Secretary Chandler had ordered us to lie low. This was day seven in our temporary hideout, a much bigger home than Wyatt’s.
We were tucked away deep in the woods with a security system just as advanced as his—though, sadly, it had no piano. But it was safe, and I’d spent a week surrounded by people I love.
After we flew back to the States last week, Ryder went straight to New York to bring Seraphina here. He refused to spend another day without her. Having her steady presence made this place feel less like a safe house and more like a refuge.
“You okay?” she finally asked.
“Just ... Is it reallyoverover? Because it feels too good to be true.”
“You know Ryder wouldn’t let us leave tomorrow if he had any doubts or worries. The man puts the wordoverinoverprotective.”
“A man after my own heart,” I said with a light, nervous laugh.
“And Chandler’s just as stubborn, so he wouldn’t give us the green light to leave if every last bad guy wasn’t confirmed dead or locked up.”
Also true.“I’ll still probably need some reminding of that a few more times before it sinks in.” I turned off the burner and slid the pan to the side. The eggs were burnt, but Chase liked them overdone anyway.
“Well, I can do that.” She gently squeezed my arm. “Too bad Rhett and Beau are still alive,” she added, her voice dipping into the factual. “But at least they’re in a CIA black site now. They can’t hurt anyone again.”
I wasn’t so sure about Rhett. That man had one too many tricks up his sleeve. I guess that was my issue now. I was worried he wasn’t done yet. Maybe not now. But one, two, or even ten years from now ... no telling.
“And although we found out Rhett didn’t start up Helix, only took control from the owners four years ago, at least we know they’re officially out of business.Foreverforever,” she continued with reassurance.
“This is all good, I know. Case closed. Time to move on.” I set aside my coffee. “So why do I still feel stuck?”
She mirrored my movement, abandoning her mug and fully facing me. “That’s a normal feeling. After everything you’ve been through, it’syour brain trying to protect you. You’re stepping into a new life with Alex, with your son. And you’re scared something from the past might come back and rip it away.”
I nodded, my breath hitching as the words hit home. “This week’s been perfect. Everyone here. Safe. Together. Now we have to leave the bubble and face the real world again, and that terrifies me.”
She pulled me in for a hug, wrapping her arms around me like armor. “Do you want real?” she whispered. “Or do you want the illusion of it?”
Ugh, I was done with illusions forever.
“Because as nice as it’s been, this isn’t forever. It was never meant to be.”
“You’re right,” I murmured. “I guess I need to let the bubble pop, even if Eden’s not ready to go to their lodge yet.” A lodge she and Trevor now planned to sell, and I didn’t blame them. “And Chase is dreading school.” Also didn’t blame him. “And as for me? My new house that never really had a chance to become a home ... I’m not looking forward to returning.”
“Have you considered moving to Charleston? We’re in a new-construction neighborhood.” She stepped back, brushing my hair behind my shoulder. “Move in with Alex. Trevor and Eden could live together for now down the street, too. She needs to be around family after what Beau did to her.”
Was she serious?
“Ryder would love it. Chase would freak. You know, in a good way.”
She was right about that. “All of us in the same neighborhood? I like how that sounds.” And it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, especially not after what had happened last night.
One minute, we’d all been playing a board game together, and the next, Chase had looked back and forth between me and Alex, asking when we were getting married and could he be the best man instead of the ring bearer. He wanted a “cooler role” in our wedding that we were apparently having.
I’d choked on my wine. Alex, his bourbon.
And Ryder had, shockingly, laughed. “Gonna have to fight me on that spot, little man.”
As for Trevor? He’d grinned and commented, “Not weird if I come, too, right?”
In the blink of an eye, I’d gone from a woman never wanting to date, to falling in love and having both my son and his father welcoming another man into the family.
Seraphina pointed to the eternity band on my finger. “You haven’t taken off that ring, I see.”
“It’s stuck. I can’t get it over my knuckle. Guess my fingers swelled up.”
