Page 33 of Give Me You
Emilio coughs violently, his hands at his throat. Red marks are already forming where Charles' fingers dug in, and the sight makes me want to kill the bastard. But Emilio needs me more than I need revenge right now. I force myself to stop hitting Charles and turn to Emilio.
He's trembling, his whole body shaking. When I reach for him, he flinches before recognizing me. Then he curls up into a ball onthe floor, his arms wrapped around his knees, the poor Omega in shock. His breathing comes in short, panicked gasps, his eyes going unfocused.
"It's okay," I murmur, kneeling beside him. "You're safe. I've got you." Pulling out my phone, I call Otto. He answers on the first ring. "We need you in Emilio's office. Now. And call security to remove Charles."
"On my way," Otto says without asking questions.
I'm about to call a doctor when Emilio weakly grabs my wrist. "I just need out of here, okay? Just get me out of here."
"Alright," I agree immediately. "Can you stand?"
Emilio nods, but when he tries to get up his legs don't cooperate. I slip my arm around his waist and lift him, supporting most of his weight. He leans heavily against me, his face pressed into my shoulder. Charles is still on the floor, groaning and holding his bloody nose. Part of me wants to kick him a few more times, but getting Emilio somewhere safe is more important.
Otto arrives with two security guards. He takes in the scene, his expression darkening when he sees the marks on Emilio's throat. "What happened?"
"Charles attacked him," I say shortly. "Get him out of here and ban him from the club. We'll deal with the legal shit later."
Otto nods, gesturing for the guards to handle Charles. They haul the Alpha to his feet, and he has the audacity to protest. "You can't do this! I'm an investor!"
"Attacking the owner changes things. You're banned," Otto says coldly. "And if you set foot in this club again, I'll have you arrested for assault."
I don't wait to hear Charles's response. I help Emilio out of the office and toward the back stairs that lead to his apartment. Each step is a struggle, Emilio's body still shaking with aftershocks. By the time we reach his door, I'm practically carrying him.
Inside his apartment, I guide him to the bedroom. He doesn't protest, doesn't try to maintain his usual independence. Just lets me help him onto the bed before curling up into a ball again. The sight breaks something in my chest. Emilio is always so strong, so defiant. Seeing him like this, small and scared and vulnerable, makes the protective instincts roar to life.
I lie down beside him and pull him against my chest. He resists for a moment before melting into me, his face pressed against my neck. His breathing is still too fast, still too shallow. But slowly, gradually, it starts to even out. My purr starts up automatically, the sound meant to soothe and comfort. Emilio's trembling eases slightly, his body relaxing incrementally.
"I should have stopped him sooner," I murmur into his hair. "I'm sorry."
Emilio doesn't respond, just presses closer. His hand fists in my shirt, holding on like I'm the only solid thing in his world. And maybe right now, I am.
A little while later, the bedroom door opens. I look up to see Akira shedding his clothes as he crosses the room. He's down to his boxer briefs when he climbs onto the bed behind Emilio, his chest pressing against Emilio's back. The three of us form a cocoon, Emilio sandwiched between us.
"You needed him too, didn't you?" I ask quietly.
Akira's jaw clenches. "It was either this or ripping Charles' head off. The bond was screaming at me to get to him, to make sure he was okay."
He presses a kiss to the back of Emilio's head, the Omega letting out a small relieved sigh, his body finally fully relaxing between us. The tension that's been holding him rigid drains away, replaced by exhaustion.
"I don't like how that felt," I admit, my voice rough. "Watching Charles manhandle Emilio. Seeing those marks on his throat. It made me want to kill him."
"Same," Akira says quietly. "The Alpha in me wanted blood. Still wants it, actually. But this is more important."
Emilio is more important. More important than revenge, more important than our business, more important than anything else. The realization settles in my chest that this isn't just attraction anymore. This isn't just a bond forming. This is something deeper, something that terrifies and excites me in equal measure.
"We need to talk about this," I say. "About what we are. What we're becoming."
"Not tonight," Akira says. "Let him rest. We'll figure it out tomorrow."
But I'm not sure tomorrow will be any easier. This situation is getting more complicated by the day, the lines between fake and real blurring until I can't tell the difference anymore. We're supposed to be pretending for the investors, playing roles for Emilio's benefit. But lying here with him between us, feeling the bond pulse with every breath he takes, I know we're well past pretending.
Emilio shifts slightly, his hand reaching back to find Akira's. When their fingers intertwine, something in my chest eases. He needs us both. Maybe he doesn't want to admit it yet, maybe he’s still fighting against what his body and instincts are telling him. But he needs us.
And we're not going anywhere.
Emilio
Waking up fully rested is a rare luxury these days. The exhaustion that's been weighing me down for weeks seems to have lifted overnight, replaced by something that almost feels like peace. My body is warm, comfortable in a way it hasn't been in forever. Then I remember why. Akira is pressed against my back, one arm draped over my waist. Liam is in front of me, his face relaxed in sleep, close enough that I can count his eyelashes.
