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TEN
Noble
Leaning forward, elbows braced on my knees, encrypted phone in hand, I wish one of those fuckers were still alive. I’d like to kill him all over again. The amount of detail I read on this phone about Sol and what they should do to her once they captured her only ignites my fury further.
Rape her.
Brutalize her.
Torture her.
But don’t kill her.
No, the person behind this wants her alive to suffer through the consequences of their anger,and thanks to these dimwits not realizing they should have scrubbed their phones, we now know who is trying to ruin our precious girl and all the innocence surrounding her.
It shouldn’t be so shocking. The alternative would have been easier to accept.
All that’s left is to form a plan. To expose them.
“Well?” Duke asks as he sits beside me on the steps leading inside to where Lorde and Sol are cooking. “I think it’ll work.”
“I think it’ll hurt her more,” I counter.
“We can keep her here or take her to the villa in France. I bet she’d love it.” Swiping a hand down my face, I know Duke is right. His plan is solid. I don’t like the idea of putting her in the limelight again. Exposing her most frightening secret to the world seems like the worst thing we could do to her.
“I’m not sure sending this to the media is the way to go.” I also know how easily shit like this can get swept under the rug, especially with someone so corrupt.
“I can handle it, you know.” We spin to find Sol stepping through the doorway. My eyes caress her body with my need for her in the white crop top that does nothing to hide her peaked nipples and the tiny shorts that shouldn’t be considered clothing at all. If she bends over, we’ll see everything. Not that I’m complaining, but I’d have to kill anyone else who saw it.
“I know you believe I’m made of glass and that I’ll break, but I think I’ve proven I can take just about anything thrown at me.” She tosses a wink at Duke, who growls as he reaches for her, pulling her into his lap and burying his face in her neck.
Cupping her cheek, I stroke across her petal-soft flesh. “I know you can, little girl. Doesn’t mean I have to like it or even want you to have to go through it.”
She swallows and cuddles into my hand while gripping my wrist. “I promise I’ll be fine. I have you three with me.” Her smile could disarm a bomb from charm alone.
Slipping my hand around the back of her neck, I drag Sol out of Duke’s lap to kneel on the step in front of me. Situating her between my knees and into my body, I drop my lips over hers. Forcing my tongue into her mouth, I take her in a possessive way that assures her that she’s mine…ours. Expressing without words that we’d die without her.
Nipping her lip, I tug until she whines and clasps my shirt front, pullingmecloser to her now. I need her as desperate for me as I am for her. “No,” I growl as I withdraw, licking across my lips to capture her taste.
“What?” Her breathless voice does little to temper my anger over the mere idea of casting her into the spotlight.
“I said no. We’ll find another way. We’ll keep you safe while exposing their secrets, and when shit hits the fan, you’ll be too far away from the world you live in for anyone to even think about getting to you.” She pouts a little, so I bite her lip. “Stop that.”
“I want this to be over, Daddy Noble.” Caressing a hand through her hair, I draw her into my body again. Resting her head against my chest, I savor the moment of her safely in my arms.
“I know you do, little girl, we do, too. But we need to do it in such a way that you remain untouched.” The picture in my mind of her being assaulted, as described in the email, flashes by.
* * *
Sol
The lyrics to Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” pass my lips as I move around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on our food. I slow-cooked a rack of ribs, made homemade mac and cheese, and tossed an almond raspberry salad that has my mouth watering as I pour the honey vinaigrette dressing on top before mixing it.
What Noble said earlier made sense, but I don’t like the idea of remaining hidden away from the world. Not anymore. A week ago, you bet. I wanted to hide from anything and everyone. But these men have opened up a whole new world for me with them. One I want to flaunt in public.
For the first time in more years than I care to admit, I’m genuinely happy. I’ve suffered far too long, growing up with an absent father, an unloving mother, and a debilitating need to people-please. For the first time in my life, I’m free to be me. To sing crazy songs while making dinner. To dance naked in the living room. To climb trees while Sebastian chases the pretty hummingbird he’s so enamored with. I can talk to Flounder like he understands me or will respond and not have to worry about Mother telling me I’m nuts.
I want this to last forever.
