Gigi:
"Gigi, tell me. What else happened?"
Ragnar stood firmly in the kitchen, taking matters into his own hands.
I could tell he was ready to stand up for me.
I watched Theodore glance at Jaguar before sticking out his tongue and biting it, as if admitting they had made a mistake.
"No, it’s okay. Everything else is fine," I said, trying to play it cool.
Theodore and Jaguar looked even guiltier after I saved their asses.
Ragnar, however, wasn’t that easy to fool. I knew that.
I didn’t have to do anything else. He would dig the truth out of me eventually.
He turned toward his brothers, who immediately straightened their backs.
"Were these two there?" he asked, pointing at them.
I looked at Theodore and Jaguar, then back at Ragnar.
With exaggerated hesitation, I slowly shook my head.
I made sure my body language looked exactly like someone trying to cover for another person.
To Ragnar, it was obvious I was lying.
To Theodore and Jaguar, it looked like I was saving them.
One move, two targets.
"Why the fuck did I tell you two to stay with her when she arrived, huh?" Ragnar snapped, already scolding them even after I’d denied they were there.
"No, Ragnar, they weren’t there," I said quickly, acting surprised that he’d figured it out anyway.
"Seriously, I told you two to take care of her. What the fuck were you doing?" he growled.
Theodore and Jaguar looked at me before lowering their heads, guilt written all over their faces.
"Ragnar, please. It’s not their fault. Jaguar even stood up for me," I mumbled, deliberately singling Jaguar out.
I noticed Theodore glance at me before lowering his eyes again.
There was pain in them.
For fuck’s sake was he hurting?
He hadn’t defended me at all.
Every time his grandmother said something, he would only give me a helpless look and shrug, as if to say, ’What could I do?’
So I was genuinely glad he was getting grilled by his brother.
"Not right now, please," I insisted, wrapping my fingers around his bicep.
Even through his thick coat, I could feel the solid muscle beneath it.
"Now go and get changed. Freshen up. I’m about to serve dinner, and I want you there with me."
As I gently nudged him toward the kitchen door, I wanted Theodore and Jaguar to see that I wasn’t depending on them anymore.
Right now, I needed Ragnar.
"Fine. But don’t let anyone insult you again, okay?" Ragnar said, wrapping an arm around me, pulling me close, and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Then, after giving his brothers a stern look, he walked out.
This was exactly what I had been talking about.
Ragnar had never been jealous of how close I was to his brothers.
He trusted us completely, and that trust was something we could turn into an even stronger bond.
I wrapped one arm around Theodore’s neck and the other around Jaguar’s.
They both wrapped their arms around me.
Their embrace closed around me, firm and protective, the way a giant snake coils around something precious to keep it safe.
"Now come on, freshen up, I want my favorite people at the dining table with me," I teased as I pulled away from the hug.
Very casually, I slipped both my hands to their cheeks.
Standing so close to them in the kitchen filled my mind with all kinds of possibilities.
Maybe we could do it on the counter.
Maybe they could take me on the floor.
Maybe behind the counter, hidden from everyone.
Those thoughts were driving me crazy, which was exactly why they needed to leave.
We weren’t the only ones living in the mansion anymore.
There was an uninvited family, along with one very snotty old lady, living with us now.
They both smiled before walking away.
I was feeling much better now.
Squaring my shoulders, I headed to Lady Lucille’s room to invite her for dinner and let her know everything was ready.
Before I could even knock, I heard Jenna’s voice from inside.
"I asked Theodore to hire me a secretary, someone who can come to the house and help me organize the events. I’m throwing a big party in honor of your birthday."
The old lady’s conversation with Jenna hit me like a punch to the gut.
It felt as though all the strength and happiness Ragnar had given me had been ripped away in an instant.

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