Page 113 of Tormented Kings

Preston looks between us, not sure what to do, what to say. I can tell leaving us right now is tearing him apart. I know he wants to stay here with us.

“I’m not running. Not this time,” he whispers.

“We know,” Declan answers.

Preston’s phone rings again, and he curses. “Shit. I-I have to go.” He gives us one last longing look before taking off.

Letting out a sigh, my heart, I turn to look at Declan to talk about what just happened when Preston busts back into the room. “I forgot something,” he says, then rushes over to us. He grabs me by the back of the head, his lips crashing into mine. “I love you, Kitten,” he pants before doing the same to Declan. Declan whimpers against Preston’s lips, their kiss quick but passionate. “I love you too,” he tells Declan before turning around and leaving again.

“Did that really just happen?” Delcan looks down at me with a shy smile on his face.

“I think it did.” I laugh. “Wanna talk about it?”

He shakes his head. “Later. Right now, we have turkey to eat.”

As we sit down at the table, I give my two other boyfriends a smile, letting them know I’m okay before smiling over at Declan.

My eyes drift to the empty chair next to Collin and my heart pangs. Maybe next holiday it will be filled.

I’m not sure where we go next, but I know both Declan and I want to give Preston the chance to prove himself to us. We love him, we care. Now he just needs to let us take care of him like he deserves.

Chapter 25

Preston

Am I sitting at the club’s bar, drinking as I have a pity party? Yes. Why? Because I’m a fucking coward.

It’s been a few days since Thanksgiving, and I’ve avoided texting or calling Sadie or Declan.

The heart to heart we had was the most vulnerable I’ve ever been. I was open and raw. I don’t remember the last time I cried. But as the words flowed out of me and I spilled my heart out to the two people in my life that mean the world to me, I couldn’t help it.

Everything I’ve kept bottled up came bursting out. Only for it to be interrupted by my sack-of-shit father.

The last thing I wanted to do was pull myself together and go to Tina’s house. I had to listen to all the wedding plans Tina and her mother had made. She acted like she was in love with me, like we were some happily engaged couple, while fully ignoring the fact that I hate her with every fiber of my being.

Fake. It’s all fake, from the engagement right down to her tits.

But I played my part and was as polite as I could muster around her parents. But every time she put her hand on me, I wanted to yank it off. To get in her face and tell her not to fucking touch me. That I was repulsed by her and that this wedding is never going to happen.

I didn’t, biting my tongue like I always do. Before, it was because this was the life I’d accepted for myself. There was a time when I planned on marrying Tina even though I couldn’t stand her. I planned to fuck around, have mistresses to drownthe hurt inside me. That was if my plan to disappear didn’t pan out.

Now, the last thing I want to do is be within ten feet of her. The mere sight of her turns my stomach. She’s a backstabbing bitch and a bully. She only cares about money and power.

My plans to leave here and never look back have changed. No longer do I want to use the money from this place to take off. Because I have something to stay for. Someone to stay for. Two someones.

They said they loved me.Me.It’s fucking surreal, and I don’t think I fully believe it. The dark thoughts creep in, trying to prevent any drop of happiness from taking root.

I’m also embarrassed. I know I shouldn’t be, that it’s okay to be a man and cry. But god, I’ve never felt more out of control than I did in that moment. What if once I left, they talked and realized that I’m not worth the trouble?

Fuck, I never knew I was this insecure.

No, because I’m a stubborn bastard who hates to admit he’s human and has emotions.

Right now, I just want my fucking brain to shut off so I can breathe for a moment.

“Hey, Boss,” Rosie slides up next to me, a playful grin on her lips. “Sitting here and moping, are you?” She pouts. “Not a good look on you, I have to say.” I move the glass of whiskey away from my lips and scowl at her. “Ah, there it is. There’s the grumpy Preston I know.”

“How can I help you, Rosie?” She’s someone I would never dream of being an asshole to. She scares the shit out of me.