I’d burn down the city to protect each and every one of them.
No one outside of our family will ever understand the brotherly bond we share. Or how we’ve already been through so much heartache in our short lives that no one can break us now, and wewillget through this.
We always do.
Harrison pushes to his feet. “I’ve gotta head out. Claud’s making dessert for tonight with Jules and Mom, and apparently, she volunteered me to help. Whatever that means.”
“I’ll come with you,” Seb says, already standing. “Keep us posted.”
Harrison glances down at Maddie. “Claud’s looking forward to spending the day with you.”
Despite everything, she gives him a genuine smile. “More me than her. Is it still okay for me to take her next week to spend some time with her?”
Harrison rolls his eyes. “Be prepared. She already has a whole itinerary planned, and she’s going to sucker you into a multi-day sleepover.”
“Sounds like the best time ever.”
They leave the puppy for us to bring her to Mom’s, where Harrison’s going to surprise Jules.
It will be another happy distraction.
Leo stretches beside me. “Why don’t we get out of here too? I’m starting to feel suffocated. Let’s grab a drink before family dinner.”
“Works for me,” Mase agrees.
Maddie looks between us. “Do you guys really need another drink? Not that I’m trying to monitor you, but Rosa won’t be happy if you show up drunk.”
“Probably not,” I say. “She’ll give us a pass this time. Unless you’d feel safer staying here.”
Her eyes flick toward the door, then back to me. “The guards will come with us?”
I nod. “Of course. They’re going to be a part of our life until we get to the bottom of this.”
Or forever.
Her shoulders ease a fraction. “Then yeah. Now that I’m feeling better, I want to get out too.” She scratches behind Skye’s ear. “What about the dogs?”
“We have a dog-friendly pub we go to.”
“Good. I’m not leaving them.” Maddie pushes to her feet slowly. “I need an hour or so to get ready.”
“Same,” Addie groans. “And I didn’t bring clothes.”
“I want to drop my stuff off at my place first,” Mase says. “You can share my Uber.”
“Don’t you dare leave her,” Maddie snaps quickly. “Drop off your bag together, then go back to Addie’s while she gets ready. Unless you have a guard with you, I don’t want anyone alone.”
The room falls silent. Not because she raised her voice but because of the fear lacing through it.
She’s been trying to be brave.
Trying to act like she’s fine.
Something Maddie’s done her whole life, and I should have recognized it sooner.
I cross the room slowly and slide my hand into hers, squeezing just enough to ground her.
“We’ve got you, Goddess,” I murmur quietly, pitching my voice low enough that it’s just for her. “No one’s going anywhere alone. Not today. Not for a while.”
