My sister-in-law sat down on the couch beside me and gave my hand a squeeze, concern marring her brow and creating little lines between her eyes. “I asked if you were okay. Stupid question. Obviously you’re not okay.”
I returned her hand squeeze with one of my own. “It’s not stupid. Thank you for caring.”
“Of course I care,” she said, her voice sharp with worry. “You aren’t just my friend, Lenni. You’re my family. And I don’t just mean that because I’m married to your brother.”
A smile pulled at my lips despite how tired I was. “I know. And the feeling’s mutual. I love youdespitethe fact your tastes are so bad you married my brother.” I stuck out my tongue and made ablechsound. The two of us dissolved into giggles—admittedly, mine sounded a little hysterical—as I leaned in to rest my head on Rae’s shoulder while we watched my mother, father, and brother argue back and forth about all the different and best ways they thought they could keep me safe. The fact that whoever had vandalized my car had made sure to keep himself hidden from the security cameras only caused them more stress. The man who’d slashed my tires had dressed in dark pants, a hoodie, and a ballcap, keeping his face down so it couldn’t be seen. There was no way any of us could identify him. So far, none of their so-called suggestions sounded all that great to me. Raylan surprised me by not being involved in the whole mess, but instead, standing off to the side with his back pressed against the wall.
With all the loud voices, Pirate had decided to make himself scarce, probably in his favorite hiding spot under my bed. All the excitement must have tuckered poor Havoc out, because he was spread out on Ziggy’s bed by the fireplace on his back, his little legs splayed in the air and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He was either sleeping the deepest sleep of his life, or doing the world’s best impression of a dead cockroach.
But Ziggy, well, he’d taken up residence right beside Raylan, his eyes, scanning every which way, like he was trying to sniff out trouble while occasionally receiving absentminded head pats from the man beside him.
The sight of my dog and Raylan like that was a direct hit to the chest that I just didn’t have the capacity to think about right then.
I pulled in a deep breath and let it out on a huff when my father suggested hiring someone from Alpha Omega to play bodyguard.
Apparently that was something they’d had to do quite often back in the day. I’d heard the stories of the different brushes with danger my parents and their friends had experienced, but I think a part of me always thought that maybe those were exaggerations, that the stories had been added to and expanded on over the years. Like a game of telephone. I mean, I knew my dad had been shot long before I was born because he still sported those scars, but it was difficult for me to think of him nearly dying because he’d always been the strongest man I knew.
Not having experienced any of that, I was able to pretend it was like a movie playing out on a big screen—not something real or tangible. However, from the things he was saying and how he was acting, I realized how real it had all been. But my situation wasn’t the same as what happened back then.
“What can I do to help?” Rae asked, her focus on me and not the raised voices bouncing off the walls all around us.
I pulled in a deep breath, trying to find my calm. “I might feel a little better if they stopped talking around me and acting like I’m incapable of taking care of myself,” I replied in a hushed tone.
Her features softened with sympathy. “If I thought for one moment that I could actually get a word in, I’d try, believe me.”We both turned to look at our family. “But something tells me anything I might try to say will fall on deaf ears.”
That was my exact thought.
“Enough,” my father declared, slashing his hand through the air. “She’s moving back home. End of discussion. We can keep her safe there.”
I wasn’t going to bother arguing. But I also had no intention of ever moving home again. Instead of saying so—because it wouldn’t do me any good—I stood up and started out of the living room.
“Sweetheart, where are you going?” Mom asked, unable to hide the concern in her voice even though she tried her best to sound casual.
I paused at the mouth of the hallway and turned to face my family. “I’m going to bed.”
“Like hell you are,” my father snapped, using a tone with me he never had before. I had to remind myself that it was because he was scared and not to take it personally. “You’re packing a bag and moving back home.”
“Dad, I love you to pieces,” I started in an attempt to soften what I was about to say next. “You know that. Butthisis myhome, and I don’t really feel like being yelled and snapped at in my home. Now, I’ve gone from stressed to exhausted over the past several hours, and all I want to do is fall into bed. If you guys want to keep talking about me like I’m not here, planning my future without my input, go for it, if it makes you feel better. Just know that nothing you decide will change the fact thatI’m not leaving.”
I could see the struggle on Dad’s face, and I sympathized, really, but I was just too tired. “Sweetheart, please, just be rational.”
“Daddy, I’m being rational. I swear. But I have all my animals to think of.” I held my hands out to encompass my surroundings.“And I feel safe here. This is my safe place. Here and the bar, and I’m not willing to give either up because some asshole who doesn’t even have the nerve to approach me had his feelings hurt over some imaginary slight. You and Mom have your own lives to live.” I pointed at my brother. “Zach and Rae have their own lives. And Rae’s pregnant! They don’t need me bringing drama into their lives.”
“You aren’t drama,” Zach assured me, his face pinched in a frown. “You never could be.”
Damn it, my family made it hard to stay annoyed with them when they were being sweet and thoughtful. I felt my features soften as I looked at him, the love I had for my big brother shining from my eyes.
“You’re the best big brother, and I love you.” That was part of the reason it was getting harder and harder to sneak around with Raylan. I wanted us to be out in the open, and I wanted my brother’s approval of our relationship more that I’d let myself admit. I’d always had a bit of hero worship when it came to him. “But I’m staying here.”
“Then at least let us set up security for you,” Dad pleaded.
“You mean a bodyguard?” My top lip curled up. “No thanks.”
“I’m moving in here.”
Everyone froze, the room going so quiet you could hear a pin drop. My heart flipped over in my chest and all the air whooshed from my lungs as hope bloomed brightly in my chest, swelling so there was little room for anything else. Was he going to tell them the truth? Was that what was happening?
My brother’s features were etched deep with confusion. “Why would you do that?”
