Chapter 33
Rachel
The house feels too quiet without Tommy.
Three days now. Three days of him staying with Jake while I prepare for tomorrow’s custody hearing. Three days of waking up and not hearing his feet padding down the hallway, not making his breakfast, not reminding him to brush his teeth.
I miss my son so much it physically hurts.
But Jake insisted. He said Tommy shouldn’t be around the stress, shouldn’t see me falling apart every time Derek’s lawyer sends another threatening email.
He’s right. Doesn’t make it easier.
I’m staring at my phone when it rings. Dorothy Williams.
“Hi, Dorothy.” I try to sound more awake than I feel.
“Rachel, dear. I wanted to check on you before tomorrow.” Her voice is steady, warm. The same voice that’s been ordering pie and coffee every Tuesday for months. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Nervous, but okay.” I sit up on the couch. “How are you? I heard about Ryan’s sentencing yesterday.”
“Twenty-two years.” She says it matter-of-factly. No tremor, no break. “The judge was quite clear about the severity of his actions. Three counts of arson, attempted murder for the house fire. He’ll be an old man when he gets out.”
“Dorothy, I’m so sorry. I know he’s your grandson—”
“He made his choices. I made mine.” She’s quiet for a moment. “I testified against him, you know. Told them everything about his gambling debts, the times he asked me for money, the way he’d gotten so desperate. The prosecutor said my testimony helped.”
“That must have been hard.”
“It was necessary. Ryan needed to face consequences for what he did. To you, to me, to this town.” She sighs. “I won’t visit him in prison. I’ve made that clear to his mother. What he did was unforgivable, and I won’t pretend otherwise just because we share blood.”
The strength in her voice amazes me. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
“I’m a survivor, dear. Same as you.” She pauses. “Now, about tomorrow. I’ll be there. I’m testifying on your behalf, remember? The judge needs to hear from someone who’s watched you with Tommy, who knows what kind of mother you are.”
My throat gets tight. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Of course I do. You’re family now. Not by blood, but by choice. And I choose you.” Her voice softens. “You’re going to win tomorrow, Rachel. That boy belongs with you, and any judge with sense will see it.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right. Ask anyone.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Now get some rest. Tomorrow, we show that ex-boyfriend of yours what real family looks like.”
After we hang up, I sit with the phone in my lap for a long time. Dorothy’s grandson tried to kill her, and she’s still standing. Still strong. Still showing up for the people who matter.
If she can do that, I can face Derek in court tomorrow.
I’m still sitting there when Cole walks in, Theo and Marco right behind him. They’re carrying shopping bags from the pharmacy and looking oddly coordinated, like they planned something.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Cole sets a bag on the coffee table. “You’re taking the afternoon off.”
“Off from what? I’ve been sitting here doing nothing for three days.”
“Exactly. And you’re going to spiral if you sit here one more minute.” Theo drops onto the couch beside me, grinning. “So, we’re sending you out.”
Marco pulls something from his pocket. A credit card. He holds it out to me.
I stare at it. “What is this?”
“Your afternoon.” His dark eyes are serious. “Spa appointment at 2 p.m. Hair appointment at 4. Nails at 5:30. Whatever else you want in between.”
“I can’t—”
“You can.” Cole crouches in front of me. “Rachel, you’ve been carrying all of this alone, the job loss, the fire, the custody battle. Let us do this for you. Let us take care of you for one afternoon.”
“It’s too much money—”
“It’s not.” Theo squeezes my hand. “We want to do this. You deserve to feel pampered. You deserve to walk into that courtroom tomorrow feeling like the queen you are.”
My eyes burn. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.” Marco’s voice is gentle. “Say you’ll let us take care of you the way you deserve.”
I look at the three of them. These men who’ve become my family, my safety, my home. Who’ve stood by me through everything, who’ve fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself.
“Okay.” I take the card. “Yes.”
***
The spa is everything I didn’t know I needed.
A hot stone massage that melts every knot in my shoulders.
Facial that makes my skin feel like silk.
The hairstylist shapes my auburn hair into soft waves that frame my face perfectly.
The nail technician gives me a simple manicure.
Short, practical, but polished. Toes painted a deep burgundy that makes me feel feminine and strong at the same time.
By the time I’m done, it’s almost seven. I catch my reflection in the salon mirror and barely recognize myself. Not because I look different, but because I look relaxed. Happy. Like a woman who’s taken care of instead of one who’s barely holding it together.
I drive home feeling lighter than I have in months.
The house is dark when I pull up, not abandoned dark, but intentionally dim. Soft light glows from the windows, warm and inviting.
I walk in and stop in the doorway.
Candles. Everywhere. On the mantle, the coffee table, and the kitchen counter.
They cast dancing shadows on the walls, fill the air with vanilla and something woodsy—no, something warm.
The dining table is set with actual plates, not our usual mismatched collection.
Wine glasses catch the candlelight. And in the center, a bouquet.
Wildflowers mixed with roses, purple, pink, and white.
Cole is in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove. Theo’s setting out silverware. Marco’s pouring wine into the glasses with precision and care.
They all look up when I walk in.
“You’re beautiful,” Cole says quietly.
I can’t speak. Can’t do anything except stand there with tears building in my eyes.
“Hey, no crying.” Theo crosses to me, grinning. “You’re going to mess up that fancy facial.”
“What is all this?” My voice cracks.
“This is how we treat the woman we love.” Marco hands me a glass of wine. “This is what you deserve. Every day, but especially tonight.”
“We wanted you to feel good before tomorrow,” Cole adds. “Wanted you to know that no matter what happens in that courtroom, you have this. You have us.”
The tears spill over. I can’t stop them.
Cole pulls me into his arms, careful not to spill my wine. “You’re going to win tomorrow. You know that, right?”
“I don’t know anything.” I press my face into his chest. “I’m terrified.”
“Then let us take the fear away. Just for tonight.” He tilts my chin up. “Let us show you how much we love you.”
I look at each of them. Cole with his steady blue eyes. Theo with his warm smile. Marco with that intensity that makes me feel seen down to my bones.
“I want you,” I whisper. “All of you. Together.”
Theo’s smile widens. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I set down my wine glass. “I’ve thought about it. About what it would be like with all three of you. About—” I stop, heat flooding my face.
“About what?” Marco’s voice drops lower.
I force myself to meet his eyes. “About being with all of you at once. About having you all touching me, making me feel—” I swallow hard. “I’ve had fantasies. Things I’ve imagined but never said out loud.”
Cole’s grip on my waist tightens. “Tell us.”
“I want to direct this. I want to tell you what I need, what I want.” My voice gets stronger. “I want to feel safe and loved and completely overwhelmed in the best way. I want all of you focused on me, giving me everything, and I want—”
“What do you want, Rachel?” Theo’s right beside me now.
“I want to forget about tomorrow. Just for tonight.” I look between them. “Can you do that? Can you make me forget everything except this?”
“Yes.” Marco steps closer. “Whatever you want. However, you want it. We’re yours.”
The words unlock something in my chest. “Then take me upstairs.”
***
I stand in the middle of the bedroom, candlelight flickering across my skin, heart hammering so loud I swear they can hear it.
“Undress me,” I say, voice steady even though my knees want to buckle. “Slowly.”
They move like they’ve rehearsed this a thousand times in their heads.
Cole steps behind me first. His fingers find the zipper of my dress, dragging it down one tooth at a time. Warm lips follow the path: shoulder blade, spine, and the dip just above my ass.
The fabric slides off my arms and pools at my feet.
Theo kneels, mouth brushing my hip as he hooks his fingers in my panties and eases them down my thighs, tongue tracing the crease where leg meets body.
Marco unhooks my bra with one hand, letting it fall.
His palms cup my breasts from behind, thumbs circling my nipples until they ache.
I’m naked. They’re still dressed. The power flips in my stomach like a live wire.
“Mirror,” I breathe.
Cole guides me backward until my spine meets the cool glass of the closet door. Marco steps in close behind me, chest to my back, his heat chasing away the chill. Theo and Cole flank my sides.
The mirror is right in front of me now. I can see everything: my flushed face, Marco’s dark eyes over my shoulder, Cole and Theo on their knees in front of me, Theo’s mouth already descending on my breast.
“Watch me watch you,” I tell them.
Cole drops to his knees between my thighs, his shoulders forcing me wider.
His tongue finds my clit in one slow, deliberate lick.
Theo’s mouth latches onto my left nipple, teeth grazing just hard enough to make me gasp.
Marco stands behind me, one hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head so I have no choice but to meet my own eyes in the mirror.
“Look at yourself,” he murmurs against my ear. “Look how fucking beautiful you are when you let go.”