“I’ll never get the resignation in his voice out of my head… when he told you to get me out of there. It sounded like he hated me.”
Leaning forward, Knox kisses my wet cheeks.
“Tesoro, Carter couldn’t hate you if he tried. He needs time. I’m going to get him out of the house tomorrow. Do you think you can handle Kill on your own for a little while?”
I lay my head on his shoulder, and he rubs my back in gentle circles.
“Yes, I can handle him,” I say against his neck while breathing him in. These men are a strange combination for triplets. Killian is fury, while Carter is love. Knox is consent and safety. If ever I were made to choose between Knox and Carter, I don’t think I could.
“I need to see him.”
Knox sighs, his breath fans over my shoulder.
“I know, Tesoro, but you need to give him time. Let’s see what tomorrow brings, yeah?”
I don’t like it, but he’s right. Even though this was not my choice, I need to respect what is best for Carter right now.
“Sit up.”
I do as he says, and he slides his hands into my hair and pulls my face down to his.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Tesoro. Tomorrow, you better be here when we get back. If you’re not, we will hunt for you. You’re ours. Please don’t get it in your pretty head that things have changed for us. They haven’t.”
I lean in and press my lips to his, pouring everything I feel for him into our kiss. I want to believe him that nothing has changed, but I can’t get the look on Carter’s face out of my head. Will he ever be able to look at me again the way he used to? Knox pulls away, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Tomorrow, Tesoro.”
I smile softly, nodding my head. “Tomorrow.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
CARTER
Ifucked everything up. The look on her face said everything she’d never say. She’ll never forgive me, and why should she? I did this. To both of us.
Pacing back and forth in my room has me feeling like I’m suddenly claustrophobic. My head is a fucking mess.
Flashes of my father come into my mind.
The beatings.
The first aid so he could start again.
Dripping dirty water that was my sole drinking source.
Anger. Hatred. Disgust.
Then the bluest eyes make him fade away, but it’s not a relief. I look at her pain, and feel it, because I deserve it.
Killian walks into my room and stands staring at me, evaluating my mental state.
“What?” I snap.
He closes the door behind him and walks over to my bed, sitting on the edge.
“You’re hard on yourself, brother. I know you care about this woman, but it’s impossible for her to change the past, the same way it’s not possible for you to change hers.”
Grabbing my bottle of whiskey from the top of my dresser, I open it and take a long pull.
“I wasn’t trying to change history, Killian. I was trying to find a way to live with it. Do you have any fucking idea what it’s like for me?”
