Ten minutes later, James uncuffed us both and looked at me apologetically. “Sorry, Kay,” he murmured, looking at my wrist. His brows came together as something flashed across his dark eyes.
“It’s alright, James,” I said. “Are you alright?” He nodded and opened the door.
Hand in hand, my demon and I walked out of the room—free.We were greeted by dozens of eyes looking at us, all movement on the floor seemed to cease as everyone took us in. My eyes scanned the room quickly and stopped when I saw my family standing at the far end.
Sullie and Dom were against the wall talking to each other. Haley was standing next to Gwen, both of them smiling at me. Dean was behind Gwen, and he shot me a wink before pointing downward. My eyes fell to find my nephew, Aiden, being spun around by Gwen’s hands to face me. His little hazel eyes went wide, and he took off, darting through the small crowd of agents.
“Aunt Kay! Aunt Kay!”
I choked back on a sob and fell to my knees just in time for his little body to crash into mine. His arms wrapped around my neck, and he buried his face in my shoulder. My hand cradled his small head, holding him to me as I inhaled his scent. He smelt like bacon, proof that he had been at the Jacksons’.
“Hi, sweet boy,” I breathed, looking up to find Collin watching me with a concerned look on his face. He shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped back. James told everyone to get back to work, and the crowd dispersed. Aiden raised his head up and grabbed my cheeks.
“Don’t you ever go away again. Okay?” His little voice trembled.
I nodded. “I’m so sorry, Aiden.”
I was sorry about a lot of things. I was sorry for not being as present as I should have been in his life because of my fears. I let my fears control me, bury my ability to be happy. I looked to the man who destroyed all my fears and allowed my happiness to blossom and grow. “I—I had to find my prince charming,” Iwhispered to the little boy as I looked back at him. His hazel eyes bounced up to look at Collin.
“Kay, that’s Batman,” he screamed and scrambled out of my lap. The little boy looked panicked for a moment and looked around the room. “I’m sorry!” he said, slapping his hand over his mouth.
Collin’s face was guarded, but his eyes were soft as he looked at Gwen and Dean’s son. A small smirk played on his lips, and he shook his head. “They already know, kid.”
Aiden looked up at him. “Why? Your secret is very import.”
“Important,” I softly corrected the little boy.
Aiden shook his head. “I don’t say big words on Tuesdays.”
My brows lifted as our family came up behind him, Sullie holding his hand out for me.
He pulled me up on my feet and into a bear hug. “Hey, pretty girl,” he quietly boomed in my hair. My bottom lip trembled at the nickname he used to call me when I was a child.
A big hand landed on my shoulder, and I knew it was Dom. He pulled me away from my uncle, mumbling something about how he was the favorite. He looked down at me with kind eyes. He pressed a firm kiss on my forehead and whispered, “He hurts you; I get to kill him.”
A laugh bubbled from me, and I wiped my eyes. “Collin would die before he hurts me again,” I admitted softly, knowing it was the truth.
Sullie put his hand out to my demon, his eyes filled with everything but judgement and hatred. Col eyed it for half a second before taking it. Sullie clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“You took a bullet for her. Do you love her?” he asked, his deep voice causing everyone in our group to fall silent. Collin looked from him to me, his ice melting as his features softened for me.Only me.
“She is the only one,” the man who'd my heart for the last decade said. Suddenly, it clicked.
I was the only one he had ever loved.
My jaw slackened and I stared at him through the tears. Sullie looked back and forth between us before chuckling. He clapped Collin’s shoulder, ushering him closer. “Then that makes you family. Welcome, Collin. You can call me Sullie.”
My heart was pounding in my ears. and brunette curls caught my eye. I turned to find Gwen staring at us, her ocean eyes shining as she smiled. She pushed passed Dom, who laughed softly, and crashed into me, just like her son did.
“Hi,” I huffed as she squeezed me.
“Scoot your big ass over, G. I need in on this,” Haley’s voice came from my side. She wiggled her way in, and we held onto each other.
“I’m not doing that,” Col said from behind me.
Dean laughed as James said, “Never.”
“I think we need a girls’ night,” I said to my best friends. Both of their eyes went wide, excitement taking over before Haley looked behind me. “Can we have a sleepover on the island?”
