“Thanks, guys.” Everyone exchanges quick hugs, then we spill out of the police station and go our separate ways.
The ride to my apartment—our apartment—is quiet. We’re all lost in thought, all exhausted beyond belief. I’m sure there will be a lot to talk about in the days to come. We’ll have fears and feelings to process, theories to kick around, and questions to answer. But for now? For now, we just need to spend time together, make sure our nervous systems know we’re all okay, safe, whole, and together. And sleep. We need a hell of a lot of sleep.
There are a few reporters camped out at the front of my building, but we bypass them when we park in the private resident parking garage. Travis meets us there to make sure none of them get close to us. I told him it wasn’t necessary, but when he found out what happened to Kai, he was beside himself.
It didn’t matter that we’d told both of them that Blair and Reed only needed one bodyguard when they were together. It didn’t matter that Kai was attacked from behind, and that if he’d been there, staking out a different part of the building, he probably would have met the same fate. He still feels partially responsible for everything Blair and Reed went through.
I know the feeling.
“I’m so glad you’re all okay,” Travis says when he meets us at Blair’s door after we park. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
“Travis, none of this is your fault. I’m glad you weren’t there to get hurt too.” Blair gives his hand a little squeeze.
“Better me than you two,” he says, turning to Reed. “You good, kid?”
“Yeah,” Reed says, jutting his chin out.
“I heard you protected your sister.” Travis reaches out and gives Reed’s shoulder a squeeze. “That you were really fucking brave.”
“Language, please,” Blair says automatically.
Travis chuckles. “Right, sorry. I’m proud of you, kid. But if something like that happens again, you run, got me? Because your job is to protect yourself, and I know your sister agrees.”
“I do,” she says, nodding.
“She always protects me,” Reed says, his voice gaining strength. He stands taller, straighter, and it’s like watching the little boy melt away, a man taking his place. “And I’ll always protect her.”
“Fair enough. Let’s get the three of you up to your place. I’m going to hang out outside of your door tonight, just in case.”
“You really don’t have to do that, man. They caught her, and as far as anyone can tell, she was working alone. You should go home and sleep in your own bed.” Even as I speak the words, I know he won’t listen. And sure enough, Travis falls in step with us, bracketing Blair and Reed between us. Even though the threat has been taken care of, I can’t deny his presence brings me peace of mind.
We say goodnight to Travis at the door, and the three of us walk into my apartment, exhausted and drained.
“Welcome home,” I say, turning to Blair and Reed. “It’s not exactly the way I was hoping to celebrate, but we have time for that.”
“Home,” Blair whispers, her eyes glassy as she takes in the space like she’s seeing it for the first time. Then she turns to me. “Yeah. We’re home.”
Reaching up, I brush her hair from her face and cup her cheek. “You sure as hell are.”
Blair sighs when I lean down and press a lingering kiss to her forehead. And when I slant my mouth over hers, she hums. They’re the best sounds I’ve ever heard. More intoxicating than any moans or the way she cries out when I’m filling her. Because these soft little sounds? They say she’s content. She feels safe. She’s able to rest.
Blair hasn’t been able to rest since her parents died. For five long years she’s been carrying the weight of the world all by herself. But not anymore. That soft little sigh is permission. Surrender. Relief.
And it’s everything.
“Get a room,” Reed teases, snapping us both out of it.
Blair giggles, her face flushing with heat.
“Right. Reed, why don’t you go get showered?” I pause, realizing that, outside of the few bags they’d packed and brought over when they first came to stay with me, all their clothes and belongings are still at their apartment and they’ve either been burned to a crisp or are unwearable because of the smoke damage. “Shit, we’re going to need to go shopping and get you two more clothes.”
“I didn’t even think about that,” Blair says, visibly sagging. “There’s so much to do now.”
“Hey, don’t worry about that right now, okay? I’ll take care of everything I can. Both of you, go shower. What’s mine is yours now, and you can both borrow whatever you need.”
“Thanks, bro,” Reed says. “And thanks for coming for us.”
My fucking heart almost breaks when his eyes grow glassy and fill with tears. This kid has been through more than anyone should by thirteen. It’s left its mark, but it’s also made him strong, caring, and fiercely loyal.
