I gasp. I can’t begin to process how close I came to dying in my own home.
“I’m sorry this happened. I didn’t think he’d do anything, thought he was only a rat relaying information.”
“It’s okay,” I find myself saying. “I’m fine and the kids are safe.”
“Don’t do that, babe.”
“What?”
“Act like this ain’t a big fuckin’ deal. It is, and I hate that I'm not there with you. I should have figured it out long ago.”
He's got too much to deal with, I tell him, “Leo, I’m fine, focus on what you need to do. I need to get back to the house, I left Harper watching the kids. The shot set off the babies.”
“We’ll talk when I'm back, okay?”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
I end the call and smile weakly at King before heading home. There is no crying from the boys, and I go straight up to Rayna’s room.
She's sat on her bed with her headphones on, and is tapping away on her phone. I collect her in my arms and try to keep the trembling to a minimum.
“Everything is okay, I promise.”
She pulls away from me and takes her headphones off. “Is dad home yet?”
I shake my head and tell her, “No, but I spoke with him and he’s trying to get home as soon as possible.”
“Does he know Wolf is going to live with us now?”
“Not yet.”
“Will Wolf call you Mom?”
“Maybe one day, if that’s what he wants. Just like you.”
“So, he’s my new brother?”
“In a way, yes. We're a family, and you know better than anyone, family isn’t always blood relations.”
“I know. It's just that, well, now we’re going to have two babies crying all the time.”
I laugh. “That we will, but it won’t last forever. Your dad and Uncle Luca used to be babies, and they’re not still crying all the time, are they?”
“I suppose not.”
“Does that help?”
She nods. “Can I go to Grandma Kris’s?”
“Not today. Wait till your dad gets home.”
“But, Mom!”
“No buts.”
“Seb needs me!”
“You can video call him?” I suggest.
