It doesn’t look real, like something from a dream.
She’d fit there perfectly.
“We can go there?” she whispers, her fingers tracing the screen.
Fuck that stings. Her awe-struck joy tainted with doubt. We look at each other, and I see the pain that soft, little question has etched into us. Because we want to take her there,desperately, but what if Red decides to choose a world that doesn’t include us?
Nothing in this world is guaranteed, or fair. Mothers lock their kids in cages. Brothers are forced to choose sides. Little sisters die screaming. Sons are turned into weapons.
So why the hell would we get to keep Red after the shitty lives we’ve lived, after all the damnable things we’ve done?
No. Wait. Fuck that pessimistic attitude.
She’s told us over and over to believe her, to take her at her word. And she’s right. She deserves better than me wallowing in my own shit.
I haul her closer, bury my face in her hair like if I breathe in hard enough part of her will never leave me.
“Course we can, baby,” I whisper, rough, because I need her to believe it, to feel it. Need her to know that the world is hers, if she wants it—every last corner.
Including us.
She leans back against my chest, a content sigh leaving her lips. “I’d like that.”
Hell, that gets me. A ragged breath tears out of me before I can stop it, relief so sharp it’s almost a laugh. With those few words, she’s picturing a future with us in it.
Choosing it. Planning it.
I glance at the others. Julien’s lips curve in that soft smile, Ezekial’s does too, and even Kane’s hard gaze finally eases. We’re all thinking the same damn thing.
We’ll take anything, give anything,beanything she needs.
She tries to scroll further, but I feel her strength slipping, her shadows pulling away. When her head dips and she flinches, I know she’s seconds from sleep.
I start to lean forwards, ready to carry her back to bed—
“No,” she murmurs, palm pressing to my chest. “I want to stay here. You can all just… stay.” Her hand pats around for the tablet on the sofa. “I want your favourites too.”
And then she’s gone, asleep in my arms, heartbeat steady, shadow-laced fingers tangled in mine. Her other hand is still resting on the screen, like her body remembers even as her mind drifts.
Kane’s the first to move, helping me ease her down so her head rests on my lap, then he stays crouched beside the sofa. Zeek pulls her legs across his, and Julien reaches down to brush a lock of hair from her cheek.
We’re all quiet. Just watching her.
“We’re going to need a bigger sofa,” I mutter.
Julien laughs quietly, Zeek shakes his head, and Kane just keeps staring.
“I’m serious.” I gesture to us, all crammed around her like desperate shadows. “Bigger sofa, bigger bed, bigger bath. Maybe just… a house made of mattresses and onsens.”
Zeek snorts, but doesn’t deny it.
I reach for the tablet under Red’s hand, gently sliding it free. “She said she wants our favourites.” I grin as the screen lights up. “So, who’s going first… Julien? I bet this thing doesn’t have enough storage to handle all your tastes.”
He smiles, but I know this man too well, there’s some dread in his eyes with a little uncertainty as he looks at Red.He’s still haunted by what we all saw, Jasmine’s face when The Infernoflashed on screen.
“We all saw her face when those photos came up.” I let that sink in, remembering the way her heart raced, then shake my head. “But she’s already told us she’ll stay, you told us not to doubt her, big guy.”
He nods softly, but that smile still isn’t quite right.
