Ophelia is with me in an instant. She climbs into my lap and wraps herself around me like a spider monkey. Her hand is in my hair, and she pulls my face to her shoulder, pressing her lips to my temple.
“It’s over, Roman. It’s done. He’s never going to hurt you again.”
I hug her back, burying myself in the warmth of her body and her familiar scent. I squeeze her so hard a part of me worries I’m going to hurt her, but I know how strong she is now.
Malachi drops to his knees on one side of me, Cain on the other, and they wrap themselves around me and Ophelia. They use their strength to protect me from the rest of the world.
This was all I ever really needed. All my beliefs and rituals and tinctures mean nothing compared to these three people. They are what really matters.
Finally, after so many years, I feel safe.
CHAPTER 40
Ophelia
Roman wentto spend some time alone in the altar room after he received the news from Vani’s dad.
The others cleared out, and I felt badly asking them to go, especially when Vani had been the one to sort things out for us, but Roman needed time to process, maybe even grieve. Not for his uncle, but for the loving, kind family he never had.
He’s back with us now, and I can see that he’s got something itching under his skin. I don’t know if it’s anger, sadness, or what. He has the look he gets when he wants to start using the ropes on his back.
I hope he doesn’t say he needs a walk and go do just that. I don’t want him to hurt himself.
“When did the others leave?” he asks.
“They left a while back,” Cain answers from the couch before I can. We’ve been chilling in the living area after the others left. “We thought you’d need some time alone. Or at least without a load of people here.”
Roman looks at us, and there’s an odd fire in his eyes. “I don’t know. I kind of feel like celebrating.”
A gurgle of laughter bursts from my throat. I’d been worrying that his angsty appearance meant he wanted to kill someoneelse, or hurt himself, but he’s full of energy because he wants to celebrate?ThatI can handle.
“It sure seems like we have reason for it.” I shrug. “Your uncle is gone. He can’t hurt anyone else again. I’ve not heard the Prophet since I killed him, and the institute is burned to the ground. All the patients are free, too.”
“Yeah, and so are we.” A grin splits Roman’s face. “I thought I’d feel … something different, and maybe that will come later, but right now there’s just so much fucking relief.”
“I can call them all back.” Cain waves his phone in the air.
Roman shakes his head. “Why don’t we invite them for a party here, when Vani’s dad gets back? We have paid the bikers, but there’s no reason we can’t put a bit of a party on for them before they leave. Thank them.”
Roman’s words make my heart sing because there’s something I want to talk to my men about, and I’m not sure how they’ll take it.
“I’m up for that, I suppose.” Mal’s tone is grumbling, but he sighs and adds, “We might as well make sure there’s no more hard feelings with the others. Moving forward, it might be best if we’re not always wanting to kill each other. Even though I do still want to murder Saint with my bare hands.”
“We girls have been talking,” I blurt. “We’re friends, all of us. And me, Mack, and Vani, we’re in the unique position of all being in the same kind of relationship. We want to be able to be close, to spend time together. I-I-I’ve never really had friends.” I swallow at the tears threatening. I won’t let them come now. “Apart from Daisy, and, well … So, I’d really like to grow a friendship with the other girls. They feel the same, and that means we need all of you, our men, to be adult about things. We want the feuds to stop. We want you to be friends, too.”
I note Cain’s expression tightening, so I hold up my hand. “I’m not asking you to be besties with them, but I am asking youto try to be civil and maybe get to know them a bit better. Mack called me Aunty Ophelia to their daughter, Lucy, and I loved it. I want those kinds of relationships because I’ve never had it, and we ladies agree that male ego and pride shouldn’t get in the way of our happiness.”
For a moment, there’s nothing but silence.
“Male ego?” Cain raises a brow.
“Pride?” Malachi says.
“Youladiesagree, do you?” Roman adds.
There’s an air of menace to their words, and I falter, but then hold my ground because, damn it, this is important to me. “Yes. We agree. All of us, Camile included. It’s what we want.”
My three men look to each other, and something passes between them that I don’t understand.
