafia because it had wonderful benefits and I could take care of my anger issues. She supported me,” he explained.

“I’ve been tiptoeing around it with your family!” Hunter argues.

“Chase slipped too,” Lief informs.

Hunter and I stare at him. He rubs his chin. “He was drunk. It was right after they put me on security. Drunk, flirting, and the girl didn’t believe him at all. I don’t know if she even heard him. Sometimes, we need to tell something big, even if no one hears it.”

“I love you,” I say to both of them. “That’s something I need you both to hear more often.”

SEVEN

Hunter

“This iswhat we need to make up?” Valerie asks.

I rest my feet on my desk while adjusting the book in my lap. I haven’t read a single page. A few minutes after Sophia left, Chase and Lief left to take care of something at the mansion, leaving Valerie and me alone.

“With me, I think it is,” I answer.

She sighs. “This is supposed to be used when you’re happy.”

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