I gesture for Enzo to head toward the kitchen, and one of the ever-present staff escorts him away. Dad’s house is a fortress; I don’t need my bodyguard hovering. Besides, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone anymore.
Logan’s voice greets me when I enter. “Hey, Peanut.” He stands, his eyes raking over me from head to toe, searching for visible signs of my ordeal. As the oldest brother, he’s always been protective, but there’s an extra edge to his concern now. “You okay?”
I nod, aware of the bruises on my face and body. His sharp gaze misses nothing, and there’s a flicker of concern in his eyes.
Liam approaches and hugs me, squeezing my ribs until I wince. “Ouch. Careful, I’m still not at my best,” I gasp. Of all my brothers, Liam and I have always been the closest. He practically raised me when mom died, and his embrace feels like coming home.
“Oh, sorry,” he says, loosening his grip.
“Hi, brothers,” I say, scanning the room. They’re all here. Logan, Lucas, Liam. But no Dad. “Why are you all here?”
Lucas leans back on the plush leather sofa, crossing one leg over the other. “Let’s see. You almost died. Gee, I wonder why we’re here.”
I glance around again, noticing the absence of two familiar faces. “Where are Ava and Sloane? I would think they’d be here too if you’re here.”
The brothers exchange looks before Logan speaks up. “We wanted to talk to you alone first. Blood family only.”
“This is a siblings-only intervention,” Lucas adds with a hint of a smile.
Liam shoots him a warning look before turning back to me. His voice is gentle as he asks, “How are you doing, Cora?How do you feel?” He takes my hand, his thumb brushing over my bruised wrists. “Did he do this to you?”
“I’m fine, I’ll be fine.”
Liam leans in close, his voice a whisper. “I can’t lose you. You know I wouldn’t survive that.”
“Everything’s okay,” I say, but the words catch in my throat. The dam breaks, and I’m sobbing.
In an instant, they're all around me, enveloping me in a group hug. Logan, the steady rock; Lucas, the protective shield; and Liam, my closest confidant. Surrounded by my three brothers, I allow myself to cry, letting the tears purge some of the fear and pain I've been holding onto. Their arms around me like a shield against the world, and for a moment, I let myself believe that everythingwillbe okay.
They stand like this for long minutes, no one speaking, giving me the space to pull myself together. The only sounds are my muffled sobs and their steady breathing.
“Okay, enough,” I say, wiping my face with the back of my hand. My eyes feel puffy, and I’m sure my makeup is a mess. “I didn’t come here to cry.”
They pat my back hard like we used to do when we were kids, oblivious to my current condition. I wince but appreciate this sliver of normalcy. Nothing’s normal right now, and this familiar gesture is like a lifeline.
“Good,” Logan says, his tone serious as always. He gestures for us to sit. “Now, let’s talk.”
We settle onto the various sofas and chairs, the leather cool against my skin. I end up next to Liam, drawing comfort from his solid presence.
“What is there to say?” I begin, trying to keep my voice steady. “Richard Stone tried to take me out of the picture. But he’ll never beat a Valeur. I’m still here.”
Liam’s brow furrows. “Are you sure it was him?”
I wrinkle my nose. “No. We don’t have proof yet. Zane Mercer is working on it. He thinks Stone hired the man who tried to kill me.”
“And Ryder West?”
I meet Logan’s gaze head-on, my voice firm. “I’m in love with him.”
Liam squeezes my hand. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, are you sure?” Logan chimes in, leaning forward in his chair. “Because if we’re going against Dad, you need to be sure.”
“You don’t need to go against Dad. I’m not asking that of you.”
“You’re not asking, but we want to,” Lucas says, and they all nod in agreement. “He crossed a line.”
I look around at my brothers, feeling a lump form in my throat at their unwavering support. “How do you even know what he did? And where is he, anyway?”
