“They didn’t dupe me!” I shriek, batting away her hands that are reaching toward me in an effort to comfort me. “Don’t touch me!”
Ash purses her lips, studying me intently. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m only looking out for you. You can’t trust them.”
But I can.
I’m not some conquest for them. I’m theirs. Whatever they did to her doesn’t matter to me because they’re different with me. I care about them. I need them. I miss them.
“I’m sorry I pried,” Ash says. “You seem like a smart girl. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Just know that if you need anything, I’m here. Me and Winston both are.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I bite back. “Thank you.”
She sighs and then exits the bathroom. I close my eyes, sucking in several deep gulps of air. Minutes pass by too quickly. I’ll have to go back soon and I can barely stomach the idea.
The bathroom door opens and I brace myself for my father. He’s probably wondering what’s taking me so long.
“Laundry.”
My eyes fly open and I jerk my head toward the sound of Sparrow’s voice. He’s immaculate in a fitted black suit and gorgeous as ever. Behind him, Scout and Sully are also dressed nicely. I don’t think about my father or anything Ash just said about them. Just them. So handsome and protective.
“Oh my God,” I croak out, hobbling over to them. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
“We’re here,” Sparrow says. “We had to see you.”
Sparrow engulfs me in a bear hug, lifting me off the ground. I don’t want to cry and blink rapidly to keep the tears at bay. He kisses my neck before setting me back to my feet. His mouth captures mine for a deep, claiming kiss, and then I’m being pulled into another pair of familiar arms. Someone grips my ass and I yelp.
Sparrow’s glare is murderous. “He hit you, didn’t he?”
I keep my eyes on Sparrow’s as one of his brothers lifts the back of my dress and pulls down my panties. Sully curses and Sparrow cups my ass, touching me so softly it almost feels like a whisper of air over my bruised flesh.
“He will pay for this right the fuck now,” Scout says in a cold, awful voice that should chill me to my bones. Instead, I find comfort in his rage on my behalf.
“He will, but not yet,” I murmur. “Della’s not here. I can’t leave her. If you do something, we’ll lose her.”
The air crackles with their fury, making the hair on my arms stand on end. A storm is coming. Three tornadoes ready to rip a path of destruction through Dad’s life. And I want that. I do. But not at Della’s expense.
“We have a plan,” Sparrow tells me, swiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “We wanted to tell you in person. To give you hope that we’ll get you out of there.”
“Everything’s going to be okay, honey,” Sully assures me, running his palms over my back and pecking my lips. “Do you trust us?”
“I do,” I say, nodding.
He kisses me harder this time, making my toes curl with happiness. Finally, he releases me and then I’m pulled against Scout’s sturdy chest. His hand splays over my stomach and he nuzzles my hair.
“Hey, prickly princess.”
“Hey,” I say, grinning.
Scout twists me around and brings his palms to my cheeks. His mouth crushes to mine. He devours me, tasting every part of my mouth, before nipping my bottom lip and pulling away.
“We’re going to blackmail him,” Sparrow explains. “Or at least try to.”
“We’ll get you back soon.” Sully smiles. “Promise.”
“And if that doesn’t work,” Scout murmurs close to my ear, “we’ll kick his fucking teeth in.”
Sparrow curses, looking at his phone. “We have to bail. Now.”
I don’t want them to leave, but them getting caught with me could be catastrophic.
“I love you,” I blurt out, unable to keep it in. “All of you.”
They each steal one more kiss and then they’re gone, seconds before my father barges into the bathroom.
He makes a great show of checking all the stalls, as if he might find the triplets lurking. Of course, he finds nothing. Once he’s satisfied no one is here, he stalks over to me, taking in my appearance. My lips are swollen from their kisses and my hair slightly wrecked from their touching it. The air still smells of Sparrow’s expensive cologne.
“What’s taking you so long in here?” he demands, glowering. “Answer me.”
In the past, I might shrink away from his harsh words, but there’s only so much he can do to me at this restaurant. We’re not at home, secluded from prying eyes. Seeing the triplets has emboldened me.
Touching my lips with my fingers, I say in a bitchy tone, “Nothing.”
But we both know I’m lying. I know he can smell them, sense them, feel their presence still clinging to every part of me.