Chapter 27 - Power to Destroy

**Garrett**

It was hard not to stay pissed off with the guys. Serena slept in my bed last night but all we did was sleep. Which was a first. The woman was insatiable and I, we, had fucked her every day since I met her. Even during her period which had come a few days after Paul had left. I hope Devon and I had gotten her pregnant while he was gone, it would serve him right – and it certainly wouldn’t be from lack of coming deep inside her at every opportunity. Fuck I loved filling her, but we wouldn’t know for a couple more weeks.

She was hurt and I think, a little depressed. She cuddled in close to me and I had to will my hard cock down. I wanted to be there for her and not push my lust onto her when she was feeling so low. But I had wished I was the kind of guy to take her and not care about her feelings. That thought had only lasted a moment. Our baby needed us at our best right now. Devon and Paul had shown her the worst of them and fuck if I didn’t know what they could do to make what they did right.

She was asleep in my bed now, so I was extra quiet opening the closet and getting a bag. I grabbed a few things from the closet and then my dresser drawers. Two days’ worth. We absolutely had to be back by Saturday afternoon, but Paul only wanted to stay until Friday. I hope that was enough time, but the guys would have to pull out all the stops for Serena’s forgiveness.
I went to find Paul. I felt for him. He just wanted to get home to her. He busted his ass to get home early. I knew he would rather be having romps in bed right now. Not packing and planning. I also know that with the grueling schedule he worked the last few weeks, that he was probably also exhausted.

I found him in his room, two suitcases were on the bed partially packed.
“Can I do anything to help?” I asked.

He looked up and I noticed the bags under his eyes. His skin was paler than when he had left. He hadn’t had much down time unless it was in a plane or in a car on the way to his next destination. He slumped on the bed with a pair of socks in his hand.

“Why do I keep fucking up with her? I just want her to be happy. Maybe I did make a mistake bringing the two of you in, but it felt right. Like this is what she needed. This way she would never be alone. She has had to take care of her mother and herself for years, all alone. I just wanted to make sure she never wanted for anything ever again. But I keep bringing pain to her door.” He moaned and put his head in his hands.

“Serena has a great big heart, and you’ve burned it a couple of times, man. You made her promises, but then did whatever the hell you wanted. You prioritize her, then forget the most important thing. She needs your loyalty. We all got upset when she mentioned finding an ex-boyfriend to date. She said that so that we could feel the way she did. You’re going to have to take care of her heart just as much as her physical well-being. You can’t throw material things at her and forget her mental state. She’s not impressed with your money Paul. She just wants you – us – to hold her heart in our hands and nurture it. She’d rather be poor than be ignored in that way.”

I had done a lot of thinking about this. I observed her reactions since I first met her, wanting to make sure I was everything she needed. I was behind and the last one to be added so I felt I had some catching up to do. Also, since I was the youngest, I didn’t have as many responsibilities in the company as Devon and Paul. I would keep working towards being more valuable to them, an equal partner, but that day had not yet arrived.

“When she wakes up, I need you to make sure she gets on that plane. We need to get away from here for a little while.” He said morosely.

“I will man, but I’m not going to lie to her. She needs all the information. I’ll make sure she knows it’s all of us going, and why.” I admitted.

“Yeah, okay,” he rubbed his hands over his face. “You can help me pack her bag. I can take care of her clothes, but she has stuff all over the bathroom and I don’t know if she needs all of those creams or what.”

I headed towards the bathroom and started putting things in a small toiletry bag. Things I’d seen her use lately since I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She really was something else and I had been following her around like a puppy dog the whole time Paul had been gone.

By the time Serena woke up, we had our bags packed, and hers, waiting by the front door. I made her a coffee when she came into the kitchen. I already had a small plate of grapes and crackers with cheese and salami at the ready.

I set everything in front of her and of course she went for the coffee first. She took it light and sweet. I heard her hum her approval at the first sip of the warm beverage.

I went around the counter to sit on the stool next to her. Her hair was mussed and there was a line across her face from the blanket or a pillow from her nap. But I thought she had never looked more beautiful, because she was mine. Only I and my brothers got to see her this way.

“Once you’re done eating, we are leaving. We’re taking you to our cabin in the mountains for a few days for a change of scenery.”

Serena cut her eyes to me. “Are you next? Will you lie and let me down too, Garrett?’ she said softly.

“Never,” I said vehemently. “I swear that if you give me your heart, I will cherish it and not destroy it. I’d rather die than hurt you like that.”

She leaned into me, her eyes soft. “I’m afraid to say this to you because of what has happened, but you deserve to know. I love you, Papa. I’ve fallen in love with you. You have the power to destroy me now too.”

My heart soared, but I saw the knowledge didn’t make her happy. She was waiting for me to disappoint her too.

I pulled her into my arms and tilted her head back.

“I’ve been waiting for you to love me, Baby Girl. I never expected to love you so quickly or fall so hard for you. I will nurture our love. I can’t promise to be perfect, but I will always put you first. I won’t lie or cheat. You are everything to me and I’m not going to fuck this up. I promise to talk things out with you. I promise to be the best version of myself for you, always.”

“I love you,” I whispered against her lips as I went for a kiss. Her lips were so soft, and she tasted like coffee. I would never get enough of her.

I pulled away way to soon. “Eat up. We leave in twenty minutes. Wear some jeans and grab a light jacket. The air is cooler up there.”

The light was back in her eyes and hope bloomed within me. She needed me to just be me while she worked through her emotions about the other guys. I’d be what she needed. I didn’t know how to be anything else.