Heading home.
* * *
Enya opens the door before I can knock, like she was waiting.She throws her arms around me and holds tight.
"You alright?"I ask.
"Yeah.Just missed you."
I hold her, breathe her in, let the tension from the clubhouse meeting drain away.
She pulls back and looks at me."Thank you."
"For what?"
"For the locks.The window security.For checking on Erin's place too."
Right.I'd reinforced Enya's locks yesterday.Added extra security to the windows.Then went to her sister's flat and did the same.Just in case.Just to make sure.
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing.You didn't just protect me.You protected my whole family.My sister and her kids.That means everything."
Her eyes are shining with unshed tears.
"Hey."I cup her face."Of course I did.They're yours, which means they're mine to protect too."
"I'm still learning what safety feels like," she whispers."Still getting used to someone caring this much."
"Then we learn together."
She kisses me.Soft.Tender.Full of gratitude and love and everything I don't deserve but am taking anyway.
When she pulls back, she says, "I have to go to work in twenty minutes.Warren's in his room.You okay watching him?"
"Yeah.Course."
"Mam's on call if you need backup.But he'll be fine.He adores you."
"I adore him too."
She smiles."Good.Because he's been asking for you all morning."
Twenty minutes later, she's gone.And it's just me and Warren.
I find him in his room, building something with blocks.He looks up when I enter.Grins.
"Devin!"
Still gets me.Hearing my actual name.Not Tank.Just Devin.
"Hey, mate.What're you building?"
"A castle.But I need help.Will you help?"
"Yeah.Course."
I sit on the floor.Let him direct.We build towers and walls and a moat made of blue blocks.
