52. Kingston
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
KINGSTON
NOW
Trudging into the cabin with annoyance rolling off me, I can’t help but glare at the scene in front of me.
Chloe’s asleep in Ronan’s lap, his fingers moving through her hair as he chats to Ryker about God knows what.
I fucking hate that they’re touching her, loathe that she’s so comfortable in their arms when she should only want to be in mine.
Hearing her screams last night was a lesson in patience that I don’t have, and as much as I would love to steal her away and keep her to myself, I need their help to keep her safe.
Then there’s the fact that she’s been more at peace since the four of us have been with her.
She told me I wasn’t the only one in her heart, but I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.
Calculating golden eyes flick up to meet mine. “Hey, boss.”
I storm into the kitchen without responding, pouring myself two fingers of whiskey and throwing them back. The warmth burns through my chest, providing a distraction I desperately need.
After an hour of phone calls, I’m no closer to figuring out who hit the house.
Chloe’s house.
The one I bought for her. The one I filled with the things she loves, hoping it would make her love me with time.
The cleanup crew has already been there to remove the bodies, and next week construction will begin to fix what was broken, but I want her to feel safe there, and somehow I don’t think a house she was ambushed in is ever going to be her safe place.
I’ll buy her a hundred houses if that’s what she needs to feel safe, and I’ll decorate every single one the way she likes.
“No luck?” he asks from right beside me, and I glare at him over my shoulder.
For a six-foot-five giant, he moves like a ninja.
It’s one of the things that makes him so good at his job, but with his obsession with Chloe growing by the day, I doubt I’m going to be able to get him back in the field anytime soon.
The caseload at Hawk Security is becoming unmanageable, but we’ll both be out of commission until we can figure out who’s hunting us.
It’s probably time to hire some more help, but there aren’t that many trained assassins looking to work for someone else.
I shake my head as I pour another two fingers, this time sipping the amber liquid. This will be my last glass because I won’t risk not being able to protect Chloe if someone comes here.
“We’ll figure it out.” He glances over his shoulder at Chloe and Ronan, a soft smile on his lips.
I don’t want to deprive her of anything, and seeing one of the most ruthless men I’ve ever known look at someone the way Ryker does Chloe, it feels cruel to take that away from him.
She deserves to be loved without limits.
She deserves everything good in this world.
How am I supposed to deprive her of that?
But my possessive need to own her is so strong. Just watching Ronan look down at her like she’s his whole world has my hands fisting at my sides with the need to destroy him.
“Where’s Damon?”
“His room. He’s sulking because our girl called him out on his shit.”
That’s the other thing I’ve noticed since we’ve all been together. Chloe’s confidence has grown so much she’s almost unrecognizable.
Where she’s normally shy and reserved, especially after so many years on the run, she’s been willing to speak her mind, even when it starts an argument.
“And she’s okay?”
“You could ask her yourself.”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“She’s good. Happy, even. Once she wakes up, she can call Camilla, and then I think she’ll be able to stop worrying about her.”
“Has she said something?”
“No, I’ve just gotten very good at reading her.”
A deep rumble escapes my throat of its own accord, earning me an amused smirk. “You can be as jealous as you want internally, but just know, if you hurt her with your bullshit, I’ll kill you.”
He turns on his heel without another word and stalks back to the couches, dropping down beside Ronan and pulling Chloe’s sock-covered feet into his lap.
I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted, but sharing her with these three assholes is a tall ask.