Page 70 of Shared By Her Brother's Best Friends

A shiver runs down my spine as I wonder whether he might have considered killing us for the money had I agreed to a large policy for myself and Max. If he would murder his own mother for money, I don’t doubt he’d be capable of killing us too. If the guys hadn’t shown up when they did, we wouldn’t be alive now. The gratitude I feel to all of them, and Bess, for coming to our rescue is immeasurable. Tomorrow will be a long day, we need to go give our full statements to the police and then I want to visit Jacob in the hospital. But for now, we can unwind knowing that Kane is in custody and Adam is gone, no one is going to harm Max.

After showering I put on some comfortable clothes, shrugging into an old sweatshirt that hugs me like an old friend. I quickly call the hospital and check in on Jacob’s status. They assure me he’s doing well, that his condition is stable and they’re hopeful they can bring him out of the coma soon. With the good news bolstering me, I head downstairs. Bess has gone home so it’s just us in the house. A house I’m now starting to think of as home. The guys are all in the living room waiting for me, having cleaned up too. Mason’s eye is bruised and swollen with a large cut underneath. There are several bandages on his arms. Thankfully, Ty and Jax are uninjured.

Therefore, I head to Mason first, inspecting his injuries. “You should go to the hospital,” I tell him, my brow furrowed as I see that bright crimson blood is seeping through one of the bandages.

He shakes his head. “I’m fine, just a scratch.”

“What happened? Who did this to you? I know it wasn’t Adam.”

“Adam had help, some drug addicts we think he paid off. Bess and I encountered two of them, high as all hell, which made them crazy and strong. One of them was a big fucker, he did this,” he says pointing to his eye. “Once I’d dealt with him, I had to help Bess. The crazy bitch she was fighting pulled a knife and started slashing wildly, she got a few nicks in before we could stop her.”

“I don’t know what to say… Thank you, all of you, I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess.”

I look at them, my heart aching with love and fear. A different fear than when I believed I was about to die, but fear, nonetheless. Fear of losing them. Fear that today’s events have been the final straw. Fear that they don’t feel the same. I know Jax said he loved me too, but I wouldn’t blame him if it was a kindness bestowed on a woman who was about to die rather than his true feelings.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Mason insists.

“Never. When I think about how close that bastard came to…” Jax chokes out unable to finish his sentence.

“Emma, did you mean it? When you said you love us?” Ty asks, his brown eyes meeting mine.

Mason looks confused but not unhappy to hear this.

“Yes. I do,” I reply truthfully. “I know it’s unconventional, and we haven’t known each other long, but today made me realize that I’ve fallen in love with you. All three of you.”

“I meant it, too. I love you, Emma,” Jax says. He takes my hand and squeezes it, stepping closer to me.

“I love you, Emma. After Danielle… I didn’t think I would ever feel joy again, that I would never have a family. You gave me those back, you and Max,” Ty says, coming close to my other side and placing a kiss on my forehead.

I look to Mason. Out of them, Mason and I have the most volatile relationship. Is it too much for me to hope for him to love me back?

“Of course I love you, Emma, I’ve loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you,” he replies softly.

They kiss me tenderly, holding me close, making me feel safe and loved. None of them tries to take things further, innately knowing that tonight I just need to be held. Already I’m plotting in my head how we can move an extra bed into the biggest room and push them together to make one big enough to fit us all, I want to fall asleep with the men I love.

I’m in love, and they love me back.

Like the sun finally rising after a long, dark winter I know everything is going to be alright. Better than alright. Max is safe, Jacob is going to be okay, and I have three incredible men who love me.

Chapter 39

Ty

In my experience, happy ever afters don’t exist, or at least not outside of movies, but I can’t help feeling like the future with Emma will be just that. I’ll never stop missing my little girl but with Emma and Max in my life and my two best friends all forming our unique family, the future finally seems bright.

“How did it go? You were in there so long,” Emma asks, jumping up from her seat as I enter the waiting room at the police station.

We’ve come to give our statements and I’m the last one to finish, the others are all waiting for me. Jax is busy entertaining Max over in the depressingly cheery corner where there are a few old toys, some crayons, and used coloring books. None of us wanted to bring Max here, but neither were we about to let him out of our sight. Fortunately, the kid is tough, he’ll need some therapy and lots of love, but already he’s bouncing back the way only a child can.

Unsurprisingly, the police took the longest interviewing me. Though Bess and Mason incapacitated their attackers, both survived. I’m the only person who killed someone. I don’t like that I’m a killer, not one bit, but pulling the trigger and killing Adam was easy. I’d do it again in a heartbeat to save the people I love. Even if it means serving time in jail.

“It went how I expected. I was the one who fired the gun, so it’s not surprising they’d push me and test my story for inconsistencies,” I say, kissing Emma on the head and pulling her close.

“Are they going to press charges against you?” Mason asks.

I contemplate telling them no, knowing that Emma will be heartbroken to hear it, but I won’t lie to her. Not now, not ever.

“Unfortunately.”

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