14. Served
Served
Wyatt
Fuck, my head. I press my hand to my forehead and try to open my eyes, but all I see is blinding light. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to remember what the fuck happened last night.
We were playing pool. Natasha went upstairs to bed, and that’s when we decided to make it a drinking game. Drew, Tom, and I weren’t sleeping because Sara wasn’t here yet.
But maybe we had a few too many. It feels like I’m on the leather couch.
I shove up to sitting and immediately regret it. A groan rips from my throat as pain slices through my head.
A familiar chuckle makes me dare to open an eye.
Drew holds out a mug of coffee. “You really can’t hold your liquor.”
I growl, but take the cup. Then he holds out a bottle of painkillers and rattles it. I snatch that too. He collapses on the couch next to me.
“Where’s Tom?” I set the coffee on the end table and pour a couple of pills into my hand. I swallow them and then take a gulp of coffee.
“Probably in bed with his baby mama.” Drew tips his head back.
“Did you pass out?” I study him as I drink my coffee. I didn’t think I could be friends with Drew Young, but here we are. Bonded together over our obsession with one woman.
His eyes have dark smudges beneath them but he nods. “For a few hours.”
He raises his head and meets my gaze.
“How long until we worry?” Drew looks at the door to the billiards room like he expects them to walk through it.
I shake my head. “We can’t open communication without giving someone a trail to find us. We’ll give them a day or two. If they aren’t here by then, we drive somewhere a few hours away to throw up the bat signal.”
Drew chuckles. “Figures you’d be a DC fan. All dark and broody.”
I shrug. The coffee is helping, but now that I’m awake, that spot Sara fills aches, empty and gnawing. I run a hand through my hair.
“Sebastian will get them out.”
“Who are you trying to convince?” I turn to look at him. “Me or you?”
“Both. Fuck.” He stands and paces, dropping some of the act. “They should be here by now, right? What if everything went wrong? What if she’s hurt, and I’m sitting here getting drunk and passing out?”
“I’ve known Dante and Finn my whole life.” I draw in a deep breath. “They’ll get her back no matter what. If there’s one thing we all share, it’s the desire to make sure Sara is safe.”
Drew drops into the chair across from me. “This was supposed to be easy. I mean, I knew being with Sara was going to be work, but I was up to it. I was ready to be with just one person.”
A week ago those words would have torn at my heart, but now, I just understand. Being with Sara is easy. Even being with her with Finn, Dante, and Drew is easy. It’s just all these tangled threads that keep getting in the way. Not to mention coming out to our families about it.
He lifts his gaze and his brown eyes shimmer. “It feels like someone grabbed my heart and is playing keep-away with it. Meanwhile, I can’t breathe without it. I can’t breathe without her.”
“I know.” Because that’s exactly how I feel right now.
Drew nods and leans back in the chair. “What do we do while we wait?”
Before I can say anything, the crunch of gravel makes us both stand. Without a word, we move to the front door and look out the nearby window to see an unknown car driving into the garage.
Sara.
My heart pounds and I stop thinking. I reach for the doorknob, but Drew stalls my hand.
“What if it’s not them?” he says quietly.
Fuck. If they’ve been captured, it could be Peter’s men coming to take Natasha and Tom. But then I catch a flash of red and my heart beats again. I grin at Drew before I open the door and step down onto the driveway.
Sara turns and sees me. Her green eyes widen. Then she’s running. I brace myself for the impact when she collides with me. She presses herself against me and her arms wrap around me, so fucking tight. I gather her close. My heartbeat triples, and something inside me falls back into place.
My shirt grows wet under her tears, but I can’t release her to look at her face. All I want to do is hold on to her and never let go. She’s a part of me I can’t live without.
Finn follows behind her wearing a white shirt that looks like it belongs to a server. He smiles as he reaches us. “Sorry we’re late.”
Drew steps forward and hugs Finn. “Thank fuck you guys are all right.”
Sara lifts her head at Drew’s voice and pulls away from me. I release her when Drew steps away from Finn and she moves into Drew’s arms.
“Hey there, princess.” He kisses the top of her head. She clings to him as tightly as she clung to me.
I pull Finn in for a hug. “Everything good?”
Finn sighs. “Yeah, just some complications in the plan.”
Dante joins us with a couple bags. “Where are we?”
His pale blue eyes meet mine. There’s a look of worry in them. Is it because of me? Is something wrong? Are we not safe?
“Primary bed in the left wing.”
Dante nods and heads to the door. My gaze follows him.
Tom steps out into the sunlight. “Sara!”
She lifts her head at Tom’s voice. Pulling away from Drew, she strides across the courtyard and up the stairs to Tom. He holds his arms open.
She pulls back her hand and smacks him. “What the fuck were you thinking!”
Tom looks completely shocked by her reaction.
She smacks him again. “I was fucking kidnapped.”
And again. “Verity fucking Baron!”
She smacks him again and tears stream down her face. “You left me.”
He grabs her wrist and draws her in for a hug, but she shoves away.
“Fuck you, Tom!”
I’ve never been more proud of my girl.
Dante walks past Tom and Sara into the house. With a withering look at Tom, she follows after Dante.
Finn glares at Tom as he passes but doesn’t say anything. Tom stares into the space Sara left like he can’t believe that happened.
Drew shakes his head and laughs. “I love that woman.”
Tom’s eyes widen as he rubs his cheek. Drew grabs Tom’s shoulder on the way past into the house.
“What just happened?” Tom asks me.
I draw in a breath of fresh air. “You pissed her off. You pissed all of us off. Just be glad she got to you before Finn and Dante.”
Tom turns to look at where they vanished like he’s going to follow them.
“Not now, Tom.” I walk past him. “Leave us alone with her for now. She’ll come to you when she’s ready to deal with you.”
Tom’s eyes narrow. “Us?”
I no longer have any fucks to give, so I shrug. “You left her in our care.”
And that’s all he needs to know for now. Sara will decide when we’re ready to tell anyone else.
* * *
Sara
Dante drops the bags inside the door. The bed is huge and calls to me, but I need a shower first. I catch Dante’s hand and his soft gaze takes me in.
“I need a shower. Please tell me we have a change of clothes for me.” I’m so exhausted. I slept on and off during the drive, but I couldn’t fully relax not knowing what happened with Wyatt and Drew.
We didn’t even know if they’d be here yet. After we parted ways with Sebastian and his crew, we took so many turns to make sure no one was following us that I got completely turned around. But Dante got us here.
I barely took in the downstairs as we walked through. It’s gorgeous and obviously a wealthy estate, but the details eluded my sleepy brain. My hand stings from hitting Tom, but I could have kept going. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive him.
But right now, my lack of sleep is catching up with me. For the past two days, I’ve worn the same thing. I need to get clean. Dante grabs a bag and guides me into the bathroom, closing the door behind us. He sets the bag on the counter and turns the water on.
I rummage through the clothes to find a pair of underwear and something comfy. A glance in the shower tells me the guys already put soap, shampoo, and conditioner in there. Dante takes his shirt off and then his pants.
Sparks light within me but they’re weak at best. I don’t have energy to do much but shower. Before I can tell Dante that, he steps behind me and helps me undress.
“I don’t know if I’m up to playing, boss.”
Dante’s chuckle sends little shivers through me as he releases my bra. “My intention is to get you into bed to sleep, pip. I haven’t slept well in days either and desperately need a shower.”
“Okay.” I release a breath.
When he lowers my pants and I step out of them, the door opens. Finn slips in and shuts it behind him. He gives us a nod before stripping.
My body is getting ideas that it won’t be able to do anything about. Dante leads me into the shower and the warm water hits my skin. I give a little sigh and Finn joins us.
Their skin brushes mine while we wash our hair and then their hands skim soap over my body, making sure I’m thoroughly clean from head to toe. I relax into them as they take turns holding me up.
I didn’t notice the bathroom door opening, but when I’m rinsed, Dante opens the shower door. Drew is there and holds a towel open for me. Stepping into his arms, I let him take care of drying me off. He takes his time with my hair so he doesn’t tangle it.
Then he helps me into my pajamas. His touch is methodical and not meant to stimulate, but I can’t help myself around these guys.
I’m warm all over, but I really just need to nap.
There’s this part of me that is desperate to reestablish our connection, our bond, but just being with them and knowing we’re finally safe blows apart all that tension that was holding me together.
When the door to the bathroom opens, Wyatt lifts me and carries me over to the bed. He’s only in his boxers.
“I missed you, trouble.” He lays me in the center of the bed and climbs in with me, drawing me into his arms.
I release a sigh and snuggle against his chest into his warmth, drawing in that rich scent of leather. The bed moves as the others join us. Dante presses in behind me, but Finn and Drew put their hands on me so I can feel them too. Tears choke me.
I didn’t think I’d ever get to feel this again.
“Shh, we’ve got you, pip.” Dante strokes his hand down my side. “We’re never letting you out of our sight again.”
It’s ridiculous because eventually they will, but right now, those are the words I need to hear. Finn hasn’t mentioned that he told me he loved me. I don’t know how the others feel, but my heart is all in on each and every one of them.
I love them all so much. This could work. Madison and her guys have made it work. I don’t know if we can, but I want to try. My gaze lifts to Wyatt’s dark eyes, watching me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
“I’m here, trouble.”
Fuck, I must be looking at him the same way.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He strokes his hand down my back. “Go to sleep. We have a lot to catch up on.”
Someone drew the curtains to block out the daylight and then the lamp shuts off, surrounding us in darkness, but I can feel them and smell their distinct scents. Fuck, I’m finally home.