Page 49 of Trust in the Fallen

Leighton isn’t a liar. She wouldn’t lie to us unless she believed it was for the best. One glance at Wyatt confirms he’s thinking the same thing, his brows pulled together as he stares down at her. No sub has ever captivated us like this. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever held someone like this as they slept. I would have put any other woman down as soon as they drifted off. But not Leighton.

“What are we going to do?” I ask quietly, not wanting to wake her from the sleep she so clearly needs. “We can’t keep her locked up in the house forever, then we’re no better than Jason.”

“But then she’s just a sitting duck waiting for them to confront her.” He sighs and brushes his fingers through his messy hair. “If they get in her ear, she’ll run again.”

That certainly is the risk. There has to be a reason she kept some of the details to herself, but I’m sure the people in her life wouldn’t hesitate to use it against her to force her back to a life she clearly doesn’t want to live.

“He’ll kill her if he gets her back,” Wyatt says quietly. “Look how he escalated by seeing us near her for one night, imagine what he’d do knowing she’s been here with us for a week.”

I release a stuttered breath and press my eyes closed. I have no idea how to keep her safe while giving her the freedom she needs.

But we’ll have to find a way, because her happiness is all that matters to us now.

CHAPTERFORTY-SIX

LEIGHTON

Ithought after my punishment things would start to heat up, because honestly despite the earth shattering orgasm they gave me, I still crave them with every breath.

But they haven’t touched me.

They’re more affectionate than they were before, always finding a way to be touching me, always kissing me before they leave a room, but at night when they strip and nestle me between them, they never take it further.

It’s been ten days since I ran from Jason, and I still haven’t heard from him or my parents. Each day that goes by without a word from them is putting me more on edge. They’ve never given me this much freedom. Even in college, Jason was there, too, watching my every move, making sure I didn’t do anything to disrespect the family.

I eye Wyatt over the glass of whiskey he handed me a few minutes ago. He’s typing away on his laptop, too focused on whatever is on the screen to notice me staring. Every now and then his palm runs up my calf in a soothing pattern that I’m not sure which of us is getting more from.

Elias had to go to the club for the first time since the night I showed up on their doorstep covered in blood and bruises, although he complained about it to no end.

I find myself missing him as soon as he walked out the door, and I’m worried about him. I know what my parents are capable of. Despite their public displays, they’re just as evil as the scum of the city.

“Something on your mind, angel?” Wyatt asks without looking up from the laptop.

I open my mouth to respond but quickly snap it shut. How the heck did he know I was watching him?

“You’ve been staring at me for the last ten minutes.” He looks up with a smirk, catching me red-handed. “Why don’t you tell me what’s happening in that pretty head of yours?”

“It’s nothing.”

He shakes his head and closes the laptop slowly, keeping his eyes on me with each movement. He places it down beside him and reaches for me. Before I’ve consciously made the decision to go to him, he plucks me from my spot on the couch and deposits me with my legs straddling his and my glass of whiskey trapped between us.

I let out a surprised squeal and planted my free hand on his shoulder to steady myself. His woodsy scent washes over me, and I barely manage to swallow the moan being close to him drags from my chest.

His rough hands glide up my bare thighs, shifting my hips closer until his hardness rests against where I’m aching for him. “Try again, little angel.”

I sigh and take a sip of whiskey, hoping it will give me the courage I need. All my life I’ve been warned against speaking my mind. I’ve been told that everyone else knows best and that I need to stay quiet and trust them. How am I meant to break a lifetime of habits in just a few weeks?

“I’m worried about Elias,” I admit.

Wyatt’s answering smirk is filled with amusement, but he’s not laughing at me. If anything, he finds my concern endearing rather than silly. His fingers trail higher up my thighs until they tease the edge of the shirt I’m wearing. Despite the fact they’ve bought me a bunch of outfits, each time I step out of the bathroom after a shower, one of their shirts is laid out on the bed for me, and being enveloped by their scent is almost as comforting as being in their arms, so I’m more than happy to oblige. “I’m sure Elias would be smug as shit about your concern, but you know he can take care of himself, right?”

I nod, because Idoknow that. He was a SEAL for goodness’ sake. He’s built like a linebacker and as unflappable as any man I’ve ever met, but they can’t truly know what they’ve stepped into.

Because you haven’t told them.The voice in the back of my head speaks up and guilt floods through me.

Wyatt’s hand lifts to hold my face, his thumb brushing along my cheek in an intimate move I would have found foreign a couple of weeks ago. But not anymore. Not when these men find any excuse to touch me. Not when I’ve felt wanted for every single second that I’ve been here. “I can’t help if you don’t tell me why you’re worried.”

“It’s just that my father, he’s not a good man.” I flinch at my own stupid words, but Wyatt waits patiently for me to elaborate, never showing even an ounce of impatience. “People think because he’s the police commissioner that he believes in law and order, but he doesn’t. There are things he and Governor Collins are working on, initiatives that are really scary, and that could ruin a lot of lives. And I don’t want you getting caught in the crossfire.”

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