I close my eyes for a second, my throat tight, and reach out, pulling him closer.
He’s so small.
Too small for this.
“Yeah… yeah, I did,” I say quietly, my voice catching in my throat. “She was gonna hurt you. Hurt us. I had to stop her.”
His eyes meet mine, wide and serious, like he’s trying to understand something too big for him. “But you made her sweepfowever?” he asks, his voice soft but steady.
I glance at Lenny, standing by the door. He shifts uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. His jaw tightens, and for a moment, we’re both lost. He knows I can’t lie to Alex. Not about this.
Lenny steps forward, trying to help without making it worse. “Hey, buddy,” he says, kneeling down next to the bed, his voice low and calm. “Sometimes bad people try to hurt the people we love. Your mom… she did what she had to do, okay? To keep you safe.”
He nods again, but I see the confusion in his eyes. His little hand reaches up, touching my cheek. “Momma, you not gonna sleepfowevah?”
My heart twists. I shake my head, pulling him closer, pressing a kiss to his head. “No, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
His grip tightens on my shirt. I run my fingers through his messy hair, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “Momma’s always going to protect you, baby. Always.”
Holding my boy close, I can smell the faint baby scent still lingering on him—that sweet, comforting smell that I never want to let go of. His little warm palm rests in mine, and I lean in, pressing a kiss to his soft cheek. His skin’s still warm from sleep, and for a moment, everything else fades away.
“Momma.” Alex looks between me and Lenny, his lips pressed together in that serious way he gets when he’s really thinkingabout something. He squeezes his stuffed bear a little tighter, his tiny fingers clutching it like it’s his anchor.
Then he says it, his voice soft but clear. “And… thebig man.” He pauses, glancing up at me with those wide, worried eyes. “Is he… sleepingfowevahtoo?”
My heart clenches. He’s talking about D. I pull him closer, my eyes falling on the bandage on his neck. The sight of it makes my blood boil all over again.
“You’re so brave, my little warrior,” I murmur, kissing the top of his head. “And you know what? The big man is brave, too. He’s not sleeping forever, love. He’s safe, he is strong, and…” I pause, swallowing hard. “You’ll see him soon.”
“Weally?” Alex’s eyebrows shoot up, his face lighting up with hope. “I’llbwingMr. Bearwifme; we want to say fank you.” He hugs his stuffed bear tighter. “Big man kept us safe from loud noises,wightMomma?”
Christ, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed in a vice. I nod, forcing a smile. “That’s right, baby. He kept you safe.”
“Is he hurted, too?” Alex asks, his little brow furrowing with concern. “Maybe,Mr. Bear make better. Make ouchiesbetter.”
I blink back tears, amazed at my kid’s big heart. “That’s very sweet of you, Alex. I’m sure the big man would love that.”
“We go see him now?” Alex asks, already trying to scramble off the bed, Mr. Bear clutched firmly in his arms.
I gently pull him back, chuckling despite the lump in my throat. “Not just yet, Lexi Bear. The big man needs to rest first. But soon, okay?”
Lenny shifts his weight, opening his mouth like he’s about to say something comforting to Alex. But before he can get a word out, a burst of high-pitched laughter erupts from somewhere down the hall, followed by the pitter-patter of tiny feet. The sound grows louder, a whirlwind of giggles and shuffling steps coming our way.
Lenny raises an eyebrow at me. “Guess Iforgotto mention… Alex met Niko and Natalya earlier this morning.”
“Ah, shit,” I mutter under my breath. Niko and Natalya. Soph’s kids. The ones I’ve never met because I’ve been too busy running from my own fucked-up life. A twist of guilt knots in my stomach. Here I am, crashing back into Sophia’s world, and I don’t even know what her children look like. Some best friend I am.
I watch my brother shaking his head with a chuckle. “They’ve been tearing the place up all morning. You wouldn’t believe how fast they became best friends.”
“Great,” I mutter, but there’s a warmth spreading through me, seeing Alex smile again.
“Oh, and,” Lenny lowers his voice, “Em is finally eating. I think you should go see her. And as for Dad… he’s doing okay.”
Before I can spiral into more fucking thoughts, Alex’s head whips toward the door. His little face lights up with excitement at the sound of his new friends.
“Niko!” he shouts, his voice full of energy. “Dey hewe, Momma!”
Just as I’m rubbing the sleep from my eyes, clearing away the crusty gunk, I run my fingers through my tangled hair, making a weak attempt to look less like I’ve been through a hurricane. And then, a blur of dark curls comes barreling into the room, nearly taking out Lenny’s legs. Niko skids to a stop, his eyes wide and bright, darting between me and Alex.
