Page 49 of Psycho Saints

Weeks blurred by in a whirlwind of change. Cristian came home after a few more days in the hospital, his recovery progressing well. Somehow, I found myself thrust into the role of house hunter, poring over listings the brothers presented to me.

"Which one do you like best?" Cristian asked, his eyes bright with excitement despite the lingering fatigue from his injury.

I flicked through photos of sprawling mansions and palatial estates, each more opulent than the last. The sheer size and luxury of these places left me stunned. "They're all... overwhelming," I admitted.

Tyrone's hand rested on my shoulder. "Don't jump at the first one, Scarlet. This is to be our forever home. Take your time and look through them all."

One property caught my eye – a grand house with a massive library that made my bookworm heart skip a beat. But when I saw the price tag, I felt dizzy. "Jesus, that's..."

"Don't stress about it," Julian chimed in, waving away my concerns. "We've got it covered."

I watched as Julian helped Cristian back to his room to rest, his movements careful but not overly coddling. It was a delicate balance he and Tyrone had struck, supporting him while still treating him normally.

"He's recovering well," I commented to Tyrone once we were alone.

He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his usually stern face. "He's tough. Always has been."

Tyrone moved towards me then, his large hands gripping my waist. In one fluid motion, he lifted me onto the kitchen counter. I found myself eye-level with him as he stood between my legs, his gaze intense and searching.

"What?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his scrutiny.

He didn't answer immediately, just continued to look at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. His thumbs traced small circles on my hips, and I felt a familiar warmth spreading through me.

"You're really here," he said finally, his voice low. "You're staying."

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. "I am."

His forehead rested against mine, and I closed my eyes, breathing him in. This man, who could be so ruthless and cold, was now holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

"I never thought..." he started, then trailed off.

I understood. None of us had expected this – me least of all. But here we were, planning a future together, a family.

Tyrone's eyes softened, a vulnerability I rarely saw in him shining through. "I never could have seen things turning out this way," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "From you being my pet to becoming my future wife..."

"I know," I whispered, running my fingers through his hair. "It's crazy, isn't it?"

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Completely insane."

"But the legalities..." I started, my practical side kicking in. "How can I be married to more than one man?"

Tyrone's lips quirked into a small smile. "Don't worry about that. We'll handle it. You won’t legally be married to us all, just one, technically. On paper, anyway, but between us and our circle, you would be our wife."

He leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that made my skin prickle. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with emotion. "I've never cared so much about a woman before," he confessed. "Apart from my own mother, and that was different."

His fingers found their way into my hair, gently combing through the strands. The tenderness of the gesture caught me off guard, coming from a man I knew could be so ruthless.

"Sleep with me tonight," he said softly. It wasn't a command, but a request. "In my bed. I want to hold you and our growing baby."

My breath caught in my throat. The way he said 'our baby' sent a rush of warmth through me. Despite everything, despite how we'd started, I found myself nodding.

"Okay," I whispered, letting him help me down from the counter.

As he led me towards his room, I marveled at how much had changed. From captive to lover, from pawn to partner. And now, carrying a child that bound us all together in ways I was only beginning to understand.

We climbed into bed, and he pulled me against his body, holding me close, his giant arms wrapping me up with a sense of safety as he nuzzled me.

We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, the weight of our new reality settling around us.