He hung up. I touched the side of his face, and he finally lifted his lids. “What do you know?”
“That if we can’t keep you safe, we’re failing you. It’s fundamentally my job before I do anything else or think about anything else.”
I shook my head. “I love you. We keep each other safe. I’m not some precious jewel you have to keep locked in a safe.”
“You are. You are the most precious jewel. The most expensive, rare diamond in the world. More than that. That is what you are to me. To all of us. And I am failing. I have never failed at anything in my life, but I am failing at keeping you safe and happy. Did you see how Carl and Jadon reacted to you last night? You are a gift from the heavens, and I am…”
I shook my head, which seemed to stop him. “I love you. I’ll say it as many times as I need to. I love you.”
When we pulled into the driveway, all of the Lents, minus Dina and Phoenix stood there. I got out of the car and was instantly in Julian’s arms.
He didn’t say anything—maybe because his parents were right there too—but I could feel his body vibrate against my own. I didn’t try to pull back or say anything.
Barrett took off back down the driveway. Obviously Phoenix could not be left on his own. Although I sort of imagined he’ddo a better job of defending himself than I had done. If they had been the least bit ready for me I would have been screwed.
I breathed Julian in. Soap. That was what I smelled on him. He had taken a shower recently.
Finally, I pulled back to stare into his blue eyes. “I can never get over your eyes.” I whispered to him. Maybe it was ridiculous to say that right now. Yet, it seemed important and what, really, was there left to say about any of this?
He cupped my cheeks. “You’re okay.”
“I am.” I nodded and pulled back. “I… I obviously didn’t plan this, but I do apologize that I am taking attention from Dina where it should be. So we can talk about this later. Okay?” I looked at Kit. “I don’t know cars. I’m sorry. Makes. Models. No idea. White. Van.”
He nodded. “Okay. I’m getting security. My family won’t be threatened. You are my family by the way, Alatheia. So that includes you. You’ll all have people watching you from now on. Just know that. For now anyway.”
Truth was, between therapy making me wildly nervous and now this, I needed a shower and a nap. I squeezed Julian’s hands. “I need to go clean up and lie down. You should go be with your granny.”
He nodded but looked at the ground. “I love you. Maybe we should leave the country.”
“Not today.” Wherever they went I would go. I was sure of that.
“Would one of you tell Phoenix that he smelled like bourbon? Would you make sure he hears that?” Now that I could think again I knew Phoenix was going to lose it over this. He might need a meeting or however he was coping right now. Plus, if his granny had taken a turn today it was only going to be worse.
He nodded.
“What does that mean?” Rosalind called out. It was the first time she’d spoken, and I could swear that she had paled since then. Or maybe not. I hadn’t focused on her.
I swallowed. “I guess maybe Phoenix hasn’t said anything yet and I… I mean, it’s not my story to tell but…”
Julian interrupted me. “He remembered that one of the people who held him smelled like bourbon. Really badly. Drenched in it. Might explain why he can’t stand alcohol, never could even when he was on the drugs. Drug user but also a teetotaler. And Alatheia is saying that one of her attempted kidnappers was the same. Should we call the police?”
Rosalind rocked back on her feet. “No. No don’t do that.” She walked into the house and returned a moment later holding a gun.
Everyone gasped except Daniel who ran a hand through his hair. “Roses, that is a really bad idea.”
“I’m going to do it. They can arrest me. I don’t care.” She stormed toward the garage, which was separate from the house. “He isn’t touching anyone else who belongs to me.”
Jer looked between us. “He? You know who that is?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” She kept walking. “I always wondered, you know? I really did. And now I know. I’m sure of it.”
Kit seemed frozen, which was remarkable considering that his wife was about to go shoot some unknown person who she was now sure was the perpetrator of all of this. But Stephen chased after her.
“Roz, listen, I know who it is now too. But we should talk about what to do. How best to handle this. He can be made to suffer without you going to jail. Okay? I know you want to kill him, so do I. Maybe we do that. Okay? Not tonight.”
She stopped walking and turned around, slowly. “You promise? You promise we can kill him if that’s what we want?You won’t… decide to listen to reason. Yes, I know that is what Kit is about to say.”
He held up his hands. “I wasn’t, actually.”
