but I get the feeling he’s trying not to be overprotective right now.
I couldn’t handle it. Not from him and not even right now while we’re all on high alert.
“I just want to have an early night, I think. I’ll be up working in the morning, maybe just stay home for the night and focus on getting everyone through tonight. I’m a big girl, Aodhan. I’m not going to be a burden to you.”
He side-eyes me and then tugs me into his arms, kissing me slow and deep just long enough that I know he means business. “You’re never a fucking burden, don’t start that shit with me, not while I don’t have time to prove to you just how wrong you are. Go to bed, get your rest and I’ll be back in the morning for whatever the hell you feel like cooking me. You’re everything to me, Queenie. You’re the light in my darkness right now.”
I swallow and take a second to be brave. “I love you, Aodhan. Please come home safe to me.”
His eyes squeeze shut and he leans down to press his forehead to mine. “I love you too, Avery Beaumont. Stay here and stay safe for me too because if I lose you, I’m going the same way as Jack, I swear to fucking God.”
I nod and give him one last kiss before he leaves, my heart walking out the door with him.
Chapter Eighteen
Another photo was posted on my door this morning. Can you meet with me, we need to talk about this.
I stare down at the text from Atticus as I brush my teeth. There’s no way I can deal with seeing Luca right now, and I’m not sure Atticus will go anywhere without him after he’s just killed another member of the Twelve. I imagine his security has tripled at the very least, and he’ll have a lot to say about me driving anywhere alone.
Haven? Come alone.
A drive out to Haven will clear my head. I could take one of Ash’s Ferraris and make a real adventure out of it, let off some steam. I snort at myself for even thinking it, because if anything was going to push him over the edge to come home to me, touching his cars would be it.
I’ll take the Rolls Royce.
I’ll see you there.
I take my time in getting ready. Whatever this information is that he has for me, I’ll deal with it and then I’m going to discuss dating him. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking it through, even when I was desperately trying not to, but something about losing Jack has made things a little clearer to me.
I can’t live without Atticus, but Aodhan has become non-negotiable to me.
He’s going to have to live with that. If anyone can convince two men who loathe the sight of each other to share a woman, it’s me. There doesn’t have to be schedules or negotiations, no actual threesomes or physically sharing. I can live between the two of them until we can reach an agreement.
If three egos the size of Ash, Harley, and Blaise’s can figure it out, we can too.
I call Lips. “I’m meeting with Atticus about some new information.”
She groans. “Are you or is this a booty call? We have six shows left, Aves, and then Ash is going to be crawling all over your shit again. I was kind of hoping you’d be settled when we got back and we could just… tell him to get over it.”
There’s a huff and then a grunt. Blaise is with her and she’s elbowed him for interrupting us. I roll my eyes, but if she trusts him to keep his mouth shut then I will to.
“I’m going to tell him he has to accept how this is going. I’m sick of hearing his opinions on things; this is what we’re going to do.”
Lips cackles and Blaise mutters, “How do you think that’s going to go? Let’s put money on it.”
I’m going to snap at him, threaten his life and dick a little, but Lips snarks back, “She’s Avery fucking Beaumont. If she wants it, she’ll get it.”
“Marry me, Mounty. Let’s just run away from these assholes and go be happy somewhere together. I’m thinking tropical, lots of cocktails, and a pool to float in.”
She laughs at me, and there’s a scuffle down the line as Blaise retaliates in a way that I’m sure is sexual.
Pervert.
“If the two of you are about to fuck then I’m