Her smile gets wider. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy, Morgan. I am here to stay.”
I grunt in response, and that earns me a laugh. “You are so whipped.”
Then she makes a swooshing sound with her lips, mimicking a whip. Kate kicks her under the table. “Behave.”
Addison scowls at her, muttering something about betrayal over dick or something along those lines.
Margaret leans in, voice low. “Ryder…”
I turn to her, giving her my full attention. Her hands twist together once, nerves hidden under composure. “I don’t know everything. Kate doesn’t tell me much, but I know my daughter. I know when she’s been through something that changed her, and I know what it looks like when she’s finally… not alone.”
She nods once, as if confirming her own thought. “Thank you. For taking care of her, and for stepping up for Julian.”
I don’t know what to do with gratitude; it sits in my chest like a live thing, so I nod. “That’s my job.”
Margaret’s eyes soften. “No, that’s a choice, and you made a good one.”
Then she turns her attention back to Kate, watching her like she’s memorizing her, like she’s afraid that if she blinks, this version of her daughter might disappear. When Kate catches her looking, she smiles softly, reaches out, and their fingers lace.
It’s been a month since everything went down, and even though there’s still a lot of red tape and investigations ongoing, my connections in the government have ensured that my family is safe. What we did was to protect ourselves; we got rid of trespassers, and for that, the law is on our side.
Still, I find myself clocking exits without thinking—the windows and sound of boots moving outside. Habit doesn’t shut off just because the table is full and the lights are warm. But it’s different now. It’s protection without paranoia.
Beck lifts his bandaged arm dramatically. “Just saying, I almost died for y’all.”
“You got grazed,” Jace says flatly. “It’s been a month. You’re fully healed. Get over it.”
”Ibled.”
“Yeah, like a drama queen.”
Quinn snorts. “He asked for extra gauze so people would notice.”
Dad clears his throat, not loud, but it cuts through the noise anyway. The table quiets without effort as he lifts his glass. “I’m glad you’re all here. Happy Valentine’s Day. Cheers.”
That’s it—no speeches, no sentiment—but it’s perfect, and it hits harder than anything else could have.
We all lift our glasses and chorus, “Cheers.”
After dinner, Beck pushes back his chair with theatrical force. “Alright,” he announces, grin turning dangerous. “Surprise time.”
I’m thinking he’s talking about gifting our ladies their flowers and chocolates until everyone turns to face Kate and me, in a way that lets me know they are all in on it. She looks at me questioningly, but I’m just as confused as she is.
Kate narrows her eyes. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
Blindfolds appear, and Quinn waves one cheerfully at Kate. She recoils, curling into my side. “Absolutely not.”
I glance around, and everyone’s smiling too much. “What are you all up to?” I demand.
“Trust us,” Ella smiles gently.
My problem is not the surprise part, but the blindfold. Not because I don’t trust my family, though that is debatable when Beck is involved, but because I don’t like not seeing. I don’t like surrendering control, even for something harmless.Especially for something harmless.
Kate is still arguing beside me as Quinn ties the fabric around her eyes. “If I trip, I’m suing.”
“You can’t sue family,” Ella sings.
“Watch me.”
