Page 23 of My Crazy Killers
“You sort of… what?” Sly asks, his eyes narrowing on him.
Elias sits beside me, slightly hunched over, his eyes downcast as he rubs a hand up and down his neck. “In Montana, when we were trapped in her room at Robert’s place, I told her how I felt and told her how I planned to propose to her.” He lifts his head, meeting the guy's eyes before he adds, “That was before I realized she was already in love with all of you.”
He glances at me before his eyes turn downcast again. “I bought the ring for her, so I wanted her to have it anyway.”
All eyes turn to me, and my cheeks heat even more, the warmth traveling down my neck to my chest as I try to figure out what to say.
“Wren?” Pete says from where he’s still kneeling right in front of me. My eyes meet his, and he tilts his head. “Anything you want to add?”
“I—” My eyes widen, unsure what I’m supposed to say right now.
“Wren,” Sly says, almost sounding disappointed. “You should know by now you can be honest with us.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I tell them honestly.
“The truth,” Pete encourages. “Do you care about Elias? As more than a friend?”
I turn my eyes to meet Elias’s beautiful brown ones, where I see a mix of nerves and hope reflectedthere. I know I can’t lie to him, not after everything we’ve been through, so I finally admit the truth. “I do,” I tell him, tellthem.
“When he gave me the ring, I told him as much. That I love him, just as I love the rest of you.” My eyes dart between the other three men in my eyeline. “But I also told him that I couldn’t betray you like that. That I couldn’t be with him because I’m with you four. I would nevereverwant to hurt any of you.”
Pete smiles at me and kisses my knuckles in the hand he’s still holding.
“He took a bullet for me,” Dex says, his eyes flicking between Elias and me. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of us now.”
My face scrunches, unsure what he’s trying to say.
“Hewasinstrumental in our rescue mission,” Sly adds, sounding a little reluctant as he eyes Elias. “We never would have gotten here without him.”
“Yeah,” Pete says, looking at Elias with a smirk. “We’re gonna need him to lead missions for theMidnight Warriors.”
“We didnotagree on that name,” Sly says, turning his narrowed eyes on Pete.
“No? How about theDemon Crew?”
Sly shakes his head and runs a hand down his face in annoyance as Dex nudges Pete’s shoulder so he can take his place at my side.
Even on his knees, Dex seems to tower over me. He grabs my hand and offers me his big, crazy smile. “Hey, baby.”
I smile back, his presence calming me. “Hi, Dex.”
“What we’re trying to tell you,” he pauses as he glances up at Elias, still sitting at my side. “Both of you, is that Elias is one of us now, so if you want to be together, you can.”
I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly feeling dry as I whisper, “Really?” Jagger squeezes my other hand behind me, as if to say he agrees, and Dex nods. I glance up at Pete, and he gives me a big smile with a thumbs up, while Sly just gives me a single nod. But it’s enough.
My eyes move to Elias’s, and Dex stands. “Come on, farm boy, let’s get your arm patched up,” he says to Pete. “Sly, grab the first aid kit. Let’s do this by the sink.”
Jagger slowly stands up and signs,“I need to use the washroom.”The four of them disappear and my eyes finally find their way to Elias.
He looks nervous, which makes me smile, because that’s how I’m feeling too. His eyes meet mine, and I offer him a small smile. “Hi.”
He chuckles. “Hi, sweetheart.”
Silence stretches between us as if neither of us knows what else to say. Telling myself to be brave, that I’ve faced way harder things than talking to my best friend, I start the conversation. “I know this must be weird for you.” His brow pinches in confusion, so I add, “You know, sharing me with them.”
He nods in understanding. “If it’s too difficult, I’ll understand.”
“You would?” he asks, hurting my heart a little.
