Chapter 31

Damien and Alexi head upstairs to deal with business for the night while Evie stays back.

"I think we need to talk to Laney and Arrow," Havoc suggests. I nod in agreement.

"Can we not say anything about the kidnapping and stuff yet? I want to talk to her myself."

I feel bad for not talking to her right away. She and Evie have been my go-to people for a while, but now that I have Boris and Cillian, I feel like I don't have to disrupt their lives as much.

Although we've all grown close and know we can depend on one another, I feel like I am always intruding. Especially when they have life partners that they have to share their time with.

"I won't lie to her if she asks how I spent my evening, even if the little brat is lying to me right now."

I tilt my head to the side in question, and he frowns at me as he rolls his eyes.

"She thought she could torture a man here tonight, alone , and that I'd be oblivious."

Evie snorts along with me. Laney is the least sneaky of us all, but I doubt any of us could pull off something like that without our men finding out.

It's weird thinking about that. Our men . We all have our own little version of a family while still being a part of a bigger one all together. I kind of feel like I belong even more now.

Havoc is older, though not as old as Boris. And his boyfriend, Arrow, who is also Laney's boyfriend, is older as well. That is one thing Laney and I can always joke about. The age difference and the fact that they all have this weird crush on Whitney Houston.

"Go help your girl and pray no blood is involved. In fact," I wipe a little off of his cheek, and he grins in a way that reminds me of Cillian, "you're kind of a mess."

Right as I say that, Arrow comes down the stairs, flashing Havoc a message on his phone.

"I told you not to test her, brother. Now look at what she's doing."

I can't see what's on the screen, but the way Havoc's jaw ticks makes me think my girl is in for a fun evening.

"Talk to her," he says to me before he turns and jogs up the stairs, Arrow right on his heels.

Cillian is right behind me and I lean into him, feeling exhausted already. But I know I need to talk to my friend. In fact, I haven't really told Evie much about everything that went down, but based on the way she's smiling at Cillian and me, it's clear he has kept her up to date on a few things.

"Sleepover at your place next week? I'll tell you guys everything that happened."

Cillian pulls me close, careful not to push on my ribs.

"Are you sure a week is enough time to heal?"

I can hear what he's not saying. He is nervous about my recovery and has been ever since we arrived. It's why I tried to put on a brave face and not act as shitty as I'm starting to feel. When most people are ten days out from recovering from severe dehydration as well as major blood loss and fractured ribs, they usually don't venture out for a torture session on their first day back to work.

Although, come to think of it, maybe that is exactly what we do. We just hate ourselves for it afterwards.

"I'm fine," I tell him, patting the arm he has wrapped around my lower stomach.

"Yeah," he tsks in my ear, "keep telling yourself that, Love."

"You guys are so adorable I could puke," Evie says, and Boris makes a sound of agreement that has me narrowing my eyes at him.

"Don't act like you're any better, Daddy B ."

"For the love of fuck," Boris says exasperatedly.

"I do love to fuck," I agree.

"The only one you should be calling Daddy," Alexi says walking down the stairs and grabbing Evie by the neck, "is me, Princess."

He claims her mouth and Boris looks at the floor, making me laugh as he mutters, "Now I am the one wanting to puke."

Alexi draws back, taking offense to that, but Evie places a hand on his chest, effectively silencing him.

"I think we're going to head back home," I say.

I think Evie is anxious to get to whatever is about to happen upstairs because her eyes keep darting around. I don't plan to stay and enjoy the club tonight, although there is a room calling my name in the future, once I work up the courage to ask my men to try it out with me.

But I'll save that for another time.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Evie says, making us pause. "Akio is staying with Laney and would probably want to come too. He is helping me with a few things as well as his official boyfriend Adrian. They could be an asset to have on our team."

My first instinct is to laugh. Akio and Laney under one roof sounds like a nightmare and a party all wrapped into one. The way the two of them can rile each other up as well as cackle over almost anything is nothing short of hysterical.

Akio was a good friend to me on the island and was part of our study group in the library. He had this way of making the things we sucked at not feel so big while also encouraging us. Plus, he's a hot Asian dude with some of the softest hair I have ever felt. If he weren't so head over heels for his boyfriend, I probably would have tried to date him.

"I'm glad he's here." Although I am curious as to why, but I figure I'll ask when we all get together. "I'll send out a message tomorrow with details about a sleepover."

"You're not having a sleepover with another guy," Cillian says. He sounds legitimately angry.

I look back at him with furrowed brows. "Do you not trust me?"

Cillian's eyes go wide as Boris laughs to himself. Evie and Alexi start up the stairs, but I keep my gaze locked on him.

"Try to tell me what to do, Killer. I feckin' dare you."

His mouth opens and shuts, and then Boris leans in. "This is what you get for being petty."

Cillian reaches out to punch him in the chest, but Boris dances back gracefully.

"Sorry, Sweetheart." He reaches back and palms the back of his neck. "I-I just don't trust anyone with you right now."

I understand that. He feels responsible even if I have told him a million times he isn't. It might help him to talk to Dr. K. I know I already feel better today because of it.

I make a mental note to ask him to join me in my next session as I walk up to him and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"It's okay. Let's go home?"

He sighs, his whole body seeming to relax.

"Yes. Home ."

The fact that he agrees so quickly that mine and Boris' house is home makes my stomach flip. I slide one hand in his and the other in Boris' as we walk back to the car.

The men who hurt me are dead, and I have the loves of my life on either side of me. I know the universe is about to test us. But right now, I decide to thank it for everything I have, because this feeling is better than anything I've ever felt.