My softness met the hard planes of his chest and stomach.
I’d gone from having my body criticized by my coworkers to having it appreciated and loved.
The feel of him broke me completely. “I didn’t know who you were when I took the assignment.”
I choked on my grief at what I’d almost lost. What I might still lose. “If I’d known. God, if I’d known what kind of men you really were, I never would have agreed.”
“But then you wouldn’t have met us.” Bishop spoke from behind Rafe.
I lifted my head and met his shadowed gaze.
His lips quirked in a half-smile.
Something in his expression pulled at me.
I held out a hand to him, and he stepped forward to take it.
I looked between all of them, willing them to listen and understand. “You’re the best men I’ve ever met. All of you. I never wanted to hurt any of you.”
“We know.” Ash rested his forehead on my shoulder as he settled in behind me.
HIs usual cocky grin was replaced with something else, a soft, vulnerable look that welcomed me home. “Come here, sweetheart.”
I threw myself at him and kissed his cheek as fresh tears spilled over. “I can’t believe you’re here.” I still couldn’t quite believe it.
Ash held me tight. “You’re ours, remember? We protect what’s ours.”
Bishop stepped forward when I reached for him, his good arm wrapping around me while his injured one stayed pressed to his side.
I kissed his cheek, tasting the salt of my tears. “I’m sorry I got you shot. I’m sorry for everything.”
“Stop apologizing.” The roughness of his stubble grazed my lips, then my cheek as he brought his face alongside mine. “None of this was your fault.”
It was.
I appreciated his trying to take my guilt away, but I should have stopped wearing the wire a long time ago.
I should have reported Captain Delaney and the other detectives for their behavior.
I’d not wanted to be the woman constantly claiming sexual harassment, but I had every right to be comfortable in my workplace.
I shouldn’t have to wear a minimizer bra in front of my fellow detectives in the hopes that it would keep them from making comments about my size.
“I should have told you the truth from the beginning.” I spoke into the quiet with a barely whispered breath.
Rafe held up a hand in that typical controlling way of his. “No.”
He walked over and placed his finger beneath my chin, tipping my face up to meet his eyes.
“You think you should have trusted three dangerous bikers you’d just met? You think you should have believed we were different from what everyone said about us?”
“Yes.” I said it with my entire being.
Bishop chuckled and kissed the side of my head. “That’s a nice thought, Little Viper.”
“But you are different.” How could they not see that? I tried again. “You’re everything good and noble. Everything I never thought I’d find.”
Rafe’s expression shifted.
