Page 8 of Scars
“Your well-being is more important, Carter,” Keegan says firmly. “I’ll put my foot down if I have to. If you’re not okay, you can say so. Don’t lie to protect our feelings.”
“He’ll punish you for lying,” Marcus whispers in my ear, and there's a sort of levity in his voice that’s been missing since Cole was taken.
My breath hitches, but in a good way this time. We’ve skirted around Keegan’s dominance for a while now, and the way it makes me feel. There hasn’t been time to learn what it means for the three of us, but…I can’t say I hate the idea of him guiding me. Punishing me, pleasuring me, and letting me do the same to Marcus… The pleasant tingles running up and down my spine are at odds with the panic that’s threatened to overwhelm me since getting here.
“Whatever you need, Love,” Keegan promises. “We’ll give it to you.”
I know they will, because that’s the type of men they are. They’re somehow able to see all of me, and rather than put me into a box that fits their ideals, they’re helping me grow and keeping me steady as I become the person I think I was always meant to be. It simply took far too long to realize that.
“I love you—both of you—so much.” Taking a shaky breath, I push away everything that isn’t the two of them and my children. “I can do this, with you at my side.”
“You don’t have to.”
I kiss Keegan, soaking up his reassurance. “I know,” I tell him when I pull away. “But I—we—need to. Together.”
“Always together,” Marcus says, swooping in for his own kiss.
“There’s a sink in the corner,” I tell them when the kiss breaks. “Usually, there's a bucket or pitcher there, too—Ten likes waterboarding. Let’s wake the bitch up and get back to our son.”
They both kiss me one last time, before Marcus moves away to get the water to toss on the bitch. Keegan keeps his hand on me as we move back to stand in front of the woman who turned our world upside down. Only this time, it’s easier to push away the past and embrace what’s to come.
I can stand tall beside the men I love, because I know they’ll catch me when I fall, and it buoys me with a strength I wouldn’totherwise have. I don’t know what I did to deserve the two of them, but I know for sure I’ll never let them go.
My sons and my loves, they’re everything I always wanted. Getting to have some fun with my loves? Even with my past trying to push its way in, anticipation fills me more than dread, and I grin as the bitch sputters and jerks awake when Marcus tosses the pitcher of cold water over her.
Her gaze darts around, and she sneers at me, but I just grin, excitement beginning to fill my veins, because the fun is just about to begin…
If being with the Martellis, and my fucked-up road to get there, has taught me anything, it's that vengeance is hollow. A slow poison that does nothing to quench the thirst, but merely warps the love of those around us. I stare at the nanny, coldness filling my gut at the sight, before switching my attention to our Love.
Carter’s eyes are shining with excitement, but the pain is still there too. And that’s ultimately what matters. I step forward, ignoring everything except Carter. I grasp him by the back of the neck, pulling him close and kissing him. I fucking devour him. The memories here are ones I can’t take away. But instead, I can layer our love over his suffering, and sometimes…sometimes that’s all that can be done.
Letting him go, as we both desperately need to breathe, I reach my hand out for Marcus, who comes willingly, slottinginto my side like he’s always belonged. He tips his head back and gives me the smallest nod. So in tune with me, as always, my Tease knows what I—what we—need. His eyes are dark with desire, with the implicit trust that I’ll give the two of them what they need. I swallow, forever grateful for his love.
Nudging him in between us, I watch as he captures Carter’s mouth with his own, his hands reaching around Carter’s body to pull him close, so there’s no space between them. Taking the sign, I step forward as well, pressing my chest to Marcus’s back, sandwiching him between us. For a while, that’s all that exists. Our love, our loyalty, our trust that's between the three of us. And it’s only the crescendo of the nanny’s cries that tear me back to reality.
A wordless sigh escapes me as I step back, forcing myself to confront the woman who hurt our son. However, I hold my hands out, waiting for Carter and Marcus to grab one each. I thread my fingers through theirs, tightening my hold so they know I have them.
Staring dispassionately at the woman in front of us, I make a decision. I can live in the past, or I can reach for the future. Nothing I do to her will ever be enough. I could carve her into a million small pieces, toss acid on her, or set her on fire, and it still wouldn’t be as much as she deserves. At the end of the day, it’s not about what she deserves. It’s about what the three of us here, and our sweet Cole, deserves. It will always be three fathers, who put each other—and him—first. The nanny? She means less than nothing in comparison.
I squeeze their hands before letting go. I glance at each of them, but their reassuring nods are enough for me. I step forward and sneer at the woman. Her venomous words flow over me, unable to touch me. Marcus slides up to me and offers me a knife. I take it with a grateful smile.
“Thank you, Tease,” I murmur before stepping closer. Shaking my head, I address the bitch directly. “You’ll die here. Alone. And as you do, I want you to remember one thing. You may have gotten into a little kid’s head, but you could never get into ours, as fathers and as soulmates. You’re simply not worth it.”
With that, I thrust my hand forward, driving the knife into the soft flesh of her stomach, before dragging it down, making sure she won’t die immediately. Doc could save her…not that he’d bother. Eventually, she’ll succumb to the blood loss, and will simply cease to exist, with nobody around to miss her.
The coldness in my stomach evaporates, and the poisonous need for vengeance disappears. It’s done, even as she fights against the dwindling time she has left here on Earth. If there is a Hell, I’m sure I'll see her when I get there. Maybe the Devil will make me a deal to help torture her. After all, I’m sure I’ve scored some points with him throughout my life.
Turning away from her sharply, I gather my men close and stroll out of this black hole of memories. I'm desperate to take my loves far away, where the only thing that's important is our need to be together. Exiting the torture room, I make eye contact with Joel. His eyes show a brief acknowledgment of respect and relief for Carter. I think my Love underestimates exactly how loyal these men are to him. He's worried about the past, when really, he was forgiven a long time ago.
“If you’ll ensure…?” I murmur to him, and he gives a firm nod. With that, it truly is done.
It doesn’t take long to get back to the mansion, and thank fuck for that. I keep my lovers on edge with teasing touches, nothing overly overt. After all, there’s the driver and bodyguard in the front seat. Yeah, fuck Tennant’s rules about splitting up. My men are glued by my side, and I have zero regrets. Well,aside from not being able to take the fucking Camaro, because of “security concerns”.
We hit the front door at the same time. Thank fuck Cole is spending time with Sandro tonight, because I plan on making my lovers cry out in pleasure. I note that the butler steps into the entry before melting out again in the blink of an eye. The man is scary as fuck, and Javi severely underestimates him. I’m pretty sure Tennant chose him for more than his wicked organizational skills.
I glance at each of my men, and with a wicked smile, it’s a race to our suite. I can’t wait to get them undressed. Carter hasn’t seen the extent of my Dom style yet, and excitement dances within me at the possibilities.
Entering our room, I grab Marcus, spinning him around and pushing him against the door before attacking his mouth, licking the seam of his lips and demanding entry. I tug at his clothes, and he quickly strips. For once, I don’t give a shit about them being properly folded and set aside. His whimpers make my knees weak, even though he’s the one who immediately falls to his when I step back.
