Page 51 of Broken Truths

“Don’t ever ask such a stupid question again.”

He chuckles, the sound rich and deep. It embodies everything Leo is.

I lean away, peering at all three of my men. I must look like a crazed lunatic. Soaking wet hair. Blood smeared on my face. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m in love with them all, and I never feel freer than when I’m sharing myself with all three of them.

“I’ll call James for some bandages,” Oliver says.

I laugh, standing. “Don’t wake James for that. I’ll get them.”

Alaric grabs my hand. “You sit by the fire. I’ll go get the bandages for Leo.”

“Want to grab a washcloth, too? Our girl has made a mess.”

Alaric waves us away, and I snuggle next to Leo. Ollie and I both look at my name on his chest. “Does it hurt?”

“Don’t ever ask such a stupid question again.”

I smirk into his arm.

“Maybe I fancy a tattoo now,” Ollie says. “Something to represent my Eden.”

Honestly, I can’t ever see Oliver getting a tattoo, but if he wanted one, I would support that, and not just because it was wildly sexy to claim Leo like that.

“So, are you guys getting married?” Ollie asks.

Leo shrugs. “We make our own path. All of us. If we do, we’ll do it just the four of us. My grandfather can kiss my ass. He doesn’t own me anymore.”

18

Leo

Eden fidgets next to me. I press her hand, and she peers up at me with a blank face. Her blonde hair lies in loose curls streaming to her shoulders. A matte red lipstick brightens her full lips, a statement piece for today. Her dark jacket hides the stunning green pantsuit she’s wearing. She looks like perfection.

The guys and I are dressed in our penguin suits. Every time the boat bobs, the bandage on my chest pulls and tightens, reminding me of what’s underneath.

I’m branded by my woman. If the guests who have already congratulated us on our engagement even knew the twistedness that happened the other night, they’d be appalled…and I’d love every fucking second of it.

I bury my face in her hair, nipping at her ear with my teeth. She presses her fingernails into my thigh, and I grin. “Just trying to piss off the other two.”

“It’s working,” she murmurs. “Alaric’s façade is even breaking.”

“I wonder what trouble we could get into here…”

The words poke fun at the seriousness of today. The team I have working on our recovery mission is well under way with their plan. I met them at the go-kart track earlier so they could draw a vial of my blood. These guys are the best of the best—the kind of people you hire who do whatever it takes as long as you pay them enough. They don’t care about Grandfather. They don’t care about the Knights. They’re not likely to turn on us as a deal is a deal.

I have no doubt that we’ll have The Secret File waiting for us at Oliver’s place tonight. Possibly before we even get home.

If Grandfather knew my plan, he’d be proud. I’m heeding his advice in all respects. If it’s something you can do, do it. If it’s something that you can’t, hire the best to make sure they get the job done right.

I don’t know how to break into a castle and shut off security and lift fingerprints, but they do. What would Grandfather think if he knew I was using what he taught me against him? I find it pretty goddamn funny.

However, I seem to be the only one in a good mood. Eden has her own reservations about being at the castle—completely understandable considering her past with it…and her sister’s. I like the irony of it all, though. Grandfather fucking me over right at this spot, making Eden think I couldn’t give a shit about her. Now, I get to make him look like a fool.

When I realize Eden hasn’t responded, I pull away. She’s nibbling at her lip, so I tug her in close, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. This time, I’m not doing it to piss the guys off. I’m doing it because our girl is worried, and I’m the only one who can reassure her right now. Out in public, we must be the couple that just announced our engagement. Oliver and Alaric can’t touch her or the rumors would fly.

“I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”

“I know.”

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