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“Yeah, but I knew if you found me, you would stop me. I had to do this for her.”

I get it, I would have done the same thing, minus cutting out the tracker from my neck because that is the most ridiculous thing he has ever done. When he tries to talk again, I put my hand over his mouth and shush him. Right now, I need him to fall asleep while feeling my cock inside him to remind him he is mine.

Chapter Seven

Kayla

I opted to sleep in the spare room last night, needing to process everything that had happened. Deep down, I know what they did to Aaron. After what he did to me, I know he deserved it, but the emotions still hit me hard, and I wanted to cry in peace.

Now every muscle in my body aches, and I can no longer simply lie here replaying the mental image of Aaron from when we walked into the workshop. I hate that my first instinct is to feel sorry for him when he instilled fear in me so deep that I have battled it for years.

Sneaking out of the room, I find the house is quiet—everyone must still be asleep. It’s weird creeping around someone else’s space, but I feel more at home here than in my loft. I can’t get rid of the feeling that it was Aaron in my space.

I start the coffee machine and lean against the counter as I decide what I should make for breakfast. Vero will be starving when he wakes up, and the idea hits; he seems like a “waffles with ice cream for breakfast” kind of guy.

I push off the counter and search the cupboards, remembering from one of Vero’s rants that Clay got him a waffle machine for Christmas, but he used it once and is now banned from touching it again after nearly burning the kitchen down.

I find everything I need and put on some music, just loud enough so I can hear it but not enough to wake everyone. It doesn’t take long to get the batter ready and start cooking, and by the time I have a decent pile, I hear someone coming down the stairs.

Vero appears in the doorway, his hair messy, wearing Brawley’s hoodie and boxer briefs.

“You’re up,” he says with a smile.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

He moves across the kitchen and wraps both of his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. I keep cooking while we stand together.

Brawley comes in next. Vero and I turn to see him watching us both, while he pours himself a coffee, then sits at the table.

Ares and Clay come in together. Both make a coffee, then sit with Brawley. Vero gets excited and helps me grab the plates, while I get the ice cream and maple syrup.

“We are having waffles with ice cream. Guess she loves me most, suckers.”

With a snort, I put everything on the table at the same time as Vero. “I need to talk to you all,” I tell them.

Vero looks at Brawley. Brawley looks at me. Clay raises a brow, and Ares just glances up, unconcerned.

The tough act is easier in theory around them, but I see the way they look at me, as if I might fall apart at any minute.

“I need to say something, and I need all of you to let me finish before anyone reacts.”

“That feels like it was aimed at me,” Vero says.

“It’s partially aimed at you,” I say, looking at him. “I know this is new, and the timing is what it is, but after all of this, I don’t want to waste time anymore.” I pause and keep myself steady. “Whatever this is, or what we are, I want it. I’m all in if that is still something that’s on offer.”

Vero’s face drops. “Are you leaving?” he asks quietly. “Because if you’re saying you’re leaving, I need you to know I will kidnap you.”

I look at Brawley, and he reaches over and puts his hand on Vero’s knee, then leans in and whispers in his ear. Vero stops bouncing his leg and nods.

“I’m not leaving. That’s the opposite of what I just said.”

“Sorry, I freaked out. When you said you needed to talk, I missed everything after that.” Vero frowns.

“What I am trying to say, and it’s hard for me, is that I’m afraid to go back to my apartment.” The table is quiet. “I know everything with Aaron wasn’t something you signed up for. He wasn’t your problem, and I spent a lot of last night thinking about going home, but I don’t think I can do it. I hate that he has done this to me, but I’m scared and need to admit that aloud. That isn’t who I am—I’m not scared of anything.”

I pin Vero with a glare. If he brings up that song right now, I will not be responsible for my actions.

“Which also brings me to something else.” I look at Ares. “I would like a job at your bar.”