CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Avery
“Y
eah, Dad, we’re about to have breakfast. Are you coming over?” I ask, shifting the phone against my ear as I try to tame my bedhead in the hallway mirror. He’s a notorious night owl, and the groggy edge in his voice tells me I’ve once again called too early.
“Darling,” he rasps, a deep chuckle rumbling through the line, “you do realize it’s the butt-crack of dawn, right? You and my grandbaby are supposed to be resting, not making morning calls at nine a.m. What the hell are those boys letting you get away with?”
I laugh, warm and easy. “First of all, nine is not the butt-crack of dawn, you drama queen. Second, they’re making the baby and me breakfast like the spoiled royals we are.” Right on cue, the little bean in my belly kicks hard enough to make me wince and smile at the same time. “See? Baby agrees.”
I lower my voice in mock seriousness. “Kamden declared a ‘morning feast’ was required and insisted I remain in bed until they could properly summon me. So, I’ve been lying there like a queen in exile while the smell of pancakes and bacon tortures me.”
Dad laughs again, and it makes something warm stretch deep in my chest. “Sounds like they’re doing right by you.” There’s a beat. “What’s really going on, though?”
I take a breath and glance toward the kitchen, where the clatter of pans and masculine voices makes my heart squeeze. “I just wanted to tell you... I agreed to something last night. We’re getting married.”
Silence stretches for a beat too long.
Then, “Didn’t take them long,” he says, amused but not shocked. “They’ve been dancing around it for months. Should’ve asked my permission first, though. Old-fashioned courtesy and all that.” His voice softens with fondness. “Put one of those fools on the phone, will you? I’ve got a few words.”
A huge grin splits across my face as I imagine what few words means in Dad-speak. Likely a mild grilling, maybe a subtle threat or two wrapped in dad-jokes and layered affection. They love him. And after everything they’ve all been through—shouldering my disappearance, holding each other up—I know that love runs deep.
I follow the scent of heaven toward the kitchen, where the guys are buzzing around like some hot, shirtless breakfast brigade.
“Good morning, Kitten.” Jaxton spots me first and pulls me into a sleepy, syrup-scented hug, kissing the side of my head like it’s his favorite ritual.
I hold out the phone. “Dad wants to talk to you.”
The color drains from his face. “You told him?”
I nod with a smirk, and his expression shifts from panic to resigned acceptance as he hands me off to Liam. “Feed her,” he mutters under his breath. “So she doesn’t rat us out next time.”
Liam laughs and wraps an arm around me, guiding me to the table like I’m made of glass. Kamden places a gorgeous plate in front of me—fluffy pancakes stacked high, strawberries drizzled over the top, and perfectly sliced fruit fanned out like art.
“Feed my baby,” Liam says with a heavy smirk, his hand resting protectively over my bump.
The way they dote on me, hover over every bite, and watch for signs of exhaustion would be smothering if it wasn’t so ridiculously sweet. They’re obsessed—in the best, most love-struck way possible.
From across the room, Jax answers the phone brightly. “Hey, Dan, what can I do for—” His smile drops. “Uh... yes, sir. I mean—she did. Yeah. I swear it was her idea... okay, maybe not exactly , but—”
I burst out laughing, syrup-covered fork halfway to my mouth. This is my life now. Pancakes. Passion. Protective alphas and a dad who’s more like the fifth member of their band.
Jaxton looks at me like a deer caught in headlights—only more alpha, less Bambi. His eyes are wide, and the muscle in his jaw ticks as he rubs the back of his neck, a telltale sign of panic. This might actually be the most stressed I’ve ever seen him.
He taps a button and switches to speakerphone, clearly hoping one of his brothers will swoop in and save him from the conversation with my dad.
They don’t. Not a single one.
In fact, Kam snickers behind his coffee mug, Liam suddenly finds something very interesting on the ceiling, and Lennox just leans back, arms crossed, grinning like this is the best morning show he’s ever seen.
“Technically,” Jax says, dragging out the word like it might buy him time, “this whole thing is Kam’s fault. He’s the one who started it. He’s the one who proposed.”
I blink at him, amused. So much for ride-or-die. He’s throwing Kam under the bus faster than I can say wedding cake .
Through the speaker, my dad doesn’t skip a beat. “Oh? So is Kam the only one who wants to marry my little girl, then?”
Jaxton’s entire body stiffens. His eyes snap to mine, panic fully settling in now, and he immediately backpedals, holding up both hands like he’s surrendering. “No! No, sir. Absolutely not. We all want that. All of us. There’s nothing we want more than to spend our lives with her. It was—uh—just... Kam said it first.”
Kamden, who’s been leaning against the counter with the calm of a man who knows exactly what’s coming, lets out a low laugh. “You’re useless under pressure, brother.” He crosses the kitchen, plucks the phone right out of Jaxton’s hand, and holds it to out like he’s answering a business call. “Dan, I promise we’re all madly in love with your daughter and not just tagging along for the ride.”
Dad chuckles, but there’s still a rough edge of playful menace in his tone. “You better be. And for the record, I’m still waiting on an apology for not asking permission first.”
Kam sighs, but his smile is fond. “You’re right. We should’ve come to you first. We didn’t plan it—it just happened. It was an emotional moment, and before we even knew it, the words were out. The last thing we wanted was to step on your toes.”
There’s a pause, then a deep, knowing laugh crackles through the speaker. “Say no more. I know exactly where that moment was headed, and I do not need the visuals. Save your explanations, son.”
My face flames with heat, and I bury it in my hands while Jaxton groans behind me. Liam snorts into his coffee, and Lennox just mutters, “Yikes.”
Kam’s still smiling. “Understood, sir. No graphic details. Just a promise—we’ll take care of her like the precious pixie she is.”
Dad’s voice softens on the other end. “I know you will. All of you. I trust you with her life. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep an eye on you.”
Kam nods, even though Dad can’t see it. “We’d expect nothing less.”
When the call ends a few moments later, Jaxton collapses into the nearest chair, still looking like he barely survived a battlefield. “I thought he was going to demand a duel or something.”
I lean over and press a kiss to Jaxton’s cheek, trying not to laugh. “You threw Kam under the bus so fast I swear I heard tire squeals.”
He gives me a shameless grin, pulling me into his lap like he needs me close to survive the burn. “Self-preservation, Kitten. Can’t blame a man for trying to dodge the wrath of Papa Dan. But...” His voice softens, fingertips brushing over my belly as his smile fades into something much more earnest. “I meant what I said. I want forever with you.”
My chest tightens in the best way. I let my forehead drop to his, soaking in the warmth of the moment. “I know,” I whisper, my voice thick. “And I want that too. All of it.”
In the kitchen, Kam’s flipping pancakes like a Food Network pro, somehow managing to make breakfast look like a performance. He gives the pan a final dramatic toss, then turns and lifts the spatula like a trophy.
“To forever—and breakfast,” Kam says with a wink, holding up his spatula like it’s a sacred relic. “In that order… but just barely.”
“Barely?” Liam scoffs as he slides into the seat I just left, casually swiping a piece of bacon from my plate like a gremlin. “You’ve got maple syrup in your bloodstream, Kam. I never thought anything would outrank breakfast in your heart.”
Lennox drops into the seat beside his twin with a lazy grin. “Honestly? I’m pretty sure he dreams in waffles. And not the frozen kind either—the golden, fluffy, made-from-scratch ones.”
I squint at them both. “Dreams in waffles? And how exactly do you know that?”
Lennox leans over to kiss my temple, completely unbothered. “We’re brothers. Boundaries are optional.”
I laugh, the sound bubbling out before I can stop it, and sink deeper into Jaxton’s lap like I belong there—because I do. His arms wrap around me without hesitation, strong and sure, like he’s anchoring me to something solid in a world that’s still rebuilding itself. I melt into his warmth, resting my head against his shoulder as he presses a kiss into my hair, breathing me in like I’m his favorite scent. The steady thump of his heart against my back is a quiet reminder—I’m safe.
Kam slides the final two dishes onto the table with a theatrical flourish, like he’s presenting a five-star meal instead of pancakes and fruit. “For my favorite girl and her tiny sidekick,” he says, voice full of warmth and pride, “who outrank every breakfast in existence… except maybe the ones I’m personally serving.” He smirks, clearly impressed with himself, that signature Kamden cockiness shining through. “Eat up, Sunshine.”
And I do—because between the love, the laughter, and the perfectly crisped bacon, this moment tastes like everything I never knew I needed. It’s not just the food, or even the comfort of being surrounded by the guys I love most—it’s the quiet way they orbit around me, like I’m the center of their universe.
A deep, familiar chuckle rumbles from Kamden as he glides across the kitchen. “Here you go, baby.” He slides a fresh plate in front of me, artfully arranged with a little bit of everything—fruit, eggs, pancakes, even a mini mountain of bacon.
I can’t help the sound that escapes me. “Mm…” It’s less a word and more a moment of worship. “You know,” I murmur between bites, pointing to the plate the twins are sharing, “you could’ve just used the one I already had.”
Kam arches a brow as if I’ve just suggested something completely scandalous. “They can eat off the one their grubby fingers touched. You, Sunshine, get the clean one.”
The corner of my mouth lifts, but my brain doesn’t let the moment pass as easily. Kam’s always sweet—protective, thoughtful—but this? This is something else. The way he’s hovering just a little more than usual. The way Jaxton keeps glancing over like he’s trying to read my mind. Liam’s hand is still resting on my thigh, absent-mindedly rubbing circles into my skin like he’s afraid I might float away.
Even Lennox, who usually has some snark locked and loaded, is just sitting quietly beside me, ready with a napkin and a smirk.
My fork slows halfway to my mouth as I chew on more than just breakfast.
They’re coddling me.
Not in a suffocating way, but it’s obvious. This is the kind of energy they give when something’s weighing on them. When they’re either hiding something… or bracing for something.
I glance between them, watching how Kam won’t quite meet my eyes now, how Liam is overly invested in making sure my juice glass stays full, how Jaxton shifts underneath me in his chair like the floor might fall out from under him. They’re doing that thing they do when they’re trying to protect me from something—which, normally, I love. But my instincts are buzzing, and not just from the baby’s kicks.
I don’t say anything just yet. I press a kiss to Liam’s cheek, offer a warm smile to Kam, and let them pamper me.
But inside? The wheels are turning.
Because they’re definitely hiding something. And while the protective sweetness is nice... I’ve never been left in the dark for long. If my time with Sarah taught me anything, it’s how to read body language like a second language—how to decipher the truth behind a glance, a twitch, a too-smooth smile. I learned to survive by watching, by listening, by piecing together the story no one wanted to tell. And right now, every instinct I have is buzzing like a live wire.
Something’s off.
Whether it’s something they plan to tell me after breakfast or a truth they’re trying to spare me from entirely, I’m done being the one left in the dark. I’ve survived too much—endured too much—to let anyone protect me with silence. I’m not fragile. I’m not breakable.
I’m a fighter.
And whatever they know, I deserve to know it too.
I finish chewing my last bite, then set my fork down slowly. “Okay,” I say, my voice firm. “Spill it.”
They freeze like deer caught in headlights.
“Kitten—” Jaxton starts, but I cut him off with a sharp glare over my shoulder.
“No. Don’t ‘Kitten’ me. You’re keeping something from me. Again.”
I look at each of them in turn—Liam, Kamden, Lennox, Jaxton—letting them see the seriousness in my eyes. “I’ve been through too much to be kept in the dark. What don’t I know?”
There’s a pause. Then Liam and Lennox both reach out instinctively, rubbing gentle circles on my arms like they’re trying to calm the storm before it builds. The warmth of their touch grounds me a little, but not enough to quiet the racing thoughts already rising.
Jaxton shifts closer, his expression soft but edged with concern, and gently turns me sideways so he can see my face more clearly. “We’re not trying to hide anything from you, Kitten. We’ve been in contact with the detectives.” He hesitates. “There’s still no progress. No leads. It’s like she vanished.”
My heart skips, and not in a good way. The air suddenly feels thinner.
“We just didn’t want to burden you with worry when there was nothing new to tell,” he adds gently, reaching out to cup my cheek. “We wanted to give you space to heal, to rest. To focus on the baby.”
The word baby lands like a weight in my chest. My breathing quickens, the room narrowing around the edges. It happens so fast, I barely register it—tightness in my throat, my heart pounding. Panic creeps in without permission, tightening its grip.
“I knew it,” I whisper, voice cracking. “She’s still out there.”
“Hey, hey,” Jaxton murmurs into my hair, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re safe. You’re here, with us. Breathe with me, okay?”
Kam moves to my side, anchoring me with his hand on my back. “Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise. We’ve got eyes on every door, every window. She won’t get close.”
Liam brushes his thumb across my hand. “We should’ve told you sooner, and I’m sorry for that. You deserve to know everything. We just didn’t want fear to steal one more second of your peace.”
Lennox gently wipes a tear from my cheek I hadn’t even realized had fallen. “You’ve survived the worst, Bee. Now let us take it from here. Just let yourself breathe.”
Their voices, their warmth, their presence—it all slowly brings me back from the edge. The panic loosens its grip, giving way to trembling relief. I nod wordlessly, emotions lodged too deep for speech.
“You’re our girl,” Kam says, voice low and fierce. “And we’ll protect you and that baby with everything we’ve got.”
I manage a small, watery smile as I look at them—all of them—standing like a wall around me. Not just my lovers. My protectors.
“Sorry,” I manage to squeak out, the word barely more than a breath. My cheeks are warm, and my throat tightens around the vulnerability I didn’t mean to show. “Sometimes it just... sneaks up on me.”
Without hesitation, Liam leans in and presses a tender kiss to my temple. His touch, gentle and grounding, soothes something raw inside me. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Bee,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of quiet strength. “You’ve been through more than most people could imagine. You don’t have to hold it all together all the time—not with us.”
I nod, breathing through the remnants of panic still whispering along the edges of my mind. A heavy silence lingers for a moment, filled only by the soft brush of Lennox’s thumb along the back of my hand and the comforting weight of Kam’s arm resting protectively along my shoulders.
“I’ve been thinking,” I say finally, clearing my throat. My voice is steadier now, but the memories still leave a chill in my chest. “When Sarah had me... she mentioned that the house we were in had been bought under a different name. She acted like it was no big deal—like she’d done it more than once. It was all so casual for her.” My fingers curl around the edge of the table. “I think she had more than one identity. The way she spoke... the confidence. It wasn’t her first time hiding.”
Their silence is thick, but it’s not from disbelief—it’s from processing. Kam’s jaw ticks as his hand tightens gently on my arm. Liam’s brows draw together in that thoughtful, protective way he gets when he’s silently plotting ten different ways to keep me safe. Lennox shifts beside me and takes my hand fully in his, squeezing it with firm reassurance.
“We’ll tell the detective,” Jaxton says quietly, his voice heavy with purpose. “Every single detail. And no more keeping anything from you, Kitten. You’re not just the one we love—you’re the strongest damn woman we know. And we’ll never let you carry this alone again.”
My eyes sting, and I blink quickly, leaning into Jaxton’s chest. He presses his lips to my hair and breathes in deeply, like just having me close is enough to anchor him too.
“I love you guys,” I whisper, and this time, it’s not broken or fragile—it’s strong. Steady. Sure. My voice doesn’t shake, and my heart doesn’t waver. “All of you. So much.”
Kam leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear, his voice low but firm, like a promise sealed in steel. “You’re stuck with us,” he says, his arm tightening around me. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never feel that fear again. Not while we’re breathing.”
The room falls quiet, but it’s not heavy. It’s full. Of love. Of purpose. Of everything we’ve survived and everything we’re building from here.
Liam rests his chin on my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss there. “We’ve got you.”
Lennox’s thumb brushes over my knuckles. “Always.”
And Jaxton pulls me even closer, his voice a low hum against my temple. “You’re never going through anything alone again, Kitten. That’s not a promise—it’s a guarantee.”
My eyes close, but not because I need to hide or escape. For once, I close them because I can—because I feel safe. Wrapped in their arms, surrounded by warmth and certainty, I know the storm has passed. There may be battles ahead, but I’m not facing them by myself.
Not anymore.
With one last deep breath, I let myself lean into them completely. This? This is home.