“You’re good,” I promise. “I’m right here.”
I open the door and step out carefully, then reach back in for her. She instinctively scoots closer to me, and my chest does that ugly, possessive twist again like my body’s trying to claim her by force of proximity. I shove it down hard because this isn’t about me. It’s about her.
I slide my arms under her and lift her up, and she goes limp in my hold, exhausted and cold and running on fumes. She wraps an arm around my neck anyway, fingers tangling in my collar like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.
“Easy,” I murmur. “I got you.”
Ghost swings the door open wider and steps aside, giving us space while still watching the driveway like he expects someone to come flying in after us. Riot’s eyes go straight to Brooke’s bare feet and the torn hem of her dress, and his expression hardens like stone. He doesn’t say anything, but his hands flex at his sides.
Blade moves ahead of me without a word, not pushing, just clearing the path, because that’s what he does when something’s wrong. Switch stays close, shoulder almost brushing mine as we cross the threshold.
And then Bella sees her.
The second she spots Brooke in my arms, Bella makes this sound that turns my bones to ash.
“Brooke,” she chokes, and then she’s rushing forward so fast she nearly trips on the rug.
“Hey,” Brooke whispers, voice thin. “Bells…”
Bella’s hands flutter like she doesn’t know where to touch first, like she’s afraid she’ll hurt her, and then she cups Brooke’s face gently and just… breaks.
“Oh my God,” Bella sobs. “Oh my God, what happened, what happened to you?”
Brooke flinches at the question, and I feel her grip tighten around my neck.
I step back a little to keep Bella from crowding her, and I keep my voice even. “Not right now. Let’s get her warm first.”
Bri is right behind Bella, tears filling her eyes, one hand pressed over her mouth like she’s holding herself together with sheer force.
“Brooke,” Bri whispers, and it comes out like a prayer. “Oh my God.”
Brooke’s eyes flick to Bri, and the second she sees her little sister’s face crumple, something in Brooke seems to snap too. She gives a shaky breath and then tears spill down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers again, and this time it isn’t about game night. It’s about everything. It’s about letting someone see her like this.
Bri steps forward and presses her hand to Brooke’s arm, gentle but fierce. “Stop. Don’t you dare say sorry right now.”
Ansley’s there too, eyes sharp and alert, already scanning Brooke’s bare feet and the bruising on her cheek like she’s assessing triage.
Ghost’s voice comes from the doorway, calm but firm. “Riot and I are staying posted. Nobody’s coming near this house.”
Riot nods once. “Perimeter’s covered.”
Blade’s eyes meet mine for half a second, and there’s a whole conversation in that glance. A plan. A promise. Violence on standby.
Blade’s jaw works like he’s chewing through rage. “I’ll be right back.”
He steps out toward the front with Switch, and I already know why. They’re going to keep this out of Brooke’s earshot. They’re going to say the things men like us say when we want blood. Good. Brooke doesn’t need to hear what happens next. She just needs to breathe.
FIVE
BROOKE
One second I’m outside,cold and shaking, and the next I’m inside Bella’s house, warm light everywhere, voices, hands reaching for me, and Rev is still holding me like he promised, like if he lets go I might actually fall apart into pieces on the floor.
Bella says my name and Bri is there. Ansley tells someone to grab water. But none of it really lands. My body is still back in that car, back in the woods. I can hear his voice in my head and feel his hands where they shouldn’t have been.
Rev carries me down the hall and into the living room, and instead of setting me on the couch, he sits first and then pulls me with him, settling me right into his lap. We’ve known each other for years, but I’ve never sat in his lap, never been so close to him before. He doesn’t even hesitate to take care of me.
