Page 7 of Crowned By the Mafia Billionaires

My breath catches. I hate how easily my body responds to this man.

His thumb brushes lightly along my skin. “Because you care about Knox and me.”

I should deny it. Instead, I look over at Knox and then back at Bennett. “Yeah. I mean, how could I not? You are the only two people that seem to care if I’m dead or alive right now.”

Something flashes across Bennett’s face, and his expression gets even more intense.

My heart starts pounding harder. This is exactly why living with them is a terrible idea. One of them touching me is bad enough. Having both of them around all the time would be impossible.

Bennett keeps his hand beneath my chin. “Right. Well, from what you know of us, do you really think we’re going to let you handle this alone?”

I look between the two men, and I don’t even have to think about it because I know the answer. From the first day I walked into Bennett’s office and asked for help, he has done everything in his power to keep me protected and safe. I shake my head. “No.”

His hand slides down my chin and wraps around my neck. “Come home with me… with us.”

As I stare into his dark brown eyes, I feel myself getting lost. I look over at Knox’s blue eyes, and I know I have a decision to make. I can be stubborn and go to a shelter, and most likely my father and his men will find me within days. Or I can go home with two men that I’m so attracted to I can barely think straight… but I’ll be safe.

As I stand here, it all starts to cave in on me. The months of worrying about my brother and trying to stay two steps ahead of my dad. Trying to find a job and pay for my apartment when no one wants to hire a Sterling because they don’t want the drama and trouble that comes with the name. All of it just seems to come to a head in an instant, and I take a deep breath. It feels like I can’t catch my breath, so I try to breathe in again. Over and over, until the panic sets in. I’ve had panic attacks before but not since I walked off Sterling territory. Now it seems that they’ve caught up to me.

Usually when this happens, I try to focus on my breathing and maybe throw some cold water in my face, but this time, Knox and Bennett are with me.

Their voices sound like they’re coming from a tunnel. Bennett stands in front of me, pulling me against his chest. Knox stands behind me, flush against my back. Both men are talking, and when I start to calm down, I can make out their words.

“We’re here, honey. We got you. Breathe,” Bennett says.

“In one, two, three. Out one, two, three. Good girl,” Knox says.

And they’re both caressing me until instead of the panic attack, I’m focusing on the feel of their touch. Bennett’s touch is firm with one hand wrapped around the back of my neck while the other rubs slowly up and down my arm. Knox’s touch is gentler, his palms moving over my shoulders and down my sides in slow strokes. I’m surrounded by them.

For the first time in what seems like forever, I don’t feel like I have to hold everything together on my own. My breathing finally starts to even out.

Bennett dips his head until his forehead rests against mine. “That’s it, pretty. We’ve got you.”

Knox’s hand slides down my arm, and his fingers wrap around mine. “You’re safe, Audrey.”

Safe. The word hits me harder than it should.

I close my eyes and let myself lean into both of them. Maybe going home with Bennett and Knox is a terrible idea. But right now, standing between them, it feels like the safest place I’ve ever been.

CHAPTER 5

BENNETT

I’m pissed, but I’m trying to hold myself together. I’m driving toward my house with Audrey in the passenger seat and Knox in the back seat. Neither one of us wanted to leave her, so we decided we would get her somewhere safe, and Knox would deal with getting her car later.

I keep looking at Audrey, worried.

I didn’t know she had panic attacks, and the thought scares me. How long has she been dealing with them on her own?

She must feel my gaze on her because she asks, “What’s on your mind, Bennett?”

I squeeze the steering wheel tighter. “Have you had panic attacks before?”

She looks at me, and I begin to wonder if she’s going to answer or not. Slowly, she answers, “Yes. When I lived at home, I did. But it was pure chaos there. I’ve been able to manage them since I left.”

I have to know. “So this is the first one you’ve had since you arrived in Kingston territory?”

She nods.