Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Zara
T he click of the door opening was like a gunshot and my spiraling worries paused long enough to take in the two men I most wanted to see. Light and dark haloed by the illumination of the room, they were a dream come true. Relief coursed through me as I scrambled up off the floor needing to feel their arms around me.
I had so many questions but couldn’t ask a single one of them as tears poured down my face. Colin swept me up into his arms as soon as I was within reach, and I wrapped my legs around him. A second later I felt Lincoln's warmth from behind and I lost myself in the wonder of being surrounded by them.
Gradually, my shaking and tears slowed as I fully accepted that they were here and we were all safe. Colin used his thumb to gently wipe away the moisture while Lincoln stroked my hair, soothing me with gentle murmurs.
“Is everyone okay?” I looked between them. “Brody said someone named Donovan got shot.”
“He’ll be fine. How are you?” Colin put me down and stepped back to look me over as if he expected to find some sort of wound.
“I’m fine. Was anyone else hurt?”
“Everyone on our side is alive and well,” Linc answered.
That probably meant not everyone on the other side was alive. It was cold but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“Was it Mihal?” Not that it could have been anyone else but I wanted confirmation.
“Yes, we have him tied up downstairs.”
Now that I took time to notice, I could hear people in the house. Many male voices murmured and, in the distance, I heard a faint siren. The police would come and take him away. I could wait till that happened and not have to face him but that would be cowardly. I needed to face the man who haunted my nightmares if I was ever going to take back my power.
“I want to see him before the cops arrive. There are a few things I need to say to him.” I looked between the two of them. “If you don’t mind?”
Both men grinned. “Let’s go.” Linc took my hand and led the way.
The front yard was filled with big muscular men who I assumed were from G&H. The house had bullet holes and a few broken windows but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. Brody stood off to the side with his weapon pointed at the group of three men who were all bound and kneeling on the ground. I was silently glad there weren’t any dead bodies in sight.
When Mihal saw me, his eyes positively glittered with anger. Kneeling like that, he didn’t look as big as I remembered. Compared to my men, he was practically tiny. How had I ever thought this man was scary?
“You bitch! This is all your fault,” he snarled.
Anger flared through me. Rage at how he’d slipped into my dreams and made me afraid. That he’d forced me to run like a scared rabbit. I wasn’t a weakling. With my men with me, I was fucking invincible. I strode forward and he lifted his chin as if attempting to look down on me even from his knees.
That was it. I pulled my foot back, and I kicked him in the balls as hard as I could. All his smugness and anger vanished as he fell to the side howling in pain. That had been so satisfying.
I looked at Colin and Lincoln who were both trying to hide their laughter. “I think that’s all I had to say.”
The headlights of several cars pulling up the drive cut off any more discussion. It was several police cruisers. I walked away from the bound men and Lincoln placed himself so that his body blocked my view of them.
It took several hours of questioning with more to come before I was allowed to get a drink. Gabriel and Rose had arrived at some point, and when she saw I was finally free of my police escort, she ran over and gave me a huge hug.
“I was so worried about you, Zara. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
My heart melted a little. I’d never had a friend who worried over me. It was amazing how far I’d come in so little time. I not only had two wonderful men who loved me, but my circle of friends was growing as well. It was amazing to feel like I finally had people at my back who would be there no matter what happened.
“Thanks, Rose, that means a lot. I’m so glad you came.”
She smiled. “Of course I came. You’re one of us now. Why don’t you come home with me and Gabriel tonight? This place will need a thorough cleaning and few repairs before you should stay here. We can send in the team to have it ready in no time.”
“Thank you, Rose, but Zara stays with us.” Linc stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
Colin was only a step behind him and he bent over and stole a kiss. The temptation to demand more was strong. It had been a crazy night, and I could think of nothing better than to lose myself in them.
“Of course the two of you are invited as well. You know how big our guest suite is. Come with us and let us take care of you guys tonight. Though that is a long drive, maybe we could all stay over at Asgard.” The idea of being able to have both my men and my friend was perfect. I turned pleading eyes on the men.
“Asgard is probably the best choice since it’s so late. Linc, I think Zara would like a little bit of female company tonight. I’ll grab some stuff for tonight and we can come tomorrow before work to get the rest until we figure out where we’re going to end up.”
Gabriel joined us. “No work tomorrow for either of you. We can have a quick discussion about cleaning up this mess and then you guys spend the day with your woman. I’ll have Reynolds drive the ladies over now while we finish up here.”
I gave Gabriel a grateful smile. I wanted to get away from all the noise and visual reminders of what had happened. For a moment, I was worried the men would argue, but Linc put a hand on Colin’s shoulder and smiled. “Sounds perfect. Thanks, Gabe.”
It was hard to believe I was finally going to be safe. Rose and I headed out to the SUV and climbed in back together, shutting out the chaos. Would we finally be able to go on with our lives? Worry fluttered in my chest as I saw Lincoln and Colin through the window heading over to finish up talking with the police. I didn’t think the men would get in trouble since Mihal’s men were the aggressors but one never knew. The man named Reynolds as well as someone named Jackson got in the front and we quickly pulled away onto the dark road.
“How are you feeling?” Rose asked with concern in her voice.
“Wired actually and also exhausted.”
Rose sighed and squeezed my hand. “I can’t even imagine, but you're in good hands now, Zara.”
I smiled, the passing streetlights casting strange shadows on Rose’s face. “I know and I’m grateful.” I was also worried that, with the danger gone, things wouldn’t work out as well as I hoped.
“But?”
“But what?” I answered Rose.
“You said that like there was a but in there somewhere.”
“How is it you know me so well after such a short time?”
Rose chuckled. “It comes with giving twenty out of twenty-four hours a day to complete strangers. You're able to read anyone in any situation.”
“Right… the hotel business. How long did it take for you and Gabriel to know that you were each other’s forever?”
Rose leaned back in her seat. “I’d been trying to get the man's attention for some time but he made himself scarce. When he showed up in the club that first time, I knew something big was going to happen. I’d been dying to sample the goods, but when I found our kinks were analogous, I knew I’d met my match.”
I didn’t respond, just let her words replay in my mind.
“Are you struggling with wondering if Colin and Linc are your forever relationship?”
Was I? Not exactly. I knew they could be my forever, but was I the same for them? How did I even say that without sounding like a pathetic woman who was questioning her own self-worth?
“We haven’t known each other long, so how can they be sure I’m enough for them?”
“Ah, I see. So you are questioning your own value?”
“How do you do that?”
Rose giggled. “It’s a gift.”
“I’d say, and in answer to your question, yes, I’m questioning my value. Am I enough for two men? Self-doubt, it is my super power.”
Rose laughed aloud. “Zara, I love you. You’re hilarious! But in all seriousness, you need to take a look in the mirror. First of all, you’re gorgeous, a literal blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe with a touch of the girl next door innocence about you. So from a purely exterior esthetic, you’re a stunner, who wouldn’t want you? The only thing holding you back is your suffering from thinking you’re lesser because of your humble beginnings. Who cares? Those humble beginnings made you a strong woman and the world needs more of those. Hell, you impressed Mari and that’s saying something. Don’t question your value, Zara, just what your heart wants and maybe let that make your decision.”
The woman had just bitch slapped me in the best way possible. She was right, I was a badass and it was about time I started acting like it. “Thanks, lady, I needed that.”
“I know.” She smirked.
It was my turn to laugh. My heart felt light, unburdened. Colin and Linc were my future and our future was all that mattered.