Toxic Vows, Filthy Pleasures

chapter 11

Ava's POV

The sun was barely up when I woke up. My head was still full of shouts and gunshots and the smell of burning wood. I opened my eyes slow and felt two arms around me. One strong arm was under my head, the other was wrapped tight around my waist. Damien’s breathing was deep and steady right next to my ear. And on the other side, Marcus’s chest rose and fell with every breath.

I didn’t move at first. I just lay there, listening to them. The house was quiet now. No more screams. No more sirens right outside. Only the distant wail of police cars getting farther away. My body ached in the best way. My p***y still felt full from last night. My ass still remembered Lucas. My mouth still tasted like Marcus. I let out a soft breath and whispered, “Morning.”

Damien stirred first. He lifted his head and gave me that lazy, filthy smile. “Morning, beautiful. You still with us?”

I nodded and turned my head. Marcus was already looking at me. His eyes were soft but tired. “Hey, queen,” he said quietly. “You good?”

I was. For the first time in years I felt safe. Not trapped. Not cold. Just… safe. With these three crazy, dangerous men who had fought for me all night. My heart did that funny flip it always did when I said the word out loud.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I’m good. You guys… you saved me. All of you.”

Damien kissed my shoulder. “We always do. But right now we need food. My stomach is eating itself.”

I laughed a little. “You guys are terrible. Okay, let me up first.”

Marcus rolled away slow so he didn’t wake Damien fully. I sat up, naked under the sheet because we hadn’t bothered with clothes all night. My thighs were sticky. My skin still smelled like gunpowder and s*x and them. I pulled the sheet up to my chest and looked at both of them.

“You two… you’re not just my protectors anymore, you know that?” I said, voice soft but sure. “You’re my family. All three of you. I mean it. I love you both. And I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Marcus sat up fast. His dark eyes got shiny. “You’re our queen, Ava. We’re your family. We always will be.”

Damien sat up too, rubbing his eyes. “Damn right. We already planned to share a bed with you every night from now on. No more separate rooms. You’re ours.”

We stayed there for a minute, just looking at each other. My heart felt so full it hurt. I was really, really safe with them.

Then the smell of coffee and bacon hit my nose. I looked toward the door and saw the three of them—Marcus, Damien, and Lucas—standing there in the doorway. They had dressed in simple shirts and shorts, looking like they had just woken up too. Lucas was holding a tray with mugs and plates. Marcus had coffee in one hand and eggs in the other.

We climbed out of the big bed together. I put on Marcus’s shirt because it was the only thing that reached my knees. Damien grabbed a pair of Lucas’s shorts. We followed them downstairs like it was the most normal thing in the world.

The dining room was bright and quiet. The big table was set with real plates and real food. Coffee was already poured. The tied-up rivals were still in the van outside, but the police had taken the other men. The house smelled like fresh coffee and bacon instead of smoke.

We sat down. I sat between Marcus and Damien. Lucas sat across from me. The men started passing plates around.

“Eat,” Marcus said, pushing a plate of eggs toward me. “You burned a lot of calories last night, queen.”

I laughed and took a bite. The food tasted better than anything I had ever eaten. But my mind was still racing with the sirens and the men in the van and Derek’s face downstairs.

We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Then I heard footsteps in the hallway. Derek’s voice, loud and sharp.

“Where the hell is she? She was supposed to be asleep!”

My stomach dropped. I looked at the three men. Damien squeezed my hand under the table. Marcus just stared at the floor.

Derek walked into the dining room carrying his phone. He saw us—me in Marcus’s shirt, Damien’s arm around my waist, the empty plate in front of me. His face went red.

“What the f**k is this? You three… you’re still here? After everything I paid you?”

Damien didn’t let go of my hand. “We’re not going anywhere, boss. Not until your wife is safe.”

Derek laughed, but it wasn’t funny. “Safe? She was safe with me. She doesn’t need you criminals breaking into my house and putting guns in her hands.”

I felt my blood start to boil. I was done being quiet. I pulled my hand from Damien’s and looked Derek straight in the eye.

“She’s not your wife anymore,” I said. My voice was steady even though my heart was racing. “She’s our family. And you… you’re the monster who almost got her killed last night.”

Derek’s face twisted. “You little b***h. You think you can just leave me for these three trash? I own this house. I own you.”

The air got thick. I could feel the men around me getting ready to fight. But I was done fighting for him.

Marcus stood up slow. “Mr Sterling, you need to calm down. We’re not leaving. Not while she’s still here.”

Derek pointed at me. “You. Get up. We’re talking. Alone.”

I stood up too. My legs were shaking but my voice didn’t. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you. These three are my family. You’re not.”

Derek stepped closer, chest out like the big bad boss. “You think they love you? They’re paid to protect you. When the real danger comes—”

There was a knock on the front door. Everyone froze.

Lucas went to the door first. He opened it a crack and a uniform police officer stood there, looking tired and nervous.

“Mr Sterling? We got a call about a break-in. We need to speak to all of you down at the station. And… can we see your husband?”

Derek turned to the officer. “Yeah, I’m here. These three idiots broke into my house last night and—”

Marcus cut in, voice calm. “Officer, we’re not here to cause trouble. We were just… staying with the wife for safety.”

I looked at all three of them. My heart was pounding but I felt completely safe. No cold house. No empty bed. No Derek’s cold hands. Just them.

The officer looked at us, confused. “Right. Well, Mr Sterling, we need to take all of you in for questioning about the break-in. And the hostage situation.”

Damien squeezed my hand again under the table. “We’re not going anywhere without her.”

Lucas just looked at me, eyes soft. “You ready, queen?”

I nodded. “Let’s go.”

We walked out together. The police officer was still talking to Derek. I felt Marcus’s hand on my lower back, Damien on my other side, and Lucas right behind me. My family.

We got into the police car. Derek was still yelling from the doorway. I turned and looked back at him one last time.

“I’m never going back to you,” I said quietly. “Not ever.”

Then I turned to the three men who had saved my life and my heart.

“You ready?” I asked.

Marcus smiled, small and real. “We’re ready. All of us. Forever.”

Damien leaned in and whispered, “And we’re burning everything down for you.”

Lucas just nodded and said, “Our family.”

The car started moving. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out. An unknown number. The message was short.

The boys already have a plan to take care of her… or break her. Choose.

My stomach dropped.

The sirens were gone. The mansion was quiet.

But the real fight had just started.