Too Sweet (Hayes Brothers #3)(79)

“I do. Have fun but call me if you need me. And call me when you’ve had enough. I’ll come and get you.”

“Okay, I will. I promise, but if you change your mind—”

“I won’t. Be good, baby.”

“Always.”

I’m definitely falling in love with her. So fucking fast.

She cuts the call, and I immediately down the rest of my beer, sending a message to the group chat.

Me: Well played, boys.

Colt: Check, mate, bro. You can’t monopolize Mia like that.

Conor: We demand joint custody. You can’t keep her from us.

Me: I’m not her owner. If she wants to go, she goes. All I ask is that you keep her safe. You won’t like what follows if anything happens to her while she’s with you.

Conor: Shit. I expected more resistance. I had a whole game plan ready. You always ruin the fun.

I shouldn’t. I know I fucking shouldn’t, but I’ll turn gray overnight if I don’t, so I call the head of security at Q and instruct him to delegate one bouncer to keep an eye on Mia.

It’s just this once. After all, it’s the first time she’s going out since we’re together, and I just need a bit of reassurance. It’ll be different next time.

I’m a bit better knowing she’ll be looked after.

I’m a bit worse knowing I’m fucking insane.

“They’ll hate you for that,” Logan says, chugging the rest of his beer. “They kept her safe for a year, Nico.”

“I know. I’m working on this, okay? Really, I am, but it’s not easy rearranging my entire personality so fast.” I rub my face, closing my eyes briefly. “The triplets will keep her safe if they see something happen, but what if they don’t? What if they’re in line at the bar, and she’s alone?”

“You’re paranoid, bro. I mean, nothing new there, you’ve always been a bit looney, but I really don’t get it this time. You weren’t going overboard like that with Kaya.”

Theo folds his arms over his chest, a self-assured smirk curving his mouth. “He wasn’t in love with Kaya.”

I guess that’s one way of putting it.

THIRTY
Mia

THE BOUNCER STOPS ME AND THE TRIPLETS at the entrance to Q, looking me over with a dumbstruck expression and a deep frown. “Are you Mia Harlow?” he asks, shaking hands with the triplets.

“I am. Why? Is there a problem?”

I left my fake ID at home, so if that’s what he wants—

“Not at all, I just...” He trails off, shaking his head as if dismissing whatever he wants to say, then presses a finger to his earpiece. “Mia’s here.”

Cody grunts beside me, good mood slipping off his face. “He’s got to be fucking kidding.” He pulls out his phone and taps the screen, jaw locked tight.

“He?” I mutter. “Who?”

“Nico,” Colt supplies, resting his long arm over my shoulders. “Looks like he called security to keep an eye on you.”

“He sure did,” the bouncer admits. “You’ve got the VIP booth upstairs, and Johnny here...” He points at the guy exiting the club, “...will be your shadow all evening.”

“That’s unnecessary—”

“Boss’s order,” Johnny cuts me off. “Don’t worry, you won’t notice I’m around. I blend in very well, and I’m only supposed to ensure you’re not left alone.”

He’s taller than Nico, so no way he can blend in.

“It’s cool, man. I’m not that surprised he called,” Conor tells him, swaying me left to right. “At least he let you come out with us, Bug. That’s big considering he’s like a fucking rottweiler around you. Come on, I’ll make your head spin.”

“Next time, we won’t tell you where we’re taking her,” Cody snaps into the phone, his tone dripping with irritation. “We’ve been taking her out for months, and nothing ever happened!”

Conor pushes me gently, urging me to move. “Six is playing in an hour,” he says in my ear, ushering me through the crowd, up the stairs to our booth.

Colt heads for the bar, and once he’s back with a tray of drinks, Cody joins us.

“You need to stand up to him, Mia. He’ll end up controlling every part of your life if you let him get away with this.”

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” Conor chips in. “He let her come out with us, right?”

“Let her?” Cody seethes. “Do you hear yourself? He doesn’t get to let her do anything. She’s not a fucking child.”

It’s like Aisha versus Nico all over again. Only this time, it’s his brothers arguing on my behalf.

“Dance with me,” I blurt out before this escalates.

The truth is, I don’t mind Nico calling security. I wouldn’t even mind if he said I should stay home. I’ve never been a party girl. Much as I enjoy spending time with the triplets, I’d happily do it elsewhere. The arcades, the beach, at home watching movies, or playing piano while Cody plays guitar.

If Nico feels better knowing there’s a bouncer looking out for me, then so be it. It’s not like I plan to do anything he wouldn’t approve of.

“Yeah, alright. Come on.” Cody grabs my hand, taking me downstairs. Johnny follows suit, not blending in. “He’ll dictate everything you do if you let him, Mia,” Cody says, pulling me into his side. “And I mean everything. From where you can go and who you can be friends with to what you can wear. He’s a good guy, but he gets carried away easily. You need to stand up to him.”