“We’re leaving,” I say, my voice low but carrying, cutting through the room without me needing to raise it. “back to my place in LA.” Behind us, there’s a beat of silence before Niko answers.
“Is good place as any, not too far. Likely to draw Gideon out.” His tone is clipped, efficient, his attention snapping fully into place as he turns to his men. “We mobilize immediately. Secure transport, full detail. I want eyes on every route in and out. No gaps.” A chorus of quiet confirmations follows as his team moves into action. I press a brief kiss to Sera’s temple, letting my lipslinger just long enough to feel her there, to make sure she’s still with me, before I force myself to step away, my hand dragging reluctantly from her stomach as I turn back toward the others. Toward my family. They’re all watching me. Mac is on the edge of the sofa, Logan standing near the TV with the remote still clutched in his hand, Sam half-leaning against the table, Chace by the door—his posture loose, but if the guy were any more wound tight, he’d probably be as bald as Sam.I hate what I have to say next. The bullshit speech. The one that sounds like I’ve got it together.
Distract them. You need a diversion.
Oh yeah? With what? Jump out the window?
Nah. Get your cock out. Make it dance.I exhale through my nose, forcing the stupid thought out with the breath before it can turn into something worse.
“This isn’t your fight,” I tell them, my voice steady even as something tight coils in my chest. “You don’t have to come with us.” My gaze moves between them, holding each of them in turn. “Gideon’s already taken his shot at me. He’s already—” I exhale, jaw tightening. “He’s already killed me once. I’m not giving him the chance to take any of you--” Then Logan starts shaking his head before I’ve even finished, like the idea itself offends him.
“Brother, you don’t get to choose.” He cuts me off completely, stepping forward, his expression hardening. “That’s not how this works, Trey. Not now. Not ever.” I open my mouth to argue, but he doesn’t let me.
“You’re our little fuckup,” he continues, his voice rising just enough to carry over the background noise, over the hum of movement and the muted chaos from the TV. “We’re a family…and family doesn’t scatter when things get ugly—” He steps closer, his gaze locking with mine, unyielding.
“You don’t get to decide to carry this alone just because it’s dangerous. That’s exactly what that psycho wants. To isolateyou, to fracture us, to make us easier to pick off.” His jaw tightens. “I’m not giving him that. I’m not letting him win by tearing us apart.”
Then Sam pushes off the table with a quiet nod.
“Besides, even if I give him your gate codes and shit, he’d probably still fucking waste me. This isn’t gonna be clean.”
“Sam!” Mac gasps, throwing a teaspoon from her coffee at him.
“I mean, yeah, what the knight in Hispanic armor said. Guy sounded like a conquistador before exploring the New World or some shit,” Sam laughs.
“True, that’s hard to follow…bet he’s got Mac ovulating,” Chace smirks.
“Don’t give my angel ideas…” Logan says, half-serious, half-amused.
Fucking Mac ovulating…I think I am?
I exhale a quiet laugh despite myself.
I fucking love these idiots so much.
I look at them—all of them.
They’re not leaving.
And the truth is… I never wanted them to.
No fucking shit.The room fractures into motion the second the decision is made, everyone peeling away with purpose—doors opening, bags being dragged, voices low and efficient as Niko’s men coordinate exits and routes—until the space that felt too full a moment ago suddenly empties around us.
And just like that, it’s quiet again.
I find Seraphina in the bedroom, standing near the mirror like she’s not entirely sure how she got there.
I somehow manage a moment of not coming onto her, or whispering a sweet nothing, or something stupid.
I just watch her.
The way the morning light catches in her hair. The way her shoulders rise and fall with each breath, like she’s forcing herself to stay steady. The way her hand drifts, almost unconsciously, to her stomach.
That alone nearly brings me to my knees all over again.
I step in behind her slowly, my eyes meeting hers in the mirror, searching, checking, needing to see her there.
“Hey,” I murmur, my voice quieter now, stripped of everything but her.
