So Rare (Boys of South Chapel #3)

37. Hunter

Chapter 37

Hunter

NOW

I took a bath. Meditated with Sione. Sent a request for a next-day telehealth appointment with my therapist from London.

I did everything I could think to do to settle my nervous system.

That’s when it hit me.

This isn’t the time for settling. For keeping my cool and staying calm.

This is a time for action.

We have decisions to make. We have an offensive strategy to plan.

I’m done sitting around waiting to see what happens next.

It’s time to take my fate, along with my future with the men I love, back into my own hands.

As I step into the theater room, the mood of the group already gathered shifts. All four guys are here, and it wasn’t until I texted Spence after I was done blow-drying my hair that I discovered where they’d gone.

Though this is a movie room, the big-screen is dark. The guys are sitting together in the first row, save for Sione, who’s sitting in front of them on the floor. They’re talking quietly, listening to each other intently. No one is cracking jokes or throwing jabs. Apparently, the arrival of the mystery boat and the chaos it created changed the dynamic between my men.

It makes sense. It rewired my brain, too.

It’s necessary. This change. Something has to give. The idea of relying on old habits doesn’t sit well with me. In the past, I ran from my problems as a means of survival. I don’t want to live like that any longer.

A sudden, steadfast urge to shed all former versions of myself hits me. It’s time to break free from the facets of myself that no longer serve me in order to protect this group. These amazing, sincere, dedicated men that I love on so many levels.

I stop before them, wait for the room to go quiet, and make my intention known.

“No more running.”

Four sets of eyes land on me, their expressions a full spectrum of concern, admiration, and wonder.

“Tem—” Greedy chokes out, already rising to his feet.

I knew he’d be the first to object. Just like I know he’ll be the hardest sell.

Arms out, I silently invite him to approach. His steps are cautious, as if he doesn’t quite know what I want from him in this moment.

Although I’m aware of the three men watching us, I keep my gaze solely focused on my first love. “I need you.”

He’s by my side a second later, wrapping one large arm around my back and anchoring me to him. “You have me,” he vows with a kiss on the crown of my head. “Always.”

I close my eyes, sink into his hold, and revel in the deep-seated trust and care this man and I share. He has always been worth fighting for. Worth staying for. It was me who wasn’t ready, who wasn’t worthy or sure enough in my sense of self to know that I deserve his love.

I’m not giving this up for anything. Not now. Not ever again.

“I want to stay here. I want to fight. I want to build a life with all of you, where we’re not constantly on alert or worried about what’s next.”

“No more running.” I peer up at Greedy, finding fresh understanding in his gaze, then turn back to the others.

When I look to Levi, he’s nodding earnestly, just like I knew he would be. “I’m in,” he declares. “For all of it.” He pauses and looks around at the other guys. “With all of you.”

Greedy squeezes into my side, and I nuzzle even closer, willing him to feel the silent assurance I’m communicating. Assurance that this is real, that this is happening, and that this is how it’s meant to be.

A love like ours? It’s the rarest kind.

It endures and it waits. It galvanizes and it grows.

It’s also delicate in the most fragile of ways. It needs nurturing. It needs the kind of devotion Greedy has poured into it, despite my past choices and my attempts to push him away.

What we have is special. It’s that once-in-a-lifetime love people dream about. And I get to experience it four times over.

I want it. I trust it. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to fight for it now.

No more running.

This love is worth staying for.

“Sione?” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “What do you think?”

His smile is wide and his posture relaxed. When his warm brown eyes lift to meet mine, I already have my answer. “I’m here. I’m in. As long as my presence does not cause any turmoil, stress, or harm to anyone in the group.”

The others instantly break out in reassurances, denying any concern about his presence.

A silent sigh of relief escapes me. God, it’s incredible, how easily they’ve accepted my sweet Si. It just reaffirms for me that this is how it was always meant to be.

Sione nods, murmurs his thanks to each man, then fixes his attention on me. “Then where you lead, I will follow. Or, in this case, if you ask me to stay, I will bloom where we settle.”

“Come on, man,” Levi groans. “Why does everything you say sound like fucking poetry? I feel like I’m back in English lit trying to keep up with all your fancy declarations.” With a teasing huff, he nudges Sione with his sneaker.

Si captures the other man’s leg in defense, but his face falls a moment later. “Is your leg hurting right now?”

Levi’s brows raise in surprise. “It doesn’t feel great. I worked out earlier but didn’t stretch much afterward—”

Sione hops to his feet. “May I work on it for you?”

Levi stammers something that sounds like “be my guest,” but when Sione’s massive, tatted hand clamps down around his upper thigh, he freezes, holding his breath.

We’re all silent as Si closes his eyes and gently rubs up and down Levi’s quad, assessing him over his pants.

“You’re holding too much tension in this muscle. It’s healing from an injury, yes?”

Levi’s blue eyes are bright with shock and curiosity.

I haven’t said a word to Si about the injury or surgery, but I’m not surprised he could sense and identify the root of Levi’s pain. Sione is a Reiki master, yoga teacher, and energy healer. He triple majored in premed, biology, and philosophy. He was offered a full ride to three chiropractic schools because, clearly, he’s enormously talented when it comes to helping and healing.

I press my lips together and watch the two of them, Sione intent on helping Levi, while Levi stares on in awe. After a few moments, I tilt my chin up to Greedy, then bump his hip with mine.

He reads me like an open book, freely offering up the assurance I crave.

“You don’t have to ask, Tem. You have me. You’ve always had me.”

Spence rises from his seat and saunters to my free side. He takes my hand, caressing my knuckles with the pad of his thumb. When we lock eyes, I know he’s in as well.

“I am yours, Firecracker. I am theirs. I’m not going anywhere.”

“It’s settled, then.” I tilt my head up to Greedy, desperate for him to see the sincerity in my eyes. “This is it. This is what I want.”

His responding nod is solemn. Bending low, he places the tenderest of kisses on my lips.

Levi turns to us. “If we’re staying—”

“We have to fight,” Kabir finishes.

Greedy and I pull apart, and with a steadying exhale, I nod. Staying means putting an end to Magnolia’s efforts once and for all. How we go about doing that? I have no idea.

Spencer squeezes my hand, then straightens his spine and addresses the room. “I have a plan of sorts. It will take a few days to coordinate and implement, and I may need to call on outside assistance.”

“Who?” Greedy asks.

“Walsh and his cohort.”

I fight back a snicker. I can’t wait to tell Joey that Kabir called her relationship a cohort. Or that he thinks Kylian is their ringleader. Although, nowadays, I guess he kind of is. Also, I suppose I’ve technically got a cohort of my own, too.

My heart tugs when I think about Joey and her guys. I miss her fiercely. Being at the Crusade Mansion without her is way less fun.

“Hunter trusts them,” Kabir continues. “Do you as well?”

Greedy rubs my low back, his touch reassuring. “I do.”

Another flash of relief washes over me. For a short time, we may have been at odds about how to handle this situation, where to go, and how to proceed. But it’s clear that the incident with the boat changed our perspectives and fundamentally set us on a new course.

One where we stand our ground. One where we stick together, no matter what.

“You’ll need to follow my lead. Play along. There may be some… surprises, depending on how things unfold. Can I count on you in that way?”

Spence’s question is directed at Greedy, but it’s Levi who interjects. Rising to his feet, he turns and offers Sione a hand up.

“We can help.”

“You can, and you will,” Spence says. “We’ll all need to play our parts. But you need to trust me to assign the roles.”

“I trust you,” I tell him wholeheartedly.

He pulls me away from Greedy, wraps one hand around the back of my neck, and brings his lips to my ear.

“I know, love. Endgame, forever and always.” He places a kiss below my ear, then bites at my neck for good measure. “Now be a good girl and help me get our boys on board.”

Turning me, he bands both arms over my chest, holding me in place.

With my hands cupped around his strong forearms, I take in my other guys one at a time. “I want to stay. I want to fight. And I want to try Spencer’s plan. Is that okay?”

Three sets of eyes—mossy green, dark denim blue, and warm brown—all meet my gaze, and each man before me nods.

“Okay, then. We’re doing this.”

“First things first,” Kabir says, still holding me tight. “I’ve coordinated with a private nurse. She will come here in the morning to draw Hunter’s blood. We need to have it evaluated for traces of flunitrazepam or anything else that indicates she was drugged.”

“Is that really necessary?” Levi asks.

I go to him and link my arm through his, curling into his side. His concern for me makes my heart melt. But I’m with Spence on this one. I want proof of what Magnolia did, by any means necessary.

“It is,” Greedy offers before I can speak up. “If we’re fighting this, we need proof. My dad is the smartest man I know. He’s also the dumbest when it comes to Magnolia. Hard evidence and data will make a difference.” Lowering his head, he gives it a shake, and his next words come out far more softly. “It has to.”

“I have not met Magnolia, but I fear she is conniving and boundless in her limits,” Si says. “How will you ensure results are not tampered with?”

Spence grins. “I have a friend to help in that arena. All bloodwork will be run through Crusade Labs. Kylian Walsh will supervise.”

Based on Spence’s expression and my knowledge of how he likes to operate, it’s safe to assume that he’s already set this up with Kylian. I don’t know why the idea of him and Kylian plotting together makes me giggly. I can’t wait to talk to Joey and gossip about our guys’ budding bromance.

“Since the nurse is coming by the house tomorrow anyway,” Spence continues. “I propose we all have blood drawn to evaluate for disease or infection.”

Oh. That’s an unexpected twist.

“Evaluated? For what? STIs?”

“Precisely. Seeing as how our group has grown”—he tips his chin toward Sione—“and certain dynamics have evolved”—this time, he looks to Greedy, then Levi—“I think it best we all get tested and treated if needed. A clear bill of health for everyone now that the gang’s all here.”

Greedy’s the first to consent. “That’s a good idea. I’m in.”

“Yeah, me, too,” Levi says softly.

I squeeze his arm once more, then turn to the fifth member of this group. “Si?” He doesn’t love conventional western medicine. I’m also certain he hasn’t been physically intimate with anyone but me for the last few years. I don’t need to see his results, but I’m not the only one who should be considered here anymore.

Sione shoots me a sly grin. “A bit of blood never stopped us before,” he declares, his voice as melodic as ever. “I’m in.”