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“The sun will rise on another day, and may it be better than the last.”
I drift off to sleep to the thought of killing every fucker keeping me from my girl.
The idiot is wearing all black, but in white, across the front of his top, is written #darkknighttotherescue.
Something in me snaps, and everything goes hazy. It’s like I go into a rage blackout. Anger surges through my veins, burning away the all-consuming fear. It’s one thing for this sick fuck to threaten and terrorize me, but not my brother. He’s done everything he can to protect me, and I know he’s fighting to get to me now. We only just found each other, and I’m sure as fuck not about to let anyone harm him.
but hovering over the dead body of her very own monster, knowing she conquered her fear—that she fucking saved herself—she looks like the fucking queen of hell.
She’s had me captivated since I first saw her in the quad in her combat boots, with her hair whipping wildly around her face. In the last two weeks, I have realized that the way she makes me feel is so much stronger than lust, more powerful than like. I love her in an all-consuming, dark, possessive way, that means I’ll always fight to get to her. I’ll slay whoever I need to and conquer whatever obstacle is in my way. I don’t want to control her the way my father did. I don’t need to dictate every part of her life. I want to watch her fly free, to see her vanquish her enemies and become the
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Hadley flies off like a bullet, running toward him at a speed I wouldn’t have deemed possible in her weakened state, and Hawk rushes to meet her halfway. The two collide like something out of a movie, and holy fuck, if it doesn’t make my insides go a little gooey. The two of them are a fucking twinmance for the ages. As the two of them embrace each other, clinging to one another like it’s the end of times, this moment epitomizes just how far Hawk has come in the last few months. It’s good to see the fucking asshole has a heart, after all.
As they pull away, Wilder pipes up, “Good to see you, Sunshine. I was worried you wouldn’t get to see my incredible knife skills.” He holds up his bloodied blade, and I quirk a brow at Hawk, but he just shakes his head. Guess that’s a story for another time.
I lean into the warmth, reassured that my explosive volcano of a brother will always have my back.
I’m pretty sure I’ve got the best grumpy brother in the world.
“You mean more to me than he ever did. I’ve never been more proud than I was when I walked in and saw you wielding that knife. You didn’t just face your greatest fear, you conquered it and made sure he could never come after you again.”
Just as my eyelids droop, he murmurs against my ear, his warm breath tickling the skin, “I’m pretty sure you’re the love of my life.”
“Baby!” Cam exclaims. “Didn’t you hear me? You’re a fucking badass. I have never been more turned-on in my life than I am at the thought of you going all ninja on some douchebag's ass.”
“You’re fiercely beautiful. I’m in awe of your strength.”
“It’s tiring, being strong all the time.”
“Then don’t be. Fall apart, baby. I’ll be here to put you back together.” I rest my forehead against hers so all I can see is the turbulent thunderstorm whirling in her eyes. Nothing else exists but her. “It’s you and me.”
She tilts her head so her lips meet mine. In that kiss, I can taste everything she’s not ready to say yet. I can taste how lost she is, the hopeless void she’s on the cusp of falling into, and I return her kiss with all the ferocity of so...
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“Jesus, your drama belongs on a shitty daytime TV show. I can’t keep up with it all. One minute you're doing this or called that, and the next, it’s something else. Who gives a fuck?” I think that’s the most insightful thing he’s said all year.
“You’re not alone anymore. You’ve got five guys, all of whom would wage war for you, but right now, none of us know what to do. Hawk’s on the verge of losing his shit if you don’t let him in, and the rest of us aren’t far behind him.
“Because I’m the asshole brother who lives to piss you off, and I’m not going to stop until you’re honest with me.”
“You wanna know what’s wrong,” I snarl, shoving him hard in the chest. The fucking asshole doesn’t back up though, which only infuriates me further. “I can’t sleep because every time I close my eyes, I’m back in that room with Lawrence, trapped and terrified. Every time I stop to just breathe, or take a moment, I hear Bowen’s voice in my head, telling me all the fucked-up shit he wants to do to me. If someone plays loud music, I have a panic attack ‘cause the guards would pump it through the speakers for days, so loud I hoped it would burst my eardrums, so that I could get five minutes of
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When you’re unable to fight your battles, you’ve others who will stand up and fight them for you. I’m not alone. I never was.
Taking a moment, I think about Hawk’s deadly anger, Mason’s stoicism, Cam’s flippancy, Beck’s steeliness, and Hadley’s strength and channel each of them.
I don’t let him see any of my inner thoughts or feelings. Instead, I fix a sick sort of macabre mask on my face and do my best to mimic Wilder’s insane grin.
They wrap a blanket around me as I pass out in a post-orgasmic haze, surrounded by the four men I love.
Fucking hell, I think we just caught a glimpse of Wilder’s monster.
When he does finally turn to look at me, I swear I see goddamn hearts in his eyes. “I think I’m in love.” I snort. “You seriously pissed her off, you dumbass!” “And I’ll do it again if she throws that fire my way. Nothing hotter than having a girl blow a fucking fuse at you.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re five years old, twenty-five, or fifty. Trauma is trauma, and no matter how much you tell yourself you’re over it, that you’re tougher than the ghosts that haunt you, you will always be weakened in their presence. They are always going to have a hold over your inner psyche. This is why you need people around you, people you can rely on, lean on, and stand up beside you and remind you that you’re not a weak kid anymore.
I hiss out his name. I’ve no idea if anyone is around to hear us, but I have to know he’s okay. Fuck, Hadley will have my balls if he isn't.
I don’t give a damn what it takes, I will protect my sister with my life. With every fiber of my being, I will ensure she leads a long and happy life.
All of it was set up to make us think he was asleep in the bed. Sly, Wilbert. Didn’t know you had it in you, you fat fuck.
Fuck yes, a hot brother sandwich!
“You both fucked Emilia?!” Hawk buries his head in his hands, mumbling curses under his breath as Wilder bobs his head like a puppy looking for a treat.
“I love you, Little Warrior.” I can see the sheer honesty in his eyes, his words warming me from the inside out as I murmur my response, “I love you, Mason Hayes.”
Emilia and I share a wicked look, and as they all say Princes, we call out, “Pricks,” and cackle our heads off as Barton takes the photo and the guys start up a protest.
I feel the others close in around me. West on one side, Cam on the other, and Beck at my back. I look up at each of them with the same love in my eyes that I can see shining in theirs. Yup, so long as we have each other, the future can throw anything it wants at us. No obstacle is too hard, no challenge too big. Don’t they say love conquers all? Well, our love is a force to be reckoned with.
