“Yeah, shall I lock it?” he asks, standing up and heading over to the door, putting his phone away as I place the lamp on the small table next to me.
“Just in case,” I reply, my voice breathy and my hands trembling slightly as I sit back down on the bed, pulling the blanket back up to cover me again.
Just as the click sounds, a shudder makes the entire room vibrate, and then the sound of muffled gunfire reverberates around the room.
“Sounds like you’re right,” Rook says, and my stomach warms as he comes to stand near me, like he’ll protect me if anything or anyone were to come bursting through the door.
“Do you have your gun? A weapon?” I know it’s a long shot as my sperm donor never trusted me enough to allow his men to come in here tooled up. He shakes his head and a fissure ofworry makes my mouth run dry. If it’s not my guys and the rest of the Tailors, we’ll be fucked.
“No, Dad—Rufus—said that you couldn’t be trusted,” he tells me, his eyes trained on the door and his fists loose at his sides, but his entire body is thrumming with suppressed energy. It’s strange to see my little brother like this, like the hard men that I have known all my life, only four of which have ever protected me. I guess maybe five now.
My fists clench in my lap when I think about how little I can protect myself. Rufus never let me take any kind of training or self-defense, why would he when he wanted me defenseless against his cruel men? Perhaps Knox or the others can help me rectify that.
A scream rips out of my throat as the door is kicked in, dust and splintered wood flying into the room with the force and both our arms come up to shield our faces, the blanket pooling in my lap. Even though it’s dark beyond this room, my heart leaps with recognition at the broad figure who stands there before Rook steps in front of me, blocking me from view.
“I don’t give a shit if you’re her brother, but if you don’t move the fuck away from my bird right fucking now, I’ll shoot you,” a deep voice says, sending shivers all down my body and hardening my nipples which is just fucking inappropriate given the situation.
“It’s okay, Rook. They’re with me,” I say softly, getting up and letting the blanket fall to the floor as I step to the side, watching as they all filter into the room.
Knox’s eyes eat me up as I stand there, my pulse singing in my veins.They came for me. “Little Bird,” he whispers, his tone worshiping and reverent, a slow smile building on his gorgeous lips, but then they turn down in the next second. “Why the fuck are you wearing lingerie with your brother in the room?”
I can’t help it, a giggle spills from my lips, ending in a sob as I launch myself at him. He catches me with an oomph, one arm immediately wrapping around me and pulling me close. I ignore the fire in my ribs as I breathe him in, his motor oil and clove scent strong even mixed in with unwashed man. Call me fucking gross but I kind of love it.
“If you’ve touched her, you sick fuck, I’ll carve your flesh from your bones,” Jude warns, taking a step towards Rook and drawing a fucking hunting knife from his hip.
“Jude!” I yell, placing a hand on Jude’s bicep and trying to wriggle out of Knox’s grip. Obviously, he doesn’t let me go, the fucker. “He wasn’t doing anything like that.”
“Rufus sent me in here to–to rape her as part of my initiation,” Rook stutters, and I roll my eyes at his stupidity, settling down in Knox’s hold as he clearly isn’t letting me go anytime soon. “He said that if I didn’t, he’d kill her and then me, but I couldn’t do it. I love Lark, but not like that. I’ve not been the best brother; I should have helped her earlier, but I will do anything now to keep her safe, even from you.”
I watch as he stands tall, facing four of the most ruthless guys I’ve ever known, at least two of whom are definitely borderline insane, and Rook doesn’t even cower. My lip trembles and I have to blink furiously as tears threaten to fall.
Aeron walks towards him, and Rook stands there, unflinching as he faces the heir and future leader of our enemies. Aeron stops in front of him, looking him up and down before he thrusts out his hand not holding a gun.
“Glad to meet you, Rook. I’m Aeron,” he introduces himself, and hesitantly, Rook takes his hand and gives it a firm shake. Rook looks a little intimidated, his eyes slightly wide and his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. “You can start by identifying anyone who’s ever hurt her and helping us to make them bleed.”
“Deal,” Rook replies, a slow smile spreading on his face. “And I want to be the one to kill Rufus.”
My mouth fucking drops, my eyes like saucers as he holds Aeron’s stare before Aeron gives a sharp nod.
“Done.” He releases Rook’s hand, then turns and strides towards me while holstering his gun.
Without pausing, he grabs my face and slams his lips to mine. He destroys me with his kiss, telling me how sorry he is that he had to let me go earlier, that he's beyond relieved I’m okay. I forgive him with my kiss, letting him know that it’s okay and that I’m his, and always will be. All the while Knox holds me from behind, anchoring me as he always does.
“Fuck, Dove,” he murmurs against my lips. “Fuck.” His hands tremble as he cups my cheeks.
“I’m okay, Devil Man. I’m okay.” The tears drip down my cheeks, falling over his fingers as he keeps our foreheads pressed together for a moment.
“Quit hogging our girl, bro,” Jude whines, and a smile splits my lips as it often does around him.
Reluctantly, Aeron pulls away, leaving a sweet kiss on my forehead before he lets Jude take his spot.
“Hello, Devil Prince,” I rasp, and his own face lights up with the new nickname.
“Hey, Nightingale,” he replies, his lips hovering above mine for a millisecond before he presses them against me in a soft caress. His body pushes into mine, his pants rough against my bare thighs as he places a knee between them and forces me back against Knox even more. I can’t help it, I grind down a little, ignoring the twinge of pain from my still sore pussy. I can feel the smirk lift his lips as he kisses me like he can’t stop, even for a second.
“Brat,” Tarl’s low voice warns, and Jude sighs into my mouth, pulling back, albeit reluctantly.
“Love you, Nightingale,” he breathes, and I don’t hide my silly grin.
