The Reluctant Hero

50

Away & Here

Amanda

My sleep is deep and dreamless that night. By the time the doctor got called out, arrived, gave me a clean bill of health, and left, I was exhausted. I remember shuffling past everyone to get to my room and shutting the door as if they didn’t exist. My brain was going through too much turmoil to even make the effort.

When I got out of the shower, Jake was in bed waiting for me. He held me all night without saying a word—a silent comfort. When I woke up, he was gone, but his spot was still warm.

I’m more sore today than I have been. From too much or too little activity. I don’t know. I do know that I’m thirsty as hell, and I need to pee, so getting my groggy ass up is a must.

I’ve just finished showering and dressing when a text comes in.

Unknown: I’m rooting for you pumpkin!

Unknown: Show no mercy! We’re Jeffersons!

Two different numbers that I am very familiar with. My parents.

Since when do they group chat? I thought I told them not to call again.

Technically this isn’t calling but damn them for their loophole-finding ways!

Regardless, seeing the unconditional support perks me up a little. I haven’t been feeling so great since yesterday’s bullshit.

I don’t answer the texts, but they do motivate me to eat something. I can’t remember when I last ate a full meal, and it needs to happen.

Breakfast is in full swing when I walk in and take my seat. They barely have a chance to start getting up before I’m digging into food without Jake’s help.

“Are you ready to answer questions now?” Gabriel asks in a flat tone.

“Go for it,” I answer the same way and start eating.

“We had someone look into the rest of the paperwork you left behind. All the properties were clean. As a matter of fact, they are all locations I had pinned to check. How did you manage to find the four you did?”

My eyes roll up to meet his. The suspicion he’s trying to subdue makes me scowl.

“My superpower,” I make the words as mocking as possible, even though it’s the batshit insane truth.

“Shade,” Ace gnashes his teeth while he glares at me.

Both answers are true so I refrain from making any comment.

“You have notes here about all but one of your locations,” he holds up the aerial photo of the blank space where the high rise is being built. My lip curls in disgust as I stab some eggs.

“It’s the same as the golf course. An underground dungeon with a high rise being built over it. It wasn’t ready yet.”

“I’m fuckin’ sure it isn’t,” Ace continues to glare at me. “There were a lot of fires last night.”

“Did you blow it up?” Cade’s eyebrow is raised with a mocking smirk.

“Have you checked this place for gas leaks? They’re very dangerous,” I deadpan back. Not quite a confession, but close enough.

Jake smirks at him with smug pride all over his expression.

Mikael rubs a hand over his face to hide.

“Darlin’, let us take this on,” Ace insists with a change of tone. He sounds more worried now than angry.

“Sure,” I mutter and refocus on my eggs.

Gabriel lets out a tense sigh. “Obviously, leaving you alone is a mistake.”

I’m too focused on my food to roll my eyes.

“Ace is with you today. I wouldn’t test him if you feel the urge.”

I make a thoughtful noise of agreement. I want information, but I’m not interested in leaving here today. My parents' texts may have perked me up, but not that much.

What happens if I find another place that’s fully operational?

I drop my fork with a disgusted sigh. There goes that appetite.

“We’ve got some bait on the hook, Amanda,” Cade tells me in a kind tone that makes me frown at him. Since when does he talk to me like he’s not a raging douche?

He keeps going despite my incredulous look.

“Caleb Owen. We had a meeting with him yesterday. He’s interested in showing Gabe some properties.”

My eyes dart to Gabriel as I try to bottle up my concern. The asshole doesn’t deserve it. For all I know, he’s ready to dive in with a frigid smile.

“He will call soon enough,” Gabriel meets my eyes with a stern expression. “For now, the destruction of other properties should be kept at a minimum.”

Shit. My little day of investigation could be a tip-off of how much Gabriel already knows if anyone suspects I’m here. I hope his acting is better than mine.

“Can you back out?” I ask, my voice gone tense.

They stare at me in surprise.

“Just… leave yourself some wiggle room or something,” I mutter, staring at what’s left of my food. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“You act as if this is something new to me,” Gabriel smirks. I barely catch it because I won’t look at him.

“For all I know, it is,” I grind my teeth. “I don’t know any of you for shit.”

Jake nods, but everyone else stiffens up like I jabbed them in the ass.

A gentle throat clearing from the doorway has me turning to see a woman wearing green scrubs and a serene smile.

“Ms. Jefferson? We’re ready for you.”

I blink at her in confusion.

“Today’s for relaxin’,” Ace says in a hard tone I immediately want to rebel against.

I give him a glare that he looks away from.

“Just once,” he says in a soft tone that doesn’t seem right on him.

You know what? I’m taking this. It’s the least he owes me. Plus, I won’t have to see him if I’m basking in a mud bath or something.

I follow the woman out of the room, spinning Jakob restlessly. She leads me outside to a building I haven’t explored yet. An indoor pool that makes me sigh at how ridiculously rich Gabriel is. I mean, really? How much do you need to show off before it becomes obnoxious?

A separate door leads to a changing room, where the woman offers me a plush, fluffy robe that will fall to my ankles and a set of slippers.

“Please change and enter the jacuzzi room for your soak.”

She leaves without waiting for me to respond.

A jacuzzi room. I let out a rough sigh and strip. This better be relaxing, that’s all I’m saying.

I’m burnt out after yesterday, and I know it. I just don’t want to admit it. Especially where Ace could hear me. Screw that guy in particular.

The jacuzzi has a bunch of scented candles around it and some type of fragrance in the water that’s turned it a hazy pink in color. It eases all the aches in my body, the jets pounding my muscles into giving up on the tension. I don’t know how long I soak when a gentle knock interrupts my thoughtless drifting.

“Your massage table is ready.”

My brows furrow at the thought.

“Like, a naked massage?” I ask dubiously.

“That’s the best way,” she answers as if I shouldn’t be having doubts. Then again, she’s not the one that’s going to be bare-assed on a table.

“There will be a towel to cover you from waist to thigh.”

Yeah, that’s great until I have to roll over and bare my tits to some poor masseuse.

Loser bought me a few spa days before this. Those sessions involved a soak and massage with an added aloe rub down. I always wussed out on being naked, leaving my bra and underwear on.

Screw it. I’m going all out today.

“I’ll be right out.”

There’s a towel sitting not far from the tub for me to dry off. I wrap the robe around myself tightly and open the door like I’m in a horror movie. The woman is right there with a wide smile. Completely innocent. For now.

“This way.”

My eyes narrow as she moves down to another door.

It’s a sauna. Of course, it is. Bench seating and everything. In the middle is a massage table with a pot of oil warming nearby. The room is rich with the scent of lemongrass and lavender. The temperature in the room is nice, making the robe feel a little stifling. I smell a potpourri setup. This is a lot fancier than the massages of the past.

She shows me the towel and leaves quickly.

I let out a disgruntled sigh and strip again. This better be all it’s hyped up as. I lay belly down and awkwardly cover myself. There’s a mini pillow for me to rest my head on, but it’s thin. I use my arms to give myself more lift.

While I wait, my eyes close. I’m almost tempted to sleep when the door opens quietly and closes. I don’t bother opening my eyes.

The smell of Ace’s cologne weaves in with the faint scent of the oil. My heart rate picks up in response. It smells different on him than it does in the bottle. I’m glad I’m belly down on the massage table now. The way my nipples peak in response is embarrassing.

Before I can protest, his hands are on my shoulders, slick with warm oil. Anything I could have said dies in my throat.

His hands are rough in the most pleasant way. A man used to hard work instead of posh living. The way he kneads out the tension in my shoulders is perfect. I swallow a groan at the insistent pressure. There’s no way a muscle wouldn’t submit to his touch.

His hands move down, massaging the whole way. The only time he stops, he gets more warm oil. His attention doesn’t stray for long. And he is focused. There isn’t a spot on my back that he hasn’t touched.

When he reaches the towel, he doesn’t hesitate to slide underneath, pushing it out of the way to see my bare ass. I’m too relaxed to give it a second thought. I want his hands there. On my legs working out the aches. Anywhere. Despite my loose muscles, my heart hasn’t slowed down, a heavy throb in my chest that’s pure anticipation echoed below my waist.

He skips over my butt, making me pout a little. He makes up for it by massaging my legs one at a time. If he asked me to roll over, I wouldn’t be able to move. Every time his hands go higher on my thighs, I’m convinced he’s going to touch me. His rough fingertips are so close. But he never does. The anticipation continues to build, settling low in my belly.

His hands disappear for a moment, and then I feel oil spill all over my butt cheeks. So much of it that it pools in the dip of my spine. It’s hotter this time, the perfect temperature for a bath. I feel it pour along the seam of my ass to make a puddle underneath me too.

When he grabs my ass cheeks, his hands freeze up as his fingers sink in. For a second, it isn’t a massage. It’s a man appreciating an ass that overfills his palms. Then he’s massaging again. He’s slower here, so concentrated on the flesh that my breath starts coming out rougher. Underneath the soft music, I can hear him, too. Breathing in harsh pants of air as his thumbs barely part the seam again and again. He sounds like he’s losing focus, but his hands don’t stop.

When he parts the seam of my cheeks, it isn’t startling. It’s a natural progression to what’s happening. He impatiently scoops the oil from the dip in my spine to soak my hole in pleasant warmth.

“Ace,” I whisper as if I’m about to finally protest.

My voice breaking the simmering silence is the catalyst to open his mouth.

A hitching breath comes from above me before his thumbs massage deeper into the seam. Until he reaches my hole and gently rubs across it.

“I’d ask if you’ve ever had a man here, but I don’t want the answer,” his tone is gravelly as he presses firmly on it. “The thought of it is pissin’ me off.”

I swallow hard and squeeze my eyes shut at the inexorable pressure. I don’t fight against it. More oil gets taken from the puddle under me. I can tell because it’s cooler in temperature.

I’ve wondered what this would be like. If I’d hate it or find as much pleasure in it as some of the women I’ve known. The ones who whisper about it like it’s a secret you have to be initiated in. I’ve never asked for it. Just in case I fell into the horrified category.

“No one’s been there,” I mutter, feeling my face heat up enough to compete with the oil.

“Oh, darlin’,” he lets out a low moan. “It’s gonna feel so good.”

For some reason, in this, I trust him absolutely. I should be hesitant but he seems like he really knows what he’s doing. My thighs helplessly spread under his ministrations to give him more access to any part of me he wants.

“You just made me a very happy man,” he gives me a low chuckle.

I would think he’d be more hesitant.

As if to prove me wrong, more oil pours over me to be spread. On every pass, a single finger, feeling much bigger than it should, presses slowly inside. It exits to get more oil and goes back in a little further each time.

The insertion burns, but that eases with every exit. I can’t sit still, my body confused at the mixture of heady pleasure and discomfort.

“That’s it. Let me in, and I’ll make it so fuckin’ good you’ll be addicted.”

His voice, mixed with that accent, is an aphrodisiac all by itself.

“I can see it. You ridin’ Mik and me so deep in your ass you couldn’t pull me away for a fuckin’ fire. You’ll be so tight over us both that we’ll feel like one big dick all through you. And then we’ll move, and you’ll lose your mind for us.”

The picture he so easily talks about has me soaked. I can imagine it, too, even though I’ve never had anything so erotic happen to me in my life. Another forbidden thing to take for myself. My thighs spread further, hoping for a touch lower for some relief. I’m not sure if it’s oil or me that’s soaking my lower lips.

Another finger gets added slowly. Despite the care, it pinches, making me hiss and clench my hands into fists.

“Push out, darlin’. Let me feel you loosen up.”

If it gives me a little relief, I’ll do it.

“That’s it. You’re a fuckin’ dream come true,” he groans.

I realize he has both fingers inside with a blink of surprise. He works through the tight ring, easing the entrance as he gets it ready. I feel full on one side and achingly empty on the other. My hips rise and fall with every thrust of his fingers. He’s right. That feeling is so much and not enough at the same time. A tease that’s addicting.

“Gonna plug this up and save it for later. I ain’t done yet,” his rough sigh is followed by his fingers leaving me. I hear the oil slosh for a second and then feel the rounded end of a plug begin to enter me. Its size is more than his fingers. I follow his low instructions to let it inside me. When he reaches the end and it’s settled, he disappears for a minute.

I’m too stunned to react to it. I have a plug in my ass, and I’m desperate for his cock to be there instead. The feeling rides the edge of discomfort while my pussy throbs below.

“Roll over for me, darlin’,” he mutters shakily. “Let me see you.”

Hearing how affected he is helps me roll without feeling embarrassed. Baring to him what I’ve been told is unattractive. I move to my back in slow motion because of how shaky my limbs are. The slick table doesn’t help.

Lying there, under his heated gaze, as he takes in every inch of me, I feel like a goddess. Someone to worship with everything in him.

His lips part over the rough breaths sawing through his chest. He doesn’t have a shirt on, baring his body to me. The tanned skin is pulled taut over his muscles as if he’s restraining himself. Even his jaw is tense. There’s a light shimmer of oil in places as if he got it on himself without noticing. His abs trailing down to the hair below. A pec, right over his heart, as if he grabbed there for a second at some point. His forearms to the elbows even though his hands are clean now. His eyes can’t find a single place to settle, roving over me like a touch. I’m the same way.

I tilt my head to see his jeans, the open fly revealing his cock, red and angry. No underwear.

He’s thick and subtly curved towards his abs with throbbing veins that look like they’re begging for mercy.

“If I was still a dick dumb teen, I’d be cumin’ my pants right now,” he mutters harshly. “You’re every wet dream I ever had right in front of me.”

I blink lazily and shift around, my thighs parting in invitation without words.

“I’m on it, darlin’,” his voice shakes as he reaches for the oil again. He lathers his hands up and pauses as if he isn’t sure where to touch first. He’s shaking and panting, coveting every piece of me he can see and the ones he can’t.

“Ace,” I whisper, and his eyes meet mine.

“I’m tryin’ to be good,” he grits out.

I nod with a disappointed sigh. If he won’t do it, I will.

There’s enough oil on the table and me that it’s easy to coat my hands. I immediately grip my breasts, coating them with tight squeezes of my fingers over the mounds. I pluck my nipples and moan as the sensation skips down my belly to my pussy. My hips lift over it. I don’t think I’m going to need any oil down there.

The plug shifts with my movement, adding another dimension to the feelings. I feel somehow full and empty at the same time. The piece presses the walls separating my holes until I can feel it on both sides.

Through half-mast eyes, I see his jaw drop as he watches. He swallows so hard I hear it as well as see his Adam's apple bob. He looks helpless as he stands there.

I make sure my breasts are well coated, playing with my nipples until I’m lost in the sensation. I can feel the throb in my clit build until it’s almost unbearable.

My hands move down, leaving a trail of oil behind as I reach down to touch myself.

Before I can get there, his hands are on my wrists, prying them away from my skin.

“That pussy is cumin’ for me , darlin’,” he warns me through gritted teeth.

“Are you sure?” I smirk lazily.

His pupils dilate as he stares at my expression.

“Oh, fuck this,” he snaps back.

He lets me go and grabs my hips, spinning me on the table in a startling move made easy with the oil. The table is wide enough to support my shoulders and ass, but my head dangles off the side. I’m a little grateful for it because the shocked expression I’m sure I have is probably not flattering. He yanks me closer to his body, leaving half my ass hovering over air. It puts support on my neck but not my head.

A hot cloth runs over my pussy, making me raise my head to see what he’s doing. He’s staring at me with a determined expression that’s defiant. Most of the oil gets washed away, and he tosses the cloth out of sight.

When he drops to his knees, I moan. I can see it in my mind’s eye. He did it for me the first day we met, ready to go to his knees without even knowing me. I remember his dazed smirk as he gently massaged my feet.

There’s nothing gentle about him now.

His hands grip my ass, and he places his lips over my pussy without hesitation. His tongue is everywhere before I can brace for it, his lips sucking sensitive skin swollen with anticipation. The first pass of his tongue over my clit has me jerking as an orgasm breaks over me.

My body feels on fire as I move helplessly. He sucks the bud between his lips, pulling a sharp cry from my throat. It almost hurts, sending a different sensation through me. His tongue starts thrusting inside me, his fingers joining with no mercy. It’s an embarrassingly short time before I cum again.

I lay still, stunned by my defeat, as he rises to his feet. He absently scrubs an arm over his lips, but he’s focused on getting more oil to coat his cock, spreading the denim farther so his erection can be free for his rough strokes.

I feel dazed as he positions himself at my entrance. A hand goes to my shoulder as if he’s bracing me, his body leaning over mine to reach. It’s not enough for me to feel more of his skin against mine unless I arch my back. I do, in a taunt as if I’m daring him to get inside me.

He groans, his eyes closing tight as he works his length inside.

My eyes widen over the feeling. Between him and the plug, he feels massive. The stretch inside me has more nerve endings unable to hide from the invasion than I thought I had. A soft sound reaches my ears, and I realize I’m whimpering. My hands clutch his ribs, my mouth falling open as the sound gets louder.

When he starts moving in heavy, forceful thrusts, my neck goes weak. My head falls back as I pant for air.

“Mik would slide down your throat so easy like this,” He rasps above me.

I can picture it. Trapped between them and helpless with ecstasy. My tongue swipes around my lips as if he’s here with us, and I need to be ready.

Ace groans low and begins to pound into me. My flesh spasms at the shockwaves it sends through me. I can feel him everywhere. Invading me as he surrounds me. My legs wrap around his hips to keep him closer. The curve to his tip is relentless against that bundle of nerves. The stretch has them so exposed I’m a writhing mess as I claw his back. I hardly notice I’m doing it. Or the sounds that come out of me.

“Harder, darlin’,” he croons breathlessly as his hips churn below. “I ain’t wearin’ a shirt today. Mark me up. Make me yours for everyone to see.”

All I can hear is his accent, his approval for me to go further.

My nails dig in and rake down the length of his back. He lets out a shuddering moan, his hips losing their rhythm.

“Don’t you dare cum yet,” I grit out and bite his ear. It’s too begging to be a command.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he keeps thrusting, his eyes squeezed shut as he concentrates. Curses fall out of his lips while he struggles. His body curves over mine, his hands moving to grip the table on either side of me hard enough that his knuckles blanche.

The feeling of power I get at the obvious signs of his strain is heady. I lift up to nip at his lips, and he tries to follow me down. I evade the kiss with a gasping chuckle that makes his teeth grind.

He hammers into me harder in retaliation, and my vision goes blurry. My thighs tense over his hips. I can’t tell if I’m trying to hold him still or encourage him. Tears escape from my eyes, that whine coming back with a vengeance. I can’t help clawing at him now.

The orgasm that peaks is body-spasming pleasure. I’m helpless under it, wailing in a sound that seems agonized, but it’s pure overwhelming pleasure. He chokes and follows me down with uneven thrusts that jolt the cry out of me.

His body shakes over mine. His shout of pleasure matches mine and dies away into a moan of my name.

My body is so limp after I might as well be a noodle. His body covers mine, pulling his length out of me in a shuddering rush. He nuzzles my neck and kisses along the curve wherever he can reach while my head dangles. It’s too heavy to lift right now.

“Darlin’,” he lets out a soft sigh. “Please.”

I blink, staring at the wall in a daze. I know what he’s asking for. Begging for.

Forgiveness.

“I saw that stack of paper, and I was afraid. Readin’ it cut me open and left my guts on the floor. Seein’ those tickets, thinkin’ you were leavin’ with someone else. That put rusty razors in the hole. I haven’t felt pain like that in so long. Somethin’ that’s more than a bruise or broken bone. A knife twistin’ inside that I couldn’t get out of me. I never touched anythin’ else. I’d never hurt you like that. I’d never hurt you at all. It’s fuckin’ destroyin’ me. Please, believe me .”

I listen to his whispered confession while my emotions swirl around. A mixture of wonder, pleasure, anger, pain, and love.

My chest aches over the last one. It’s too new, and this is completely different than before.

He said he was afraid, and I get it suddenly. That agonizing fear that this is too much, too unstable to keep. I faced that fear with Gabriel. Ace had to face that same fear in clear-cut words.

I’m still pissed, but in a hushed way that surprises me. I hurt for him as that feeling of not being enough washes through me in an absent way that’s a whisper inside. A haunting echo of feeling that shouldn’t be there.

“I was tryin’ to figure out how to fix it. Hide it, maybe. One look at my face, and they all dropped inside. I could see it. I begged Gabe to go easy on you. On my knees, I begged him. They took my phone, and every time it rang, I knew it was you on the other end, needin’ me. But every time we turned, there was more and more until it shut me up when I shoulda’ kept at it.”

I feel wet heat splash over my neck, surprising me. My arms go around him in helpless comfort before I can think to stop them.

I try to force myself to think of his enraged face again to stop this feeling in its tracks. I can’t anymore. That feels like so long ago. Buried so far underneath other horrifying memories that it feels like that happened a year ago instead of days. It pisses me off that I can’t have that reminder when I need it.

I start to tense up, but more tears fall onto my skin, and it breaks me.

This proud man begged for me until it broke him .

I hold him as he cries in a silent way that’s more agonizing than if he wailed. My oily hands stroke through his hair without thought as I try to comfort him. It doesn’t take him long to stop, but it’s enough to leave a mark on me.

“I love you, woman,” he mutters into my neck. My eyes widen as my heart skips a beat. “I don’t care if you say it back. Now or ever. I’m a selfish fuck because I just want you to know it. To feel it from me without anythin’ held back.”

My mouth opens and closes without saying a word. I don’t want to say it as an automatic answer. I want to think about it. See if I trust it even though all of the evidence in front of me says I’m an idiot for doubting.

He kisses my throat in a gentle caress and straightens up. His eyes are rimmed in red, his cheeks damp with more than sweat or oil. He’s gentle as he removes the toy and cleans me up. My body has reached a state of lethargy that’s as emotional as it is physical.

“Come on, darlin’,” he offers me his hand with a crooked smile filled with hope. “Relaxin’ ain’t done yet.”

I put my hand in his, and his eyes close in relief so heavy that his shoulders sag, some tension falling away from him. All from my hand willingly falling into his.

He’s with me the rest of the day. So close he should be glued to me. He tucks himself away and zips up his pants without putting anything else on. When he turns to pick up my robe, I see the holster of a gun clipped to the back. And the long, angry marks from my nails. It looks like I drew blood in places.

When they set up the pedicure he’s sitting right beside me with one leg behind my back and the other riding alongside my thigh. He watches everyone that comes in like a hawk. I lose count of how many times he adjusts the fluffy robe they gave me to keep my skin from showing. His hands move over me, massaging as he apologizes about the lack of a massage chair. As if I care when he’s right next to me doing the job on his own.

He picks the color of the polish with a grin. It’s so dark it might as well be black with red shimmer. I don’t protest in the face of his pleasure. He seems a little surprised that I don’t argue with him about it.

When they move me to a little station for a manicure, he helps me sit, kisses my temple, and promises to be right back.

As soon as he’s out the door, the technician looks up with wide, envious eyes.

“Do you know how lucky you are?”

I look back at the door he disappeared through. My heart twists, and tears well up before I turn back to her.

“I’m starting to get it,” I choke out.

“At least you appreciate it,” she grumbles as if she’s consoling herself.

Ace comes back with snacks and feeds me while I stare at him as if he’s a stranger. He’s so happy about all of it that I can’t think of a bad thing to say. It’s one thing to feel pampered and another to feel worshiped .

By the time it’s all done the day has passed in a comfortable haze I’ve never felt before.

“You can’t do this every time you piss me off, you know,” I mutter as the front door opens, and several voices add a little chaos to the peace around us.

“I know,” he chuckles, but he doesn’t look like he’s taking me seriously. I kind of hope he doesn’t.

The technicians leave with Ace tipping each of them. My eyes narrow as they eye him. They should give him his money back and thank him with the way they stare. I cross my arms and clear my throat with a pointed look at them. Some take it seriously. Others look like they could take me. That stops when I casually reach for Jakob and give it a spin.

Once they leave, Ace turns to me with a smug grin.

“You jealous, darlin’?”

I raise a brow at the taunt and pause at his side. A maid mutters that dinner is ready and passes without looking at us.

“How would you feel if I took this robe off and walked through the house for everyone to see?”

His brows snap down in instant anger.

I bring Jakob up to tap on his chest with an innocent look.

“I’m sure you understand this conversation is over now? And you won’t bring it up again.”

I don’t know where I found the audacity, but I’m hoarding it.

“Yes, ma’am,” he mutters with wide eyes. I peek down to see the bulge in his pants and smile as I walk to the dining room.

Jake sees me before anyone else and gives me a pleased grin as he stands. I round the doorway, and Cade chokes on his drink. Mikael and Gabriel sit as frozen as statues.

“You look fetching, meine Seele ,” Jake gives me a slight bow that makes this a lot more embarrassing than it should be. It’s a robe, and it covers everything. What’s so damn shocking about it?

Ace helps me into my seat and stalks to his own as if he’s pissed that we’re sitting separately. He enters into a muttered conversation with Gabriel that makes me narrow my eyes. He looks quietly pleased and subtly jerks his chin to Mikael. It draws my attention to the mountain of man.

He’s staring at his plate with a stern expression the mashed potatoes don’t deserve. He isn’t eating anymore and seems lost in his own world. He flinches, shakes his head and starts eating again.

Gabriel nods and waves Ace away.

It’s quiet on our side of the table. Jake is happily eating without food tasting for me. I guess Cade’s torture has ended. I glance at the redhead and find his narrowed eyes focused on Ace.

He looks jealous as he grinds his teeth. The right side of the table looks like a funeral, while the left side has relaxed smiles and easy banter. I’m stuck in the middle, unsure of how to act. Gabriel is staring at me across the table, and I can’t read his cold expression. It’s closed off as if he’s holding his thoughts so deep inside they’re stuck.

My eyes dart to Ace. He’s watching me with a smirk. He even toasts me with his iced tea before he drinks some. The arrogant move is annoying, but it makes me aware of my discomfort while sitting.

“You asked Shade for photos of locations. He brought some to us today,” Gabriel interrupts as my cheeks get red. He gestures to Jake, who pulls a thin stack from the floor beside him.

I shift my plate to the side, half-eaten. At least I got that far in before my appetite started to dwindle.

Cade moves it back with a frown. “You’re losing weight. Eat.”

I give him a look of disbelief. Is this not the same man that made fun of me in class? Now he’s harping on me about losing weight?

“I made sure she was snackin’ all day, Cade,” Ace reassures him.

“Snacking and a meal are two different things,” Cade glares.

“I did warn you,” Jake mutters to me with a pointed look.

When Cade moves to nudge the plate again, I stop it on my side. His instant scowl makes my lips tighten.

“Cade,” I whisper as gently as I can. I want to smack him on the side of his head, but I can’t. He looks like he’s losing his shit. “I can’t. Not right now.”

Just seeing the pictures has my stomach shrinking up. I can already tell there’s a bad one in the batch. My chest is getting tight.

Cade leans back and eyes me as if I might be lying to him. “I’m not going to sit here and watch you waste away. None of us are.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “I think we’ve got some time before that becomes a concern.”

“Don’t fucking do that,” he snaps back fiercely. “It isn’t a joke to me or anyone else here. You’re perfect, and I’m not going to let it go.”

Jake, Ace, and Mikael nod, silently supporting the decree. What surprises me is when I catch Gabriel nodding along. He notices my disbelief aimed right at him, and his brows furrow slightly. I jerk my attention away from him quickly.

How can he act like he didn’t see half my body and run away? It washes away all the day’s pampering in a rush. I hate him a little bit for that.

“None of you decide when I eat or how much,” I tell them with a frown. “It’s my body. I know when I’m hungry or not. If I want to live off coffee and candy bars for the rest of my life or one lettuce leaf a day, I will. Get. Over. It.”

I push the plate away and move the photos to take its place.

Cade opens his mouth, and I flip the top photo into his face. I don’t know how my aim got so good, but every time I toss something at him, it hits his face. I have Cade targeting. As a superpower, it isn’t very useful, but it makes me happy, so I’ll keep it.

When it hits him flat in the face, he snatches it up and shuts his mouth.

Perfect. I don’t want to argue with him anymore. The thought is surprising.

I shuffle through the photos of random houses with foreclosed signs and open areas that have signs saying what will be built there. Coming soon! A coffee shop. A site for a strip mall that makes me feel uneasy. My brows furrow as I look at it. There’s that feeling but it’s subdued enough to hardly be noticeable. The same feeling I got from the names at the beginning of this mess.

Not ready but earmarked.

I hate that I’m understanding this stupid power better.

A few other pictures give me a sense of unease, and then I get to a picture of a mansion.

Dark red brick built like a fortress instead of a home. The windows are small and sparsely placed. As big as Gabriel’s manor but more solemn in tone. Three stories of luxury that make me want to puke.

I gag a little and move it out of my sight before I really throw up. The feeling pressing on my chest makes it hard for me to breathe.

“Manda?” Ace’s worried voice brings me back to the present.

“No more,” I choke out and shove them hard enough to land on the floor.

“The manor?” Jake’s eyes narrow on me. “You recognize it?”

I shake my head as cold sweat beads on my brow. I press a hand to my chest as if it could help that feeling. It doesn’t. Even out of my sight, my skin is still crawling.

“I don’t. I don’t ever want to see it. It’s perfect for it.”

I sound panicked, even to myself. I get out of my chair and out of that room as fast as I can. It isn’t until I get in the bedroom and close the door that I start feeling better. That was just as bad as when I found the body. From a simple picture. Am I losing my mind?

The door opens and closes behind me. Arms wrap around me tightly as Ace’s cologne fills my nose. I’ll take that over the remembered scent of that place any day.

He doesn’t say anything, resting his chin on my shoulder and rubbing my arms like he wants to warm me up.

We stand like that until my breathing steadies. When my body relaxes into him, he lets out a rough breath.

He pulls away from me and gets the bed ready for me to lie down. I do feel groggy even though I haven’t done anything today. I’m confused for a second because he’s preparing Jake’s side of the bed. Ace seems to prefer the other side.

“Come on, darlin’,” he paces behind me and unties the robe to let it fall at our feet.

I crawl into the bed without protest.

Ace takes off the jeans he’s wearing and gets into bed on the other side, pulling me close.

“I love you,” he kisses my temple.

I wrap my arms around him as best I can and huddle in his heat like a coward. He doesn’t tease me once about it, either.