Haley

Stretching my feet beneath the covers, I luxuriated in the comfort and familiarity of Knox’s bed. Surrounded by his scent, I felt safe, secure in the knowledge that I was home. I opened my eyes to find him watching me, pleased to discover that he no longer appeared as exhausted as he had even a few days ago.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” His voice was gravelly, his movements languid as he leaned in to place a soft kiss on my lips.

My mouth curved into a smile. “Good morning.”

I’d never tire of waking up to Knox . . . or any of the guys. Since my return, I had yet to spend a night alone or even have more than a moment without them. I would have found their constant hovering annoying were it not so sweet and exactly what I needed.

“Can I get you anything?”

“I’d love a shower. Will you help me wash my hair?”

“I suppose that can be managed,” he said with a wry grin. He threw back the covers and padded across the floor in his boxers.

I followed him to the bathroom and removed my sling, allowing him to slip my shirt, actually one of his, carefully over my head. His jaw ticked when he caught sight of my bruised shoulder, and I wondered when he would stop blaming himself for what happened. Probably never.

With his eyes trained on mine, he knelt before me and slid my underwear down my legs, his touch loving, reverential. His fingers skimmed my thighs and calves, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Standing naked before him, I felt beautiful.

I stepped beneath the faucet, relishing the feel of the warm water washing over my skin. After not being able to shower for a number of days, I didn’t think I’d ever take it for granted again. Knox joined me, and I was mesmerized by the sight of the water streaming over his broad shoulders, down the planes of his muscular chest, and past his erection.

I couldn’t resist following the path with my fingers, smoothing my good hand over his bare skin while keeping the other arm anchored to my side. How I wished I could wrap my arms around him, press myself to his body, and feel his strong arms caging me in.

Without speaking, he uncapped the shampoo and massaged it into my scalp, my limbs relaxing with every stroke. Once my hair was washed and conditioned, he moved on to my body. Despite the sensual way he caressed my skin, he seemed intent on providing me comfort. It was almost as if he was trying to wash away all the pain, all the memories of what I had endured.

When he finished, he stood and cupped my face with his hands. “I love you.” He said it to me at least once a day since I’d returned.

“I love you, Knox.” I pressed my lips to his, needing his touch as much as I needed oxygen.

He quickly washed himself before stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. Holding one out for me, he dried me off and then offered to grab some clothes from across the hall.

“How’s this?” he asked after returning to his bedroom with a pair of black leggings and a loose top, one of the few that I owned.

I sat on the bed, picking through the pile of clothes for my underwear, but Knox snatched them away. He knelt in front of me, helping me into them before pulling up my leggings with care. He wrapped his hands around my waist and held me, breathing me in. Finally, he pressed his lips to the bare skin of my stomach, peering up at me with desire swirling in his eyes.

As the king of self-control, if he hadn’t acted on it in the shower, he wasn’t going to do so now. What would it take to get the guys to see that I wasn’t breakable . . . or broken?

After we finished dressing, we ventured to the living room and found Theo bustling around the kitchen. “Good morning,” he called in a cheerful voice. “Take a seat. Breakfast will be ready shortly.”

Knox and I shared a concerned look. “Did you cook it yourself?” I asked.

“Don’t sound so skeptical. I can make bacon and eggs.”

“Since when?” Knox muttered, pulling out a chair for me at the table before pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“Breakfast is served,” Theo said with a flourish as he delivered a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sliced fruit, stealing a kiss in the process.

I stared down at the meal, astonished. “This looks surprisingly delicious. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled, clearly enjoying my praise.

“Wow,” Knox said after he’d taken a bite of eggs. “Are you sure you cooked this? It’s actually edible.”

“Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the microwave, I can cook.”

I nearly snorted orange juice across the table. “You made scrambled eggs in the microwave? How?”

“Easy. You mix them in a mug, cook for forty-five seconds, stir, and cook another thirty seconds. Did you know you can bake a mini cake in the microwave? Maybe we can make one tonight for dessert,” he said excitedly, and Knox just laughed.

After breakfast, the three of us hunkered down in the basement to catch up on Arrow. With Chase on campus, and Liam and Jackson at work, it was nice to have alone time with the Bennett brothers. Kara texted to see if she could visit later in the day, but until then, I was all theirs.

Theo sat on my good side, holding my hand, while Knox sat as close as possible on the other, careful to give a wide berth to my injured shoulder and sling. Despite his distance, he found ways to touch me, his hand resting on my thigh, his thumb stroking me over my leggings. I was glad they seemed to need the contact with me as much as I craved being touched by them.

I lost track of time, surprised when Knox suggested a break for lunch. He heated leftovers, so as to minimize the interruption to Arrow, and then we continued our marathon without interruption. When the doorbell rang a few hours later, I shifted to the edge of the couch so I could greet Kara at the door.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Theo glared playfully at me, but I knew he meant business. Since I’d returned, he and the other guys had been insistent that I do nothing but relax.

He sprinted up the stairs while Knox paused the show. I slid back to my spot on the couch, jarring my shoulder in the process. Pain shot down my arm, causing me to wince.

“Breathe, Haley.” Knox’s voice was soothing as he crouched before me, his hands on my thighs.

I took a few deep breaths, focusing on his emerald eyes, eyes I’d dreamt of during my captivity. Images of the photo shoot flashed through my mind unbidden, even as I tried to block them out. Despite my insistence that I was fine, I was still haunted by the memories.

“When was the last time you took something?”

I closed my eyes, calculating. “A few hours ago, I think.”

He grabbed a bottle from the coffee table, passing me two capsules before handing me a glass of water. Once I’d swallowed the pills, he crouched over me, placing a kiss on my forehead. “I’m going to check my e-mail, let you and Kara have some girl time. Text if you need anything.” I nodded, noticing Kara watching us from the foot of the stairs.

“I would hug you, but I think we both know that’s a terrible idea,” she joked, taking a seat at the end of the couch. “How are you?”

“Pretty good, all things considered.” I couldn’t complain too much, even if needing help with everything from getting dressed to slicing an apple was ridiculously annoying. Fortunately, I had many willing volunteers.

“I would’ve visited sooner, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get past your prowl.”

“My prowl?” I scrunched up my face. “Is that another code name?”

“Your guys are Team Jaguar, and the collective noun for jaguars is a prowl.” I laughed. Only Kara. “So, what do you want to do today? I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

“Anywhere?” I prodded.

“Yes, at least, within reason. Why?” She cocked her head to the side. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’d love to get out of the house, even for some ice cream.”

“I think I can manage that.” She grinned and hopped up from the couch. “Will we have to sneak out?”

“Maybe. Did you bring your cloak of invisibility?”

“Shoot. I knew I forgot something.”

When I reached the top of the stairs, I found Knox and Theo in the kitchen. From the expression on Theo’s face, I could only assume they were discussing a serious matter. They’d all been somewhat secretive the past few days, and I wondered what was going on. We still had yet to discuss DuBois or my father’s surveillance on him. So far, I hadn’t pushed the issue, content to just be.

They stopped talking when they spotted me, and Theo turned to me with a smile. “What’s up, buttercup?”

“Kara’s taking me for ice cream. We’ll be back later.”

“Can I go?” he asked before Knox elbowed him in the side, and he grunted. “On second thought, I’m still pretty full from lunch.” He patted his washboard stomach.

Knox’s eyes searched mine as he approached, crowding my space while Kara and Theo debated the best ice cream flavors. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

I nodded. I’d barely left the loft since returning from the hospital and never without at least one of the guys by my side. I needed to do this, to prove to myself that someone wasn’t always waiting in the shadows to get me. Besides, it was mid-afternoon and we were going to a public place. I’d be fine.

Ice cream in hand a short while later, Kara and I found a bench outside overlooking the ocean. It was so calm, so peaceful, so normal.

“Thank you again for stepping up to help when I went missing. My dad told me how impressed he was by you, and I know he and the guys appreciate everything you did.”

“Aww, I love your dad. I’m honestly not sure whether he or the guys are more protective of you. And, if there was ever a question in your mind about their devotion, there shouldn’t be. Those boys would follow you to the ends of the earth.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “Thank goodness they did, even after I pushed them away.”

“They really love you, Haley. All of them.”

“Tell me the truth. How bad was it?”

She sighed, and I knew that even if she didn’t want to tell me, she would. “I’ve never seen Jackson so unhinged. I was positive the guys were going to come to blows several times, and even Chase almost lost his shit.”

“I figured as much.” I fell silent, savoring the flavor of ripe strawberries swirled through my ice cream. Finally, I said, “They’ve been very secretive lately. There’s something they’re not telling me. I just wish I knew what it was.”

“Try not to worry, and enjoy being home. Besides,” she continued with a grin, “I’m sure they’re waiting on you hand and foot. You should milk that for all it’s worth.”

“The only time I’m alone is when I go to the bathroom. They won’t let me get dressed without help, and you should’ve seen Knox trying to blow dry my hair. It’s a good thing I didn’t break the right side of my collarbone, because they’d insist on brushing my teeth for me too.”

Kara laughed so hard she nearly lost her ice cream, which made her laugh harder. “You know you love it.”

Giving in, I grinned. “Okay, you’re right, but I can’t keep all five of them with me twenty-four seven.” Even if I wanted to.

They were needed at Zenith, and I’d practically had to force Jackson—a self-professed workaholic—to go into the office. If the fallout after Ethangate and The Elites was bad, it was nothing compared to the current scandal—one of the regional directors, and a Zenith founder, was behind The Elites. Plus, he’d endangered a trainee’s life in the reckless pursuit of his agenda.

I was still trying to come to grips with Kenneth’s role in my abduction. It was difficult to believe that someone I’d once admired, even pitied to some extent, had willingly sent me into such a perilous situation. While I could sympathize with his desire for vengeance, he had used me like a pawn without regard for my safety.

Perhaps sensing my serious turn of thought, Kara placed her hand on my leg. “You know I’m always here if you need to talk. And, if you don’t want to talk to me, at least consider speaking with one of the counselors at Zenith.”

“Thanks, Kara. I’ll think about it.”

A few hours later, I returned to the loft and found Knox, Theo, Chase, Liam, and Jackson huddled around the table. Suddenly, all conversation stopped, and Theo fumbled with his iPad while Jackson marched over to me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. All of the guys had been more affectionate since my return, but Jackson especially so. Showering me with attention, touching me at any opportunity . . . he hadn’t shied away from doing so even when the others were present.

“You went shopping without me?” Theo pouted, noticing my bags.

“I needed a few loose tunics I can slip on easily, so I don’t always have to ask for help.”

Before he could respond, the doorbell rang and Chase went to answer it. He returned with a large yellow smiley face vase with candy bars arranged like flowers. “Special delivery.”

He placed it on the table and handed me the attached card. Feel better soon, Starburst. It wasn’t signed, but there was no doubt as to the sender. Who—other than Ethan—would send such an elaborate candy bouquet? I smiled, appreciating the gesture and the fond memories the nickname generated. Though our relationship would never be the same, it was nice to know he cared.

Jackson swept my hair away from my face, careful not to touch my shoulder. “Do you feel up to discussing something?”

“Am I in trouble?” I teased, noticing the crease between his brows.

His shoulders relaxed, and he chuckled. “Of course not. You should know by now that when it comes to us, you can do almost anything you want.”

He helped me to a seat at the table, returning with a glass of water before joining us. He was always doing nice things for me without being asked, and I knew it was because he loved me. Of all the guys, Jackson was the only one who had yet to say the words, but I had no doubt that he felt them.

Everyone was silent, giving Jackson the floor. “I’ve been putting this conversation off, but we need to discuss DuBois.”

My stomach dropped. “What about him?”

“As you suspected, he was behind the human trafficking, although his son ran the operation.” With sudden clarity, I realized why the man with expensive leather shoes and slicked-backed hair looked familiar—he was the spitting image of his father. I kicked myself for not recognizing the relation.

Jackson went on to describe my father’s surveillance and the information they had uncovered last week. His demeanor was calm, but I sensed anxiety flowing beneath the surface. “The good news is that we have enough evidence to hand over to the FBI. DuBois will finally be brought to justice.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a done deal, and I wouldn’t be truly satisfied until DuBois was behind bars, but it was enough for now. Just knowing that we had the evidence for the government to build a case against him was huge.

“I’m sensing a but,” I said.

“Not a but, per se. Rather, a decision that needs to be made. Since DuBois and his organization remains unaware of your identity, they won’t look for you, they wouldn’t even know to. We can hand everything over to the FBI with the agreement that your name will never be mentioned.”

Ahh, so now we got to the crux of the matter—my role in the trial. Since discovering that DuBois was responsible for my mother’s death, for my life in hiding, I’d often contemplated what I’d do given the chance to confront him. Would I continue to run, or would I fight? I already knew the answer, and seeing the conditions of the women last week only strengthened my conviction.

“I’m done living in hiding. He needs to be held accountable for what he did to my family and for what he did to those women. I will do whatever it takes to put him behind bars for the rest of his life,” I said in an unwavering tone, meeting each and every one of their gazes.

“We figured you might say that.” Jackson sighed, and I could tell this was weighing on him. “So, we have another option. You can tell the FBI everything you know, but you’ll be held back as a secret witness until right before the trial. You can testify against DuBois, but you won’t have to worry about going into hiding.”

“What about my dad? Can he get the same agreement?”

Jackson shook his head, his expression solemn. “His options are more limited, and it’s something you should discuss with him.”

“Haley,” Chase said from the other end of the table, “don’t feel rushed to decide. If you need to think it over, you can.”

“No.” I shook my head, hoping my tone conveyed my certainty. “There’s nothing to consider. I vowed that if I escaped that wretched house, I would make DuBois pay.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the table, and Liam was the one who spoke first. “It’s your decision, gorgeous. We will support it one-hundred percent.”

Although I was positive I’d be nervous when the time actually came, at the moment, I was elated. I was home, I was surrounded by my guys, and DuBois would finally get what he deserved. If I had to survive the kidnapping and over a decade of seclusion just to get to this point, it was all worth it.