Page 35 of Psycho Saviors

My skin prickled, reminding me of the dangerous world I was now in. These men, as protective as they might be, were still capable of inflicting their own brand of pain. I swallowed hard, trying to reconcile the conflicting feelings of security and fear that battled within me.

I couldn't help but snort at the mindful comment, the sound escaping my lips before I could stop it. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. The absurdity of it all – being 'protected' by these dangerous men while simultaneously fearing them – wasn't lost on me.

He pulled back slightly, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. There was something dangerous lurking in those depths, a promise of both protection and peril that made my heart skip a beat.

"I won't kill you, kitten," Cristian said, his voice low and husky. "You can be sure of that." It wasn't exactly the most comforting reassurance, leaving me to wonder what other fates might befall me. I searched his face for any hint of deception, but found only a disturbing sincerity that left me more unsettled than before.

"You could do it on accident," I pointed out, not one to forget his volatile nature.

A wry smile twisted his lips. "I've killed enough to know when something I do is too much. Besides," his voice dropped to a whisper, "you're mine now. You've got my heart."

The intensity in his gaze made a shiver course down my spine, and I wasn't sure if it was from fear or something else entirely. Before I could respond, he stepped away, his mood shifting as quickly as always.

"I think we need more snacks," he announced, heading towards the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes, though I noticed Tyrone watching me carefully from across the room. His dark eyes were unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his gaze.

Glancing over at Julian, I saw him smiling softly as he scratched Kenny behind the ears. The cat's contented purrs filled the room, a soothing counterpoint to the tension that had built up.

Despite everything, I felt myself starting to relax. The emotional whiplash of the past few days left me feeling drained, but oddly calm. These men, dangerous and unpredictable as they were, had become a strange sort of constant in my life. It was a realization that should have terrified me, but instead, it brought an unexpected comfort. I found myself sinking deeper into the couch, the tension in my muscles slowly uncoiling. The familiar scents of the house - a mix of leather, coffee, and something uniquely masculine - washed over me, grounding me in the present. As I watched Julian with Kenny, and felt Tyrone's intense gaze, I couldn't help but wonder how I'd ended up here, finding solace among chaos. It was as if the storm inside me had finally found its match in the wild unknown that surrounded these brothers.

16

CRISTIAN

Iwatched Scarlet's chest rise and fall as she slept on the couch, Kenny curled up against her side. The day had flown by in a haze of board games and takeout, a strange normalcy settling over us all. Even Julian seemed more relaxed than usual, his usual sharp edges softened by the easy camaraderie we'd fallen into.

"She's out cold," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Tyrone glanced up from his phone, his dark eyes flicking between me and Scarlet. "Let her rest."

I snorted. Was he expecting me to do something to her? No, watching her sleep, it filled me with something I couldn't place.

I couldn't deny the warmth that spread through my chest as I looked at her. She'd fought us tooth and nail from the start, yet here she was, comfortable enough to fall asleep in our presence. It was... nice. Domestic, even. A far cry from the chaos that usually defined our lives.

I remembered how she'd laughed earlier, her head thrown back, eyes crinkled at the corners. For a moment, I'd seen a glimpse of the woman she might have been without all the trauma weighing her down. It made me want to protect her, to keep that light in her eyes burning bright. Strange, because another part of me wanted to snuff it out, to break her and bend her to my whim. It was like there was a battle between two sides of myself.

"You're staring," Julian pointed out from where he was playing a handheld console. A moment of rest for him after the entire kidnapping fiasco. My shoulder ached, reminding me of the bullet I'd taken, and I touched the patch covering my sewn up wound.

I tore my gaze away from Scarlet, meeting my brother's knowing look. "So what if I am?"

He shrugged, but I could see the concern in his eyes. "You like her a lot, huh?"

"Yes. She's fire and ice, everything one could want," I murmured, my eyes drifting back to Scarlet despite my best efforts. The contradiction of her nature fascinated me, drew me in like a moth to a flame. She was unpredictable, dangerous, and utterly captivating.

"Be careful," Julian said as he focused back on his game, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the console. I could hear the unspoken warning in his voice, the concern that perhaps I was getting in too deep. But careful had never been my strong suit, especially not when it came to things I desired. And I desired Scarlet with an intensity that both thrilled and terrified me.

I wanted to snap at him, to tell him to mind his own fucking business. But I knew he was right. Scarlet wasn't ours to keep. She'd be gone in a few weeks, back to her life, leaving us behind like a bad dream.

The thought made my chest ache in a way I hadn't felt since Tessa. I pushed it down, burying it under layers of anger and indifference. It was safer that way. Easier.

But as I looked at Scarlet again, peaceful in sleep, I knew it was already too late. She'd wormed her way under my skin, and I was fucked.

When her term came to an end, I knew I wasn't going to be able to stick to our agreement. It'd piss my brothers off, but I wanted her, and I always got what I wanted, one way or another.

I watched as Scarlet's eyes fluttered open, her gaze darting around the room before settling on me, where I sat across from her. The confusion in her eyes was almost endearing. Had I been watching her sleep? maybe, but I wouldn't admit it.

We'd sorted out a few things while she slept, made some calls, and come to an agreement. Something special for her, though she might not see it that way at first.