“There are men outside. They—”
Another slap. Tears filled her eyes at the sting but she refused to cower. She knew that was what he wanted. “Have been taken care of. Nothing is going to stop me from taking my little bird home with me.” His face tightened. “Nothing and no one.”
She moved back, away from him. “I’ll scream.”
“Then whoever comes for you will die.” He raised his hand and she saw the gun in his hand. She stumbled back, tripping over Renard and falling to the floor, her knee wrenching painfully.
She had to bite back a cry of agony. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill.
Be brave, Keira.
Oh, God. She couldn’t risk anyone else. Didn’t want anyone else to die. But she also couldn’t go with him. He’d kill her. Cole and Julian would come for her, and he’d kill them as well.
Anger filled her at the thought. This was it. Her chance to protect her men. There was no way she was going to let this asshole hurt them.
Never again.
Her fury fueled her courage. She glanced around, searching for something she could use to fight back. She spotted something lying half-hidden under Renard’s prone body.
His knife!
She quickly glanced back up at Vincento, not wanting him to see what she was looking at as she shuffled back, as though trying to get further away from him. Her hand brushed against the knife and she grabbed the hilt.
“Stand up,” Vincento demanded.
She shook her head, letting her tears free. “No, please! No!” She wanted him to think she was hysterical. Weak. She wanted him to underestimate her. There was no way he would imagine her fighting back.
You’re not hurting anyone I love again, asshole.
“No. No. Please. Please. Don’t hurt me. No!” she cried out as he reached down for her. Before she could hesitate, she tugged the knife out and swung, somehow embedding it in the side of his neck.
He stared down at her in horror, his hand rising to his neck.
She did it! She’d stabbed him. Holy. Fuck. Holy fuck. Her heart raced, sweat broke across her forehead as her breath came in sharp pants.
Don’t throw up. Don’t throw up. Stay awake, Keira!
She’d done it. She’d fought back. She’d gotten the bastard. He couldn’t hurt her or Julian ever again.
“Little bird,” he managed to say before he collapsed on his back. Keira took a deep breath and then she screamed.
“I can’t believe he nearly got you. I nearly let him take you,” Cole stated.
Keira was sitting on Cole’s lap in Saxon’s living room. It was filled with people: cops, Raptor Inc. men, the two men who’d been injured were being checked by Doc, and a very grouchy Renard who was sitting on an armchair. He was angry that someone had snuck up on him. He also wasn’t happy she’d used his favorite knife to kill Vincento. And he’d proclaimed that loudly until Saxon had had a quiet word with him.
But none of them penetrated the bubble around Keira and her two men.
Julian sat next to them, his arm around Keira, who sat sideways on Cole’s lap, facing him. Her knee had an ice pack wrapped around it. Doc had already checked her over. Thankfully, her knee didn’t seem to be as bad as she’d first thought. He’d given her some drugs to take the edge off the pain.
“I’m all right. I promise. He didn’t hurt me.”
“He could have,” Julian said bleakly. “We were so busy trying to play fucking hero, and he went for you. He had a gun!”
She cupped Julian’s cheek. It surprised her that out of the three of them, she was the calm one. In fact, other than being tired and drained, she felt really good.
“Guys, I’m good. I promise. And I think you’re both forgetting something important.”
“What?” Cole asked darkly.
“He’s dead. We’re finally safe. He’s dead, and we don’t have to worry about him. I don’t know about the two of you, but I feel lighter. I feel safer. I feel almost like me again.”
Julian leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “You’re right. Even though I’ll probably have nightmares about what could have happened for the rest of my life, the true nightmare is over. We’re safe.”
They both looked at Cole. He scowled. “I’m still mad. And I have new gray hairs.”
“Would it help if I let you spank my ass?” Keira teased.
“Help? No, it wouldn’t help.” He seemed to think about that. “Well, maybe a little bit.”
She leaned in against him. “You can spank it then fuck it then do the same to Julian.”
“Hey!” Julian protested. “I didn’t nearly die, why am I getting spanked?”
“Because it’s hot?” Keira asked.
Julian just grinned, shaking his head. Then he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Before turning to Cole. “Keira’s right. We should be thankful for what we have. A dead asshole and each other.”
“To dead assholes and each other,” Keira stated.
“Fine,” Cole muttered. “To dead assholes and each other and the rest of our lives. Together.”
Epilogue
“You sure you want to do this, little bit?” Cole asked, coming up to stand beside her. He slipped his arm around her waist as they stared at Fet.
Julian stepped up on her other side, wrapping his big hand around her much smaller one. They both surrounded her with their heat and protection.
These past eight weeks, they’d been there for her through everything. Physical therapy for her knee. Sessions with Molly. The panic attacks, which were thankfully becoming few and far between.
They’d held her through the storm.
Vincento is dead.
She had to tell herself that quite a lot.
They’d moved out of Joel’s guest house and into their place a month ago. That had helped. Moving in together cemented their place in each other’s lives. A home. Their home. Hers, Julian’s and Cole’s.
She still had nightmares, but her men were always there to soothe her. To hold her. Every night, she went to sleep in their arms and every morning, she woke up feeling safe and loved. They were slowly helping her heal, physically and emotionally, and she hoped she was doing the same for them.
Her men were possibly even more protective of her now. She was coddled and taken care of. And she loved every moment. She needed it.
For those first few weeks, she couldn’t even bear to have them out of her sight. Luckily, they’d been patient and understanding until eventually she was able to be on her own. Although she usually wasn’t alone long before one of them searched her out.
“I am,” she said firmly. She hadn’t been back to Fet since the night Vincento tried to kidnap her. The night she’d killed him.
Her knee had healed. She was slowly gaining weight. Her panic attacks and nightmares were few and far between.
Vincento was dead.
“This is the next step in moving forward,” she commented.
“Seems appropriate in a way,” Cole murmured.
“How’s that?” Julian asked.
“Well, Fet is the place where I set eyes on the two of you again.”
Keira smiled up at him. “When Julian punched you.”
Cole gave the other man a mock-scowl. “Let’s not do a repeat of that night.”
Julian grinned. “Depends on how well-behaved you are.”
“Careful,” Cole growled.
Julian just smiled.
She knew they were giving her time to adjust to being back here. Truth was, she wasn’t dreading it as much as she thought she might.
“Let’s do this.” She was ready. “I have both of you with me. Nothing can touch me.”
“Damn straight nothing will touch you,” Cole growled.
Ahh, there was her protective Dom.
They walked into Fet and instead of being greeted by a waitress, Joel stepped forward with a smile, showing them to a table.
Keira looked around at the full restaurant in surprise. “I
s all of Haven here?”
She saw Molly sitting with her husband, Jake and waved at her. At the table next to hers sat Aspen and her two young boys. Jamie already had food all over his mouth and Caleb took advantage of his mom’s moment of inattention to squish his hands in what looked to be a small mound of mashed potatoes.
She had to grin.
“Your table is over here.” Joel directed them to a table off to the side. At least he hadn’t put them right in the middle. That would feel too much like being on show.
“Is the whole town here?” Cole asked his brother.
“Not quite,” Joel told him, pulling out her chair. “We ran out of room.”
Cole waved him away, helping her into the chair. She sent a smile to Savannah and her two husbands, Max and Logan, who were sitting at the table next to them.
“Want me to pull your chair out for you, brother?” Joel grinned.
Cole gave him a scowl, but she could see his lips twitch. “I think I can manage.”
Joel leaned in close to her as Cole sat. “Everyone heard you were coming tonight and they all wanted to come support you.”
“That’s really sweet,” she whispered.
“You three are part of Haven. Now what do you all want, I got other things to do.” He turned back to look at Aspen who was trying to contain the chaos at their table.
Keira giggled, surprising herself.
“You’re really crap at this,” Cole said dryly.
But they all placed their orders quickly. Joel turned away and strode into the kitchen, stopping briefly to give Aspen a light kiss.
Julian reached under the table and squeezed her hand. “All right, kitten? Not too much?”
“If it is, we can tell them all to get lost,” Cole added.
“You’ll tell a restaurant filled with people to leave?”
“I certainly would.”
She grinned and shook her head. “It’s fine. Sweet, actually. I just didn’t expect to smile so much while doing this.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being happy,” Julian told her seriously.
She loved that he understood it. That he got it. They’d been through hell, but they had a choice about whether to let the past rule them or to conquer it.
“Saxon!” Renard boomed, she startled then turned to find him standing across the room in the doorway that led to the kitchen.
“Yeah?” Joel barked back.
“Not you!” He turned to point at Cole. “You!”
She placed her hand over her mouth. Oh, dear Lord.
“Yes?” Cole leaned back in his chair and winked at her in amusement.
“You gonna eat the beef wellington this time? Cause if you’re not, I’m not cooking it.”
“I’ll eat it.”
“You better. Smiley?” Renard boomed.
She rolled her eyes at his nickname for her. Cole was less amused by Renard yelling at her. He sat up straight and sent the chef a warning look.
“Yes?” she called back.
“You doing okay?”
“Uh, yes. I am.”
Julian gave her hand another squeeze. She was doing better than all right. She was happy. She had everything she’d ever desired sitting here at the table with her. Along with a large number of friends all supporting her.
Yeah. She was doing all right.
Julian hated that she was doing this. Wanted to sweep her up into his arms and carry her home. To their safe place. He’d worried that maybe it wouldn’t feel like home because Cole had been the one to pay for it. But working side-by-side with Cole to get it ready had helped make it his. He’d loved watching Keira enjoy decorating it. Making it theirs.
“You sure about this, little bit?” Cole asked as they stepped towards the pantry.
“You don’t have to do it if you’re not ready, sugar tits.”
They both gave him looks at that nickname, but it lifted the apprehension from Keira’s face and made her smile.
“I want to do it.”
The kitchen had been emptied out to give them some privacy. Luckily, most people in the restaurant had already eaten, but Julian knew they didn’t have long before Renard and his staff would be back.
Cole went in first, followed by Keira, Julian bringing up the rear. That suited him. He’d be happy to spend the rest of his life watching their backs.
He heard Keira make a noise and stepped up beside her, slipping his arm around her waist. Cole, who stood slightly in front of them, turned side-on and reached for her hand.
Keira let out a deep breath. “It’s not as bad as I thought it might be. I mean, it’s not nice being in here, but I don’t feel panicked or afraid. But then the two of you are with me.”
“Always,” Cole told her.
So brave, his kitten.
“His wife’s death broke something inside him.”
“He was probably never whole to begin with,” Cole told her. “He was an evil man.”
Keira nodded then leaned into Julian. “Vincento is dead.”
He kissed the top of her head. “He’s dead, kitten.”
Thank God.
Cole always felt a sense of satisfaction as he drove up to their home.
Their home.
It wasn’t the house that made it that, of course. But the people living in it. The two people he loved and adored with a ferociousness that sometimes took him by surprise.
He pulled up out front and turned to give Julian a look. Then he glanced over at Keira who sat in the passenger seat.
“We have a treat for you for being such a brave girl,” Cole told her.
He couldn’t see her face in the dark, but he could practically feel her excitement. “You do?”
“Yep. Tonight you get to spend the night as kitten. Being petted and doted on by your two masters.”
She let out an excited noise. He grinned.
“Of course, you’ll also be punished if you’re a naughty kitten.” He had no doubts that would happen.
He’d thought this would be the best way to help her unwind. Although she’d handled tonight amazingly well. Still, as kitten, he knew she would more easily let go of all her worries and fears and just live in the moment.
“Julian would you please escort our kitten inside and help her get ready? We bought you a new outfit.”
“Yay! Thank you!” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight.
He grasped hold of her chin and kissed her. “I love you, Keira.”
“I love you too, Sir.”
“I love you, Julian.” He turned and reached for the other man, kissing him.
“Love you too,” Julian said. “Love both of you.”
“Good, now get to it before we start off with a punishment,” he threatened.
Julian quickly exited the back seat then opened Keira’s door and scooped her up and over his shoulder, carrying her inside.
Cole sat for a moment, letting this moment fill him with happiness.
Finally, he had a home.
She very nearly squealed in excitement as she stared at herself in the mirror. This kitten outfit could easily be her favorite. Of course, buying her toys and outfits seemed to be Cole’s favorite pastime, so she had plenty to choose from.
Julian had inserted the wide butt plug in her ass, which had a black fluffy tail at the end of it. He’d also helped her put on the black, lacy thigh high stockings and garter belt. She wore a tight, black crop top that had kitten written across her breasts in bright pink.
She wasn’t wearing a bra or panties.
Her cat ears were black and fluffy like her tail and her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. He’d left her hands free, but placed a bright pink collar around her neck and attached a leash.
Ooh. This was her first time wearing a leash.
Julian stood behind her and smiled. “Like it?”
“Yes, I love it.”
He reached around and cupped her mound, running his finger across her swollen clit. �
�Spread your legs, kitten.”
She widened her legs.
“Good girl. Now, here are the rules for play tonight. There’s no coming without permission.”
Her breath caught as he reached up with his other hand and cupped her breast. Her nipples were already pebbled and pressing against the material of the crop top. She watched herself in the mirror, the way her cheeks grew flushed as arousal filled her face. She licked her lips, her breath coming in sharp, fast pants.
Christ. Sticking to that rule was always hard, but it seemed extra difficult right now.
“No talking unless you’re asked a direct question. If you require something then you are to rub your face against our hands or legs until we give you permission to speak.”
Okay, that last bit was new. But she liked it. A lot.
“Understand?” He pinched her nipple. Hard.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good little kitten. If your knee hurts at all, you are to use your safeword immediately.”
She nodded. They were always so careful with her.
“We still don’t want you on your knees, so you’ll mostly be walking or sitting. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Now turn around and show me how much you appreciate your new outfit.”
“You picked this one, Sir?” Usually, Cole liked to pick out her outfits and toys.
“I did,” he confirmed.
She turned and he leaned down so she could show much she liked it by kissing the hell out of him.
When he drew back, they were both breathing heavily. Julian slowly undid his shirt. She licked her lips excitedly. She loved it when both her men were naked, free for her to touch and taste at will.
“Little hot in here,” he commented.
She grinned.
He pulled off his shirt then moved to her side. She stood there, slightly puzzled.
“Bend over, kitten, I think your outfit needs something else.”
She bent over. Julian rubbed his hand over her ass then gave her cheek a sharp smack. Another three heavy smacks landed before he moved to her other cheek and gave it the same treatment. She groaned as the heat built in her bottom and spread to the rest of her body. When he stopped, her already swollen clit was throbbing incessantly.
Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas Book 8) Page 31