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“Because this isn’t real life. They can’t keep me locked up here forever. I might not be fighting it now, but after Rafe is dealt with, if I’m still not allowed off the property, I will become a huge issue.”

“So you don’t want to be with them?” she queries. “Do you just expect to have fun with them and when all this is over, you move on?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I grumble, looking away. I’m being a bit of a bitch because I know the answer, I just don’t want to admit it.

“Then you wouldn’t care if they were to marry the women their father had originally arranged for them to marry?”

My head snaps toward her, eyes blazing with fury. “They were arranged to do what?” I snap.

“They were each meant to marry a daughter of their father’s important business partners, to make strong ties between families. But because of you, they refused. But if you don’t want to be with them, then after Rafe is dealt with, they’ll be free to move on with those women, correct?”

My chest heaves as white-hot anger courses through my veins. “If they so much as look at another woman, I’ll fucking cut off their dicks and wear them as a fucking necklace,” I pant, body vibrating.

Her lips twist into a big, smug grin.

“You’re not fooling anyone, honey,” she laughs. “Stop holding back. Give into your desires, do what your heart wants, what your soul yearns for. No one is going to judge you for wanting them. And it’s okay to want to build a life with them, have their babies, live happily ever after. There's nothing wrong with that.”

“I don’t want to have their babies,” I mutter.

“Cove, I saw you,” she says, her voice low.

I’m pretty sure she did, but I was hoping I was wrong.

A few nights ago, I woke up from a dream. One that felt so fucking real. It was like I lived a whole lifetime in only a few hours.

I gave in to my desires for the guys and things were amazing. I was happy. We were in love. I stood by their side while they helped their father run the business.

And then I became pregnant. I was ecstatic, seeing the guys’ reactions when I told them took any doubt from my mind that this was happening too soon.

They were amazing throughout my pregnancy, sweet and protective. Maverick was just as overbearing as I knew he would be.

Then I gave birth and the moment they put my baby boy in my arms, I knew I was whole. That my heart was full. I never felt so much love in my heart than I did in that moment.

All of that vanished in the blink of an eye. Luna jumped on the bed, waking me up.

The moment I realized it was all a dream, I broke down crying.

I didn’t know how to process my feelings and needed some air, so I went out back. I cried for a baby that was never real.

“You heard me?” I ask in a whisper, embarrassment flooding my cheeks. I tend to talk out loud when I’m upset, I didn’t think anyone was around.

She leans forward, gathering my hands in hers as a wave of emotions floods my body. I didn’t know I was missing a mother-like touch so much until now.

“Do what will make you happy. Don’t think about logic, don’t think about what people might think, or if it questions your sanity. As long as you’re not hurting you, or those boys, just go for it.”

I lick my lips, my heart racing as well as my mind.

“Whatever your ex did to you, said to you, he’s wrong. Because there is nothing wrong with you, Cove. Okay?”

“Okay,” my voice cracks as tears sting the back of my eyes.

Maria leaves me be, and I spend the rest of the day by myself. I don’t have a phone, so I can’t check in with the guys to see when they’re going to be home. They said they would be a while, most likely gone for the entire day.

I’ve never felt so needy in my life. Never depended on a man, not even my ex. I never craved to be around him like I do with these three.

When they’re not with me, they’re all I think about. And when we’re in the same house, all I want to do is be in the same room as them.

Who knew I’d end up falling in love with my kidnappers?