Bailey
Dalton joinedus at the house, notebook flipped open and serious lawman demeanor wrapped around him like a cloak.
While Emory dumped grounds into the coffee maker, Flynn told Dalton how he’d spotted Snake on the camera and immediately pursued him.
I cringed. “And you say I’m reckless.”
“You are,” Holden said, and I sent him a dirty look. Now was not the time to be a smart-ass.
Flynn took hold of my hand under the table. “I knew what I was dealing with, but I should have called first. I wasn’t thinking. I just didn’t want to let him hurt your family.” He glanced uncertainly around the table, making eye contact with Holden and Gray.
Axel hadn’t joined us.
“My family,” he said tentatively. “If you all still feel that way.”
“Of course they do,” I said quickly.
Flynn shook his head. “You can’t speak for them on this. I let you decide how you felt about me when I told you. It hasto be the same with them.” He cleared his throat. “If you don’t want me and Aiden here for Thanksgiving after everything, I’ll understand.”
My heart wrenched as Holden and Gray exchanged a troubled look. I squeezed Flynn’s hand so hard it had to hurt.
“Holden…” I begged with my eyes, every ounce of me trying to convince him that he couldn’t turn Flynn away. Not now.
“Bailey loves you,” Holden said. “Of course you’re welcome.”
I exhaled with relief.
“But,” Holden said, “we do need to talk this out. Make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“About what?” I challenged, temper flaring hot at the deep regret in Flynn’s eyes. “Because I’m not leaving Flynn.”
“I know,” Holden said. “I just want us all to understand each other, that’s all. But let’s not keep Dalton waiting. Finish your statement, Flynn.”
Shiloh settled beside Holden—not touching him, which was a sure sign of my brother’s tension.
Gray helped Emory bring over mugs of coffee, the carton of milk, and a container of sugar. Axel came in and leaned in a corner, arms crossed, while Flynn talked and talked, recounting everything that had happened tonight—including Snake’s threats to tell us everything and Flynn’s decision to turn him in anyway.
Flynn’s voice grew scratchy, and the shadows under his eyes darkened. The man was exhausted.
He didn’t need to go through another interrogation after this one.
I pushed my chair back. “Holden, can I talk to you while they finish up?”
He raised an eyebrow but nodded, following me into the living room. “What’s up?”
I kept my voice pitched low. “Please don’t grill Flynn about his past. He’s full of guilt and pain, and he wanted to tell you.”
“And what about you?” he said. “We said no more secrets.”
“This wasn’t my secret to tell. Surely you can understand that. This isn’t just a question of Flynn being honest. This is trauma, Holden. Do you get that? His stepfather was horribly abusive. He had to see his brother lying on the floor, bleed?—”
My voice broke, my tangled emotions getting the best of me. Ihatedthis. Hated that Flynn was in this position. Hated that my brothers were unhappy. I wanted, no—needed—us all to be a family. I couldn’t imagine going on without Holden and Gray and Axel, but I couldn’t give up Flynn either.
“Shit,” Holden said, dragging a hand down his face. “I forget sometimes.”
“Forget what?”
“How insightful you are,” he said. “You know trauma. You’ve lived with it. You see more clearly than the rest of us sometimes.”
