“In case of what?”Cullen asked.
“In case Johnson decides to do something stupid.I don’t think he will because he didn’t get where he is by being an idiot, but there’s no way to know what those hunters will tell Martinez and what Johnson is willing to do to protect himself.”
“Overprotective much?”Braith teased.“But yeah, I’m staying.I’m not driving home at this hour.”
“I’ll take the couch,” Corey announced.“Kerry, you get the air mattress.”
“Why do I get the air mattress?”
“Because you’re smaller and it’ll fit you better.”
“That’s not how air mattresses work—”
Their bickering was familiar and comfortable, and Archie felt some of his tension ease.They were safe—for now.They were together.And despite everything, they’d won this fight.
Jasper shifted, tilting his head up to look at Archie.“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“Always,” Archie promised.He kissed Jasper’s forehead.“I told you, you’re stuck with me now.I’m annoyingly persistent.”
“I remember.”Jasper managed a real smile this time.“I’m glad you are.”
As the others settled in for what remained of the night—Corey and Kerry arguing about blankets, Braith and Cullen setting up the air mattress and looking like they had every intention of using it instead of leaving it to Kerry—Archie held Jasper close and thought about what came next.
These hunters were caught, but there were probably more.Johnson was still in a powerful position, although that wouldn’t be for long if Martinez had his way.He’d wanted to interrogate the hunters he’d captured before doing anything about Johnson, but Archie doubted he’d wait for long.
Whatever happened, Jasper was going to be at the center of all of it, whether he wanted to be or not.The thought terrified Archie, but he knew that Jasper was strong enough to handle it.He’d proven that.
“Hey,” Jasper murmured.“Stop thinking so loud.I can feel you worrying.”
“Sorry,” Archie said.“Occupational hazard of loving you.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah,” Archie agreed, pressing a kiss to his hair.“We will.”
Archie let himself believe it.Theywouldfigure it out.Together.
Epilogue
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JASPER STOOD IN THEkitchen of Archie’s apartment and watched the chaos unfold around him with a happiness he hadn’t thought possible three months ago.
Corey and Kerry were arguing about whether pineapple belonged on pizza.Again.Braith was trying to mediate while Cullen just laughed at all of them.Archie was setting the table, occasionally glancing at Jasper with that soft smile reserved for him that still made his heart skip a beat.
It was supposed to be a quiet dinner.Just the six of them, celebrating nothing in particular except that they were all still here, still safe, still together.
Somehow, quiet dinners never stayed quiet with this group.
“Jasper, tell them,” Kerry demanded.“Pineapple on pizza is a crime against humanity.”
“Pineapple on pizza is delicious,” Corey countered.“Back me up here.”
“I’m staying out of it,” Jasper said, holding up his hands in surrender.“I’ve learned that lesson.”He’d taken a side once, and it hadn’t ended well for him.
“Smart man,” Archie murmured as he passed, pressing a quick kiss to Jasper’s temple.
It had been three months since the confrontation with the rogue hunters—three months of healing, of learning, of slowly rebuilding himself into someone he recognized.It hadn’t been easy, and it still wasn’t sometimes, but Jasper thought he was getting there.
