Page 92 of Witness Protection

Chapter Eighteen

Hawk stood on the sidelines, not knowing what step to take. He couldn’t lose Sophia, but also couldn’t make her happy if he cut Cayden out of her life. None of this would have happened if he’d claimed Sophia when they first kissed. Now everything was fucked up, and he had to make a choice. Accept Cayden into the fold or risk losing Sophia forever.

Maybe a woman like her needed two men behind her. Trouble followed her wherever she went. He and Cayden were more alike than different. They understood each other and had one very important thing in common—their love and devotion for Sophia.

Cayden opened the door, and someone passed him a black duffel bag. He couldn’t hear what they were saying. Just before he closed the door, the other person tossed a set of keys to Cayden. He caught them in a tight fist.

“I’m going to get dressed. I have a long drive ahead of me,” said Cayden.

As he passed, Hawk put a hand to his chest to halt him. “Sophia doesn’t want you to leave.”

“And?”

“So, stay,” said Hawk. “You have somewhere else you need to be?”

Cayden laughed without humor. “You’re just as bad as her. Are you telling me you think her little threesome fantasy is a good idea? It’s called a fantasy for a reason. It’s bullshit and bound for disaster.”

“So, you’ll run from what you love? Maybe you should take a good look at yourself and decide it’s time to stop running.”

Hawk knew Cayden was damaged goods. They all were in their own way. He had a good sense for people, and he knew Cayden loved Sophia unconditionally. And he had a conscience. A rare commodity in their world. Everyone he’d grown up with was ruthless and shallow. Hawk wouldn’t trust anyone with Sophia. Cayden proved himself different time and time again.

“What do you want, Sophia?” asked Cayden. “Don’t tell me you think Hawk has a great idea here.”

“None of us having anything left. Why not stay together? Is it so bad?”

“You want to be one big happy family?” Cayden dropped the duffel bag on the coffee table. “You think it will be all rainbows?”

“No family is perfect,” said Sophia.

They were all orphans, all alone in the world. Why the fuck not? Hawk wasn’t insecure with himself or his body. He just needed Sophia’s love. As much as he wanted her for himself, filthy images of sharing her kept creeping into his thoughts.

“So, who gets Sophia in this arrangement?” asked Cayden.

“We both do. That’s the point. If she can’t choose, that means she loves us equally.”

They turned to Sophia at once. She stood quietly. Listening. Wide-eyed.

Cayden brushed the hair from his eyes. “You’ve known Hawk all your life. You can’t love us equally. I’ll always be your second choice.”

“He was my babysitter until my father died. Everything happened so fast. My feelings aren’t in question for either of you,” she said.

“This is ridiculous. It would never work,” said Cayden. He threw up his hands, but Hawk could tell he was intrigued. Looking for confirmation that it was possible.

Hawk knew one way to test this arrangement.

“Come here, Sophia.” Hawk used a curled finger to beckon her closer. She came within arm’s reach. “You know that sharing means taking both of us, right?”

She bit her lower lip. The sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

“At the same time?”

“Maybe.”

“Yes,” said Cayden. “That should be enough to scare you.”

“It doesn’t,” she said. “It’s what I want.”

Hawk looked to Cayden. “We won’t know until we try. Or are you too weak from your gunshot wound?”

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