Page 113 of Sunrise

Vault drops to his knees in front of me. “It’s okay, baby.”

No, it’s not. “I hate myself. You all gave me so much and I…”

“Shhhh.” He brings me in and hugs me. “It’s okay.”

I look up at Knox while Vault holds me. “I’ve done so well up until recently.”

“When that douche canoe came into the club?” he asks.

I nod. “He tapped his thumb the same way.” There are nights when I close my eyes and see him on his hands and knees as my personal footstool, and he’d tap his thumb in that specific rhythm on the floor. “I freaked out because I don’t know where that man is anymore. I used to be afraid to look, as if googling him would somehow summon him to my door again. I made the mistake of looking about two years ago, after a particularly bad nightmare, and couldn’t find him anywhere, not even the obituaries.”

“And you started spending more and more time here?” Vault asks, making sense of my behavior.

“Yes.”

“And the locks at your house?”

“They’ve always been in place. Ever since he broke into my apartment and was waiting for me to get home from work, I’ve barricaded myself into wherever I’m living. My paranoia, however, has grown exponentially since he’s seemed to have vanished from the internet.”

“What’s his name?” Vault asks in a thick, heavy tone.

“Christopher Rivetti.”

I’m sure Vault will look into him. It’s doubtful he’ll find anything, though. I’ve done my research and even with my security clearances and contacts in high places, I’ve been unsuccessful in finding anything about him since he got out of prison.

Vault wraps me into a tighter embrace. This might honestly be the first real hug I’ve ever gotten from him. He cages me, holding me close, and squeezes. One of us is shaking. I think it’s still me.

“I’m so sorry,” he says, like any of this is his fault.

“Are you mad at me for lying to you?”

“No, baby.” Vault kisses my head. “We would never be mad at you.”

“You didn’t lie,” Knox argues. “To us, you’ve always been Sophie. You’re not a liar for protecting your past and your peace.”

“It feels that way.” Rubbing my chest doesn’t ease the ache at all. “I’ve felt like an imposter this whole time.” Tears well again as guilt hits. “You all open your doors and arms to me. You’ve protected me since day one. I never told you why I needed it. It’s lying by omission.”

Knox scoffs. “We protect you because we care. It’s what family does for each other, Soph. And you’re fucking family.”

I cry harder. “Stop saying all the right things!”

“Fine. I’ll say wrong things.” Knox pulls me out of Vault’s hold. “You’re a terrible lay. Vault is hideous.” He wipes my wet cheeks with his thumbs. “I have a small dick and am the worst chef in theworld.”

Smacking his arm, I huff. “Knock it off.”

“Hey, I’m just spitting wrong things since you don’t want to hear right ones.”

“Tell me right ones.” I’m so exhausted, my body weighs an extra hundred pounds.

“Hmmm. Let’s see…” Knox gets this playful smile as he sways me back and forth. “You’re strong. Beautiful. Smart and a little salty.” He holds me against his chest. “We’re crazy in love with you and will do anything for you.” He keeps rocking us back and forth. “We’re going to have anepichappily ever after.”

Vault snorts. “Says who?”

“Me, fucker.” Knox cups my face and makes me look at him. “I’ve got a sixth sense for this stuff and it’s never wrong. I’m telling you our story is going to be the stuff of legends.”

“I don’t want legendary love,” Vault argues.

“The fuck?” Knox glares at him. “Alexander Jones, I can’t believe you just said that. Legendary love is chef’s kiss. It’s theultimateHEA.”

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