Myla walked into the conference room and took the empty seat between Carter, president of the local bank, and Scott, her husband's financial manager. Her husband moved ahead and positioned his chair at the front of the room. Jared and Beck walked over to him, and they started discussing something together in low tones.

One thing about Beck and Jared was that they always exuded an aura of dangerous, lethal ability. Maybe it was their military history or the fact that, apart from being major shareholders in the Oakley Group, they were co-owners of a highly rated private security firm. They were both above six feet tall, with Beck being like an inch shorter than Jared, and except for that and eye color, they could almost be twins. Both had brown hair, but Beck's eyes were green while Jared had brown eyes. Each provided a foil for her husband's curly blond hair and blue eyes.

There was no way around the fact that they were three very attractive men that had sex appeal. She blushed as she remembered the night in the pool room, the expressions of love and lust on their faces, their beautiful bodies, and the hot, dirty talk. To say she had been shocked was a gross understatement; she had met several of the beautiful women Jared and Beck had dated over the past few years and had never seen any signs that they were gay or fucking each other. In fact, if she wanted to be honest with herself, she had sometimes felt a surprising sense of jealousy toward those women.

Before she and Hayden married, she used to call them three musketeers in her head, because when you found one, you found all three, but after their marriage, they toned it down... a lot, even to the extent she was scared that she ruined their friendship, but when she had told Hayden her concern, he had said she was overthinking things.

Myla had lost most of her friends when she had become too busy with legal problems associated with the sale of her business and had little time for socializing. She lost the rest when she and Hayden married and moved to their estate in the mountains. After the accident, Myla had become more and more isolated, first while Hayden was in the hospital and then even more when he finally returned home. If it hadn't been for Jared and Beck, she would have probably gone crazy.

The meeting was called today because Hayden was soon going to have major surgery on his spine in about six weeks, and she knew he wanted to get some urgent business matters settled before then.

"Do you know what's up?" Scott whispered as he shifted his chair closer.

"No idea," she replied, moving her chair away from his. The smell of alcohol seemed to ooze from his pores. His face had mottled red blotches and sagging jowls and was framed by thinning, dirty blond hair. He used to be an attractive man before alcoholism ruined him. What's worse is that he still believed he was still attractive.

"Gold-digging bitch!" he mumbled beneath his breath as he caught her expression of disgust.

Myla only turned away from him; she was so not in the mood for his bullshit today. It was no secret that he never liked her since she broke a bottle over his head when he tried groping her when she and Hayden started dating. Even though she understood that Hayden kept him in employment because he was very good at what he did and he had been with him from the start of the company, she felt that he was due for a replacement. She looked up to see Beck and Jared angrily glaring at Scott. She smiled and shook her head when they glanced at her. They always have an uncanny awareness of when she is upset.

Hayden turned to the group as Jared and Beck took their seats on each side. God, when they were in the same frame, they looked good enough to eat, and she had heard many women and men say the same thing over the years.

"I've called this meeting because I'll be away for at least 2 months, or possibly longer, and want to make sure you understand that you will be unable to contact me at all during that time, so I will be assigning one person to stand in my place." He nodded at Anna, his attorney. 'That includes all decisions concerning anything involving Oakley Corp., both legal issues and financial."

Hayden paused and looked around to note their reactions to the news. He continued, "I discussed this matter with Myla..."

"Oh, please," Scott interrupted, "no disrespect intended, but don't you think that role is more fit for someone with business intellect? Your wife probably can handle household problems well, but she's definitely not qualified to handle the responsibilities you've outlined."

Scott looked at the others in the room like he was challenging them as he continued. "With my degree in finance and my experience in running my own business, surely I am the most qualified person in this room."

"Well, Scott," Hayden said in a cool voice. "Myla actually declined my offer for her to run my operations in my absence. She is in the process of finalizing the sale of another business of hers. You have heard of My-Design, Inc., haven't you?"

Myla watched with satisfaction as Scott's jaw dropped in shock.

"That's the business Myla started and built into the international business it is today with just an idea and her hard work. Myla is more than qualified for anything she chooses to do." He finished coldly.

He turned back to the rest of the group. "Deciding who would be acting on my behalf was a 'no-brainer' for me. But, because my first option said no, effective the twenty-fifth of next month, all financial and corporate problems should be referred to, and decisions will be made by Beck Garner. Jared Lotto will be handling all finances related to the estate and other properties."

Before anyone could say anything, Scott jumped up, his face red. "I don't believe I am the only one who thinks this is the most ridiculous decision ever. You can't seriously be giving all of that power to some glorified bodyguards?" he sneered, looking around the room, hoping to see that the others will agree with him. But they all looked at his outburst with disgust.

"No, seriously, what experience does either one have in dealing with major financial decisions or running a business, or anything else for that matter? They're just hired muscle for Christ's sake."

Hayden's body stiffened, and his eyes narrowed in anger as he watched Scott.

would

"Walker," snarled Scott to the manager of the company. "You can't tell me that you want a bodyguard coming into your office, telling you how to run the company."

"Well, Scott," Walker drawled coldly, "those mere bodyguards are also the owners of the thriving J&B Security firm, plus they handled things well when Hayden was hospitalized and know exactly what Hayden would do in any given situation concerning the corporation."

Scott's face got redder at his words.

"And," Walker continued, "we've all seen Beck and Jared make several suggestions over the last few years that saved Oak Corps more than tens of thousands of dollars. I admit I would hire him in a minute as my vice president if I wasn't sure he'd have my job within a month, or less."

Everyone laughed as Beck made a slight bow to Walker.

Hayden grinned and said, "Walker, I can assure you your job is safe from Beck." He turned to Scott, his smile disappearing. "You, I wanted to do this in private, but since you decided to be so open today, let me follow your lead..." He turned and nodded at Anna.

Anna smiled. "Mrs. Oakley noticed some inconsistencies in the accounts and called our attention to them. We investigated and discovered that you have been siphoning funds from the company. Care to explain?"

Scott looked wildly around the room. "This is a fucking setup! Everyone knows that these two bitches never liked me. Y'all can't possibly believe them over me-'

"Enough!" Myla shouted as she shot up from her seat, glaring at Scott. "First, we have enough evidence against you, so I suggest you prepare your lawyers. Secondly, you have no right to question any decisions we make. If we wanted your opinion, we would have asked for it. Now, either sit down and shut up, or get out."

Hayden's chest expanded with pride as he watched his wife. Jared and Beck exchanged a smile before they turned their attention back to Scott.

Scott's face was contorted in rage, spit spraying from his mouth as he screamed, "Ooh, I get it now. Hubby can't get it up, so you're fucking the bodyguards. Everyone has heard the rumors that the three of them used to share their women all the time, and it looks like they're still sharing!"

Myla stared at him, dumbfounded, for a few seconds. Then she sneered, "Where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor? First, you're a crook, now a gossipmonger?" She laughed in his face, then continued. "You're pathetic, and you will be hearing from our lawyers soon. You are done. Just get out of here."

 "Get out of my way, bitch." He roughly tried to force Myla to back up as he pushed by her, deliberately hitting her in the stomach with his elbow.

Myla gasped, then punched him back hard. Scott staggered back and tripped over his fallen chair. He lunged forward, trying to keep his balance, and fell full force on her, knocking her to the floor. Her head hit the marble floor hard, and the sound echoed through the room.

 Hayden's bellow of rage filled the room.

 Jared vaulted the conference table and roughly grabbed Scott off her. Beck was already at Myla's side, checking her over as Hayden rolled up beside him.

 Setting Scott on his feet, Jared plowed his fist into Scott's midsection. The blow knocked Scott into the wall, and he slid down to the floor, vomiting all over himself and groaning as he held his stomach.

Myla moaned softly and tried to get up, but Beck gently held her down. "Take it easy, Myla. You hit your head pretty hard there.

Myla's vision swam as she laughed weakly but didn't try to get up again.

"Jared!" Beck yelled when he saw him preparing to hit Scott again. "Don't waste your energy on that waste of space. It may take time before the ambulance gets here; we need to get her to the hospital. You know how tricky head wounds can be, and I'm not liking the dazed look in her eyes right now."

Hayden looked coldly at Scott, then raised his eyes to the stunned gazes of those left standing at the conference table. "Meeting over! Someone get that asshole out of my sight. As far as I'm concerned, he can stink up his own car until a tow truck can move it out of here. Anna, I'll call you tomorrow. I want legal steps taken to shut that filthy mouth of his."

"Okay, boss. Am I correct in assuming you are also going to pull your financial portfolio from his firm?" Anna asked smugly.

"Immediately, thanks for reminding me."

 "Hayden," said Carter spoke up cautiously as Jared gently picked Myla up. "I don't think Scott meant to deliberately hurt Myla."

"I don't know, Carter; to me it looked like he deliberately tried to knock Myla aside as roughly as he could, and he has a nasty reputation for physically abusing the women he's been associated with in the past. I don't think he's changed."

Carter nodded in understanding.

Hayden turned to Scott, moaning, shaking from. "All these years, I have ignored the derogatory words you use with women and your alcoholism, but you crossed the line when you dared to harm my wife. I will fucking ruin you." He growled out. Then followed Jared as he carried Myla out, with Beck closely behind.

* * * * * * * *

Jared placed Myla in Beck's arms, got into the SUV, and then Beck gently placed her back in his arms. She curled instinctively into his lap as he cradled her like she was made of glass.

Hayden wheeled himself in and locked into position, his eyes never leaving her face. Beck slid into the front passenger seat beside the driver, giving a clipped order to move.

 The car sped off.

 The air inside was tight with worry.

Jared glanced down at her, gently brushing hair from her damp forehead. Her eyes were unfocused, her breathing was shallow, and she kept mumbling random things under her breath.

She blinked slowly, her lips parting like she was about to speak. But her words were slurred. "Don't... take..."

"Myla, don't what?" He asked as he leaned down to hear better.

"Don't... to Crest hospi..." she mumbled, barely above a whisper.

"It's the closest, honey," Jared said softly, finally understanding her.

 Her brow creased. She whined, a soft, childlike sound. "No... no, not there... too many bad memories... don't want to go..."

Jared looked up, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror where Beck's worried eyes met his. It was the same place Hayden had been rushed to after the accident.

Then she started thrashing slightly, still mumbling, No... no, under her breath.

"It's okay," Hayden said quietly, his voice low and warm. "We won't go there, baby. We'll go somewhere else."

"Okay," she breathed out. Then she started humming a broken melody under her breath.

Hayden let out a worried sigh. "She is getting more loopy." He looked at the driver. "Steve to St Veronica, I have already texted the MD that we're coming. Speed up." He said sharply as he reached over and caressed her hair.

She leaned into the touch, then suddenly turned her head toward him, startling him, and Jared quickly adjusted to support her head better.

"You're touching me," she whispered like she was amazed. Then she gave him a sleepy smile. "It's been so long since you touched and looked at me like that..."

She blinked slowly, her eyes glassy. "I thought you didn't love me anymore."

Hayden's breath caught. The words hit like a knife in his gut. He swallowed hard, opened his mouth to speak-

But her eyes rolled back, and she slumped deeper into Jared's chest.

"Myla!" Jared panicked, tapping her cheek repeatedly. "Hey... hey... come on, sweetheart, open your eyes-"

"I felt a bump on her head; make sure she doesn't fall asleep," Hayden said, panicked.

A beat later, her eyes fluttered open.

She blinked slowly, dazed. Jared let out a heavy breath of relief.

"Just try to stay awake, baby," he murmured, nuzzling her hair. "We're almost there."

She made a soft sound and curled tighter into him.

When they pulled up to the clinic, two nurses were already waiting with a gurney. Jared placed her on it, and they all watched grimly as she was wheeled away.

Hayden sat still, his chair by the tall windows, staring at the sterile white floor. Beck leaned against the wall while Jared paced.

Her words echoed again and again in Hayden's head: "I thought you didn't love me anymore."

He closed his eyes as his chest clenched painfully.

After the accident, everything had changed. The months of pain, different experts and specialists, long surgeries, and long, sleepless nights in a hospital bed, unable to move. He had thought he knew devastation when the doctor had told him he would never walk again. But the worst came when he found out he was impotent.

Something inside him had cracked open and bled dry that day. The crash didn't just physically break him; it also stripped him of what made him a man.

He had always loved Myla with his whole being; their one year of dating and two years of marriage had been heaven. Their sex life had been raw, wild, and consuming. He used to take her up against walls, bend her over the kitchen counter, and wake her up with his mouth between her thighs.

And suddenly... He couldn't stand or walk... couldn't even get hard.

So what did he have left to offer her.

He became bitter... angry. Hated himself for needing help to do basic things; her comfort and care felt like pity. He felt like he was watching her try to love a ghost.

He started pulling away, locked in his head. Even Jared and Beck had confronted him more than once, telling him to stop pushing her away.

But he didn't know how to face her without feeling like a useless failure of a man.

He thought he was sparing her from the burden that he had become.

Now he saw the truth. All that time, she had been hurting, too. And his mercy had made her believe he didn't love her anymore.

He rubbed a hand over his mouth, his throat aching as he looked out the window.

But there was one thing none of them knew, one thing he had never told a soul.

He remembered one thing too clearly from the hit and run. Seconds before the masked-up driver hit him, he had winked and saluted Hayden.

The crash was no accident. It had been an assassination attempt.

And with the latest evidence he got recently, it seems like they were not done yet.

"So... you three were in the habit of sharing your women.” Myla blurted out before she could stop herself. “And what am I? Chopped liver?”

Those were the first words she said to them immediately after they stepped into her room this morning. The doctor had kept her for observation, worried about her slurred speech and the large bump on her head. Myla hadn't seen them since the nurses chased them away late last night after visiting hours.

Myla started laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath at the pure shock plastered across their faces. “Oh my God, you should see your faces,” she managed through gasps of laughter. “I’m so glad the painkillers have finally kicked in, or I’d be in agony right now. Whew! Your faces, man.”

Suddenly, Myla sat up in bed, and her voice hardened, the laughter vanishing. “I would no longer let you shut me out again. I’ve tried to respect your boundaries, tried to understand how you felt after the surgeries, but I’m your wife, and damn it, I expect you to treat me that way. Not like someone you’ve lost feelings for but are just tolerating.”

Jared and Beck exchanged wary looks and quickly backed toward the door. Beck paused, mouthed 'whoop his ass, girl', before closing the door behind him.

“Myla! That’s not true! My God, how can you think such a thing? I love you,” Hayden protested.

“How can I think such a thing? What about the last two years you’ve been out of the hospital, Hayden? I know we couldn’t have sex but you could've held my hand, kissed me once in a while, or just put your arm around me occasionally. Whenever I asked you how you were doing with your physical therapy, you shut me down and changed the subject. You even buried yourself in your study at mealtimes. Ninety-five percent of my meals were eaten alone or with your bestfriends! If not for them who gave me their warmth and showed their caring in a hundred different ways, I wo...." She paused when her voice cracked and took a deep breath. "You fucking abandoned me, Hay.”

“It was to protect you." Hayden replied softly. "I was only half a man. I didn’t know whether I’d ever walk again or if I’d be able to make love to you like a normal man. I didn’t want you to have to deal with the pain-ridden mess I’d become, or the rage and frustration that would overcome me at the knowledge of the things I couldn’t do anymore. Christ, for almost three months I couldn’t even go to the bathroom by myself.”

“Protect me, my ass,” she snarled at him, fueled by the drugs in her. “Half a man? Give me a break. Even wheelchair-bound, you’re more man than any five thousand men off the street.

“And please, tell me I did not actually hear you say you were afraid you’d be unable to make love to me like a ‘normal man.’ Since when did you have this sudden urge to make love like a normal man? I seem to remember the conference room, and the pantry, and three other rooms in this very house that certainly do not qualify as normal. Come on, Hayden, define your concept of ‘normal’ for me.” She shouted into Hayden’s stunned face.

“And, as your wife, it’s my right to deal with your rage and frustrations and to even wipe your ass, if required. Don’t hand me any more garbage, Hayden. I’m giving you fair warning, I would leave you if you continue like this.” Myla swiped at the tears running down her face until Hayden handed her a tissue and pulled her into his arms as best as he could.

"And I will make sure I wipe you clean in the divorce," She mumbled into his chest.

He held her tightly, his eyes misty. “I'm so sorry that I did that to you, to us. But it was such a fearful time for me. There were many times I wished that I had died in that car crash."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I was wrong to handle things the way I did. I was wallowing in fear and despair and didn’t want you, or anyone else, to try to pull me out of it. I was so caught up in my self hate and pity that I didn't think about how it was affecting you. Actually, deep down I was hoping you would leave me alone and not have to see what I'd become, I won’t try to push you aside this time, I promise.

“On another note, I would prefer to have a bidet installed rather than have you wipe my ass, if you don’t mind,” he said with a grin.

She shook her head with a watery chuckle. “You won’t get an argument out of me on that one.”

She finally managed to catch her breath and wiped her eyes with a tissue.Just as she was dropping the tissue, Jared and Beck came back into the room.

What she said before she unraveled slammed back, and her face reddened with embarrassment.

“Sorry about earlier, the ridiculous things Scott said yesterday have been echoing in my brain through the night, and whatever drug they gave me loosened my tongue." Myla looked from face to face with all of the fake innocence she could muster. "So, have you boys come to take me home?”

The suspicious look Hayden gave her made her think maybe her acting wasn't all that good.

“Uh, Dr. Sorensen said I could leave. You’ve come to take me, right?”

Damn, that didn’t come out quite right.

She cleared her throat. “Home. I mean, you’ve come to take me home, right?”

Myla could feel her face heating up as they stared silently at her like there was something strange on her face.

Oh, for God's sake, why did every word out of her mouth suddenly seem to have a double meaning?

“Okay, never mind. Just leave and I’ll get dressed and call a cab... I have put my foot in my mouth enough this morning. Go on, out!” she shouted, covering her head with the bed cover.

They left silently, but their faces had an odd, pinched tightness that puzzled her. She rang for a nurse to help her dress.

It was a few minutes before one appeared, and she was laughing as she came into Myla’s room. “What on earth did you say to those three men?” the nurse asked with a grin.

“Why? What do you mean?”

The nurse helped Myla to the window and opened it as far as it would go. Myla could hear the sounds of masculine laughter. She looked out onto the park-like setting in the front of the hospital.

There, the three men were holding their sides and roaring with laughter. Hayden let out a belly laughter that nearly tipped his wheelchair over. Jared caught the chair before it could fall, and they erupted into fresh bouts of laughter.

Myla shrugged, she had no idea what she had said that was so funny, but she was very happy to see them so lighthearted. Ever since Hayden’s accident, they had all seemed so sober, so filled with responsibilities and problems. It was a sight to behold, one she wanted to see again and again.

With the nurse’s help, Myla dressed in the clothes Hayden had brought. The nurse insisted that Myla get into the wheelchair to be wheeled to the hospital doors because she’d taken a strong painkiller earlier and would probably be very dizzy and light-headed soon.

Myla reluctantly agreed, but she did get a kick out of it when Hayden maneuvered his big motorized wheelchair beside her smaller, dainty one as the nurse pushed her down the hallway.

Outside the hospital doors, Beck carefully scooped Myla out of her wheelchair, and before he could turn around, Myla looked at Hayden’s wheelchair and the wheelchair she’d just left.

“She’s going to miss you.” She mumbled. “I’m okay, musketeers. Is it one for all, or is it all for one? I can’t remember...”

“What on earth are you talking about, Myla?” Hayden’s brow wrinkled in concern.

“My delicate little push mobile really liked your big, beautiful electric monster there.”

Jared chuckled.

Hayden smiled faintly. "The medication they gave you must be the premium one."

“Will you hold my hand?” she asked him uncertainly.

“Baby, of course, I’ll hold your hand. You're everything to me, Mine. Always remember that.”

Myla took in a breath as she felt her eyes sting with tears. It has been a long since he called her 'Mine'. Maybe this would get better from now on.