But he followed them up to the door to Jared’s bedroom.
“Want Northie, too,” Angie said.
“Sweetheart, North doesn’t like to sleep with others. He has insomnia most nights and he’s worried about waking us up.”
“Don’t care! I need you both. Please. Please,” she begged.
Jared turned to North, prepared to order him into bed. He knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but in that moment, he just knew that he had to give her whatever she needed.
To his shock, though, he didn’t have to say anything. North simply nodded.
“I’ll get ready and come back.” Turning, he walked down the hallway to his room.
“Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you settled.” He helped her brush her teeth. Then he got her dressed in one of his T-shirts. It looked enormous on her but he thought she was adorable.
He placed her in the middle of the bed and then got in on his side.
“Do you think North is coming?” she asked quietly.
“He said he would. And he always does what he says.”
She nodded. “Do you know who hurt Rex?”
“Not yet. But I will. And I will take care of them.” He cupped her chin and tilted her head back. “What you need to remember is that this is not for you to worry about. All you need to do is follow what we tell you. We will protect you.”
“But will you be safe?” she whispered. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I know, baby. Nothing is going to happen to us. I promise.”
The door opened and North walked in wearing a button-up pajama shirt and long pants. They were navy-and-white pinstriped.
Fuck, he looked incredible. He was always put-together. Always composed.
Except during sex.
North got in on the other side of their girl and lay on his side, facing away from them.
Shit. Was this too hard for him? Were they asking too much?
“You came,” she said as she cuddled in behind him.
Jared stiffened and waited to see if North would reject her. He didn’t like to be held. Although he had touched and held her other times.
“I did. I’ll stay as long as I can,” North replied.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Are you going to turn the light off and sleep, Jared?” North asked.
Right. Yeah.
He’d do that. Turning off the light, he curled in behind Angie and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“I just want the two of you to be safe,” she said. “The idea of you being hurt . . . it scares me.”
“We’re fine, baby girl. And that’s just the way we’re going to stay.”
She shifted around in his arms, restless and clearly unable to sleep. After five minutes, North rolled over to face her.
