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“Do you think they ran into trouble?” I can’t help but ask. After all, there may not be water anymore, but this place is still a death trap. The edges are loose and could drop out from under someone.

Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested coming out here, but I wanted somewhere peaceful where we didn’t have to look for hidden cameras or have someone watching us with jealous eyes.

The girls at the diner were the worst. They know now that they can’t have what I have, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting it. From wanting my men. Eli said they won’t come after the guys anymore. That the remaining Cheermonsters will make sure of it. And if the girls get any ideas, they’ll have to deal with my guys.

I’m sure the other girls will try, but there will always be another Sidney. Someone who thinks they’re owed my men.

“There they are.” Nico gestures.

My gaze follows his hand to the three of them walking back.

My heart fills. I’m fully clothed again, and the crying jag is over. We settled back into relaxing, but it’s hard to relax when half your heart is wandering around a death trap. Yes, they almost lost me, but I could have lost them too.

What they did? Coming to save me? That was dangerous. I love them for it, but they didn’t know what kind of weapons Zach might have had. What if there had been a gun?

My chest aches at the thought. I focus on my guys, because that didn’t happen. They’re alive and well.

But there’s dust on their pants, and their expressions are grim.

My heart plummets to my stomach. What’s happened now?

Nico rubs my back as they finish their approach.

“Everything okay?” he asks. Jack’s attention jerks up from the tablet. His gaze darts from me to the guys.

“It’s probably nothing.” Eli walks in and sits down on the grass. His hair is more ruffled than before.

Luke comes over and kisses the top of my head before sitting on the ground on the other side of Nico.

Caden is last and he kneels before me. I can’t help but look him over for any damage. He’s also a little more wrinkled. What the hell happened?

He holds out his hand and while there’s an object in it, my attention catches on his swollen knuckles. I grab his hand and turn it over, tracing my finger over the reddened skin.

“What happened?”

He meets my gaze and sighs. “We fought.”

“Why?” I can’t help but look for the reason from Eli or Luke. What could they possibly have to fight over?

When my gaze lands on Luke, he shrugs. “We didn’t get a chance to fight for you. It left us with this pent-up reserve that needed release.”

I don’t like that answer. “So you beat each other up?”

Caden tips my chin so I look into his eyes. “Fuck or fight, little nympho. That’s been our way of getting this shit out of our systems. No one wanted to bring that to you. Not right now.”

I release my breath. My gaze drifts to Nico and Jack. Jack fought that night for our lives. Nico helped save me and stayed with me. The others had to watch while someone else took down the bad guys.

Even I needed to fuck to forget for a little while. Maybe they needed to fight.

“After we fought, I found this.” Caden turns his hand back over and uncurls his fingers, revealing what looks like a pocketknife, maybe? It’s a little wider though.

“What is it?” I look into his eyes, not wanting to touch the object.

“It’s a multi-tool. My dad has one.” Caden holds it out. “Read the inscription.”

I don’t know why but I hesitate to touch it. Instead, I lean down and read the inscription.

To Sean