Page 36 of Psycho Saints

"Fine, I'll change," I grumbled as I slid off the counter. I gasped as he slapped my ass on my way out, and I pulled a face over my shoulder, causing him to laugh.

I could almost forget what he'd done in these moments.

Almost.

I lounged in the plush pedicure chair, glancing at my toes as the technician worked her magic. My two guards stood discreetly around the salon, their presence a constant reminder of my new life.

Noms sat beside me, her eyes wide as she processed everything I'd just told her, flicking them briefly to my guards before settling back on me. "Holy shit, Scar. This is some next-level crazy."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Tell me about it. It's insane."

"So, let me get this straight," Noms said, leaning in closer. "You've got three smoking hot, dangerous-as-fuck mobsters wrapped around your finger? And they're treating you like a queen? After what Cristian did? Hell, he even proposed?!"

"Pretty much," I admitted as she shook her head in shock. "It's like they're competing to see who can spoil me more."

Noms burst out laughing, drawing curious glances from the other patrons. "Only you, Scar. Only you could turn a captive situation into... whatever the hell this is."

I grinned, but then sobered slightly. "It's not all sunshine and roses, though. They're still dangerous men. And they haven't exactly forgotten how to give orders."

"Oh?" Noms raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Do tell."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "It's mostly in the bedroom. They can be... demanding."

Noms snorted, rolling her eyes. "Honey, that's not exactly a hardship. I bet they know exactly what they're doing, too."

I couldn't help but laugh at her bluntness. "You have no idea."

"Still, you seemed to forgive Cristian far too easily for what he did," she said softly, those blue eyes concerned as she kept her voice low.

"I guess I just understand in some way. Got to know him better, found out why he did it. Sure, he went about it all the wrong way, but his intentions weren't bad, I guess," I muttered.

"Ah yes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions," Noms said with a snort. "You can never fully trust him."

"He's doing his best to win my trust, to prove himself," I said, unable to keep from defending him. This caused Noms to arch a knowing brow as my stomach flipped.

"They're not the only ones hooked, are they? As much as you want to hate it all, chaos has been your life, it's where you feel most comfortable. Thanks mommy and daddy for all that trauma," she said sarcastically before inspecting her polished fingernails with a sigh. "I worry about you, Scar. I don't want this going bad for you. You're all I've got, and you deserve good things in life." She focused back on me, the soft furrow in her brow making my chest tighten.

"I know. But things have changed massively, everything is different," I said as I glanced back down at my toes as the technician worked on them. The massage she'd been doing throughout was relaxing, although it did little to ease the tension from this conversation.

"Right." Noms pursed her lips, still not sold on the entire thing as she sipped her champagne. I'd been given a mocktail, as was the go these days when the men were involved.

Couldn't have my potential baby having a messed up brain or something.

As we fell into silence, I found myself reflecting on the bizarre turn my life had taken. Just weeks ago, I was a captive, terrified and angry. Now, I was being pampered like royalty, with three powerful men vying for my attention.

"You know," Noms said softly, interrupting my thoughts, "as fucked up as this whole situation is, I can see you're oddly happy. I just want it to stay that way. You were a mess for a while there."

I met her gaze, offering her a small, comforting smile. "I know, and I believe it will. Like I said, it's different, they've changed in how they're treating me. Cristian even proposed."

"Yeah, crazy fucker. You going to give him his answer?" she asked as she peered at me over the rim of her glass.

"No one has followed up on it, I guess they've assumed since we're all doing the dirty tango with no protection, it's as much of a yes as any."

"Having a Silvestri child is more bonding than a damn marriage, Scar. You know that," she said sharply, one brow threatening to enter her hairline.

"I know. I guess marriage still makes me uneasy. More than a child," I said with a snort. It was stupid, but Noms knew what my parents had been like. They'd fought, holding their marriage over one another like it was shackles at times. Not me, no, I'd never been a reason they stuck together, I was something they could cast aside. But that damned binding paper they had signed…

I rolled my eyes, knowing it as stupid.

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