SARAH Why am I here? This is a bad idea. A really terrible one. I look outside the window, partially admiring the dimly lit exterior of their mansion. So cosy. I wonder what other cosy affairs are going on inside. I catch myself in those train of thoughts and shake my head. What is this? Am I so damned insecure that I had to show my face here when I was the last person they wanted to see? I peep at the driver from the rear view mirror. Everything in me is screaming, telling him to turn around and take me home. My heart and mind are telling me that whatever is going on in there, I do not want to be part of it. But the stubborn, ever self destructive part of me needs to know, needs to see. If they ditched me because they are with someone else, I deserve to know. So, when the driver opens the car door for me, I do not hesitate to step out. He starts leading me towards the door, but I stop in my tracks. “Can you leave, please? I’m guessing you’ve worked way past your timeline.” He doesn’t look pleased by the idea. “I should escort you to the door if…” “Don’t worry about it.” I flash him a flattering smile. The truth is that I don’t want him to be here when they see me. I don’t want to be told to go home. After a little more convincing, he agrees to leave, and it’s only when he’s handed me the keys to the car that I wave him goodbye and continue my journey to the front door. He must think I’m crazy. Maybe I am. I ring the doorbell once, clutching my invisible pearls with my lower lip tucked firmly underneath my teeth as I wait for a response. Seconds pass, and there’s none. My face twists into a frown. Really? Has she kept them so busy none of them can afford to check who’s at the door? I raise my right hand to ring the bell again when the door slightly opens. A pair of grey eyes peek through the tiny opening, narrowing into slits as they land on me. I feel incredibly silly standing there. “Sarah?” He whispers. Why the fuck is Malachi whispering? There’s something “other-womanly” about the way he’s making me stand there with a foolish smile on my face, listening to him whisper like there’s someone in there who doesn’t need to know that I’m here. It reminds me of… I swallow the bile that rises to my throat, pushing it deep down to the pit of my fucking stomach. Not again. I have no intention of living that life twice. “Is she in there?” I bark at him, and his gaze shifts from surprised to confused. “What are you talking about? Look,” he looks back inside for a split second, before turning back to me. “You shouldn’t be here, alright.” My right hand clenches into a tight fist, so firm I can feel my fingers pierce into the skin of my palms. “I shouldn’t be here?” A sour laugh tears through my throat as I fold my hands. “The last time I checked, we were supposed to be on a date.” “We cancelled that.” “By sending your fucking driver to give me a box? What do you…” my tone is breaking, and I owe it to the lump of tears that’s clogged my throat. It doesn’t even let me breathe properly. Malachi’s gaze softens. “Is there a problem?” I recognize the voice that calls from within the house. It’s Ronan’s. Malachi tilts his neck backwards to call out a response. “No. Everything’s all good!” Fuck him.Seriously. “You shouldn’t be here, Sarah.” He looks over my head, as though he’s searching for the driver. “Timothy. Where is he? He should take you home this minute.” I flash him a big, bright smile as I wave the keys in front of his face. “Timothy closed for the day. I asked him to. Now, unless you have plans to make me walk all the way back to the gate of your estate to get a cab, I suggest you let me in.” He snatches the key from my hand, steps out, and closes the door behind him. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you at home.” “No.” He stops stomping towards the car and turns to look at me. “What?” Stubbornly, I remain rooted to the ground. “I said no.” “Sarah…” “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who is in there and why I can’t be seen by her. Is she…” my tears are rushing freely down my cheeks. Stupid emotions. “Is she really that important? I thought you said it was just a work thing.” “Sarah, what the fuck are you talking about? There’s no woman in the house. I’m asking you to…” he stops speaking to catch his breath, and I catch something in those grey orbs of his. Something like fear. My heart skips three beats at once. Malachi has never been afraid of anything, nor have his brothers. Was something wrong? “I am going to take you home, and you’re going to follow me. We can talk about this tomorrow. Is that alright?” Say yes. Say yes, get into the car, and leave with him. You do not have to argue. These are the words that echo in my head. I have no intention of listening to them. Again, I remain firmly rooted to the spot. “No, Malachi.” He grunts in frustration, running a hand down his messy black hair. The white in his eyes are now red as he walks towards me, every step feels heavier than the last. That look is still there, the one that makes his veins protrude from the skin of his forehead. “Sarah,” his tone drops now. Firmer, deadlier, but still in a plea. Like he’s begging me to listen. Like his sanity depends on my obedience. But why? If it’s not a woman in there, why won’t he tell me what’s going on? Suddenly, the door opens behind us, and we both turn our heads towards it. A strange man steps forward first. His face is unfamiliar, and I’m not sure what makes dread curl up into my stomach—the smug grin that brightens up his eyes, or the fear laced shock in Ronan’s eyes as he sees me. Who is this man? And why has his presence suddenly thrown everyone off balance? Why did they have to cancel our date because of him? He keeps his gaze on me as he walks towards where Malachi and I are standing. “I take it you’re a friend of my boys seeing as you’re here so late,” My brows furrow. A friend of his boys? He stops in front of me and stretches his right hand for what I assume is a handshake. “I’m Luke HawkThorne.” I stare down at the hand, then up at him. Like HawkThorne. Hawk… No way. I audibly gasp. He’s their father? When he raises a brow, I quickly shake my head, a nervous smile on my face. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.” With my shaky right hand, I take his outstretched one in a firm handshake. “I didn’t realize you were the one in. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” I don’t think it’s possible for his smile to get even wilder, but it does. “Which of my sons has the pleasure of being with a beautiful woman like you?” My cheeks burn hot, and I can tell they’re scorching red with the way he looks at me. I’m still thinking of the best way to dodge the question, seeing as all three of them get to be with me. However, I don’t get the chance to answer before Ronan snatches my hand from his father’s grip. I stare at him, stunned. Yet, he pays no attention to me. He throws his father a deadly glare, and I can also see the vein in his neck. “I think it’s time for you to leave.” I look back at Luke HawkThorne. “Aren’t you going to call me a cab?” “Leave.” This time, it’s Malachi who speaks through clenched teeth. I have a feeling they don’t like him very much. He scoffs, turns his back to us, and walks away. They don’t say a single word until he’s out of sight. Only then does Ronan grab me by my elbows, forcing me to turn to him. His chest rises and falls with deep, frantic breaths, like he’s just woken up from a nightmare he never thought will end. This isn’t right. Nothing about the way he looks at me now feels right. This isn’t Ronan. This isn’t my Ronan. “Why the fuck are you here, Sarah.” No. Stop. I look at Malachi with a plea in my eyes. Make him stop. “Answer me!” “I…” “Why the fuck will you come here? Why would you let him see you?!” “I…I don’t understand.” “Ronan.” “Why the fuck would you let him touch you?!” I try to wriggle free of his hold as tears rush to my eyes. “Ronan…you’re hurting me.”He drops his hands immediately. His eyes continue to dance around my face like he’s worried I’ve been hurt by someone…someone that isn’t him. “I’m tired,” he sighs. “I’m so tired of keeping everyone away from him. And now…now that he knows about you…” “Ronan,” Malachi steps forward and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’ll be fine.” But Ronan doesn’t feel the least encouraged. His shoulders fall as he slowly turns to meet his brother’s gaze. “You don’t understand, Malachi. He can do whatever he wants to me, and I wouldn’t care. But I might have to kill him.” My eyes widen. Wait. What? “Now that he’s seen her, he’s going to want to hurt her to hurt us, and then…” Ronan looks at me. “…I’m going to kill him.”