Beyond Vengeance (Pacific Prep, #3)

by R.A. Smyth

I guess we’re skipping over the whole part where we hated each other.

I’m professionally fucking trained to deal with people who have been through fucked-up shit, but this is next level. It’s not like there was a class that taught me the appropriate way to respond when the girl I’m falling in love with tells me she’s a trained mercenary.

She thinks this could change things between us? She’s so fucking wrong. It only makes me want her more. Not only is her strength awe-inspiring, but I want to be the one to show her what love is. I want to be the one to hold her when she has a nightmare, to bring a smile to her face on rainy days, to bask in the light that is Hadley Parker when she laughs. Most importantly, I want to be at her side when she gets the justice she deserves. I’ll ride into battle with her, bleed every fucker out, and when we’re done, we’ll burn that motherfucking compound to the ground.

“I love you. There’s nothing you could say or do to make me change my mind.”

“I’m not sure I know what love is,” she whispers softly, making my heart ache for her. “I’ve never experienced it before. I don’t know what it feels like…but if there were ever someone I thought I could fall in love with, it would be you.”

“I’m serious, though. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through life alone, but that’s not the case anymore. Whatever happens between you and the guys, I’ll still be here for you.” Well, fuck me, this grumpy brother of mine might just have a heart, after all.

“None of them are you,” she says in a quiet whisper, looking deep into my eyes and letting me see just how much she means what she says. “You constantly remind me of what I’ve been fighting for. When I found the strength to escape Lawrence, my entire focus was on survival, but you’ve shown me what it’s like to live. The nights we spent in the dining hall, when you told me about everything you and the guys used to get up to when you were kids, made me realize what I’d been missing my whole life. I craved that sense of belonging, of having friendships, and feeling that deep-seated loyalty the four of you share. “You were the first one to see me. To make me laugh and forget about the dark past I was running from and the uncertain future I was heading toward. With you, I was able to live in the moment and enjoy it. “I miss that. I miss you. I miss how your touch burns my skin and ignites a fire in my soul. I want to feel that again. I don’t want to go another day without you.” Well, fuck me raw and piss on my grave. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

“Morning,” he murmurs against her lips, sounding like a sappy idiot. What the fuck has this girl done to all of us?

“You are the sunlight on a dark day, the rainbow when it pours, the lighthouse in a storm. You’re my sunlight. My rainbow. My lighthouse. I was barely alive when I turned up here, but you helped me learn to breathe. You made me see there’s more to life than just surviving. I need you in my life, making me laugh and reminding me of the good times when things go wrong. So please, please don’t let all this self-hatred and guilt you’re carrying around swallow you up, because I don’t know what any of us would do without you.”

“I hope you know I’m never letting you go,” he pants in my ear. That suits me perfectly fine. I have no intention of going anywhere.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I plant a quick kiss on her lips before she extricates herself to go say hi to West. I watch as he winds his arms around her waist, recognizing the look in his eye as he smiles at her. He loves her too.

“You may be going to the party with that asshole,” he grunts, “but you’ll be coming all over one of our dicks before the end of the night.”

Fuck, the way he says that is so hot, and I’m so here for coming over all of their dicks tonight. I mean, why choose,

Well, fuck me. Give this man a standing ovation, because that was one hell of a declaration.

“I love you,” I pant, loving how his eyes soften and a boyish grin graces his lips. “I love you, baby. You're mine, and I'm yours. That’s the way it's always going to be.”

Oh, holy shit, I’m about to be the filling in a super fucking hot brother sandwich.

“You’re mine, and I’m yours.” His eyes soften, and he plants another kiss on my lips. “I’m yours, and you're mine, baby. To the end.”

I’ve missed her more than I thought I would. It’s weird, I’ve never felt this way before. Obviously, I care about the guys, but I’ve never felt this overpowering need to spend all my time with another living soul. Still, if the distance between us this week has taught me anything, it’s that I can no longer live without Hadley in my life, in my arms, every fucking day.

The guys are what I’m fighting for. Every time I punch, kick, and maim my opponent, it’s because I’m fighting to get back to them. When I first found out about Cam and devised my plan to get out of here, it was because I wanted to survive. It was a novel goal, but now I want so much more. Now I want to live—for the guys. With the guys. The will to do whatever is necessary to get back to them is why I’m going to win every one of my fights tonight. It’s why I’m going to survive this hellhole yet again. Everyone here is fighting for survival, but I’m fighting for love, which is why I’ll win every time.

the crinkled piece of paper, I read the words scrawled in Cam’s messy handwriting. I soak them up like they’re a lifeline. They are my lifeline. They’re the only thing keeping me going.

You’re so brave, Baby Davenport. We’re coming for you. We love you.