𝐕𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐃 ❷

𝟒𝟔. ✭ 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 ✭

"It, uh," I run a hand back and forth over my buzzed hair, "takes my mind off of things. Just like someone who paints or draws, or whatever have you. I guess it helps put things in perspective, levels me out."

"You know, your hair reminds me that I need to get rid of this horrid dark-colored thing on my head." Luke gestures to his hair which has Denver giving him a roll of the eyes. "What? Do not look at me like that. You say it's fine but I am perfectly capable of looking in a mirror. It is the farthest thing from fine." He walks up to where a mirror hangs on the living room wall. The grimace he wears when eyeing his reflection makes me want to laugh. "Look at it. It is just ridiculous." He threads his fingers through his over-grown locks, tugging at his blond roots.

"I know y'all probably have some fancy high-class hair dresser or whatever but I could buzz it if you'd like." There's a loud laugh from beside me, rumbling out of Denver that has me raising an eyebrow. "Did I say something funny?"

"Oh it's just the thought of him getting a buzzcut and not some 'fancy high-class haircut', as you put it, that is just killing me. Lucas Warner walking around like an army recruit. That'll be the day." He's full-on belly laughing now.

"You know what, Brooks," Luke throws a glare at Denver and then brings his attention back to me, "I think I will take you up on that offer."

"Luke, come on, you can't be serious." Luke puts his hands on his hips in defiant emphasis. "I will pull out the duct tape because I will never hear the end of it if you do."

"Who said I wouldn't like that?"

"Are you two going to let us know what the hell you came over here to talk about or are you going to bicker all fucking night?" That has everyone shutting up and looking at a very irritated Torey. "In case you have all forgotten, Mom is being held prisoner along with Dani and Wolf."

"Your mother being missing is not something I would ever forget. If you think that every single day that she is away, in that place, with God knows what happening to her, that I don't feel like a piece of me is being repetitively cut out, then you are sorely mistaken." Luke spits the words laced with venomous malice in Torey's direction, his entire demeanor changing.

There's no doubt in my mind that he meant those words with the core of his being. In the near year that I have spent with them I've come to see that they are just extensions of one another. The three of them like limbs belonging to a body or the organs performing harmoniously inside it. They need one another to function, to live and breath; to just— be. 

"Lucas..." His name a warning out of Denver's mouth because he can see exactly what I see— a tightly coiled rattler ready to strike. "We should probably get to the part of why we're here."

"Right." With a roll of the neck and a clearing of the throat, placing a mask of compete composure on his face, he does just that. "We came to discuss the potential solution to one of our problems. One that we can take care of before the... wedding." Torey's jaw clenches and a vein pops out slightly in his throat at the mention. "We can take care of the murderous Turkish prick— Polat."

"Have you managed to finally find that fuck?" Torey's tone nearly matches the one Luke had just mere moments ago.

"We have." Denver steps into the kitchen and stands opposite Torey. "We were thinking that before the wedding we could pay the fucker a visit. You could... have your way with him." Torture, maim, bring him to the brink of death and back, then start all over again. That's how Torey will have his way with him. That's how I want to have my way with him but the timing seems rather convenient. It doesn't sit right with me.

"I have my suspicions about this whole potential endeavor." All three of them direct their attention to me. "You don't think that after months of trying to track this asshole down, him just popping up out of the woodwork don't seem a bit fishy to you? With the wedding coming up you don't think it's some kind of distraction to keep us busy or try to dissuade us from pursuing when the actual wedding takes place? Or maybe it's just a straight ol' trap?"

"But Dani told us that it would be in a few months."

"She said a few weeks, Tor, and that's at best. Even she doesn't know exactly when and neither does Tristan. All we know for sure is that her parents want the two of them married and bad. Now, all of a sudden, Polat's whereabouts are made known. Sounds like a trap to me. I say we cut bait 'cause it just don't feel right. Something's off." My gaze finds Torey's and then averts. "And I'm not risking something happening to you again. I knew it last time and I know it now. I can feel it in my gut. We ain't going wherever the fuck he is until Dani, Wolf, and Malyssa are all safe and accounted for."

"And who the fuck put you in charge?"

"Who the fuck put me in charge?" I snicker and then turn my tone serious. "If anyone sees your face over there, if even a word gets out that you are still alive, Tor, there will be no wedding that we will even marginally be able to get close to. And if you don't see the sense in that, if none of you can," I gesture to the three of them, "then y'all are fucking stupid."

"No one put you in charge of my safety. I can take care of myself." I can't help but snort and let out a frustrated sardonic laugh at his words. "Fuck you, Brooks, I can."

"Yeah," I throw out and arm toward his shirtless self, "sure as hell looks like you can." He visibly grimaces at that. "I tell you what, I will not go through that ever again. And after what just happened a few minutes ago I think you owe me. You owe it to me not to be your stupid, arrogant, impulsive, reckless fucking self for at least one god damn time." Those eyes of his are blazing blue gems of fury but I don't care. "You hear me? I will not let you put me through that. Never. Again."

Torey takes two steps towards me and pauses as he eyes the two other males in the room. His breathing is erratic, coming out of his nostrils like a raging bull, his body is trembling with anger. As I hold his stare with an equally pissed-off one myself, I realize it's not just anger that he's feeling.

Oh. 

"I think we're just going to see ourselves out and leave you two to it." Denver's words barely register before the two of them make themselves scarce.

"I don't owe you anything."

I close the space between us and cock my head to the side, "you sure about that?"

A/N:
Long time no update, I know.

Due to things currently happening in my personal life it's been challenging to write. Fortunately, for those of you who enjoyed the chapter, my friends got me back on the writing wagon this week. So, a big thank you to Van, Ava, Jess, and Emily for encouraging me to get out of my head and get those words.

Also, I wanted to thank all of you who wished me a happy birthday! It all meant so very much to me. Hopefully I can get myself back into the swing of things and have another update for you all soon.

♥️