“Sweetness, we’re Cerberus. We can become one,” Yamir chuckles.
“Yes, we can become one person. The reason we don’t is that we need most of our power back at the gates, but if you need us, we can eas?—”
“I’ll be okay,” I chuckle at them. I know they are only saying this because of me. Now that we are bonded, I know the importance of getting away properly without any of those nasty beings on our tail. I can’t afford for them to waste precious time when they need to be securing Hellfire and miasma to keep them from starving when whoever these crazy bastards are decide to close the portal to Hell.Yup, just normal things to worry about…
“Are you sure, love? We can ju?—”
“I’m sure, baby.” I smile, and they whimper like I just broke their hearts, but I don’t want to hold them back from doing the things they need to do.
“Fine, you’re the captain, Mama,” Yamir sighs and sinks onto the edge of the bed. He cups my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. His ears are perked, alert to every sound outside the penthouse.
“Exactly, but please, Mama,” Enzo pauses with a frown. “Be careful.”
“I promise we will,” I reassure them, but they don’t seem convinced.
“God, this is going to be hell…” Slater growls, and he makes me laugh because they truly are dramatic, but I don’t say it out loud this time because I know he means every word he says, and that shit really does make me love them more.Ain’t shit better than a nigga who’s obsessed with his girl. Well… except THREE of them!
“I'll be quick. Don’t worry,” I promise them again, leaning into Yamir’s palm. “I just need a few hours. I’ll probably be back before you guys.”
Enzo kisses the top of my head while he helps, then goes into my closet and sets me out an outfit and some shoes while Slater cuts up my bagel and brings it to my lips even though I already said I don’t need them to feed me.Though if I’m honest, I already knew they would do it even if I told them no.
I open my mouth and eat what Slater is holding out to me while I see Yamir stand and start brushing my hair like this is the most natural shit ever, and to them it is. Grooming me, providing for me, and protecting me is second nature to them, and I don’t want to deny this because I know it brings them peace.
This lasts all the way up until I’m done eating and get up to wash the dishes, but they snatch it from me and clean it themselves. I can’t help but shake my head because these men have always been like this. They never let me lift a finger for mundane labor like this, even if I tell them I have no problem.
“We will handle things here. It won’t take us long to get the things we need and clean this place up.” Enzo nods, tying myshoes while Yamir fixes my coat, and Slater smooths down my hair.
“We’ll take you downstairs.” Yamir grabs my hand and leads me over to the elevator, where we all step on and ride down to the ground floor. Every worker in the lobby stops in their tracks and bows, shocking the hell out of me and the rest of the guests, who look at us like, “who the hell are they?”This shit never gets old…
When we get out into the biting winter air, I wave at the doorman as I head toward the sleek black town car idling at the curb, where Lionel is waiting for me, standing by the rear door with his usual stoic expression.
I pull my jacket closer and look out at the gray city, breathing in the fresh air and noticing the vast difference in my vision and smell since the bonding. The world feels brighter and clearer, and the Earth smells… well, there are a variety of smells, and not all of them are pleasant.Goodness, how the hell do animals deal with this stench daily?
“Good morning, Mel?—”
“GRRRRRRRRR!”I hear them growling behind me, and I see them glaring at him, causing him to flinch.
“I… I m-mean M-Ms. W-Webb,” he corrects himself, saying in his professional voice while opening the door for me. I sigh, knowing there is nothing I can do to make these mennotbe jealous. In fact, I can feel their hatred for every man walkingaround near me.Even if they aren’t paying me attention, they still hate them.
“Morning, Lionel.”
Slater watches as Lionel balks, but he stays in his professional bag and rushes around to the driver’s side. I turn and kiss each of their cheeks before waving at them, stepping into the car, and getting in, then rolling down the window.
“I’ll see you guys soon,” I tell them while they watch me with their arms crossed over their broad chests, staring at the car as if they want to yank me out, but I level them with a warning to behave.
There’s a look in their eyes that makes my stomach flip. It’s full of such intense love and a dark, brewing worry that I wish I could wipe away, but I know from now on we will live in a constant state of anxiety, so the least I can do is make this Christmas the best possible for them.
“Don't take long,” Slater says, his voice dropping an octave, and I can tell it’s not a suggestion. It’s a plea.
“Go. Get what you need. Then come straight back,” Yamir grits painfully.
“Straight back,” Enzo reiterates, and I give them one last look and blow them a kiss.
“See you later.” I wave again as the car drives off. I look back, and I swear they stay right there staring even as I drive out of sight.
“U-uhhh.” I hear from the front and jump, turning around to see Lionel watching me out of the rearview curiously.
“Yeah?” I raise a brow, already knowing what he wants to ask me.
