SARAH “You might need to have brunch without me.” Jaxon looks up from the road to the rear view mirror, fingers flexing against the steering wheel. He’s not the only one who stops to look at me. Off topic, and there’s no way to tell if any of them noticed or if it’s a deliberate act, but there hasn’t been any driver since I scared the last one—Hosea, was it?—and Ronan made me cum on his face in the car. A lazy smile tugs at the corners of my lips. Good times. “You’re not hungry?” Pulling myself out of the naughty range of thoughts, I slowly tilt my neck to Malachi. “I am. There should be some food at home. Kevin did spend a lot of time in the kitchen yesterday.” Ronan doesn’t seem convinced. “I don’t understand. Did something happen?” “Well,” I heave a sigh. “Luke just texted me. You know my P.A. He’s at my door right now.” “From work?” I nod. “Yeah.” Ronan’s furrowed brows slowly relax. There’s a frown plastered along the lines of his handsome face, and I stroke the stubble on his chin. Electric blue eyes soften, just a little bit, but I’ll take my win regardless. Jaxon clears his throat. I tear my gaze away from Ronan to find him shaking his head. It’s almost as if he’s thinking what no one else seems to be. “Don’t you think you should let work be for now? Get a little more rest, love?” He angles his head towards the backseat. “The doctor did advise that.” They only want to make sure I’m alright, and I know that. But at some point, they’re going to have to let me make certain decisions for myself, completely on my own. “Guys,” I let my eyes sweep through the car, making sure they’re all listening to me. “I’ve been at rest for a little over a month now.” And frankly bored out of my mind, but I don’t add that. “I still have a company to run. I can’t leave it in Julian’s hands for too long, and you know.” I’ll hate for the rest of the board to get any…silly ideas. Silence greets me. “Come on, guys.” I grab both Ronan and Malachi, but their scowls don’t crack. “I’m pregnant, not handicapped. Alright, why don’t we make a deal?” Is it intrigue I see on Malachi’s face? Yes? Very well then. “If I ever feel tired and need to rest, I’ll stop immediately.” We’ve already lost one, I know they don’t want to lose another, or me. Ronan sucks in a deep breath. He looks at me like he knows he can’t win against me when my mind is set, like he knows this is something I know—hence why I push as hard as I do. “Sarah…” “It’s alright, Mal. You can work, baby. You should work. It’s one of the things we love about you…how much you care about your business,” His fingers travel to my knee, and his palm spreads across my warm flesh. “But you’re going to eat first. Like can wait another hour, can’t he?” My chest feels warm, mushy. My eyes feel warm, almost hot. It’s the premise of tears, I know that. Happy tears. It’s all I want. For them to trust me enough to know what’s best for me. “I should ask him.” I sniff. “But what if—never mind. I’ll send him the text right now.” I spend ten seconds typing, and... Done. Both men plant warm kisses on both sides of my head. Sweet, sensational. It’s all it takes to make my toes curl in my shoes. God. Is this what it feels like to have your hormones raging against you? I already have two babies, is my brain trying to make me add another? We stop by a restaurant on the way to my home, and the aroma instantly hits my nose. All the flavors, spices, everything. I can smell it all, and it leaves an odd feeling in my stomach. It’s only a timespan of five minutes before it becomes too much to bear. Jaxon sits in the car with me while Malachi and Ronan order our food. Since I can’t stay back to eat, they don’t either. And they drop me off at my house, where Luke—still makes my heart slip whenever I call him that— is seated in his car with the doors open. “Call us if you need anything.” Malachi speaks softly, kissing the top of my head. “I will. Goodbye.” “We love you.” Damn. They’re really going to make me blush in front of my employee. I manage a shy wave with my back turned to Luke to hide my rose colored cheeks. “I love you too.” It’s only when they’ve gone, that I turn to him. He’s now behind me, tablet and pen in hand, wearing the brightest smile I’ve ever seen. It earns him a raised brow. “Why are you smiling at me like that?” He adjusts his lenses, making sure it sits right on the bridge of his nose. “It’s so great to see you again.” I roll my eyes. “You’re bluffing.” “Absolutely not. I’ve been almost useless at the office. Julian won’t let me call you for anything. I was beginning to get scared they were going to fire me.” “No one can do that.” “Right. Well…” I push my door open, and he comes running in behind me. “I’m just really happy to see you again, ma’am.” “Or you're just pleased by the certainty of employment?” He chuckles, waving his right hand. “More than one truth can co-exist.” I shake my head as I laugh, while settling into my sofa. Before I forget… “You do have a middle name, don’t you, Luke?” “Yes.” He sits beside me. “But why?” Let’s see, because there’s a psychotic monster I know who tried to take my life in the most cruel of ways just to get back at his sons who, by the way, are hopeless in love with me—and I’m in love with them too, all three of them. Not that it’s weird or anything. And yes, I do not want to think of him anytime I mention your name. “Nothing, really. It’s just…what is it?” “Connell.” Fingers slowly brush my chin as I lean further into the sofa. “Connell. Can I call you Nel?” “Ma’am.” “Can I?” He sighs. “Yes. I guess so.” “Great!” I clap, a bright smile plastered on my face. “Nel it is, then. Let’s proceed.” He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Does the name make you uncomfortable?” “It’s not the name.” He’s suddenly stiff. My face contorts into a frown. “What is it, then?” “I just…” he looks away from me. “It’s clear you don’t know, do you?” Tight. That’s how my throat suddenly feels. In the last two weeks, I had done nothing but stay home and enjoy the company of my boyfriends, eating Kevin’s amazing meals and binge watching tv shows after my physiotherapy sessions. Despite my little break from the rest of the world, I can still tell when someone is about to say something that I'll certainly leave me pissed off. I swallow, pushing the lump down to my stomach. It’s stubborn, doesn’t leave, but I choke the words out anyway. “Know what?” “Aaron’s verdict came in, ma’am.” Already? My heart is racing at an alarming speed that leaves me gasping for air. I cover my lips with my right palm. “And?” Luke—Nel sits forward, nearing the edge of the leather couch. “Ma’am, I need you to understand that whatever happens, we can…” “The fuck, Nel? Tell me what it is.” “He only got 8 years,” The world around me comes to a standstill. “Voluntary manslaughter. He had a really good lawyer.” Fuck. Fuck this. Eyes wide, I push myself to speak. “Eight…eight years?” “Only eight.” This isn’t good. Tears stream down from my eyes. “He just refuses to disappear, doesn’t he?” I stare down at the floor as tears blur my vision. He should be locked up for life for what he did to me. I should have testified. Maybe they’ll have realized what a threat he is to society. Someone like him shouldn’t be allowed to roam free. Never. In all of this, the part that scares me the most is knowing…knowing by the time he’s out, my babies will only be about seven years old.