Luke glanced at him. “Not anymore.”
He looked back to Grace. His thumb brushed a small, absent circle against her hip as he gazed down at her.
“He’s your brother,” Luke told her seriously. "That means he's under my protection too."
Grace’s breath caught.Under my protection too.
Which meant she already was.
Eli shifted carefully on the couch. “I’m not trying to drag you into my bullshit, Grace,” he said. “I just didn’t know where else to go.”
“You don’t have to handle this alone,” Luke said. “I’ve got connections. I can help.”
She leaned into him before she realized she was doing it.
“You’re sure?” she asked softly.
Luke didn’t hesitate. “I’m sure.”
Eli blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Guess Crystal Lake finally surprised me.”
Grace laughed weakly, then pressed a hand to her mouth when it turned into something dangerously close to a sob.
Luke noticed.
“Hey,” he said, gentler now.
He pulled her against his chest, his arms wrapping around her. He held her.
Grace’s forehead pressed into his collarbone. His hand spread warm and solid between her shoulder blades, anchoring her in place.
She hadn’t realized how much she needed it until her body gave in all at once.
Safe.
Protected.
Held.
Luke didn’t let go. He just stayed, breathing slow and steady, a solid wall between her and everything else in the room.
“You’re not dealing with this alone. Not anymore.”
CHAPTER 34
Luke
Luke steeredEli straight past the front desk. Grace walked at Luke's other side, her hand in his.
Luke Bennett, walking openly through the station, flanked by Harts.
Eli moved stiffly, jaw locked, his weight uneven as he favored his left side.
“EMT’s on their way,” Luke said quietly.
Eli lowered himself onto the bench in the small exam room with a careful hiss of breath. He leaned forward, forearms braced on his knees, and let his head drop for a moment.
“The police station,” he muttered, not looking up, “is usually where things go bad for me.”
