Chapter 6
Chapter Six
W e’re killers.
Key groans again as Atlas sticks him with another elbow to the ribs.
“Fuck man, lay off it! I’m only telling her straight. I don’t think she’s the type of girl who’d appreciate pretty lies.”
He’s right. I hate lies. The adrenaline starts pumping and my heart skips quite a few beats with those first words out of his mouth. My mind suddenly revs into overdrive, knowing I’m locked in with three huge, hulking killers who could eat me for breakfast. Only, that rush of adrenaline soon turns into something completely different and utterly delicious when I realize they could, quite literally , eat me for breakfast.
It’s no wonder why my mind recovered so quickly from Jason’s revelations. Apparently, sex on the brain is the cure for all. Freaking horndog of a mind.
I purse my lips, trying to keep my expression level as I take another sip. “Key’s right. I’d much prefer the cold, hard truth.” Giving him an appreciative smile, he throws another wink my way. All of his pain forgotten, and all of my fantasies revealed.
Holy mistletoe.
“There are still better ways of explaining what we do,” Teddy admonishes, giving Key a warning glare which he simply shrugs off. Teddy turns his focus back to me before continuing. “We are mercenaries for hire. We kill people, but only those who have been proven to do harm to others, and only after we’ve scrutinized the evidence ourselves.”
“So, you’re kind of like vigilantes. Paid protectors, if you will?”
Teddy smirks, a look of relief and appreciation flashing across his face. “Something like that.”
I hum, sipping at my coffee. “And how does one get into that sort of…business?”
“We were in the military. Serving our country was…difficult.” His brow furrows as he leans forward on his elbows, his hands clasped together in front of him as he rubs his fingers back and forth across his knuckles. “We were made to do things that went against our morals, all for the sake of surviving and not being incarcerated for going against direct orders. It was a challenging time.”
Teddy’s eyes cloud over with memories of times long past, leaving Key to take over. His tone of voice and demeanor is completely serious for the first time since they barged their way through the door.
“Being in separate companies, we didn’t actually meet until we’d been discharged from service.”
Leaning his stool back onto two legs, he kicks a foot up on the island. I allow the movement this once as he’s obviously recalling something that makes him very uncomfortable. Using it to distance himself, it also serves to keep himself grounded and connected to his brothers in arms.
“Arriving back, we all suffered from PTSD and struggled to re-integrate with society. The one good thing that came out of our experience is the volunteer service that picked us all up.” The beginning of a smile tugs at his lips as he recalls their meeting together. “It was the first group session, and we all headed in thinking it was bullshit. Even more so when they got us to do an icebreaker.”
Atlas shivers next to me. “It was horrible,” he comments gruffly. Teddy just laughs.
“Yeah, it was. Like being in high school all over again.” Putting his feet down, Key settles back with his arms on the countertop, a lightness overtaking the dark memories they’re all plagued with as he locks eyes with me. “And I just so happened to be put with these bozos.”
In a burst of motion, Key leaps out of his chair, narrowly dodging Atlas’s elbow with a nimble twist. He flicks Atlas's ear, then ducks behind me, his grin pure mischief. Atlas grits his teeth, his fists clenching as Key chuckles, smug and satisfied.
I know exactly what Key’s doing, but so does Atlas. He’s baiting him, trying to lure Atlas from his seat to steal the spot by my side. I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. Key's playful energy is already smoothing out the rough edges inside me.
“The sessions helped to a certain degree,” Teddy continues. “But they never could calm our anger at the whole situation. It was only when we met another buddy who was discharged just before us that we found out about this line of work. He took us on a few runs with him. Each one of the bastards he took out had an extensive history on the unsavory side of things. With each life taken–and each life saved–we noticed how much better we felt. We were able to release our frustrations and take it out on those who deserved our ire, while protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves. We felt useful again.”
“Basically, he took us under his wing, and we’ve never looked back,” Key chirps, not noticing the glare Teddy levels him with for interrupting him again. He’s far too busy staring intently at my face, waiting for a reaction. I swear, he’s worse than a kid hyped up on sugar!
I ignore him as he hops up onto the island next to me, his signature cheeky smile firmly in place. Instead, I focus on Teddy and Atlas, their eyes locked on mine, watching for any hint that I might bolt. They don’t realize just how close to home their story really is.
"I can see it written all over your faces...you're wondering why I'm not freaking out right now," I say with a soft smile. They exchange uneasy glances before giving small nods.
“My dad was in the service too. He had severe PTSD when he came home from active duty. So much so he had his own room and made sure the door was deadbolted at night.” My heart pangs at his loss. It may have been a fair few years ago now, but it never gets any easier. “He wasn’t as lucky as you guys.”
I grip my mug harder as I stare down into its murky depths. Atlas shifts closer, his thigh rubbing up against mine under the counter as he drapes his hand across the back of my chair.
“He never had the opportunity to get therapy for his time in active duty. I could see him spiraling every day, so I suggested seeing a therapist.” I smile as the images of his recovery replay in my mind. “She was really good for him. Although the triggers never fully went away, he did find solace in working at the homeless and women shelters in the area. He also liked to work at the children's home, playing with them and teaching them basic skills.”
“He sounds like a wonderful man,” Atlas says as he reaches out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. Glancing up at him, I fight back the tears that want to escape. I miss him so much.
“Yeah, he was.” My voice comes out quiet, giving me their undivided attention. “I suppose that’s why it doesn't come as a shock to me. Dad could be extremely violent when he was triggered. There was no sign of the kind, caring, and loving man he was when he was lost in his own head. Yet, any other time of the day, he was a giant teddy bear. He was the guy that everyone turned to for help. The listening ear, the supporting hand. Everyone loved him. And I suppose that’s what I see in you guys. You may wear a dark and menacing mask, but I can see beneath that veneer.” I grin as they all regard me, looking a little shell-shocked. “As much as you like to be the big bad guys, you’re teddy bears deep inside.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Little One.” Teddy offers with a sultry gaze that has my thighs clenching together, the threat clear in his eyes.
Getting up from his seat, he moves around the counter and stalks towards me. At any other time, I would have been preening at the way he regards me, but I notice the altered gait and the slight wince he gives. Pushing out of my seat, I step up to him.
“Sit your butt down and show me where you’re hurt,” I demand, pointing at the seat behind me, gritting my teeth.
Confusion contorts his face. “How did you kn-”
“ Sit. ”
A whistle sounds out. “Our Sugar sure is a feisty one.”
Grinning, Teddy keeps his eyes on me as he moves past to take a seat. “We’ll have to test that theory soon.”
Oh, great glittery garland. A blush creeps up my cheeks at the thought of how they could test that theory. Of course, knowing that my cheater of an ex is somewhere here in the cabin acts as a bucket of ice-cold water to my libido pretty darn quickly.
Focusing on more important things, I coax Teddy to remove his jacket so I can check on him. I take it from him, hang it on the hook by the entrance alongside his winter coat, and return to find him struggling to peel off his black long-sleeved tee. It’s clear the fabric is stuck to the wound, but he doesn’t seem to care.
“Don’t force it,” I admonish, stopping him from ripping it away and re-opening the wound. Using a damp cloth, I slowly work at it, prying it carefully away to find bruising across his ribs and a laceration across his back. I grind my jaw in order to try to stop myself from tearing him a new one.
“Why didn’t you say anything about this before?”
“Because it’s nothing. It doesn’t even need stit-”
“Yes it does. I’d probably say ten. At least . You’re just lucky it’s already stopped bleeding.”
Grabbing the first aid kit where I left it after tending to Atlas, I create a sterile environment, wash my hands and set to cleaning and stitching the wound. All the while the guys are silent, yet I can feel their eyes boring into me.
“While I’m here, does anyone else have any other injuries?” Fixing them all with a glare, they wither before me, shaking their heads in the negative. “Good.”
After a minute of silently watching me, Teddy speaks up. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“I was a trained nurse and aspiring field medic.”
“Was?” Atlas questions, his fists clench again, indicating he knows exactly where I’m going with this.
I sigh. “Yeah. Jason-” I clear my throat, keeping my focus squarely on Teddy’s wound. “Jason wanted me to be able to live a life of luxury and thought that was what I wanted to do, so he encouraged me to be a stay-at-home wife. At least, that's what he told me. Of course, it was all just a lie. I'm starting to see now that he was just jealous...Territorial? I don't know,” I say in exasperation, shaking my head.
It sucks that I’m only just realizing all of that now. But as the saying goes, love is blind.
“He made enough to keep the both of us afloat, so suggested that I spend my days at home and bake to my heart's content.”
“Well, you do seem to enjoy baking,” Key chirps as he glances at the baked goodies piled in the corner that I made while tending to breakfast this morning. Noticing that fact without a hint of malice, his reaction garners a small smile from me at least.
“Yeah, I do. In fact, I need to make some more cookies now there are more of us here.” Distracted for a second, I bite my lip as I run through all the ingredients I got delivered. There should be enough to go around.
“Did you ever get the life you wanted?” Teddy inquires with a steel edge to his voice.
I chuckle dryly, ignoring the ache in my chest. “No. I may have had all the shiniest things and every material item a girl could ever want. But all I really wanted was for him to love me. For him to respect me and my wants and desires.”
Blinking rapidly to dispel the burn in my eyes, I finish up the final sutures. Placing a waterproof dressing on Teddy’s back, I continue.
“We live in a small town, so everyone knows everything. Jason was never abusive towards me, but he would get jealous and overprotective if I left the house during the day without him. Even inside the house, he still had a bigger say in things.” I glance down at my hands, staring at the blood on my gloves as I recall the memories. “When I got lonely, I asked him if I could have a dog. I’ve always wanted a dog, and I didn’t think for one second that he’d deny me. I thought he just wanted me to be happy. Only he flat-out refused, saying he didn’t want it wrecking the house. I didn’t think at all about that at the time. Maybe I was too pushy and-”
“No.” Atlas’ voice booms, making me jump. Reaching across Teddy, who has a murderous glint in his eye, he lifts my chin with one of his thick fingers until I’m looking him directly in the eyes. “That was him just being a controlling asshole.”
“But I-”
“No buts, Sugar.” Key rests a comforting hand on my shoulder, yet I can’t pull myself away from Atlas’ gaze to look at him. My breath catches as I realize I’m sandwiched between all three men. “Atlas is right. No arguing now, or we’ll have to take matters into our own hands.”
Freezing under their weighty, heated gazes, I can’t do anything but nod in agreement and swallow thickly. My heart hammers in my chest at the insinuation in their tone, and not necessarily in a good way. Part of me recognizes the mouthwatering sight they are, but the other part of me is terrified senseless at the danger they represent.
At least I know I’m safe with them.
I think.