Deviant (Boys of Winter #3) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,15
gaze to Carver. “Do you think she’s in the manor home?”
He slowly nods. “I do,” he says firmly. “We’re going to go down there and check it out, but not before you’re out of the hospital and back at my place. We can’t leave you here with no protection.”
“Whoa, slow down, cowboy,” I say, throwing my hands up to cut him off before he says something even more ridiculous. “There’s a lot to unpack there.”
“Like what?” he grunts as King sits forward, watching me closely.
“First off, you guys aren’t going to the manor home without me. I’m coming whether you like it or not. And secondly, you’re insane if you think I’m moving back into your place. Haven’t we already learned that the five of us living in close proximity is a bad idea?”
Carver scoffs. “Tough shit. I don’t give a fuck that you’re the leader of Dynasty and what you say goes. Not anymore. Your safety comes first, and right now, you’re not safe in your place. How many times have people been able to sneak onto the property? Your fucking mother got in there without alerting a single one of us, and do I need to remind you what happened in the pool? From now on, you’re staying right where we can keep an eye on you, and I don’t give a shit if you like it or not.”
I let out a sigh, and as King reaches out and takes my hand, I look across at him to find his eyes shimmering with helplessness. “Please, Winter. Don’t fight us on this. We’ve had too many close calls with you. I know you love having your independence and putting on this big show about not needing anybody but do this for us. We need you there with us. We need to know that you’re safe.”
I groan, and just as I’m about to respond, Ember sits forward, pulling her feet off the edge of the bed and meeting my stare. “Don’t hate me for this, but I think the boys are right. You need to be somewhere that you’re safe. I mean, can you imagine if someone actually got through and killed you? Dynasty would be up shit creek, the boys will be a mess, and the world will be a really shitty place without you. If I could protect you half as well as they could, I’d keep you locked in my closet, but I can’t. It won’t even be that long. The boys will find the threat and deal with it. Once it’s gone, you can move back to your own place and rebuild it without all of your mother’s shit.”
“But—”
“No,” she says, her tone firm and filled with authority. “You know that I’m right. You’re just too stubborn and pigheaded to admit it.”
My face scrunches in distaste, hating that she’s right, and hating even more the feeling of being ganged up against, but there’s no denying it. They’re all a hundred percent right. My home isn’t safe and I’d be a fucking idiot to keep living there while there are still so many threats against me. “Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll move into Carver’s place, but Lady Dante is coming with me.”
Cruz, King, and Grayson all sigh while Carver just sits still, more than happy to mask his emotions, but what’s new? I wouldn't expect anything less from Carver. “Thank fuck,” Cruz says, tipping his head back against the couch and showing just how much the idea of me staying in my home was weighing on his shoulders.
“Wait,” I say, making all their gazes snap back to mine. “I just have one condition.”
Grayson’s eyes narrow to slits. “What?” he asks cautiously.
“I’m coming with you when you go to find London.”
Carver shakes his head. “No, absolutely not. You’re staying home where you’re safe. I thought we’d been over this.”
“That’s just the thing,” I snap back at him, hating how dismissive he can be. It’s as though he has a magical gift for getting under my skin. “Where does it leave me if you guys all piss off to the mountains and there’s another attack? You’re leaving me vulnerable. So, which is it? You can’t have it both ways. The whole reason you want me in your place is to keep me safe and keep me close. So, do you want me safe or should I just risk my life by staying behind with no protection? Besides, this is the home my father was murdered in. I have the right