“It’s okay, Hudson, you don’t have to say a thing,” I say. I really don’t expect anything. I am already overwhelmed by Bryce and Max’s confessions.

“I can’t…” Hudson starts, unable to finish his sentence. He rubs his hand against the centre of his chest, just like he had done before. When he does that I see the kid he must have been, broken by a mum who couldn’t love him. It shatters me, seeing him so vulnerable. Knowing the power those three tiny words have, I realise I need to say them and, more importantly, he needs to hear them.

“Then I will say it for you. I love you, Hudson Freed. I love you despite the jagged edges, because of them.” I turn around, looking at Bryce. “I have never felt safer than when I am in your arms. I love you.” My gaze settles on Max next. “And you, Max, I love you for the joy you bring me, for the laughter, for the way I never feel judged in your presence. Before I met you all, I was fragmented, shattered, but somehow, I’m beginning to piece myself together. I’m not brave. I am still scared, but I’ll never run.”

“Baby… you don’t have to be brave,” Hudson says, pulling off his top and striding towards me. He lifts me up under my arms, and as I wrap my legs around his waist he whispers in my ear. “We’ve got you, butterfly.”

He gently lies me on the bed, straddling my hips. Bryce and Max settle either side of me. I feel the length of their bodies pressed against mine as Hudson runs kisses over my face and neck, nipping at my ear as he begins to unbutton my top.

“Let us show you how much we love you, darling,” Bryce whispers into my ear. I can feel the firmness of his fingers as he swipes my shirt open. On the other side, Max gently kisses against my collar bone. I can feel the tendrils of his hair caress my skin, the featherlight touch in stark contrast to the passionate grasp of Bryce’s hand as he massages my breast.

“Oh…” I whimper, my synapses firing as their skilled hands and mouths stoke the embers within me. They feed the flame with every lick, every scalding touch. These men, my men, have cracked me open and filled me up. They are like an addiction, a drug. One I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do without, that I don’t want to be without. I feel alive in a way I never have before.

“Let go, Louisa. Let us love you,” Hudson whispers against my skin. His mouth closes over my nipple, the soft twirling of his tongue and the slight graze of his teeth sending ripples of pleasure to my groin. He gets up to remove his trousers and pants. Through my heavy-lidded eyes I can see how much he wants me. Leaning over, he undoes my jeans, and in one swift movement pulls them off with my knickers, leaving me exposed to him. I catch his eye and watch as the pink of his tongue wets his lips. He makes no move forward. Instead, he chooses to watch as Bryce and Max take control.

“You’re so wet, Icy,” Max says as his fingertip swirls over my sleek opening. I push up into his hand, wanting more. He obliges, sliding two fingers inside me as the pad of his thumb presses then circles my clit, alternating the movement until I am on the brink of a precipice I don’t ever want to climb out of. My eyes flutter closed as Bryce cups my breast with his large hand, squeezing gently.

“Open your eyes, baby,” Hudson says from his spot at the foot of the bed. I do as he asks. Hudson is running his hand up and down the long shaft of his cock whilst Max and Bryce turn my body into liquid heat.

Feeling suddenly brave, I reach down to grasp Max and Bryce. A small smile of victory spreads across my face when I feel their excitement and hear their groans of desire. Bryce tips my chin to the side and captures my mouth with his. A low growl erupts as I move my hand faster. Passion overtakes as he rocks into my hand, his tongue snaking around my own. He lets my mouth go briefly, as he wriggles out of his boxers. Max takes the opportunity to kiss me gently, his own hips rocking against my hand.

“Who do you want to take you over the edge, darling?” Bryce asks gently.

I find I can’t answer, that I’ve lost all control of my faculties. An orgasm is building, and I am too overwhelmed by the sensation to speak. Max pulls his fingers away, just as the orgasm is about to break and I cry out in disappointment.

“Not yet, Icy, I want to feel you around me when you come,” Max says as he slides off the bed. I watch as he takes off his underwear and opens the bedside table drawer, pulling out a condom packet. He slides one on then crawls across the bed towards me.

“Come here,” he says, resting his back against the headboard. I ease onto my elbows, sitting up. Bryce helps me out of my shirt and bra. He is exceedingly gentle.

Max holds his hand out to me. I take it and lift my leg over his, straddling him then slowly, ever so slowly, lower my body down over his cock. Behind me I hear Bryce and Hudson move away, giving us space in the moment, sensing Max needs this moment alone with me after his confession, that I need it too.

Max looks at me, his hands resting on my face. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Icy, but I sure do like it.” He grins, bringing my face close to his, kissing me sweetly. It is enough to melt my heart entirely. Max shifts, pulling me close against his chest, and moves within me slowly, tenderly. His hands twirl in my hair and we rock together. It doesn’t take long until the fire is building within me once again, and as we both come apart all I can hear are Max’s whispered words of love.

* * *

“BRYCE, HUDSON, MAX,” Calum calls from below. I twist sharply towards the door, worried that Calum is going to come running in. That worry is soon overshadowed by the fact that the usually calm Calum is shouting for our attention. This can’t be good. I ease off Max gently, turning my worried expression to Bryce and Hudson, who are already picking up their clothes and pulling them on. Hudson does up his jeans but doesn’t bother to put on a top.

“I’ll go,” he says quickly, pulling open the door and rushing out.

A sudden sick feeling fills me. Bryce hands me my clothes, as Max pulls on his. “Nish?” I ask, my voice cracking with emotion.

“I don’t know, darling,” Bryce says, grabbing my hand. He squeezes it gently. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together.”

Max puts his arm around me and presses a kiss against my head. “Come on, let’s see what’s up.” They glance at one another, and I can’t help but feel they might have an idea what’s going on but aren’t willing to speculate just yet. We head downstairs and into the living area. Calum is gesticulating wildly at Hudson, who is trying to calm him down. Nisha is nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Nish?” I bite out, panic littering my voice.

Calum stops pacing, his eyes wide with concern. There is fear too, and anger.

“They took her. That fucking prick took her and left me this damn note,” Calum says, pointing to a piece of paper in Hudson’s hand.

“Who took her? What are you talking about?” I stride over to Hudson, holding my hand out.

“I don’t think you should read this, Louisa,” he says.

“Hand me the fucking note, Hudson,” I grind out.

He puts it into my hand. I can see him making eyes at Bryce and Max over my shoulder.

“Fuck,” Bryce says, as though he knows something already. But how can he? I look at the note in my hand and start reading.

£150k, no fucking police or the mouthy bitch might just find herself in a body bag at the bottom of the River Thames. I know she means a lot to Tuitti Fruiti. Guess who’s next if you don’t pay up. You know the score.

“Smithy… He’s got Nisha? How did this happen? You were supposed to be looking after her!” I shout at Calum. He winces.

“I’m sorry, Louisa. We were having a meal, Nisha went to the toilet. When she didn’t return after a few minutes, I went to see if she was alright. I thought perhaps she’d got sick. When I couldn’t find her, I returned to our table and that note was there. After what Bryce told me, I knew it was from the same man who threatened you.”

My hand flies up to my mouth, smothering the scream that is rising up in my throat. Bryce steps up behind me, touching me gently on the arm. I turn on him. “Tell me what you know, Bryce,” I say steadily, my voice deadly calm.

Bryce grits his teeth, his eyes flicking to Hudson.

“Don’t fucking look at him. Tell me what the hell is going on!” I shout. Somewhere in the back of my head a small voice is telling me to calm down, to try and be reasonable, that this is my mum’s fault, not theirs. But she’s dead and they’re the only people I’ve got to blame, aside from my stupid fucking self. Why do I ever think my life could be easy, simple? It never has been, and it never will be, and now poor Nisha has got mixed up in it all.

“When I arranged for the money to be delivered to pay off your mum’s debt, Smithy sent my courier back with a similar note. He threatened further action if we didn’t pay ten times the amount he claimed from your mum. The greedy bastard somehow figured out who I was and tried to extort more money from us. I passed it off as all talk. I didn’t think the lowlife piece of scum would follow through. We chalked him up as a petty criminal and not one we needed to concern ourselves with. I’m sorry, Louisa, we underestimated him.” Bryce swipes a hand through his hair.

“So you sent Nisha out, knowing that fucking creep had threatened us both.”

“It’s wasn’t like that,” Max says, trying to placate me. “She was with Cal. We didn’t think he would go through with his threat. We thought she’d be okay.”

“Well she isn’t, is she? Now that bastard has Nisha. Fuck knows what he’s going to do with her,” I yell at Max.

Hudson places his hands on my shoulders. “Louisa, we will make this right. We will find Nisha and we’ll sort that fucker out once and for all.”

I twist in his arms, slapping his hands away. “You said you would keep us safe. I trusted you to do that. I trusted all of you, but now that bastard has Nisha. He’ll hurt her. You know what he did to me within five minutes of entering my flat.”

“Louisa, we’ll find her. We will bring her home,” Hudson says firmly. He glances over his shoulder at Calum. “Call Clifford, tell him what’s happened and that I want to meet him at the office. Max, you’re with me. Bryce, stay here and look after Louisa. She does not step outside this house. Keep her safe, she trusts you to do that.”

I laugh out loud at the irony.

“I’m coming too,” Calum says. “She was my responsibility. I need to make this right.” He glances at me, an apology on his face. “I will bring her back.”

I nod tightly, not able to respond. Calum strides past us, pulling out his mobile phone. He takes the steps down to the front door two at a time.

“I’m going to get dressed. Max, wait in the car, I’ll be there in a few,” Hudson says, before rushing back upstairs.

Max stops in front of me. “We’ll find her.”

“Go, I’ll take care of Louisa,” Bryce says. Turning to me, he places his hand on my lower back and steers me towards the kitchen. “Sit down. I’ll make you a sweet tea.”

“I don’t want a sodding tea,” I say, slamming my hand on the counter.

“Then something stronger, perhaps?”

“I don’t want a drink, Bryce.”

He ignores me, heads to one of the cabinets and pulls out a bottle of brandy and two glasses. He pours himself a glass and downs it. Then he pours me one and slides it across the table. I leave it there.

I hear footsteps pounding down the stairs. Hudson strides over to me and pulls me into his arms. He tightens his grip when I try to push him away.

“We’ll bring her back. I promise you, Louisa, we won’t come home without her.” Stepping away, he addresses Bryce. “Send me the location of where the courier delivered the money.”

“Already done,” Bryce says, placing his phone on the table.

“I’ll call you with updates,” he says, before rushing from the room. I hear the front door slam, and moments later the sound of a car speeding out of the drive.

“What if they don’t bring her back, Bryce? I can’t lose her…” A sob escapes my throat as hot tears pour from my eyes. How could the night turn from one of love and hope, to grief and loss so quickly? My body begins to tremble violently. Bryce is by my side in an instant. He doesn’t say a word, he just holds me against his chest until I have no more tears left.