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He nods, and his eyes flick over Leighton’s sleeping form, as if he hasn’t been staring at her all night. We’re in uncharted territory. We’ve never cared like this. We’ve never put anything or anyone above ourselves and our own interests, but that all changed when our angel walked into our lives and changed them forever.
“I’m going to go make some coffee and breakfast so we can feed her when she wakes up. She’s overdue for painkillers as it is.”
“I’ll wake her up soon.”
He disappears from the room without another word, and I run my fingers over the smattering of bruising across her cheek wishing I could take the pain away for her. She didn’t deserve this.
Her eyes flutter open, and there’s a split second where fear crosses her gaze, but when they settle on me it’s quickly replaced with a small smile.
“Good morning, angel.”
“Hi.”
“Elias is making you some breakfast so you can take your painkillers. How’s your pain?”
She rolls onto her back and winces slightly as she tests her movements. “I think it’s a little better than last night.” But the deep set of her jaw and how her brows furrow with each small move tells me a different story.
“Leighton,” I whisper, cupping her face gently as I move to hover over her. I’m careful to make sure none of my body rests on hers, but that she can feel my heat as much as I can feel hers. “You don’t have to lie to us. You don’t have to downplay your injuries because that’s what you’ve had to do in the past. We want to take care of you. We want to make sure you’re okay. And we’re never going to be upset with you for being in pain.”
Her eyes shut and tears brim around the edges. “You say that now.”
A growl rises in my throat, but when her eyes pop open, there’s no fear. Surprise maybe, but she’s not afraid of me. “No, Leighton, that’s where you’re wrong. You’ve had one foot out the door since the moment we met, but Elias and I have had both feet in the whole time. We will do anything to keep you safe, burn this entire fucking city to the ground if we have to. Does that sound like we’re going to be mad at you for taking your time to recover?”
She shakes her head, but there’s an edge of doubt etched into her brow. We’ll have to work on breaking all the bullshit her family and Jason have ingrained in her mind so she’ll see the incredible woman that’s caught some of the most ruthless men in the city.
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
LEIGHTON
Every morning I wake up expecting to be sent back to the life I escaped, but instead I’m faced with two men falling over themselves to help me, even when they can see it’s driving me insane.
I haven’t heard from Jason or my parents, but I’m not sure if Wyatt and Elias have and just haven’t told me. They’ve done everything they can to allow me to heal without any added stress, but with each day that passes, the more my stomach sinks.
They have to know they’re not just going to let me go, that whatever time they’re giving us is nothing more than a farce to lead us into a false sense of security.
It’s been a week since I ran from Jason, and the bruises are finally starting to heal. Something else I expected was for them to look at me with pity, to see the bruises I allowed a man to inflict on me and see nothing but a weak woman. But it’s the opposite case.
They look at me with admiration in their eyes.
I bring the throw around my shoulders and watch Elias move around the kitchen preparing dinner. I’ve offered to help over and over again, but they haven’t allowed me to lift a finger since I got here. Instead he bundled me up on the couch with the Kindle they bought me and a hot cup of peppermint tea to soothe my anxiety.
I never told him I was anxious, but somehow he knew.
Wyatt went out an hour ago to get me a few things, even after I told him they’d bought me enough, and I could make do with what I had. The morning after I showed up here bloody and broken, a new phone, laptop, the Kindle I’m holding, and a week’s worth of comfortable outfits showed up at the base of Wyatt’s bed, along with enough skincare and makeup to last months.
Logically I know he can take care of himself and that nothing is going to happen to him while he’s outside the house, but it’s the first time they haven’t both been hovering over me, and it’s making me nervous. What if Jason approaches him? What if my father hires someone to hurt him? What if they have him followed and come back here for me?
“I can hear you thinking from here, pretty girl, and you’re meant to be resting,” Elias says without looking up.
I sigh and push the blanket from my lap. “I can’t help it.”
He finally flicks his gaze to meet mine, but there’s no anger there. Just understanding. One of the craziest parts of the last week has been how different things have been from my usual life. No one has yelled at me. No one has called me fat or tried to restrict what I’ve eaten. No one has looked down on me. It’s been the complete opposite of my whole life leading up to this point.
He places the knife down on the cutting board and crosses to where I’m sitting. He crouches in front of me until his eyes are at the same level as mine. “We don’t expect you to break out of a lifetime of habits in a week, Leighton We know it’s going to take some time, especially after all you’ve been through.”
I drop my gaze and let out a stuttered breath. I’m not used to telling others what’s on my mind. I’ve spent years holding on to every thought, every feeling, and to put my trust into these men has been both terrifying and the most liberating experience of my life, but I know I have to keep going. “What happens next?”
“What do you mean?”
