Page 34 of Empire

They’re ruggedly sexy, but there’s something in their eyes, something that reminds me of Zade and Cross, and I don’t like it one bit.

Chills sweep over my body, listening to the descriptions of exactly what these brothers have done and I tug my blanket right up. “I don’t know how the hell you watch this shit,” I say to Cara, my throat straining with every word.

“Isn’t it awesome?” She beams and reaches forward to grab my bottle of water before double-checking how much I’ve drank. “You sound like shit, girl. What did I tell you about drinking water? If you don’t keep it up, it’ll never get better.”

I groan and grab it from her, hating that we’re talking about this again. Wednesday night was one of the worst nights of my life, and I’m still a little foggy on the details. One second, Zade’s hand was around my throat, and the next thing I know, I might have been dead on the ground . . . or maybe just passed out. I have no fucking idea, but if that’s what it feels like to die, I don’t want anything to do with it.

I’ve never been so terrified. The way my lungs ached and my body gave up on me . . . it was terrifying.

I remained on Zade’s bedroom floor for nearly two hours, not having the strength to get up and cross the hall to my apartment. But the moment I did, I fell through the door and right into Cara’s arms. She nursed me back to health as I sat with tears streaming down my face, then she climbed into my bed with me and told me everything was going to be okay. I feel like shit for being suspicious of her before.

Cara has been a great friend, even going out and finding me a new concealer to mask the bruises Zade left on my skin. Though, to be honest, I think it’s easier to go for the whole turtleneck look, despite how much I loathe anything touching my neck right now. Either way, I have work tonight, and there’s no way in hell I’m about to walk into Danny’s Bar sporting my new temporary necklace—courtesy of Zade.

“You know,” Cara says as the documentary flashes to a still shot of a beautiful woman looking back over her shoulder, an image that looks as though it must have been taken by the feds. “That chick there, Shayne something. Apparently she’s with all three of the brothers.”

My face scrunches as I glance back at her. “Huh? What do you mean with them all?”

“Like, she’s all of their girlfriend. You know, sharing is caring and all of that juicy shit.”

I gape at her, in no way believing this at all. I mean, damn, it sounds like a dream come true, but there’s just no way. “How the hell is that supposed to work?” I question. “They’re leaders of a mafia house, and I don’t know how many of those you’ve met before, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I doubt someone who runs a billion-dollar empire is down for sharing his toys.”

Cara laughs. “You never know with these types of guys. Maybe group activities are their thing.”

“Wait.” I blanch. “You think they’re all doing her at the same time?”

We both glance back at the screen, taking in the three ruggedly sexy men staring back at us, and that tiny woman. “Nah,” Cara says slowly. “She can’t fit all three of them in there at the same time. Look at her, she’d break. But then . . .”

As she trails off, I know exactly where her mind has gone because mine is right there with hers. “Not gonna lie,” I say. “Getting with all three of them at the same time sounds like—”

“Every single one of my filthiest dreams come true?” she finishes for me. “I bet guys like that come with some pretty messed-up kinks. Like chains and guns and—”

“Guns?” I question. “What the fuck are they doing with guns?”

Cara just stares at me, her brow slowly arching, willing me to figure it out on my own. The moment I do, I suck in a gasp. “Noooooo,” I breathe. “Really? Up there?”

“Uh-huh.” She grins, her eyes sparkling with silent laughter.

“No, there’s no way that shit really happens,” I tell her, convinced she reads too many books because damn, that wild imagination of hers is going to get her into a world of trouble.

Cara laughs. “Girl, okay. Tell me this. Would you do it? Three guys at once?”

I think it over and give an easy nod. “Yeah, I’m not going to say no, but all the guys have to be packing some serious heat. I mean, if I’m getting railed like that, it’s gotta be worth my while. Oh, and obviously no one-pump chumps. It’s gotta be all night long.” I burst into a coughing fit and she hands me my drink again, her brows furrowed as she watches me sip my water. “What about you?” I try to ask without dying.

“Girl, do you even have to ask?” she questions, giving me a knowing look, her lips twitching as she tries to keep a straight face. “What about four?”

“Four guys?” I ask, my brows shooting up. “Oooh, shit. That’s a lot of dick.”

“Uh-huh,” she agrees with a nod. “That’s like . . . dick central right there.”

I nod right back. “Cock mania.”

Cara all but drools down her chin. “Okay, risky question,” she warns me, putting me right on the edge. “You know these four asshole neighbors of ours. If they came knocking on our door and said they were here to clean out your pipes, would you throw it back for them?”

I stare at her as though she’s just lost her mind. “Are you insane? They kidnapped me and then almost killed me two nights ago. Hell no, they can go and clean out some other bitch’s pipes.”

Cara laughs. “No, no . . . I mean . . . personalities aside. Based on looks alone. If they were totally acceptable, honest, hard-working guys who just happened to stumble upon this apartment and you were all alone and needy.”

My face flames as I really consider what she’s asking me. All four of them are the perfect example of man candy. Those intense stares, the strong arms, the authoritative tones, and fuck me, those bodies. They’re all tall and god-like in their own way, and damn it, if Dalton hadn’t done what he did, I’d already be on my knees for him again. “Damn it,” I say, this question frustrating the crap out of me. “Okay, if they were four regular guys that just happened to stumble across this apartment and were trapped in our asshole neighbors’ bodies, then yes, absolutely yes. I’d do my stretching, drink plenty of water, and a quick google on how that’s actually supposed to work. I mean, I’ve only got three useful holes, and I don’t want someone stuck with a lousy handy while his friend is getting the good shit. I’d have to figure something out. Also, like . . . where do they all stand? Or do half of us stand and the other half lay down?”

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