When Rivals Love (Bayshore Rivals 3)

“It’s hard to believe you when I know you’re working with the mob. You are a criminal, and even worse, you made me into one too, when you had me plant drugs on Sullivan. Was that for my own good as well? Was it just training for a future job? For college?”

“We can’t talk about any of this on the phone, Harlow. You need to meet me so I can explain everything. You don’t know the whole story, and I’m not going to let you believe some lies that those Bishops are telling you.”

“I have proof, you know. Proof that you are working with Xander Rossi.”

“Harlow, listen to me. Do not get involved in this. Xander is not someone you want to mess with. If you have any involvement with him, anything against him, you need to destroy that proof right now.”

“I’m sure you would like that.”

“Harlow, this is not about me,” my father’s voice grows more frustrated. “I’m serious, you don’t want to mess with Xander.”

“I’m not destroying the evidence against you. I’m keeping it so you can’t blackmail the Bishops or me ever again. I want to know more about Phoebe, but I’m not meeting you.”

“Then I guess you will never get any answers—” The line goes dead, and for a moment, I just look at the phone in shock.

Did he just hang up on me?

Dumbfounded, I look up at the guys. “I need to go talk to hi—”

“No way,” Oliver says before I can finish my sentence, his face stern and his arms crossed over his chest.

“I agree,” Banks cuts in his eyes narrowing. “It’s not safe.”

My gaze swings to Sullivan, and I already know his answer is going to be no, as well. It’s three against one here, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I need answers, all of them.

“What if you all come with me? Or Milton? Or everybody?”

“Your dad has a whole army of security, plus the mob behind him. The safest place for you is to be with us. We are not budging on this,” Sullivan announces, and I can hear the promise in his statement. He’s not going to change his mind.

“Fine…” I huff in defeat. “What about Shelby? Maybe I could talk to her and get some answers that way?”

“I guess we could see if she went back to Bayshore. As far as I know, she still has that job at the gallery. Maybe we can find her there or at class,” Oliver suggests. “But if she isn’t there, we are not going back to North Woods.”

“Deal… let’s go back to Bayshore.” I stand up, ready to get moving when I realize all I have on is my pajamas.

“I don’t have anything to wear.”

“We’ll get you some new clothes, but first…” Banks gets up, taking my hand, and with a mischievous smirk, he says, “We need to make up for lost time.”

Sullivan and Oliver follow suit and stand.

“We need to show you just how much we missed you,” Sullivan smiles, his voice deeper than normal, and the sound vibrates through me, awakening something deep inside me.

“And we did miss you a lot,” Oliver says, and I suddenly feel like I’m burning up. The air around us changes like it’s suddenly thicker. He extends his hand out to me, and I take it without hesitation.

“We don’t have to do this. All three of us, I mean… If it’s too much, you just have to tell us. We’ll understand.” I appreciate Banks trying to give me a way out, but he doesn’t have to. I want all three of them, and I know they won’t hurt me or test my limits. This isn’t about just sex. It’s deeper than that. This is about forging a connection that cannot be broken.

“Don’t. This is what I want. To be with all three of you, together.” I admit wholeheartedly.

“We want that too, but if you change your mind, you can tell us,” Sullivan reminds me.

“I’ll tell you if I do,” I promise, and we all make our way to the bedroom. Once we reach the bed, Oliver and Banks start to strip me of my clothing. Their hands moving at breakneck speed. Once naked and bare to them, I watch each of them quickly strip out of their own clothing, my mouth watering in anticipation.

I’ve been with each of them, and with two of them at once but never all three, and while I’m only a little nervous about what’s to come, there is an entire kaleidoscope of butterflies taking flight in my stomach. Warmth tingles low in my belly at the sight of the three of them shirtless—chiseled muscles that look like they could be carved from stone. As they climb up on the bed, no one says a word. Mainly because there are no words to be said.