With a sigh, I say, “It broke her, which is exactly why I want to talk to her about it.” I don’t want to see her even more broken down the road. It’s this deceiving dance we can’t seem to stop doing.
Brent’s lips are turned into a frown as he shakes his head. “I don’t want to lose her again.”
“Exactly,” I jump in. “Which is what would happen if we weren’t the one’s to tell her what we’re doing.”
Cole huffs. “What are we doing? I thought we agreed to leave her family alone.”
“We did, but we’ve still gone after her father. Her mom and brother will be fine when it’s all over with, but her father will be ruined,” I remind, not feeling guilty in the slightest for doing what I was raised to do. The shrivel of guilt I’m feeling is entirely for Kresley alone.
“Good,” Brent mutters, his fists clenching. He doesn’t want to just take Kresley’s father’s income; he wants to physically hurt the man. I understand, after watching her be so injured and frail, I wanted to pulverize the asshole myself.
Tristan rationalizes, attempting to put a stop to my latest idea. He can be my biggest ally or my most difficult obstacle to work through, especially where Dad is concerned. He may trust my business sense, but Tristan practically has the man wrapped around his finger. I’m not upset about it, it’s normal; things have been like this for as long as I can remember. “The two family members she was concerned about will be okay; we don’t need to involve her in our plans for her father.”
“That’s her dad,” I argue. “Pretty sure she should have a say. At least before it’s too late that we can’t fix this.”
“Yeah?” Cole rasps, “And what if she tells you to leave him alone? You think dear old dad will sit back and go for that? We all know that isn’t the case, and I’m not the smartest one here.”
Brent massages his temples, muttering, “Fuck.”
“I don’t like this either,” I begin, “but remember how devastated she was before. Do you want to witness her go through something similar and perhaps lose her for good this time around? She should know everything.”
They all shake their heads, Tristan hissing. “Of course we don’t want her dealing with that shit again!”
“Then, we need to step up while we still have the opportunity to do so. If we involve her now, we have a chance to take her thoughts into consideration and bring her over to our side, if needed.”
“We can’t lose her again,” Cole repeats, sounding fearful, and I completely agree with him. I love her. We all do.
“We won’t if we tell her now,” I repeat, more adamantly.
Her sweet voice stuns us as she says, “Tell me what? Guys?”
The room grows silent enough you could hear a pin drop. No one wants to broach the subject with her, but it has to be done. Did we not learn anything the last time? I most certainly did, and I won’t allow history to repeat itself. This time around could end up much worse than the last. We’re constantly underestimating her, and we have to learn to stop doing it.
Swallowing, I nudge the frame of my glasses, even though they’re already in place. It’s a nervous habit I can’t seem to get rid of. I clear my throat before suggesting, “Maybe we should take a walk.”
Brent nearly bursts. “No! No leaving. We should all be here, together.”
My brothers move as one, surrounding her. They don’t plan to let her run out and away again. That ended in a catastrophe, and I know in my heart that if she’s injured again, Brent will go on a warpath.
She spins in an easy circle, her gaze flicking between all of us, and finally, she stops and says, “You guys are scaring me. What’s going on?”
Tristan holds her stare, saying, “I love you. Please remember that.”
She nods, appearing more confused as each of my brothers copies Tristan’s words, repeating the sentiment. Brent even steps forward and hugs her as he says it.
“Axel?” she asks eventually, and it’s time to come out with the truth. Some days I freaking hate the truth and being the responsible one of the group.
“In order to make sure your mother and brother were taken care of in the future and that we could help get you out of that house...I had to strike another deal with my father.” No use beating around the bush about it. The sooner it’s out, the sooner I can make it up to her.
“You did? I don’t understand. I thought you called everything off?”
Wincing, I breathe, “Sort of.”
Her hands fly up to cover her eyes as she rubs them in frustration. “Just tell me,” she whispers after a few tense beats.
“Since you came to live here, I’ve uh, been moving your father’s assets around.”
“So it was another lie,” Kresley fills in, her voice emotionless, when I know that’s not the real case. Our girl isn’t dead inside; she’s like a big blistering sun, ready to burst with emotion.
“Not exactly,” I begin, and she shoots an icy glare at me. Oh, she’s pissed all right.
“It sure sounds like it. This entire time I was such a complete idiot to believe you’d all hold true to your word. Was it just too enticing to toy with my heart in the process of ripping my family apart? Do none of you have compassion and a fucking heart left?”
Cole interrupts to say, “We weren’t toying with you.” Just as Brent growls, “They aren’t your family.”
Tristan reaches for her, breathing, “You are our heart, darling.”
Kresley turns her hurt-filled stare on him, “More lies, Tristan. Was there truth in anything?” Tears well up in her eyes, and it feels like a knife cuts me deep to see it taking place. She steps back as he sputters apologies.
This is spiraling fast. We’re going to lose her, and this time for good. I can see it happening. I have to take control of this here and now. “It was all me,” I shout and she pins me with her stunned gaze. Her mouth falls open as the first set of tears drops free, coating her cheeks in wetness.
“You?” she gasps, with so much pain lacing the word.
I nod and step toe-to-toe with her. “I came up with the original plan as well, but you seem to have forgotten that small detail.” I’m almost cold at the moment, but I have to be. I don’t deserve to be torn up about my own actions. This isn’t the first time I’ve helped a company fall, and it certainly won’t be the last. This is what I do for Father, for my family’s well-being.
She shakes her head, a devastated stare falling to her feet. “I haven’t forgotten anything,” she shares. “I forgave you.” Her shoulders shrug just enough to rattle her form. “I fell for you all again, even after coming back with my will stronger. It wasn’t enough when it came to you guys, so I decided to forgive you, that it was okay for me to love each of you.”
My finger goes to her chin, pulling her face up to meet my eyes. I’m not stupid enough to not fight for her. I’ll be her champion if that’s what she needs. “Tristan distracts you with his outgoing personality. Brent protects you with his unwavering strength, and Cole comforts you with his easy-going nature...but me? You know what I do?”
She shakes her head, silently waiting.
“Of course not.” Leaning in, I bend my head closer to get to her level, wanting to really get my point across. “You don’t ever see me as a threat, but open your eyes love.” I press a tender, chaste kiss to her forehead and glance around to each of my brothers, “I’m not the lowest one on the totem pole. In fact, I’m the one who’ll give you the world on a platter. It’s our playground, and with me by your side, it’s yours for the taking.”
I point my stare back on her alone. “You’ve been here with us for months now; you know we aren’t innocent little boys, waiting for a chance at our fathers business. We’ve been working with him—by his side—for years. Your father’s an easy target, and you know what? So what?” Grabbing her chin, I declare, “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen, what my new plan is.”
More tears fall, and I hate seeing her upset, but I don’t pause in my explanatio
n. I can’t, or I may never say what I need to aloud. “I’m rearranging and renaming all of his assets. I’m going to make sure your mother has enough funds so she can live comfortably. I’m making sure your brother can go to college and live his privileged life. I’m doing everything you asked us to do, but one thing I won’t do is let your father get off scot-free for what he’s done to you. Maybe, in the beginning, I would’ve, but that was before I saw you bent and broken in your old bed after he’d touched you.”
I shake my head, take a breath, and continue, “Now, it’s my turn to touch him where it hurts—his bank account. So hate me if you wish, my love, but I’ll do anything I need to for the people I love. Right now, you’re at the top of that list. You can join us or not, but one thing’s for certain, we’ll never let you go. You belong with us, the four of us. You have our loyalty and love, and that won’t disappear easily.”
Biting her lip, she nods again. A beat of silence passes before she murmurs, “I need to go to my room.”
My brother’s anxious eyes fall to me, silently freaking out inside, not knowing how to react. Hell, I don’t know what to do either, so when Kresley moves to step around me, I slide right back in front of her. “No.”
Her head rocks back at my rebuff, her brows turning in. “No?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“I told you we wouldn’t let you go this time. We need to talk about this. Tell us what’s going on in that mind of yours. Hell, shout and throw things, but don’t do that. Don’t shut us out again.”
She bursts out a hollow laugh. It sounds a bit crazy if I’m being honest, but it doesn’t scare me away. Brent gazes at her longingly like a kicked puppy. Cole has his arms crossed over his chest, coming off as casual, but I know he’s torn up inside. Tristan’s brows are turned in as he gazes at Kresley like he’s trying to figure out how big of a diamond he needs to smooth things over with her. That’s not the type of person she is, though—no matter how hard she tried to act like a spoiled brat when she moved in here. She’s not materialistic or unkind...she’s our kind of perfect.
“Shout? What will that help?” she asks, and we all shrug.
Cole speaks up. “Beba...maybe it’ll make you feel better, yeah?”
She flashes her fiery stare at him, and he balks, at a loss.
Tristan sticks his foot in his mouth by saying, “What can we give you to fix this? How about you find your mom a new house?”
She turns on him next, a frustrated kitten growl bubbling up from her throat.
Finally, Brent yanks her to him, wrapping her in his oversized bulk. His strong arms hold her tightly, and he mutters something into her hair. Whatever he says does the trick because she falls apart right in front of us, sobbing big ugly tears into his chest.
Cole mouths a what do we do, and I shrug, lost. Women aren’t my department; that’s more Tristan’s area, but when it comes to our Kresley, it seems like Brent has her more figured out then we do. It’s all different with her. It’s been that way since day one, and I have a feeling that’ll never change. It’s one of the things that draw us to her like a moth to a flame. We love how she shakes us all up inside; no one has been able to do that in the past.
Brent carries her to bed, placing her in the middle of the massive mattress, and we all surround her. We want to protect and care for her. We’re not sure how to fix what we did, and I think it scares each one of us. We lie there for hours, taking turns offering tissues, water, food, blankets, hoodies—anything we can think of—but she wants for nothing. Silent tears track over her cheeks for the duration, and we decide to take shifts with her until she’s ready to speak to us again.
Over two hours pass with me next to her. I don’t try talking, just lie quietly and rub my fingers through her disheveled hair. She’s our beautiful mess, and we love her for it. Her eyes close and when I think she’s dozed off, I whisper, attempting to explain to the quiet room.
“We don’t know how to fix this, my love. We don’t want to hurt you, but the opposite, we want you content. I’m trying to tell you everything because I love you, and I don’t want to deceive you ever again. Every day that I breathe, I promise I’ll try to earn your trust back. I don’t care how long it takes or how much you hate me. One day you’ll see that you’re everything to my brothers and me.”
I move my glasses away and rub my eyes before I continue. “I meant what I said about giving you the world, though I know you’d never take it. I’ve already given you my heart, and now, I’ve given you my allegiance as well. I just hope one day you’ll be able to trust me again and look at me like you once did. I took your love for granted, and I’ll never make that mistake again. We’ll do whatever it takes so we don’t lose you. I-I just love you,” I admit as a tear escapes, and I close my eyes. I can’t remember a time that I’ve cried, but one thing is for certain, she’s worth every tear I spill.
The bed’s empty when my eyelids part, and when everything hits me from the night before, Kresley’s absence sends me into a panic. My stomach drops as the realization registers that she’s left us once again. We failed...I failed her, and that’s a hard pill to swallow. I was a fool to believe we could keep her from leaving again, to make her see reason in our deception. As much as I want to lie here and wallow in self-pity, I can’t. I’m a fixer, and the first thing I need to do is find my brothers. Together we can come up with a plan to get her back.
I don’t care what I have to do or how long it takes. I won’t give up. I will never stop loving her, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that fact to her if I have to. Fuck, my brothers are going to be heartbroken. All of this heartache has been my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t bother them but leave as well. I could take off and figure out a way to get Kresley back. I’ll come home when I have her at my side, and I know everyone will be happy again.
I can’t believe I fell asleep and let her slip right out of my arms, I think and start to beat myself up inside. More tears fall as determination overtakes me. I have to figure out how to get her back.
I head for the door when a sleepy voice calls, “Axel?
Glancing over my shoulder, I find Kresley bathed in the bathroom light behind her. The door’s about halfway open, and I swear she reminds me of a sleepy angel. Taking in her form, still here, and in this room, no less, has me sighing with relief.
“W-were you leaving?” She peers at me, irises awash with worry.
“I must’ve dozed off, and when I woke up, you weren’t beside me,” I explain, and she takes in the rumpled bed.
“I had to use the bathroom. I was trying not to wake you up,” she explains, stepping back into her bedroom, before leaving the bathroom door cracked. It’s dark, but with the bathroom light, I can still easily see her.
Blowing out a heavy breath, my hands rake through my hair, and I realize my glasses are missing. In the dark, it didn’t click, and I get so used to having them on all the time that sometimes I forget they’re on my face. “My glasses?” I ask, not knowing what happened to them. I don’t remember falling asleep or anything, just telling her how sorry I was.
“They were crooked, half off your face, and I didn’t want them to break, so I stuck them on the nightstand.”
“Thank you.”
She nods.
“So...you’re talking to me? You don’t hate me?”Kresley steps toward me and becomes blurrier as she nears. I should just bite the bullet and have corrective surgery already; Father’s been hounding me to do it for years.
“Of course not.” She takes my hand and leads us back to the bed. “Do you want your glasses?”
“Please. I can see far away better, but up close, it’s really blurry, and I’d like to be able to see your beautiful face.”
“Okay.” She walks around the bed, picks up something from the table which I’m guessing are my glasses. She bypasses my outstretched hand and steps forward, placing the frames in place. With my next blink, she comes into sharp focus.
“There you are,” I whisper, my hand
smoothing over her cheek. “So stunning, my love.”
Biting her lip, her gaze falls to the floor before she launches her body at me. I easily catch her in my arms and bring her in close. Wrapping my arms around her tightly, my head leans down, and I inhale her flowery smelling hair. She smells like everything I’ve ever wanted.
“I was scared you left, and I’d never have a chance to get you back,” I confess, and her hands smooth over my back, dipping below my T-shirt—fingers and palms meeting skin.
“Why would I leave?” she asks, tipping her head back to stare at me.
“Because you hate me.”
She shakes her head and argues, “I don’t hate you. You hurt me by breaking my trust. You’re one of my closest friends. and it kills me inside to know you deceived me instead of being honest and up-front.”
“I’m so damn sorry…I truly am. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you, just, please don’t leave us again.” I’ll beg if I have to to keep her here with us.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
My head jerks back as I stare, stunned with her revelation. “You’re not?”
Her hand moves up and over my chest until it rests on the curve where my neck and shoulder meet. “You four are my family now, just as much as my mom and brother are; more, in fact, because you guys care for me and protect me.”
“We love you,” I interrupt, and she flashes a sad smile.
“I know you do. If I wasn’t sure of it, then I would leave.”
“This is your home, Kresley. We all want you here, and even though I screwed up bad, I promise I won’t ever betray you again. I just couldn’t bear it that your dad wasn’t going to face any repercussions for everything he’s put you through.”
“I’ve never had anyone protect me like you guys do; it makes me feel like you really do care. So, I do believe you, Axel, even if my mind tells me I shouldn’t.”
“Please,” I murmur, not above begging. “I love you. I have from the moment you asked me if I drew. It was like you saw me and not just as a part of being a quad, but as myself.”
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