shits about them. They’re at his beck and call for his amusement.”
I huffed a mirthless laugh. “You don’t know him at all.”
“I know he uses them for their orifices. He fucks them because he enjoys it. The control.”
“You don’t see it,” I accused, feeling my face heat with my own anger.
“See what?” He actually growled. “You think he loves them, Brae? If so, you’re delusional. You can pretty it up all you want, but that doesn’t change anything. He won’t give them up for you.”
“He won’t give them up, period,” I snapped. “You might think he doesn’t give a shit, but you’re wrong.” And I knew that for fact. I seriously doubted Talon would even admit it, but I’d seen him with them. He cared enough to punish them when they’d done wrong. He cared enough to give them the safety and security they deserved. And he cared enough not to violate their trust in him. If that wasn’t love, I didn’t know what was.
“You don’t deserve that, Brae. You deserve—”
“Him!” I shouted. “I deserve him, Ransom. All of him. Not just the side he thinks I should see. I don’t want to be protected and sheltered. You of all people should know that. And I don’t want a man who thinks he has to change for me.”
That shut him up, and for a brief moment, I felt guilty for yelling. But it was fleeting because of the truth in my statement. I wanted Talon. The man he was. I wanted all of him. And yes, I wanted his possessions, too.
Ransom swallowed hard, staring at me.
“I’m not going back,” I decided. “I know you’ve got a life there. Friends, a job. What I have … it’s here. Everything I’ve ever wanted is here.”
“You mean that.”
There was no accusation in his words so much as understanding.
“I do. And the same goes for you, Ransom. Jasper’s here. Deny it all you want, but I’ve never seen you happier. You love him. He loves you. Why would you be willing to risk that for anyone? I want you to be happy, too. And walking away from him … that won’t bring you happiness.”
He surprised me, reaching out and jerking me toward him, his arms wrapping tightly around me. I hugged him back, holding firm.
“I love you, Brae. The only thing I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.”
“I know.” I patted his back. “And I am. I promise.”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I get that now.”
I managed to extricate myself from his arms, squeezing his hands once more. “Now I’m going to tell the man I love that I’m not leaving. Might I suggest you do the same.”
He smiled, and it actually reached his eyes.
*
TALON
I wanted to follow Braelyn and her brother, but I refrained. Refusing to eavesdrop on the conversation between them. Not because they were due that respect but because I wasn’t sure I could handle the decision they came to.
I had even considered disappearing for a little while, fearing the worst. God knows there were enough rooms on this estate, I could’ve hidden out until I was ready to be found. And if Braelyn made the decision to go back to Chicago, I wasn’t sure I would ever venture out again.
Another first for me. I certainly wasn’t a man prone to drama.
But I didn’t do that, either. Didn’t follow, didn’t hide. Instead, I took a walk.
Now I was waiting, standing on the veranda, overlooking the swimming pools the same as I had been the first day I brought Braelyn to the island. It was hard to believe that was less than two months ago. Felt like longer, but not nearly long enough.
Funny how I owned seven possessions—eight including Jones—and though they would walk through fire for me, I’d never really had something of my own. Everything I’d ever acquired had been purchased in one manner or another. This island, the possessions, my life in general. And now the only thing I wanted couldn’t be bought.
Braelyn.
As I glanced around, I realized I would give it all up for her. I would walk away from everything if she promised to stay with me forever. We could live in a one-bedroom apartment, drive a compact car with a hundred thousand miles on it. The fact of the matter was, none of this would ever mean anything again without her.
Footsteps sounded but I refused to turn around. I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. I’d even sent Corvin to join the others. I