Gigi:

I kept watching his face in silence, trying to understand where they were coming from, to be honest.

Bringing her up was not a good idea.

I did not understand why they did it.

It was as if they were using her as a way to ruin my mood.

But I acted like every word they said was important to me.

Deep down, I just wanted to shut them off and tell them, what does Verity have to do with me?

Why should we be concerned about her?

"Can you please explain a little more?" I requested innocently.

He nodded and shared a glance with Theodore.

"Actually, I think the stalker knows you so well that he has figured out your life. Somewhere along the line, he found out what you went through with Justin."

He paused dramatically.

"Now, who was Justin?" he did another dramatic pause.

"Verity’s brother," Theodore began to explain, piecing things together.

Being an investigator, he was digging into something that, honestly, did not need to be explored.

As for Verity, I was sure she had been stalked and attacked, but that was because she lived in a fucking poor community like the Omega community.

Any girl who looked like her would get harassed.

So it was normal. I did not know why they were making such a huge deal out of it.

Also, I thought Verity should understand that Omegas did not have many choices, and she was not even an Omega.

Technically, she was just a human. She did not have a wolf.

So why not be a little lenient with the people of the rogue community?

Why was she acting as though a man catcalling her was the end of the world and she was suddenly terrified?

People who lived in such communities should be stronger than that.

I, on the other hand, had never been through anything like that.

So if somebody did that to me, I would definitely be scared and traumatized.

But these two Alpha kings were suddenly worried about the damsel in distress.

"So you’re telling me my stalker is attacking her because he’s taking Justin’s anger out on her?" I asked.

The two immediately slapped their hands together and pointed at me.

"Exactly!"

Theodore sounded so excited when I agreed with their nonsensical storyline of saving the poor damsel in distress.

"Okay, that’s really sad and worrisome," I commented under my breath before looking up and tilting my head. "But what does it have to do with our trip? I planned it with so much love."

I played with the hem of my dress, and as I did, it rode even higher up my thighs.

I mean, it was barely covering them while I was sitting.

"So we were thinking that leaving her behind, when this is practically happening because of you—" Theodore tried to explain.

Of course, he did not say it outright, but what he meant was because of me, not us.

The stalker was not doing it for them. I mean, it seemed like he was doing it for me.

So I just continued to listen and let him speak so that he would slip up.

"I mean, because of us, the stalker is attacking her. So what if we’re gone and something happens to her? People will question how secure our job is, how protective we are of our employees, especially Ragnar’s secretary," Theodore explained dramatically.

Not a personal secretary. Just Ragnar’s secretary.

He was trying to make a fool out of me because I could tell that was not why they were doing this.

They were using Ragnar as an excuse to show concern for Verity.

Why had I taken so long to intervene in this matter?

Because at this point, it was getting repetitive.

Them always, always being there for Verity.

"You’re right," I said sadly. "I am the reason she is in so much distress. Oh my Goddess, I wish the stalker would just get me."

Of course, I was angry, and I had to take my anger out somewhere.

So I covered my face and started crying.

"Hey, that’s not what we meant," Jaguar rushed to reassure me, grabbing my wrists and pulling my hands away from my face.

I had genuine tears leaving my eyes because I felt so neglected at that moment.

"Theodore," Jaguar snapped, slapping his brother’s chest for saying the whole thing about us being the reason Verity was distressed.

"No, he’s not wrong, though. It is all happening because of me."

I tried to fight Jaguar and keep my hands over my face, but he kept holding my wrists, pulling my hands away and drawing me closer.

The two had leaned so far forward on the edge of their seats that it seemed like the perfect moment to remind them that I was their beloved Gigi.

They needed to care only about me.

"I wish I had just given myself up to the stalker. Then he would have left Verity alone."

As I cried, Jaguar gave my hands a firm shake.

"Don’t ever say that," he said, leaning down to look me in the eye.

"You heard me?" he insisted.

I looked up into his eyes.

Oh, fuck.

He was so fucking handsome.

At that moment, I just wanted him to pull me into his arms and kiss me.

"I didn’t mean it like that," Theodore said.

As he reached for me, he accidentally placed his hand on my lap.

I mean, where else would he put it?

Jaguar was holding both of my hands.

I noticed Theodore instantly realize he was touching my bare skin.

Before he could pull his hand away, I swiftly freed one of my hands from Jaguar’s grip and placed it over the back of Theodore’s hand, keeping it against my thigh.

"I know," I said, acting as though I had no idea what I was doing, even while I gently rubbed the back of his hand. "But it’s the truth. And then I’m selfish enough to plan a trip. I was just so scared of staying here that I thought if I went away, I would have a moment of peace."

I dramatically sniffled.

"Oh, come on. Come over here."

As Jaguar said that and pulled me into an embrace, I slowly settled back into his lap again.

This time, I hugged him tightly.

I felt his body twitch once again.