Page 40 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

“We have to go,” Jasper said with a sigh. His eyes pinned me into place. “When we get back, we’ll expect an answer.”

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak Kip shook his head. “This is your choice,” he said, silencing my words. “Take some time to think about it. Make sure it’s something you want. Ask Wolfe all the questions you want, but don’t give an answer until we’re all together again.”

With that, they left, shutting my door behind them. Wolfe settled me back into bed, tucking the covers around me and taking up his position by the side of my bed. It allowed me to relax and let my mind drift. I considered all the possibilities of what a relationship with them would look like.

All the ways in which they could please me.

* * *

I woke up sometime later,my heart galloping in my chest. Darkness had fallen while I’d slept and memories of being abducted from the embassy flashed through my mind. My mouth was bone dry and I was on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Pull yourself together, Bailey,” I croaked out. My voice split the silence of the room.

Taking a shaky breath, I sat up and looked around. Wolfe had left the light on. I quickly jumped out of my bed and ran to the connecting bathroom, peeking around the door. Empty. I stepped into my walk-in closet. Searched every space where anyone could be hiding. Afterward, I sat on my bed and let my chin drop to my chest as I worked to steady my nerves.

No one was in here with me. It was almost a comfort. Wolfe wasn’t here. Probably checking the doors or something, I knew he wasn’t far. But the fact that he was gone kept my heart racing. My feet were cold, so I slid back under the blankets. I took deep, slow breaths to calm myself. Curling on my side, my eyes flicked between the door and the window as I ran through everything the guys had told me.

The fact that they shared—and wantedme—wasn’t something I would have ever expected. It sounded too good to be true. Not having to choose between them. Getting what promised to be the best, and dirtiest, sex of my life. Having three men to fulfill the longing for affection that had been a constant companion since I was young.

My father would hate it. Would forbid it, but I was beyond caring what he thought anymore. Not that he was going to make it easy to disentangle myself from him and his life. He never made anything easy.

I had no intention of finishing out the campaign trail with him, even though that’s what he expected. I was done jumping at his every demand. He could make the guys’ lives miserable though, if I went against him and dated them. I wanted to, but it wasn’t fair to make them suffer.

Sighing, I debated on what to do. If I went home, I was potentially placing myself at risk. They’d killed the men who’d kidnapped me in Colombia, but was that the end of this?

The guys didn’t seem to think so. Wolfe had told me before I’d drifted off that they suspected someone had helped the kidnappers get inside the embassy. Does that mean they would try again? Was it just a failed attempt at a ransom? Or is one of Dad's enemies trying to use me as leverage against his campaign?

Going home and back to my regular life was dangerous and stupid. Staying here and continuing to work for my dad was out of the question. I couldn’t see any way out of this.

A soft knock sounded on my door and my head lifted as it opened. Wolfe stepped inside. “Sorry, didn’t want to scare you.”

I smiled at him as he took a seat next to my bedside. We were both quiet for a few minutes and nerves fluttered in my belly as he studied me.

“What’s wrong?”

“How do you do that?” At his puzzled look, I explained, “How do you always know when I’m upset?”

“Good at reading micro expressions,” he told me with a cocky grin. “Especially yours.”

I shook my head in bewilderment. “Why would you guys want me?”

He chuckled. “You mean besides the fact that you’re gorgeous? How about because you’re incredibly kind. Brave.” his brow shot up when I snorted. “You know many other women who’d have jumped out of a moving vehicle and ran off into the rainforest without so much as a pair of shoes? Let alone a flashlight, or weapon?”

I plucked at the covers, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve spent my whole life toeing the line because he required it. I don’t consider myself brave at all. Though, I’d like to change that.”

“Pretty sure you’re not giving yourself enough credit.” His large hand cupped my chin and forced me to look at him.

“He’s never going to let us be together.”

“Doesn’t seem to me like he gets a vote,” Wolfe countered.

“He knows too many people, Wolfe. He’d get you guys fired. Or…whatever is worse than being fired for men like you.”

“Do me a favor, Bay.” His brown eyes hardened. “You make whatever decision you want. Let us deal with the fallout from it. Trust me, we’ve taken everything he could do into consideration and we’ve decided you’re worth it. No politician can keep us from having what we want.”

My sigh was heavy. “You hardly know me,” I pointed out. “Why would you take that risk?”

“Because we trust our guts and my instinct is telling me that you’re it.”

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