What I'd like to do is curl up with her, and when she's asleep, give in to the shaking, the fact that I almost lost her. Lost them.
All three, Lyndall, Squish, Lola.
But they're all safe.
When we get home, Con is here, opening the door. There's a bruise on his face, and he favors his right arm over the left.
I frown. "You okay?"
"The three who came at me are dead."
I take that as a yes.
Lola is still in the fucking wedding dress, so I scoop her up and take her to the elevator and up to our floor.
When we get to the bedroom, I strip her down, kick off my shoes, and dump my phone. Then I turn on the shower and take her in there with me.
I don't care if I'm still dressed. I just want her clean. So, I put her soap on her sponge and wash her lovingly.
It doesn't matter how hard I am or how I long to turn this into one of our sexual games and plunge into her.
I don't.
What I do is just get her clean, wash her hair, and then hold her as the water sluices down.
When she raises her head, I turn it off and wrap her in a towel, stripping myself down now so I can dry her.
"I'm not an invalid," she mutters.
I steer her to the bed and pull the covers over her, going to the closet and dressing. "Aware of that. But give me this. Let me take care of you. Let me treat you as if you are frail and something that might break. You're so fucking special, precious, and important to me that..." I suck in a breath. "This is as much for me as it is for you. I need to do this. So, let me pamper you."
She nods. "Then pamper away. Can I have some tea?"
"Of course." I grab my phone that's got a million messages on it, and the top one is from Dad.
I bound down the stairs, then into the kitchen, fill the kettle, and switch it on.
I read through the messages.
I put a chamomile tea bag in the mug, grabbing the first box of herbal teas I see.
There are jobs that are coming in for The Syndicate. One text from Cade. One from Silas.
There is also the message from Dad.
I read them.
Cade
Jack'll be home tomorrow. In a twist, he's staying with us for a couple of days. VIOLET's idea.
I roll my eyes.
Me
She's just being a good sister-in-law.
Cade
