by Ginna Moran
“Then why did you get mad?” I ask.
“I don’t exactly want you thinking about me with anyone else,” he murmurs. “You’re our girl and nothing in the past matters to me.”
I smile at him. “I agree with that, and I understand you had a life before me—a long one. Plus, I’m not a stranger to the male species. Hello, you did help me cock-block my brother, remember?”
He kisses me again, chuckling against my mouth. “You’re so perfect, you know.”
“I’m not, but I’ll try to be for you—all of you.” I stretch my arms out in an attempt to bring the four of them closer to me. “I hope you always know that.”
Everett looks at his brothers. “See? Perfect.”
Bronx leans in and kisses me next. “You don’t have to tell me that.”
Thudding footsteps sound from outside Bronx’s door, and Everett lifts me to my feet with him. Bronx gets up with us, but he motions to Mikkalo and Jameson to remain on the couch. Because none of their staff members are allowed onto their floor, I already know the footsteps belong to Silas.
“Think he’s looking to escape?” Bronx asks Everett.
Everett shakes his head. “He’s looking for Gwen. He wouldn’t leave her. I saw as much from the glimpse into his head.”
Strolling ahead of them, I get my achy legs to stay up with my mind, and Bronx lets me beat him to the door. I swing it open and pop out of the room, startling my brother enough that he swings out at me. Bronx tugs me back by my shirt and into his rock-hard chest. A soft growl escapes his mouth, and I elbow him in his abs, regretting the decision immediately. Because hell. He’s an amazing cuddler, and I had no problem falling asleep in his arms, but right now his body feels like a brick wall full of tension.
“Shit, Gwen. You surprised me,” Silas says. Luckily, he didn’t catch the soft growl directed at him.
I try to pull away from Bronx, but his hand remains locked on my stomach as he goes into protective mode against my brother. Stepping on Bronx’s foot, I attempt to snap him out of it without making it obvious to Silas. I’m afraid how he’ll react if he finds out that I allowed my guys to claim me. He’d probably lose his shit, and I need him to keep his shit together.
“Sorry, Silas,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Everett heard you coming down the hall and thought you might be looking for me.”
“Brother, you have to let Gwen go,” Everett whispers to Bronx too quietly for Silas to hear, but he smiles at him.
“He might hurt her,” Bronx whispers back.
I want to tell Bronx that I’ll be fine, but I don’t trust my voice to whisper. I might have super hearing, but I really suck at whispering.
Stepping back, I nudge Bronx to move a foot away. I realize that Silas shifts on his feet, probably sensing the weirdness between us.
I clear my throat and smile. “Are you hungry, Silas? Jameson makes the best pancakes. They have syrup.”
He tries to look past me but can’t see into the room with Bronx’s massive form blocking the way. “It’s dinner time.”
“Not for me,” I say, twisting my lips. “I follow a night schedule now.”
Silas tightens his jaw and tips his head a bit, motioning to me that he wants to have a word. I glance to Everett and Bronx and say, “Will you give us a moment?”
I think the only reason Bronx relents is because with super hearing and a now quiet, music-less hallway means that nothing Silas says to me will go unheard by any of them. Everett slides his arm over Bronx’s back and guides him inside the bedroom and closes the door.
Silas reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me away. A blip of fear ignites inside me at his sudden movements, but he stops about twenty feet away and bows closer to me. He knows about a vampire’s super hearing as well, but I don’t think he really knows the extent of it.
“Gwen, I know you think you like it here, but we can’t stay,” he whispers.
Uh-oh.
I’m pretty sure Mikkalo growls this time.
“And where will we go?” I resist Silas tugging me along.
“I don’t know. But please, Gwen. You have to listen to me. Something isn’t right. I saw the way Everett looked at you and then that other dude. He looks like he’ll start a fight, and you don’t want to get in the middle of it.” Silas yanks my hand harder, forcing me to budge a foot.
I try to pull out of his grip, but damn it, is he strong. Stronger than I remember. “Bronx will never hurt me. Neither will Everett. Nor will Mikkalo and Jameson for that matter.”
His face twists in what I can only describe as disgust. “You’re kidding me, right?”
I blink. “Why would I lie?”
He bares his bottom teeth, flaring his nostrils. “Shit, no. Which one of them are you fucking, Gwen? I’m not stupid. I know how you used to get with Laredo when consuming his blood. Don’t think we didn’t know you were sneaking around.”
Ice slides down my back, and I don’t respond to him.
“Funny how much I remember now,” he adds. Linking his fingers around my other wrist, he pulls me closer. “So tell me, which one of those assholes are you fucking? That way the Baron Coven can kill him first.”
Four threatening, super scary growls reverberate through the air so deeply that I can feel the vibration of my guys’ voices in my bones. Goosebumps prickle over my skin as fear trickles through me. But I’m not scared of them. I’m scared for my brother.
“You’re fucking all of them? Gwen, are you insane?” Silas digs his nails into my skin and forces me to turn around to look at my guys.
Anger rushes over me, and I jerk my arm back and ram my elbow into Silas’s stomach. He heaves a breath and lets me go. I spin and shove him away hard enough that he stumbles and lands on his ass in the middle of the hallway.
A strange expression crosses his face, one I don’t recognize, and he pushes back to his feet. “Dad would be so disappointed in you. Do you even realize what we went through for you? Dad died because of you. How could you do this?”
“Shut up,” I say.
Silas glowers at me. “Kyler died because of you.”
“He didn’t.”
“Now, if you stay here, Grayson will die because of you.”
“I said shut the fuck up!”
Without thinking, I launch at my brother and wrap my hands around his neck.
I squeeze.
Chapter 19
Survive on Each Other
TWO HANDS LOCK AROUND MY waist, yanking me off Silas. He yells out and tries to punch Everett, but Everett hoists him against the wall and locks him in his stare. Silas slackens in Everett’s arms, and I turn my head to hide my face in Jameson’s chest.
“Sleep,” Everett commands Silas. A second later, he sets him on the floor and turns to me with a look of worry, knowing how I feel about mind manipulation.
“Take him back to your room,” Bronx tells Everett.
Everett disappears without another word.
“Jameson, take Gwen to your room. Make sure she gets something to eat.” Bronx closes the space and touches my cheek, getting me to look at him. “Dandelion, something feels off with your brother. I want your permission to open his mind again.”
I swallow. “I want to be there.”
He shakes his head. “No. Not happening. What he said to you—”
“I don’t care,” I say. “I want to be there. He’s my brother.”
Bronx’s eyes flash silver as we stare at each other, both of us too stubborn to give in. I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to protect me from getting my feelings hurt again, but he also doesn’t want me to see him manipulate Silas’s mind.
“Gwen.”
“Bronx.” I wiggle in Jameson’s arms until he sets me down. “Stop arguing with me. I’m going to be there. What Silas said to me—it only hurt because it’s true.”
“Fuck that, Gigi. The hell it is,” Jameson says. He clenches and relaxes his fingers like he might scoop me up and take me to his room despi
te what I want.
I place my hands on my hips. “We’re wasting time.”
Mikkalo steps next to me, closing the circle my guys make around me with their bodies. I fully expect Mikkalo to agree with his brothers. Both Jameson and Bronx stare at him in a silent conversation, trying to have a discussion in front of me without actually saying the words.
“I think we should let Gwen see,” Mikkalo says, surprising me. “We’re a team, and this involves her.”
Everett appears in the hallway. “I’m with Mikkalo.”
Bronx groans and shakes his head. “You better not hold this against me, dandelion. Silas is a threat to you.”
I blink a few times. “You’re giving in?”
His jaw twitches. “Not exactly, and I don’t like it, especially after your reaction with the Hunter’s staff member.”
I grasp his hand. “I might’ve overreacted then.”
He shrugs. “Still. But anyway, Mikkalo is right. We’re a team. So majority rules. You can come.”
“Majority?”
“Yeah, dandelion. You get a say too.”
I can’t stop the smile from crossing my face. Throwing my arms around Bronx, I hug him and attack his face with my lips, kissing him a dozen times all over his cheeks and forehead. His arms tighten around my waist, pulling me into his body.
“He’s a goner,” Jameson says to Mikkalo. “He finally sees why I plan never to deny our girl of what she wants.”
I crack up and pull away from Bronx to smack Jameson on the shoulder. “It’s not about giving me what I want.”
Jameson raises his eyebrows. “But it should be. All the other stuff? You’re our girl. It shouldn’t be a surprise that you get a say in what we decide.”
I smile at him. “Come here. I want my mouth all over you.”
Everett whacks Jameson’s back. “Careful, she looks hungry.”
I snap my teeth at Everett. “So let’s hurry and do this. I plan on devouring all of you. Maybe give you a little taste in return.”
Mikkalo grins. “I fucking love our girl.”
Warmth washes through me at his words, sending my heart racing. All four of them have admitted to caring for me and loving things about me, but this is the first time I’ve heard anyone say that they love me. They’re right about how meaningless time is with how deeply connected I feel on every level with them.
“How could you not?” Jameson says, smirking at me.
Everett slides his fingers through mine. “It is quite impossible, isn’t it?”
Bronx tucks my hair behind my ear and holds my gaze with his dark depths. “You’re right about that, brothers.”
I don’t even know what or if I should say anything, so I just keep smiling and soak in all the attention until Bronx breaks their circle and tugs me along with him. Everett holds my other hand and Jameson and Mikkalo stroll behind us. When we reach Everett’s door, I consider asking if we can eat first. My nerves and the crazy emotions my guys summoned from my very soul threaten to consume me in the best way possible. I don’t want anything to ruin what suddenly feels like the most perfect moment in my life even if we just stand here, doing nothing.
Bronx squeezes my hand. “I’ll be careful, Gwen.”
I bob my head. “I know.”
“I’m also warning you now. If you show any signs of distress, Jameson will take you out of here. I can’t risk you turning...wild on me.”
“I got your back, brother,” Jameson says. He winks at me. “Her wild-ass will be handled exactly how she likes.”
I blush like crazy. “I’ll be fine.”
Bronx nods and releases my hand. He enters Everett’s room first without another word and walks ahead, straightening his broad shoulders like he’s steeling himself for what’s to come. I realize I mimic him, clenching my jaw so that I can remain expressionless. I wouldn’t put it past him to have Jameson take me out of here if I so much as puff my lip. I want to prove to Bronx—and the rest of them for that matter—that I can handle this.
Everett sets Silas on the cot. It’s so strange to see him like this especially after he just told me I’m basically the death of my family. I want to be furious with him, but it’s hard to have it in me if there is even the slightest chance that something is wrong. He was fine before Everett unlocked his mind, if not just a little freaked out, but something changed.
Jameson guides me to one of the recliners, stopping me from following Bronx. I try not to frown over the fact that I can’t sit next to my brother and Bronx. Mikkalo joins us in the other chair and reaches out to hold my hand. Everett glances at me from his spot near Bronx, and I offer him a small smile.
Bronx inhales a deep breath and motions for Everett to prop Silas up and to restrain him. I squirm on Jameson’s lap in anticipation, and Jameson grips my thighs, holding me in place.
“It’s going to be fine, Gigi,” he says, pulling me into him so he can wrap his arms around me completely and snuggle his chin into the crook of my neck.
I don’t respond to him, unable to turn my gaze away from Bronx and Everett. They have a silent conversation with each other for a moment, and then Everett gives Silas a firm shake, startling him awake from the mind manipulation. Bronx grabs his face and leans in, intercepting Silas’s mind before he has a chance to freak out and react.
“Tell me your name,” Bronx says, leaning in. His closeness to Silas stirs anxiety inside me but not for Silas. I’m worried that Silas might somehow snap out of the manipulation to hurt Bronx.
“Silas Gallagher,” Silas says, his body slackening so much that he sinks against Everett.
“How old are you?” Bronx asks.
“Twenty-five.” Silas’s robotic voice stirs something strange inside me.
“What do you know of the Baron Coven?”
My eyes widen at Bronx’s question. I hadn’t thought much about Rochester and Laredo’s coven since getting Silas.
Silas doesn’t respond to Bronx’s question.
Bronx leans closer. “Tell me what you know about the Baron Coven.”
Silas’s eyes water, but he still doesn’t respond.
“Why do they want Gwen?”
“She’s the first female to be born in our family since the uprising.”
“What do they plan to do with her?”
I cringe at the question, afraid of the response.
“Fulfill the contract. She will Blood Vow to their leader to ensure power in the Baron Coven’s future. It will free our family from donor life.”
“What does any of that even mean?” I ask.
Silas doesn’t respond to me because of Bronx’s mind manipulation.
“What happens if she doesn’t?” Bronx asks instead.
“Our family will owe a blood debt to the coven until the next female is born, and Gwen will die,” Silas says. “It is her duty to proceed. She will give the Baron Coven what they want.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Jameson murmurs to me.
“But why a Blood Vow?” Bronx asks.
“Power.”
“Explain.”
Silas doesn’t respond.
Bronx’s muscles flex, and he leans in so close that his nose practically touches Silas’s. “Explain.”
Silas yells out in pain, startling me. Jameson hugs me against him, and it takes everything in me not to lose my shit.
“I can’t,” Silas says, his voice cracking.
“Explain,” Bronx repeats.
Silas yells again.
This time I break free of Jameson’s hold, but I don’t make it more than a foot.
Bronx breaks his stare on my brother and turns to us. Furrowing his brows, he gives me a once-over as Mikkalo blocks my way. “Get her out of here.”
I scowl. “No, I’m fine.”
Bronx’s eyes flash silver, and he tightens his lips. “I said get her out.”
I don’t even get the chance to argue before Jameson carries me away. I land on his bed with a thump, the world still spi
nning. He sits on the edge, keeping a few feet of space between us, probably because I glower.
“Seriously, Jamie?” I ask, still trying to orient myself to the swift relocation.
“Bronx told you that was the deal. You can’t be mad at us,” he says, keeping his voice even. “I wasn’t going to risk having to pull you off my brother. I don’t like to do that shit.”
I dig my nails into my palms and inhale a few deep breaths. “Sorry, Jameson.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“But I do.”
He frowns. “For what?”
“For this.”
I launch at him, knocking him off the bed with me. The speed and strength of my sudden movement catches him off guard so that I manage to shove off him and get to my feet. I race toward his bedroom door in an attempt to run back to Bronx’s room, but Jameson cuts me off.
“Not cool, Gigi,” he says, crossing his arms.
I groan. “What you’re doing isn’t cool. I need to be with Silas.”
“What you need is to calm your ass down. Silas is fine.”
I glare. “Bronx was hurting him. He was pushing too hard.”
“It’s the only way to get the answers we need. Bronx was right about something being wrong. Everett managed to unblock some of his memories, but it looks like the block was stronger than we thought.”
I purse my lips. “Or he didn’t know the answers.”
“Silas would’ve been quick to say so if that were the case. He was silent, which means that he has the answers and can think them, but someone powerful really did a number to lock them inside him.”
“Then maybe they locked them inside me too,” I say.
“Well, if Mikkalo and Everett didn’t pull them out of you, then we’ll never know,” he says. “Bronx won’t touch your mind, and he’s the only one strong enough to break through something like that.”
“Then I’ll make him.” I swipe my leg and kick Jameson’s feet out from under him.
Dodging past him, I make it into the hallway this time before he links his fingers to the back of my tank top and drags me back into the room. I scream out as he tosses me to the bed. Grabbing a pillow, I chuck it at his head, and he ducks and releases a growl at me.
