Page 69 of Graves

“What are you guys doing today?” I ask.

“Nothing. Was just planning to spend time with you,” Dominic says as his phone begins to ring.

I raise an eyebrow at him, and he curses before grabbing his phone and silencing it. It starts ringing immediately, forcing him to silence it again. On the third ring, I catch his hand before he can cancel the call.

“Go to work. Do your thing. Protect the street cameras and all that stuff,” I say on a small laugh.

He shakes his head when I soften my voice, my lower lip quivering as I do.

“Please?”

There is something about Dom. He makes me feel so seen, so weak. He makes me feel that way because I know I can be vulnerable and fall apart with him, and he will be there to pick up the pieces. Right now, though, that’s the last thing I need. What I want is to feel in control and strong, and I can’t do that with him staring at me like this.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

I nod quickly, forcing him to blow out a breath before hestands slowly, pulling me into a hug before he reaches his full height. I wrap my arms around him as he pulls back just enough to kiss me. His lips linger on mine, and it’s enough of a contact to send butterflies racing through me before his thumb brushes against my cheek.

“I love you, babygirl.”

“I love you too,” I say with a soft smile.

My words cause him to grin before he gives me a sweet wink and turns to face Zayden.

“Take care of her.”

“Always,” Zayden responds quickly, his focused eyes on me the entire time his brother gathers up his things and heads out the door.

When the apartment is silent once more, I realize that Zayden and I are still staring at each other, unmoving, practically unblinking.

“You guys saying your I love you’s,” Zayden remarks.

It’s not quite a question, but it doesn’t seem phrased as a statement either. It feels like a test, and one I don’t feel like participating in. I roll my eyes and turn around, intent on getting away from him, when he comes up from behind me, catching my elbow and turning me to face him.

“What?” I snap.

He forces me backward until my back is pressing against the wall. He cages his arms over me and just stares. Where Dom is worried about intimidating me, Zayden seems to relish in it. I try to act like it doesn’t bother me, but with the menacing look in his eyes, the steel-cut edge to his jaw, and his face inchesfrom mine, I’m doing all I can to keep it together.

“What do you need?”

I furrow my brows at that.

“What do you mean?”

“What do you need, angel? What can I do?”

I stare up at him for several seconds before I shake my head and look away.

“Nothing. I’m fine. Can you please just leave me alone and?—”

“No. Now tell me how I can fix this.”

“Fix what?” I ask.

“You.”

I blink hard at that, my breath practically stolen from my lungs for several seconds before I speak softly with a shake of my head. “You can’t.”

“Then what can I do to make it all go away for a little?” he asks, softening to a tone I wasn’t sure he was even capable of.

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