Page 89 of Barrett

“Group hug with Jordan,” Raiden said.

“He let all of you hug him? At the same time?”

“Yup, and Hartley is still in there.”

“Lucky me.” Vail winked and walked past us, Tahoe and Aspen following him.

“Don’t,” Jordan warned when Vail entered the room.

"I’m going to."

I laughed. There was no way Vail wasn’t hugging them.

Raiden clapped me on the shoulder when we stopped at the elevator. “Welcome to the family.”

“Is that what you call this? One big family?”

“It is, but I was referring to my blood family.”

“Really?” I had to swallow the emotion building inside me.

Nodding, he said, “I don’t know your full background and don’t need to unless you want to tell me one day. I don’t see my brother ever letting go of you. That makes you part of our family, Barrett. Mom will expect you to come over to the house for dinner soon, and Dad will probably try to act tough and protective. Mom will tell him to knock it off, and she’ll hug you within an inch of your life.”

“What about you? Are you going to threaten me too?”

Reghan’s arm went around my stomach from where he stood behind me. “He won’t.”

“My brother’s right. He knows me better than anyone else. I’ll be here for you like I always have been for him.” Then he stepped forward and hugged me. I was so stunned for a moment, I didn’t move. My arms finally went around him and a tear slid down my cheek.

I had Reghan at my back and Raiden in front of me. Two men who cared about me. Who welcomed me into their fold. I hadn’t been looking for family when I started seeing Reghan. I had Marshall. We had our aunt and uncle, even though they didn't live near us. But Reghan had me stripping my mask off to show him who I was inside. After a bit, I only slid it back on when necessary. Little by little, I was allowing more people in.

Now I had an entire family in the twins. I had another with the mafia boss and his guards, who I never imagined I’d work full time for, let alone do his PR. That was still crazy to me. I had more people who cared about me than I’d ever thought I would.

“Marshall and I aren’t alone anymore,” I whispered as I held on to Raiden. One of my hands dropped to grip Reghan's arm where it was around my waist.

“No, Bear,” Reghan said. “You won’t ever be again.”

I choked on a cry. No matter how much I tried to keep it inside, I couldn’t.

The elevator arrived in the middle of my emotions getting the better of me.

“What happened?” my brother asked. “Vail called and told me to come up. Barrett, are you okay?” He touched my arm.

“Did you know we have a big family now?”

A grin lit his entire face. “I did but was waiting for you to catch up.”

Releasing Reghan, I reached for my brother to pull him close.

In the midst of me feeling like I was alone on an island with just my brother, boats appeared. People came to rescue us. They showed me what it meant to trust and let someone help.

I also fell in love with one of them. He held my whole heart in the palm of his hand. He gave me the courage I needed to believe in others.

I’d forever be grateful to these people. And I would forever be in awe of the beautiful man who loved me back.

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