Page 172 of They Are Mine

Like he’s not even fazed.

Like he’s just processing.

Instead of reaching for his phone, calling the cops, and turning me in…

He leans in. “Do we need to get rid of the bat still?”

My whole body warms.

Because I love him.

I kiss his jaw, sighing. “Already taken care of, sir.”

Orion laughs so hard he has to sit down.

Noah tosses a pillow at my face.

And Elliot just smirks.

Like he knew this was inevitable.

Like he knew, from the second I walked up to him in that restaurant, that he was fucked.

“What’s the plan?” Noah asks.

I wave a hand, dismissive. “We don’t need a plan.”

Orion raises a brow, clearly skeptical.

“If I wasn’t at work, the gym, or school, I was with you, or Orion, or…” I turn, meeting Elliot’s gaze.

His mouth quirks up slightly. “Or me.”

I beam. Exactly.

They have me covered.

“I’ll go chat with the police, and it’ll be done and over.” I shrug like this is nothing. Because it is nothing. Just a minor inconvenience. A messy detail to smooth out.

Elliot tilts his head, studying me. “You sure you want to go alone?”

“It’d look weird if I dragged in all my alibis like an entourage,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Might look guilty.”

Noah sighs, rubbing his temple. “Fine. But you text the second you’re done.”

“Of course, my love,” I say, kissing his cheek.

After a few goodbyes, I grab my purse and head out.

The drive to the police station is uneventful. But my mind?

Still back home.

With them.

The way Noah kissed me, slow and sweet, fingers sliding through my hair like he was memorizing me. The way Orion pressed against me, protective, growling against my neck about how this was bullshit. And Elliot?

Elliot just touched my chin, met my eyes, and said, ‘Tell them what they need to hear, baby doll. And don’t let them waste too much of your time.’

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