“You’re right ma’am. My apologies. We’ll need you to come down to the station with us to answer a few questions.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight.”
“I can’t—my daughter—”
“I’ll bring her down first thing in the morning guys. Give her a break.”
“All right, Coop, but you get to deal with the chief for this one.”
“It’s no problem. I’ll handle it. Have a good night guys, stay safe.”
“You got it man. See you later.”
After they walk the intruder to their cruiser and pull away, Cooper turns me around to face him, cupping my jaw in his hands so he can get a good look at me. “Are you going to be okay? I can stay and sleep on the couch if you need me to.”
“I don’t think—”
“Aria, I’m not trying to pressure you into anything. I only want you to know that I’m here and you don’t have to be alone tonight. I knew something bad—I just didn’t know… I’m sorry…” his voice trails off and he looks so broken for a second. His hands fall to his sides and he can barely look me in the eye anymore. Maybe it was easier to not know for sure what I’d lived through so hearing it validated must be hitting him hard.
“I’m sorry my past is upsetting you so much,” my whispered words hit his ears, and the devastation written all over his face morphs into sheer horror.
“That’s what you think?” he asks and all I can do is nod, because I’m confused as to what else would warrant that reaction. “You silly, beautiful, nonsensical girl. Of course I’m upset that you had to survive your past rather than just enjoying it. That’s not why I reacted that way because I’m quickly realizing how wrong it was for us to force all of those things on you. We truly thought we were doing a good thing and pushing you a little out of your comfort zone. We didn’t realize you’re fresh off the boat from traumaville down in the domestic-violence islands. We pushed you too hard, too soon. You’ll never understand how terrible I feel about that. You deserve so much more,” he says, hanging his head in defeat.
“Hey Coop?” I nudge him, trying to get his attention but he has his eyes focused firmly on his feet—his bare feet. This guy ran over here barefoot to save my daughter, my friends, and I. He didn’t think about it. He just knew we were in danger and he came in swinging with no regard for his own safety. My heart yearns to tell him how badly I want him to come in and stay with me tonight. I can’t do it though. I wish I were a stronger woman. I wish I deserved a man like him. “Cooper? I can’t thank you enough for tonight. It means everything to me to know that we’re safe here,” I say, reaching up to cup his face in my hands this time. I move slowly so he sees my intention, and I place the softest most chaste kiss to his lips. Then I turn on my heel and run inside, leaving the man who saved me stunned on my back patio. Before I head back to bed I double and triple check all the locks and then go back up to snuggle all my girls. I don’t sleep a wink though.
Twenty-Nine
Big little brothers & jealous men make a group of idiots
Aria
November 2020
I jump out of bed and run downstairs when a loud banging sounds from downstairs. For a second I think about checking the security footage just in case, but then I hear a familiar voice yelling through the door and I unlock it as fast as I can, swinging the door wide open with a bang and jumping into the arms of my brother.
He was expecting it, since it’s how I always hug him—with every ounce of squish I can muster. He’s a foot taller than me with a solid hundred pounds or so on me now at six foot four and two hundred thirty pounds of solid muscle. The big doof swings me around like I used to do to him when he was a baby and plants a kiss on the top of my head when he sets me down.
“I’ve missed you!” he says, squeezing me tight again.
“I’ve missed you too Bubs.”
“What the hell?” I hear Ethan’s voice from behind me, so I turn to see the three men that have turned my world upside down all staring at us in varied states of disbelief, and if I’m not mistaken, a healthy amount of jealousy.
It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to laugh at them. It’s not exactly their fault they’ve come to the wrong conclusion. My brother is a beautiful man, tall and strong. His features are striking with his light brown skin and pine green eyes. His voice is melodic and pleasing to the ear. It’s why he’s become so successful in his music. He’s also very protective of me because we were all each other had growing up. He’s probably gotten worse since I finally came clean about the things that were happening to me when I was still married to Benji.
“Are you going to introduce us to your… friend, Ari?” Jace asks with a raised brow. He’s sizing my brother up along with Cooper and Ethan and I see the exact moment Ethan decides he can take him because he smirks wickedly and his fists clench tight. Unfortunately, my brother also notices and pushes me behind him.
“What the—”
“Not now Aria, I’ll handle this.” Niko says gruffly.
“Don’t talk to her like that!” Ethan argues.
The male ego is so freaking strange.
“Uh, I can speak for myself guys!” I yell. It takes some effort to push my way back in front of all of them, but my brother’s never been one to hold me back in life so he relents when he sees that I’m serious. Now that I’ve finally garnered everyone’s attention, I make introductions. “Niko, meet Jace, Cooper, and Ethan. They’re my next door neighbors and, uh… friends. Guys, this is Niko, mybrother.” I say, smiling wide at all four of them. I’m stupidly enjoying watching the understanding wash over them.
