SARAH His words, strict and straight, flips the butterflies in my stomach on their backs. His jaw clenches. “You think we want you because you’re carrying our children? Sarah, we’ve wanted you since the day you walked into the party, all those years ago, with that bastard locked in your right hand,” I push the lump of saliva down my throat. “We’ve wanted you every day since then, craved you, wondered what it’ll feel like to be with you, in you. We never missed your face on TV. Wherever you showed up, we wanted to see. Why do you think we held on to you so tight after seeing you at the club that night? ” His voice softens. “Shit,” He sucks in a deep breath, scratching the back of his head. “I sound like a fucking broken record now, baby.” I’m fully sobbing now, and Malachi’s hand finds mine, threading our fingers together. “You want to know what happens next?” Ronan leans into me, pressing his lips against my head. I turn to him, angling my head to take a full look at his face. Something dark and protective rests in his gaze. “Here’s what happens: you’re ours. Openly, completely, ours. Anyone who has a problem with it can take it up with us. And I don’t care if it’s the whole damn country….they’ll lose.” “But you’ll lose things too,” I protest weakly. “Respect, reputation—” Malachi stifles a laugh as his thumb strokes over my knuckles. “You think we give a shit about the opinion of people? Kitten, have you learned nothing from us?” “But I…” “We built this life brick by brick.” Ronan adds. “We had no one, besides our uncle. And he did his best, but we were more of weapons to him than anything else. You think we’re going to throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to us because some group of random strangers might disapprove?” “You don’t understand—” I start, but Jaxon cuts me off. “No, you don’t understand.” He reaches up, cupping my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. “Aaron made you think you’re too much. That you’re a burden. That you’re only valuable for what you can provide. But Sarah, that’s his voice in your head, not ours. And I need you to hear me when I say this: You. Are. Enough. Just as you are. Broken pieces, dark humor, fear, all of it. You’re enough.” “I don’t feel like enough,” I whisper, and saying it out loud feels like admitting defeat. “I feel like I don’t deserve this.”“We’re the ones who do not deserve you.” Malachi looks down at me. “I’m not brave,” I argue. I know I should shut the fuck up and take what they’re giving me, but I want to trash it all out right now. “I’m a coward. I’m sitting here asking you to prove something you shouldn’t have to prove, making you fight for me when I should just believe you—” “You’re not a coward for having wounds,” Ronan interrupts quietly. “You’re surviving. That’s different. And if you need us to prove it every single day until you believe it, then that’s what we’ll do.” I look at him through my tears. “Every day?” “Every damn day.” His hand moves to the back of my neck, thumb stroking gently. I shudder underneath his touch, a slow stream flooding my belly. “For the rest of our lives if that’s what it takes. You’re the center of our everything.” “I don’t know how to believe that,” I admit, and it’s the most honest I’ve been. “I want to, but—” “But Aaron spent years teaching you not to,” Malachi finishes gently. “We know. And we’re telling you right now that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives teaching you something different.” “What if it’s not enough?” The fear spills out. “What if I’m too damaged, too broken? What if I can’t be fixed?” “You don’t need to be fixed,” Jaxon says fiercely. “You’re not broken, Sarah. You’re healing, and that’s the difference.” “Kitten, you’re not alone in it anymore,” Ronan adds. “We’re not going anywhere. Not when it gets hard, not when you push us away because you’re scared, not when you test us to see if we’ll leave. We’re staying there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it “Even when I’m impossible?” I bat my lashes at him. “Especially then,” Malachi says with a soft smile. I let out a shaky, wet laugh. “You guys are crazy. You know that, right?” Ronan kisses his teeth, then laughs. “You like a little bit of crazy here and there.” I take a shaky breath, then another. Something in my chest is loosening, just a little. “You’re right, and it’s okay. “Okay?” Jaxon repeats carefully. I nod my head, filled with determination as I sit up straight. “I’m choosing to trust you. Even though I’m scared. Even though there’s a voice in my head telling me this is too good to be true.” I wipe my eyes. “I’m choosing this. Choosing us. Even if it terrifies me.” “That’s all we’re asking,” Malachi says softly. “Just choose us. We’ll handle the rest.” “You’re really not going to hide me?” I need to hear it one more time. “We’re planning to be obnoxiously public about it,” Jaxon says, and there’s that cocky grin. “Thinking about getting matching tattoos. You know, to kinda really lean into it.” Despite everything, I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” “You’re going to have to get creative with your clap backs, kitten.” Malachi chuckles, and I raise a brow. “What? Am I boring you already?” The room turns still. “Too soon?” I bite my lip. “I’m sorry” “Don’t play like that, kitten.” I can’t help the laugh that springs free from my throat. “I said I’m sorry!” Ronan pulls me up close, holding me by my hips as he settles me on his thighs. As his shining eyes caress my face, his tongue darts out slightly, tracing over his plump upper lip. “We should give you a good spanking for that.” “With Kevin outside? You’ll be dead meat.” .

He looks thoughtful for a second, briefly exchanging glances with his brothers. Then, Ronan HawkThorne strokes his chin. “When did you say you had to resume work again?” I narrow my eyes on him. “In a week. Why?” His lips spread into a grin. “We’ll be here to help you pack your bags tomorrow.” My eyes widen. “Wait. What?” I look around to find Jaxon and Malachi wearing sly grins of their own. “Where are you three taking me?”His fingers spread over my back, and when he winks at me, my heart leaps to my throat. “You’ll see.”