I loved Piper so fiercely in that moment. So intensely. We were part of the same history, the same found family, and that just made our connection sweeter.
“I love you, Grayden,” my sister said.
“I love you too. I love all of you. I wasn’t there for you before, but that changes now.”
Callum and Ashford both put their hands on my arms where I was holding Grace.
It felt like I was finally coming out of a long, dark night. The first rays of sun had appeared when Grace and Callum came back into my life.
And then Piper. My heart and my soul had truly come alive because of her.
But now, my new beginning was really starting.
FORTY-NINE
Piper
We stayedup half the night in the family waiting room, reminiscing.
Grayden and Teller shared stories about the Mangy Moose, back when it was a filthy dive that didn’t check IDs. Then they started in on Callum about his antics as a kid.
We passed around the rest of the snacks Callum had raided from the vending machine. Grace and I chimed in with the things we’d overheard as kids when our brothers hadn’t known we were listening.Ha.
Ashford was quiet for a lot of it, but he cracked a few smiles. Brought up their mom, and then the reminiscing had turned more heartfelt and sad.
Yet it meant so much. The four O’Neal siblings, able to share these memories together. The good and the bad. I loved having Teller there too. All the people I’d grown up loving. Who’d given me happy memories of childhood instead of just darkness.
Eventually, I passed out with my head on Grayden’s shoulder.
My dreams were hectic. Full of shouts and confusion. My mom and dad were yelling at each other. Arguing about me.Again.
Then it was Ashford shouting, then Danny. Men and womenin uniforms, but I couldn’t tell if they were trying to help me or drag me toward the danger. Hands reaching, trying to pull me away from my son.
I dreamed Ollie and I took shelter in a quiet room. And Grayden was suddenly there. Like he’d just appeared, an answer to a prayer I hadn’t known I made. But he held us. Kept us warm and safe.
The danger was still outside, but with Grayden, I wasn’t afraid to face it.
I blinked, opening my tired eyes. Beige walls, nondescript chairs. My back was killing me from sleeping in a weird position, half sitting and half sprawled over the man beside me.Ow.
Then I noticed Grayden’s breathing was shallow. I glanced up and found him looking back at me.
“Morning,” he murmured. “Everyone else is still asleep.”
Teller and Ashford had pulled chairs across from them to prop up their feet. Grace had her head on Callum’s shoulder, and Callum was snoring quietly. A few other people in the waiting room, those who’d stayed overnight like us, were just beginning to stir.
A hum of noise came from outside the waiting room. The hospital day was off and running. Any moment, a doctor or another family would step into the room, dealing with their own personal nightmare. But there hadn’t been any news about Danny since yesterday, and I assumed that was good. Meant he was still stable.
I sat up a little more. Grayden was leaning way back in his chair, head against the wall. I put my head against the wall as well, the two of us inches apart.
“Strange day yesterday,” I said.
“Very. Would not want to live that one over again. Except maybe the parts after midnight.”
“That was today, technically.”
After he’d told the others his story.
The revelation about Grace’s scholarship had gutted her. Ifinally understood why Grayden feared the truth would make her feel guilty. She’d thought she earned that money through her academic record, and it turned out to be payment for her brother’s freedom.
