Page 169 of Savage Reign

I got nothing.

And I knew, given the chance, I would kill her again, and again, and again.

I would kill her a million times over to ensure Mila’s safety and happiness.

And it was as simple as that.

It wasearly morning when I finally got back home.

It took some time to ensure the body was properly disposed of, and I had stayed at the factory a little longer than necessary, trying to get my feelings under control before I had to see her again.

When I walked inside the house, Mila was sitting at the kitchen table, Maverick and Killian on either side of her. Maverick was trying to feed her a piece of bacon while Killian did something on his phone, though he had one hand on her stomach, protecting our child.

I stayed by the threshold of the kitchen, not really saying anything, just enjoying the sight. I couldn’t even remember the last time my brothers and I actually sat down together at home and had breakfast. Perhaps when I was little and Maverick was trying to create some normalcy for me.

And now, Mila was bringing us together so effortlessly.

Maverick looked up at me first. I doubt he didn’t know the moment I came home. He looked at me questioningly. I didn’t tell Maverick or Killian about my plan, not wanting to force them to lie to Mila as well.

This one secret was my own to keep.

I shook my head when he tilted his to the side as if wanting to ask me.

I stepped further into the room, and Mila finally noticed me then. She looked nervous. “How did it go?” she asked.

“To be expected.”

“Is she…?”

I waited for her to finish her question. Would I lie to her if she outright asked me? Thankfully, I didn’t have to find out. She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you for doing this for me.”

She got up from the table and walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my middle and burying her face in my chest. I tightened my hold on her, taking in a deep inhale of the scent of her shampoo, taking comfort in that.

“You never have to thank me for protecting you, sweetheart,” I said gruffly.

Never that. She never had to thank me. I would do anything and everything to ensure she was safe, even at the expense of my soul.

I looked over at my brothers. They were silent as they watched me, and it didn’t take them long to figure it out, or at least suspect what I had done.

They probably would have done the same thing.

And they wouldn’t be asking me about it.

I looked away from them and focused my attention back on our girl. She pulled away from me and grabbed my hand, leading me back to the table.

Killian got up and made me a plate. I didn’t know where Rachel went. She was usually here at this time, but she was obviously here earlier, considering none of my brothers cooked, and I had never really seen Mila express any interest in cooking.

“Thanks,” I said to Killian when he placed the plate down in front of me.

Mila waited until we were all settled in before she spoke. “She’s right, you know.”

“Who is right?” Killian asked.

“My mom. Sebastian will never give me up. Not when there’s a chance my inheritance could be his.”

I looked at my brothers.

“Before you turn me down,” Mila continued. “I just wanted to say I don’t care about the inheritance. And I know you guys don’t care that I have it. Even without Sebastian here, I’d still want to marry you. All of you. So what’s wrong with doing it now, before my twenty-fifth birthday? I just don’t want to have it hanging over my head anymore.”

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