“Liam,” I whispered.
His head shot up, and his eyes narrowed in on my hand that was holding Gunner’s. “What’s going on here?”
“Someone failed to mention in his reports to Dad that he got closer to Fey than we would have liked,” Gabriel said.
I stiffened at the mention of Gunner keeping tabs on me for Dad. A small part of me was still mad at him for it, even though his arguments to forgive him had been pretty convincing. “Is this really the right time and place to do this? Shouldn’t you make sure all the bad guys are gone before starting a pointless discussion?” I asked, exasperated.
“We got them all. So this is as good a time as any,” Liam said, his eyes still on us.
I stood up, and so did the rest of the guys. Gunner took up position right behind me, and I leaned back and into him.
“Why don’t we go to my apartment and talk there? Much easier to have a conversation without bodies lying around everywhere. I’ll even order pizza,” I suggested, wanting to put as much distance between myself and the bodies littering the property as possible.
“Fine,” Liam acquiesced, his face pinched like he’d smelled something off. Which he probably had. Mainly dead bodies and blood.
“I’ll ride with you,” Jude said, turning to me.
Gunner picked up Killer’s cage and we walked outside, stepping over body parts and past damaged walls and bullet casings.
“Did you call for cleanup?” Liam asked.
Gabriel held up the phone he’d been texting on. “I messaged Case.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Jude shuddered. “We should just burn the place down. Not like anyone can ever live here again.”
I cringed at the thought. This had been Gunner’s retreat. His safe place. And now it was in tatters, thanks to my family.
“I’m sorry about the cabin,” I said, chancing a look at him from under my lashes.
He squeezed my hand. “Not your fault. Don’t apologize for what happened here. The only thing that matters is that you’re safe.”
Jude threw his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close and forcing me to let go of Gunner. “No hug? I haven’t seen you in years, and I don’t get so much as a handshake? Rude.”
I turned and threw my arms around him. I’d missed my brothers, no matter how much they pissed me off. We were still family. An unusual, defective one, but still a family.
“I missed you,” I rasped, my voice laced with unshed tears.
“Not as much as I missed you,” he responded, holding me so tight that I struggled to breathe. “Life was shit without you.”
“Jude,” I said, burying my head in his chest. “I didn’t mean to stay away for so long. I just needed a break.”
“I know. And I understand. Doesn’t mean you leaving hurt any less.”
He’d always been the honest one, the one I was closest to. There was never a time I didn’t know where I stood with him. But hearing I’d caused him pain slayed me.
I’d been selfish to leave. I’d known it then, and I knew it now. But I’d needed room to life my live and to become my own person. From the moment I was born, I was known as the Olysses princess. I never had anything that was all mine. Nothing I’d ever achieved on my own.
And my brothers protected me fiercely, not letting anyone close. Until Quinn, I’d never had any friends.
Jude cleared his throat. “Let’s go. It’s a long drive back.”
Gunner stopped me from getting in the car with a hand to my waist. “You okay?”
I went up to my tippy-toes, and he leaned down, touching his lips to mine in a gentle caress.
“I will be,” I said and got in the back seat of the car, where Killer was already strapped in.
The drive back was quiet, my brother and Gunner talking with low voices in the front while I sat slumped against the door, wondering if I’d have to go back home. I liked my apartment. I loved the little town I’d landed in. I didn’t fit into my old life anymore.
