Page 49 of Veiled Vengeance

My head drops to a concerned angle. “You have a?—”

“Do you need anything?” Asher interrupts.

“No, we’re good. The car will be stocked.”

I put my hands out, halting everyone. “Hold on a goddamn minute.” I receive four puzzled looks. “Why do you have a bodyguard? And you told me you lived in the city.”

Hayes looks like a deer caught in headlights. “Uhh . . .”

Rio places an arm around my waist and guides me towards my bedroom. “I’ll explain when you’re older.”

“The hell?”

“Nap first. Explanations later.” Rio forces me to lie down and tucks me in under the blankets.

I heave out an exasperated breath and flop my hands down on either side of me.

Rio smirks. “Okay, you convinced me. I’ll catch a few Z’s with you.” He lifts the corner of the comforter and urges me to scoot over.

“What? That’s not what I said.”

“No need to deny it. You all but shouted it at me.” He rolls me onto my side and aligns his body with mine. “Sleep, Mama. We’ll wake up in time to say goodbye.”

Sighing, I settle into his arms, but I don’t sleep whatsoever.

When Hayes’s bodyguard arrives, he pulls up to the curb in a blacked-out SUV. Dahlia showers Hayes with a million questions, all of which he agrees to answer in the car. Margaret gives us a tearful goodbye while Noah tries to remain emotionless. He and August comfort Margaret, coaxing her into the vehicle.

As I hug Dahlia, I whisper in her ear, “Promise me you’ll keep me updated, babe.”

She pulls back with our arms still around each other. “I promise. And you’ll do the same?”

“Of course.”

We wipe our tears as she gets in the car, followed by Hayes. Kieran, Hayes’s bodyguard, shuts the door behind them and gets into the passenger seat, before the other man in the driver’s seat steers the car into traffic.

Strong ivory arms hold me together, gifting me with reassurance and sympathy. “They’ll be okay. Everything will be okay.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Trust me, Angel.” Zane places a tender kiss on my head.

“I do.”

CHAPTER 20

SPENCER

“¡Cállete, cabrón!I’m telling you, that piece is supposed to go right here!”Shut up, bastard.Rio points to what I think is supposed to be the headboard of my new bedframe. He and I have been lazing about all day.

The guys are still serious about never leaving me alone, especially now.

We picked out the frame online together, but delivery was delayed. So now, all three guys are attempting to assemble it but have been unsuccessful so far. Rio must have chosen the most complicated frame in existence because they have been at this for over an hour.

Zane is in those tempting gray sweatpants and sexy glasses. “The instructions clearly state that it goes here.” He’s standing by the foot of the bed.

“But it clearly will fit right here,” Asher argues. When he got home, he changed into a pair of basketball shorts and a loose tee. His suits are sexy, but seeing him so casual is just as hot.

“How would you know? I’m the one with the instructions,” Zane shoots back.

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