Alec’s had his head stuck in his laptop since we told him about Dennis Blanco. He’s doing everything he can to remotely cover Jace and the twins' asses to get them here safely.
I called Rylan back. He wanted to know if we’d be open to having some ACIC guys posted around the property.
I shut that idea down. Anyone can be bought off and I won’t put our safety in the hands of strangers.
I later brought the idea up to Rory who nearly had a panic attack at the idea of more strangers around us.
It took our promise and a drink for her to relax again.
I want—Ineed—to protect us. And Idon’t know how to do that.
“I wanna swim.”
I blink and focus back on Rory.
“Did you say you want to swim?” I ask her.
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, those blue and brown eyes struggling to focus on me.
“No, why would I want to swim? I can’t swim.” She frowns at me.
Alec glances up, from where he’s been buried in researching. “You can’t swim?” He questions, surprised.
“We didn’t live near the beach. Mum died then Marcus went all weird. I went once with Jace but we didn’t really do a lot of actual swimming,” Rory tells us, not really looking like she’s paying attention.
She hasn’t brought up her mum before.
“What happened to your mum, Sweetheart?” Dom questions, gently.
Rory’s quiet for so long, I begin to wonder if she even heard him.
“She was sick. Really sick. She died when Dec and I were kids. I don’t…I don’t rememberwhybut…” Rory’s voice fades.
Sadness grows in her face.
“It’s okay, Butterfly,” I soothe her. She stares at me for a moment before lifting a hand to cup my face.
“My Luci,” she says to herself, stroking my face. I slowly turn my head, kissing her palm but keeping my eyes on her.
It’s like a switch is flicked and Rory brightens. “Everyone is far too serious. More drinks!”
Rory’s up and off the couch is a second—moonwalking to the kitchen.
She throws her head back and starts humming to Dom’s 80’s and 90’s country playlist.
“Dominator! Turn it up!” Rory calls out to Dom who jerks.
“What the fuck?” Dom blinks at the nickname before turning to Alec like he has the answer.
I snicker and steal Dom’s phone to turn it up.
Rory moonwalks back into the living room with two beers and another vodka concoction. She hands them off to Dom and I.
“Thanks, gorgeous.” I tug her into my lap in hopes of keeping her still.
Rory plants a kiss on my lips before curling up in my lap, clutching her glass.
Rory gasps. We all look at her.
