Page 118 of Indulge
If I lose her, I lose everything.
Bella King is the only thing that’s ever made this chaos make sense. And watching her walk away into Rowan’s arms? That would kill me slower than any bullet ever could.
So I breathe her in. Her hair, her skin, that stubborn heartbeat that always manages to sync with mine, and I make a promise I don’t say out loud.
I’ll fix this. Whatever Lyla thinks she’s playing at, whatever trap she’s spinning—I’ll end it. Quietly. Neither of them will ever know.
Because Bella deserves peace, and my brother deserves his own kind of mercy.
Even if it means lying through my teeth to both of them.
She pulls back slightly, but I can still feel her tremble. My hands linger at her waist, reluctant to move. Her eyes are red and tired, but still fierce. God, that fire makes me weak.
Before I can say another word, Rowan clears his throat behind us.
The tension shifts instantly. He looks from me to her, reading everything in one glance.
“You two done tearing each other apart?” he asks.
He sounds as broken as I feel. I look at him. The cuts on his face that mirror mine. And I know things have to change. For all three of us.
I don’t answer. I’m still trying to breathe without falling apart.
He looks at Bella next, softer this time. “You want to come on a trip to Phoenix?"
Bella blinks. “What?”
“Yes, Rowan. What?” I ask.
He nods. “Declan agrees it’s best we all go and give Bella a little insight into how our organization works. We can keep it civil.” His gaze cuts to me. “Right, brother?”
Civil.
The word tastes like ash.
I force a nod, though my jaw tightens so hard it hurts. “Fine.”
Bella glances between us, eyes narrowing like she already knows there’s no world where the three of us can exist without bleeding.
“A work trip?” she asks, voice shaking.
Rowan leans against the counter, arms crossed. “Yep. To Sterling Ranch. You’ll stay close, no more running off, no more fighting in public.”
I release her and move back, watching their interaction closely. It’s unlike Rowan to be so forceful. Perhaps he’s reached his tipping point too.
She folds her arms. “That wasn’t my fault.”
“Didn’t say it was,” Rowan mutters, then sighs. “But we need to focus. We can’t afford distractions.”
I glance at him, my pulse still thundering. What the hell is he doing? “She’s not a distraction.”
He meets my gaze. “Then prove it. Or are you going to punch me again?”
A quiet settles between us and I shake my head.
We all know this is temporary. That “civil” is just a word to keep Declan calm while the rest of us drown.
Bella runs a hand through her hair, exhaling shakily. “So… Phoenix.”
