He nods. “We had agreed to a once-a-month payout, but now they are demanding more money and more often. If I don’t pay up, they’ll make it public. I can’t let that happen. I don’t care about my reputation, but even if it was years ago, she’ll still go to jail for it. After everything she’s done for me, I can’t let that happen to her.”
“Have you ever seen it? The evidence. You said you two were really careful; how would they have gotten any?”
He shakes his head this time. “No. And I have no idea, but they swear they have it, and I can’t risk it.”
I climb on top of him, straddling his thighs as I take his face between my palms. “Listen to me, you won’t pay them a cent again. Ignore their calls, block them. They don’t have any evidence, I promise you.”
“How can you be so sure?” He frowns.
“When was the last time they demanded money?”
“Six days ago.”
“And have you paid it yet?” He shakes his head from side to side again. “That’s what I thought. If they had evidence, they would have already sent it out or threatened you with proof.”
“But what if they really do? What if it’s not a bluff?” he asks with worry.
“They don’t, trust me. If there’s one thing Victor taught me, it was how to call a bluff. He would always say,‘Someone who threatens twice is a liar.’He showed me exactly what he meant by that a few times. He told me that you only ever threaten someone once, and that if you have to do it again, you give them an example of your threat. The next time they don’t listen, you perform the threat.”
I drop my hands from his face and close my eyes momentarily as unwanted memories of him flood my mind and a shiver runs through my spine. Gabe must sense it because his hands suddenly settle along my arms as he rubs up and down, bringing me back to the moment.
I open my eyes again and smile at him. “It’s how he knew if someone was lying to him. If they kept threatening but never actually did anything about it, it’s because whatever they claimed they had or would do was bullshit.” I place my hands on his chest. “They might know about it, but they don’t have any proof, Gabriel. Trust me. No more money, no more taking their calls.”
“But what if we turn out to be wrong?”
“We aren’t. I can feel it in my gut. Someone told me not long ago to stop living in fear of someone else. To stop letting them control my life.” I cup his cheek once more.
“He sounds like a really smart guy.”
“I think he may be.” I smile, leaning in and kissing his lips. “I just hope he takes my advice.”
He kisses me back, brushing my hair behind my ears. “Okay, no more money.” His shoulders drop as his body loses tension, like a weight has finally been lifted off his shoulders.
“Thank you for telling me,” I whisper against him.
“Thank you for being patient with me.” He pulls me back in for another kiss. “Although I may be a ball of nerves for the next few days.” He chuckles.
“That’s okay.” I’m expecting it. At least until he realizes I’m right and nothing comes from their threats. “I know a few ways to calm you down.” I feel him harden beneath me as I begin to kiss down his neck and rock my hips slowly. These two men have turned me into a starved woman.
“Mmm, I like where your mind is going.” He holds my hips, helping me grind against him.
“Am I interrupting something?”
We stop moving and look back to the door, finding Noah leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest and a smirk on his lips. His sweat-soaked shirt sticks to his deliciously thick muscles.
“Nah, our girl was just hungry and needs to be fed.” Gabe smiles and scoots us over to the side of the bed with me still over him. He lifts us with ease and chuckles. “You really are lighter than a hockey bag.” Then he begins to walk toward the door and out into the hall.
“Wait, where are we going?” I’m confused why we can’t just have sex in his room since we’re already all here.
“I just said I was going to feed you.” He laughs and carries us down the stairs while Noah heads for his room, likely to take a shower.
“That’s not the kind of feeding I wanted!” I whine, which only makes him laugh harder. I can even hear Noah from inside his room laughing as well.
NOAH
~ One Week Later ~
“Do you guys mind if we stop at my place before heading over to Morgan’s? I want to grab a change of clothes since I’m spending the night here,” Veronica calls as she comes down the stairs with her shoes on and purse hanging off her shoulder.
