Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
“I FOUND” BY AMBER RUN
LARK
The guys stay close to me for the rest of the day, and we spend it curled up on the couches watching endless Disney movies at Jude’s insistence.
It’s the healing balm that I need, yet know that I don’t deserve, no matter how much I try to convince myself that I’ve put in fail-safes to ensure they’re okay.
The next morning, I wake up, my stomach rolling and an ache in the back of my throat that won’t go away, no matter how much water I drink.
“Let’s go shopping!” Jude suddenly exclaims while I’m pushing bits of fluffy pancake around my plate, all of us sitting at the kitchen island for breakfast as it has become our routine.
“Shopping?” I ask, my head tilting upwards as he comes to stand over me. He bends down, framing my face in his warm hands.
“It always makes me feel better, spending lots of money on pretty things, and you classify as a very pretty thing, Nightingale.”
I bristle. “You know that I’m a person right, Baby Devil?”
“Of course, a very pretty person,” he replies, his brows dipping as if he doesn’t get what the issue is. I huff out a breath that he inhales as his face is that close.
“I don’t have any money, Jude.”
“Yes you do, you have all of my money. What’s mine is yours, Nightingale, and what’s yours is mine. Especially that pretty cunt.”
“Jude! For fuck’s sake!”
Aeron laughs, the deep timbre of his voice distracting me from my misery and making my nipples harden. “He’s not wrong, Dove. You can use our money, and we do own that beautiful pussy of yours.”
“I am a person, assholes! Not just a hole for your dicks.” I don’t know why I’m so furious, my breath is coming in gasps, and I try to get up and break away from Jude’s hold, but he doesn’t let go, earning a frustrated growl from me.
“What’s wrong, Nightingale? Why are you so angry and sad?” His deep blue eyes bore into mine, concern lacing his unblinking stare.
“I—” I cut myself off. I can’t tell them one of the reasons, the biggest reason why my emotions are everywhere.
I’ve worked too hard and come too far to ruin it now, but I can give them a little more of me, they deserve that much.
“I’ve never been shopping.” I can feel my cheeks heat, and I look away from Jude, unable to hold any of their gazes.
What twenty-two-year-old girl has never been fucking shopping?
“Look at me, Nightingale.” His voice has an air of command that can usually be heard falling from his brother’s lips.
I do as he says, lifting my eyes to meet Jude’s ocean blue ones, full of compassion.
No judgment. “Please let us take you shopping for the first time, and spend obscene amounts of our ill-gotten gains on you.”
Tears fill my eyes, a small sob-laugh falling from my lips.
“Regular Robin Hoods, aren’t you guys?”
“You know it, baby,” Jude murmurs back, ghosting his lips over mine just enough to send tingles racing over my skin, then pulling back. “So, can we?”
“No posh twat shops.”
“I solemnly swear not to take you into any posh twat shops. Scouts honor,” Jude says, his voice and face deadly serious.
“Fine.”
“Yes!” he exclaims before bringing my face to his and planting a smacking kiss on my lips. “I call shotgun with Nightingale in the back seat. I’m going to make her come at least twice before we get there.”
My face flushes, my core tightening at his words.
Goddamit, Jude has the power to lighten any situation, turning my bad mood into good in the blink of an eye.
They take me to the nice part of town, where high-end boutiques with beautiful shopfronts line the street.
“You promised no posh twat shops,” I grumble as we get out of the car, although there’s not too much heat to my words on account of the post-orgasmic glow. Boy made good on his words and my entire body feels mellow and relaxed.
“This is not a posh twat shop, Nightingale. It’s run by one of my favorite people,” Jude admonishes me, bopping me on the nose. Fucker.
“Looks posh to me,” I grouch as we go through the door, a bell chiming when we open it.
“Jude!” a feminine voice yells, and I stiffen when she comes barreling forward, wrapping him up in a tight hug.
“Roxy, good to see you, gorgeous,” Jude greets back, keeping hold of my hand as he returns the hug one-armed. I can feel my jaw clench, and Aeron chuckles beside me.
“What’s so funny, Devil Man?” I ask, and Roxy snaps her head to me and immediately releases Jude.
Her brown-eyed gaze sweeps over me appreciatively, and my cheeks heat at her obvious interest. She’s pretty with a heart-shaped face and messy brown hair, dressed in some kind of coverall in a bright floral pattern. It’s a shame I don’t swing that way.
“Well, hello there, beautiful,” she purrs, and I bite my lips together when several low, menacing growls sound around me.
Heat meets my back as the scent of leather fills my nose and a hand coils around my stomach possessively.
Aeron grabs my free hand, stepping closer, and Jude’s grip tightens on my other hand.
Tarl looks about ready to step in front of me, blocking me from the small brunette’s view.
“Mine,” Knox growls out, and Jesus fucking Christ on a popsicle, my panties are decimated at his gruff tone.
“Jeez, can’t blame a girl for trying, look at her!” Roxy holds a hand out sweeping it up and down in front of me, shrugging her shoulders. “I’m Roxy, owner of this fine establishment.”
“Hi, I’m Lark,” I go to hold my hand out for her to shake, but neither boy releases their grip. “Seriously, guys? I’m all about the peen, sorry, Roxy, so I’m not going to run away with her.” She laughs, a tinkling sound that has the corners of my lips lifting.
“Damn shame that is, let me know if you ever change your mind,” she says, a mischievous look in her eyes when the guys stiffen around me.
I like this chick. “In the meantime, what can I do you for?” I laugh outright at that, especially when she waggles her eyebrows.
More growls sound around me, and soon Roxy and I are crying with laughter.
“I knew you two would get on,” Jude grumbles, like he wishes we’d get along less.
Too bad, sucker. “Nightingale needs new clothes, anything and everything she wants.” He pulls out a shiny, black card, handing it over to Roxy, who manages not to bug her eyes out unlike me. “I might have a look around too.”
“Aye, aye, captain!” She salutes and I chuckle again. “Let’s go find you all the pretty things, shall we?”
I pull out of Aeron’s and Jude’s grips, placing a kiss on each of their cheeks before spinning and doing the same to Knox and then Tarl. I give them all a pleading look.
“Don’t be dicks, I’ll be fine and you can watch my every move like good little stalkers, ‘kay?”
“Watch it, Dove. I’m not above a public spanking,” Aeron growls out, heading towards a pink velvet chesterfield and sitting down in it with more grace than I have in my fucking pinkie. Bastard.
We spend hours in the cute, quirky shop, and I find so many new and beautiful clothes that my head spins when Roxy rings them all up.
“Don’t even think about protesting, Nightingale,” Jude murmurs in my ear, his arms encasing me in a hug from behind. I can’t help myself, I sink into him more, trying to breathe him in.
“But, it’s too much,” I say, nibbling my lower lip as Roxy swipes Jude’s little black card.
I’ve never spent anything on myself, trying to save everything I’ve ever managed to earn from my OnlyFans to aid our escape.
My sperm donor would have gotten suspicious if I’d gone on big shopping sprees anyway, on account of him never giving me any cash.
Any clothes that I had were given to me by Rook, occasionally bought at the thrift store, or given to me by some of the other women who hang around the Soldiers.
They have the misguided hope that one day some gang member might make an honest woman out of them.
They never did, but I can’t fault them for dreaming, even if it’s misplaced.
“Nothing will ever be too much for you, Nightingale. Nothing,” Jude tells me, his arms tightening as Knox steps forward to grab the many bags that contain my new wardrobe. “You are worth so much more than a few clothes.”
“Jude, I—” I can’t finish, I don’t know what to say, my soul tearing with every sweet word that falls from his beautiful mouth.
“Come,” Aeron interjects, holding out his hand. “Let’s go home.”
Home.
There’s that word again. A prayer and a taunt all rolled into one, causing a swirling inside me that threatens to pull my very being apart. I swallow hard, nodding and taking his offered hand, letting him lead me out of the store and back to the car.
Back to the only home that I’ve ever known. To the place that I hope will still be waiting for me one day, but know in the depth of my heart that will be closed to me the minute we break into my father’s headquarters.