“Of course I am.” I scan my body, the trespassing device immediately illuminated. “My La Lune Noire–access bracelet?”
His dimple heckles me. “And your phone.”
That’s not surprising, but I’m annoyed all the same.
A petulant huff flies out of my mouth. “When were you going to inform me of this violation of privacy?”
“I just did,” he drawls, blues as chilly as the Arctic Ocean, sparkling with challenge. “Maybe now is a good time to point outthat if you try to ditch the bracelet, I’ll put a tracker under your skin.”
His haughty coolness is both infuriatingly sexy and just plain infuriating. And his galling threat heats every inch of my flesh.
“Got it. And that is a full-circle route to ending this discussion. We share information only when absolutely necessary, which is precisely why you were informed of the decision I made to take on a client when I decided it was worth filling you in.”
Before he can retort, Remy squeals, “Blue!” so we all turn to find Jax, Rena, and the other couple strutting in.
Gage I remember. He’s a presence—bald, broody, muscular, and tatted. Hard to forget. I never met his girl, but she’s got a similar formidable aura. Daunting.
Rena beelines for me as I’m dashing toward her. Her hair is pink and blonde, and she’s all grown up. She still has the edgy style she had as a teen, but there’s a maturity about her that wasn’t there before I left. And it nearly does me in.
She was pretty young when I returned from college, and though she pushed Axel and Ryker every chance she got, she had a heart of gold and a spirit that couldn’t be tamed. She was the little sister I’d always dreamed of having.
Without a word, she throws her arms around me, tears trickling down her cheeks and leaking onto my neck. “I thought maybe I’d never see you again.” She weeps, clutching me, her words barely a whisper in my ear. “I’m so glad you’re finally home. For good. I missed you so much. We all did. But Ryker? He was lost without you, Mercy. So broken.”
She obviously grew up to fill her Noire shoes. That is love, compassion, and a warning, all wrapped up in one. I adore her for it. Ryker gave up a lot to raise her, so it’s heartwarming to see she’s just as protective.
“I’m glad to be home too,” I assure her with a squeeze. “We were both broken, but we’re healingtogether. And you’re married.”
She pulls back, wiping some tears away. Her wistful hazels coast to her man with a heap of dreamy reverence. “Can you believe it? To Ty? He’s perfect, huh?”
“I honestly couldn’t have chosen anyone better for you.”
She beams at that before shifting her focus to Remy with a whoop and rushing toward him. “I have been waiting to hug my nephew.”
Nephewmakes it all so real, the ring on my finger glimmering with renewed purpose.
Everything balls up in my throat. I wish so much their mother could see Rena this happy. I wish my mother could see me this happy. I wish she knew that all those years ago, when she and my father had made the difficult decision to let me be friends with Ryker and get to know the Noire family, it was the best thing they ever did for me. Not just for me. But for Remy too.
Rena scoops Remy up, tickling his belly and asking him all sorts of questions. He gawks at her pink hair and tells her all about hisRyker-friend, who plays with him every day andteachedhim how to cook. That has Rena chortling and side-eyeing her big brother.
Ryker’s rasp, rough and husky with emotion, curls around me as he swaggers to my side and splays his hand over my lower back. “It feels complete, doesn’t it? With Rena here.” He pauses for a minute, both of us soaking in the merry scene unfolding—Jax lit up and at peace, Axel staring on with pride, Rena at the center of two families who obviously adore her, Remy giggling and observing in awe, warmth and connection and belonging—until he finally adds, “Not as complete as if we still had everyone with us, but this … this is good.”
My eyes sting as I lay my head on his chest and loop my arms around his waist. “You always know.”
“You thrive from studying, Merce. You research things to death and love learning. There was only one subject I ever felt that way about. And that’s you. It’s been that way since I spotted you on the merry-go-round. All these years later, I know you better than you know yourself.”
Who knew he was such a romantic?
My heart practically implodes in my chest. “You never asked why I was hating boys that day, but it was because this neighborhood kid I’d been flirting with got annoyed that I spouted off one too many facts about something. I’m not even sure what it was. He said my parents made me weird. I didn’t really care. It was partly true. I was kinda weird. But I was mostly mad that I’d invested any time in him. And I was lonely. Then you showed up.”
I take a breath, admiring the gathering around us before peering up at him. “I didn’t pretend to be something I wasn’t. I didn’t hide that I was homeschooled. You looked the part of a guy who would blow me off, but you didn’t. We couldn’t have been more different, and yet you were the one who saw me clearest and stuck around.”
He presses his lips to mine in a gentle reminder of how far we’ve come. “I need the name of the asshole kid who upset you.”
I stifle a laugh, concerned he’s serious, but determined to brush past it. “That’s not the point. I rarely got upset about anyone else after that because I had you, and your opinion was the only one that mattered. It was actually a sarcastic comment you made that inspired me to become a lawyer. It fit. You’ve always been my breath of belonging and freedom.” My gaze floats back to our guests, who are also enduring the stressful unknown of someone after them, yet they’re all glowing. “I wantthis life with you.All of it.But you promised we’d live, so let’s do that.”
Rena garners everyone’s attention with a goofy whistle, her eyes twinkling with mischief as Ty stands by her side. “Mercy and Remy are beautiful additions to this family. But you aren’t the only ones with exciting news. We actually have some of our own.” The air grows thick with anticipation. “Gage and Leigh are pregnant.”
Hoots and hollers, hugs and congratulatory cheers abound.
