Page 22 of Veiled Vengeance

He catches my puzzled look and answers with a shrug. “I needed a way to get it inside in case you needed me.”

“So, you stole my spare key?”

He smirks. “Sure—that’s what I did.”

If he didn’t steal my spare, then where did he . . .

“You’re thinking a little hard over there, Princess.” Asher winks.

“Between the two of us, someone needs to,” I quip and cross my arms.

A few minutes later, Rio pokes his head out of the open doorway. “Clear. Just be prepared, Mama.”

My eyebrows squish together as I take a few steps forward. I should have heeded Rio’s advice. My apartment is destroyed. All the kitchen cabinets are open, with their contents strewn about the tile. My TV is smashed to bits, and the cushions on my perfect couch are ripped apart—the white, wiry stuffing lies all over the floor.

I walk through the chaos straight to my room and find my clothing ripped to shreds. The fabric leaves a trail from my closet to my bed to the bathroom. My bed is torn apart just like my couch. Tears line my lashes as I take in the destruction all around me.

They’re only things. Things can be replaced.

I breathe in for four, allowing my feelings in the moment to consume me.

Grief, loss, pain.

Then, I breathe out for four, letting go of the mindset that holds me back.

But it’s not that simple, is it?

Because you need to talk about what happened.

A pair of tattooed hands land on my shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Mama. We’ll get it cleaned up and everything replaced.”

I bite my lip, unable to form a response and nod my head. He wraps his arms around me and holds on tight.

Inhaling and exhaling shakily, I grasp onto his forearms to ground myself. He delicately places a kiss on the top of my head, and I lean back into his strength.

That’s where Zane and Asher find us, not much later. They silently enter and offer me their comfort. Zane stands next to me and takes my left hand in his, lacing our fingers together. Asher places himself right in front of me and follows Zane’s lead, grabbing my other hand. He leans his head down and rests his forehead against mine.

“We’re here, Princess. We’ll always be here.”

Giving him a wobbly smile, I reply, “Stop calling me that.”

His smile is full of male satisfaction. “You love it.”

CHAPTER 10

SPENCER

It doesn’t take as long as I anticipate to clean my apartment. Everyone, including Hayes and Dahlia, pitched in. Hayes left to take the trash down to the dumpster with Rio and Zane—they had to make a couple of trips and took the couch and bed as well.

And by “trash,” I mean the life I’ve built here.

They’re only things. Things can be replaced.

Speaking of which, Rio ordered a new bed and couch, Asher said he would take care of my dishes and other kitchen items, and Zane said he would restock my wardrobe. I gave him a skeptical look, but then he reminded me of the clothes he had stocked for me at their brownstone. I think I can trust him to get me the things I need and like.

The guys ordered pizza for all of us, and I pulled out extra pillows and blankets that remained untouched in the hall closet.

Looks like we’re having a big sleepover.

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