"What? That fucker texted you for sex tonight?" Jagger raised his voice.
"We're here. And before this gets a bit uncomfortable, may I suggest taking care of this upstairs when the three of you are alone," Cash said as he pulled into the underground garage.
Zane turned in his seat and looked toward them. An obvious smirk on his face.
"And where you can punish her privately," Zane stated.
Hudson and Jagger both sat forward and locked gazes. Tia Rose was in for it the moment they got her upstairs.
Tia Rose took off her shoes and sat down on the couch as she waited for Cash, Zane, Riker, and Nash to discuss the next steps for Hudson and Jagger to take. They felt pretty confident with the security in the building, and the fact that the only way upstairs to their penthouse was by private elevator, and Jameson was working tonight. He wouldn't let anyone through without Jagger and Hudson's approval.
As the men said good-bye and told her to listen to her men, she let out an uneasy sigh. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and so many thoughts flooded her brain.
Someone wanted her dead. Her brother wanted her help, and he was considered a suspect. She should really tell Hudson and Jagger about seeing him tonight. But what would they say about giving him money? She nibbled her bottom lip.
She really believed that her brother was telling her the truth. Every bit of her gut instincts kicked in and she thought he was being sincere. She hoped that he turned himself in. If he did, and he came to her for help again, then she would do it.
She trusted her gut. Especially tonight when she heard noises and felt the goose bumps along her neck and hairline. She knew she was being watched and followed. Then to come home to her trashed apartment was crazy. She was so grateful that Hudson and Jagger were there, waiting for her, and that they helped handle the situation.
I don't have any clothes, no laptop to work from. I need to call work and speak with the Sinclairs. What am I going to do?
She covered her face with her hands.
"Tia, we need to talk," Hudson stated, and his voice had her sitting up to face him. Jagger leaned against the post in the living room a few feet away. It was like he was keeping his distance. Maybe he didn't trust her? Could she blame him? She hadn't been completely honest with him. She needed to come clean.
"Yes, we do," she replied.
"First of all, tell us about Salvador. Is he a threat to what we have between the three of us?"
She immediately shook her head.
"Tell the truth. Do you still love him? You still want him?" Jagger asked from afar.
She stared at Jagger.
"No. I never loved him. I cared for him, but he used me, and dumped me for someone beautiful and thin. I met him when I was naïve and stupid, and felt that he was perfect, which made me feel real."
"When did you meet him, and why was he perfect?" Hudson asked, approaching the couch and sitting down beside her.
She took a deep breath and held his gaze. Hudson and his beautiful hazel eyes watched her with intensity. It made every part of her body come alive. She loved him, and she loved Jagger.
She leaned back and released a long sigh.
She couldn't look at them as she spoke. She feared seeing their displeasure, or perhaps their true feelings toward her. Even now, after making love, and sharing so much of herself with them, she feared being abandoned.
"You should know that before I left for Paris, my life was terrible. I lived with an understanding and acceptance that I was invisible."
"Invisible?" Hudson asked softly.
She looked at him, but only a moment. It was one thing to admit to defeat, to hating whom she was to herself, and another to say it aloud and admit such deep feelings of negativity.
"Invisible, fat, unattractive. Unworthy of being noticed, cared for, or even thought of. I was a nobody, who allowed people to walk all over me, and put me down. I had no spine, no fight in me to defend myself or to feel anything but disgust for who I was."
"Jesus, Tia Rose. Why did you feel that way? You're so beautiful. How could no one notice you?" Hudson asked, as he laid his hand over hers.
She pulled it away and looked away from him.
"You don't understand. I was all alone. Even when I was surrounded by coworkers and other people, I was alone. I couldn't stand up for myself. I know a lot of it has to do with the abuse I sustained as a child, but still, I left. I made the decision to take off and live."
"Abuse? Who abused you?" Jagger asked, walking closer.
She lowered her eyes, clasped her hands on her lap and rung her fingers together. "My parents were abusive. They still are." She chuckled.
"They're the ones you've been sending money to each month?" Jagger asked.
She looked up at him, shocked that he knew about that. "How did you-"
"You dropped a piece of paper from the money transfer in the hotel room in Paris. That's how we were able to locate you," he told her.
She didn't have the strength to be angry. What did it matter?
"Why do you keep sending them money if they treated you so badly?"
She felt the tear roll down her cheek. "I guess I hoped one day, that they would love me."
"Oh God. They don't deserve your love, your attention, and especially your hard-earned money," Jagger told her.
"You don't know my dad, Jagger. His words hurt worse than his fists."
"Fuck. He'll never lay a hand on you again. You're through sending money to them, you hear me?" Hudson raised his voice.
"It's not that easy, Hudson," she replied.
"It is that easy. They're cut off. You don't need them," Jagger added.
"I do need them. I don't have anyone in this world. I can't stand being alone anymore. I can't take it. Even if they are abusive, and mean, and hate me, they're there. They call to confirm the money transfer. They call," she said as her voice cracked.
Hudson took her hand into his own. Jagger knelt down on the rug in front of her and placed his hand on her knee. "You're not alone anymore. You have us."
"We'll take care of you." Hudson added.
She shook her head and stood up. She stepped away from them.
"No. I can't believe you. I can't trust anyone. People lie and they use you. Salvador did. He told me that I was perfect, and then wanted to change me. You'll do the same."
Jagger pulled her into his arms. "No, we won't, because you are perfect. You're all woman, and you're our woman. I don't want skin and bones and a supermodel with no brains. I want tits and ass, and attitude. I want a woman who knows what she wants and asks for it. You're strong, you're gorgeous, and you're ours." He hugged her to him.
She cried as his words sunk in and Hudson joined them. He hugged her from behind and caressed her back.
"That asshole Salvador never cared. We do," Hudson said, as he turned her toward him. They stood in front of her, so strong, and handsome. Her two lovers. The two men who owned her heart and soul.
"He doesn't matter to me. He's history."
"If he calls you again, I'm going to hunt him down and kick his ass. Do you understand me?" Jagger stated.
She felt her belly quiver at his declaration. He placed his hand against her cheek.
"Tell us what changed before Paris," Hudson said.
She took an unsteady breath and released it.
"I was tired of being walked all over. Salvador dumped me that morning after standing me up the night before. He told me that he had sex with Leza, a model, and that I was the coldest fuck he ever had."
"Dick wad," Jagger whispered, and she chuckled.
"I told him that I wasn't cold, and that it was him and his little penis."
Hudson chuckled and so did Jagger.
"Then on my way to work, in my not so happy mood, I got something brown on my skirt."
They walked her over toward the couch again to sit down, and she explained everything that happened that day. They listened attentively, and they smiled at her show of independence and making a stand.
"Are you certain that this woman, Bethany, couldn't be after you?" Hudson asked. "I mean you embarrassed her, got her fired, and probably ruined her reputation."
"I thought about it. But Alexa, she's the other person who texted me at The Phantom, said that Bethany's Facebook page showed her in Brazil."
"That doesn't mean anything. People can fake that stuff."
"And what about your brother, Sean? Could he be trying to scare you enough to maybe show up and pretend to want to help you?" Hudson asked.
She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands. She needed to tell them the truth.
"Tia Rose?" Jagger said her name.
"Um, I kind of saw him already."
"What? Where and when?" Jagger asked.
"Before I headed home from the business meeting at the restaurant. He was waiting by the building for me."
"Did he try to hurt you or threaten you?" Jagger asked. She shook her head.