Blinking back tears, I reach across the desk and squeeze her hand. “You’re pretty fucking amazing, you know that?”
Shaking away the memories, she winks. “Right back at ‘ya chick. Now!” She claps hands together suddenly, sitting up in her chair. “What else is new? Nobody’s told me shit about why it took you guys so long to get back home. I’m really hoping you say you were on a murder spree of everyone ever associated with the rat bastard that kidnapped you, because the pool’s up to a pretty penny in the break room.”
Sighing, I launch into the whole sordid tale, amazed that so much has happened in such a short span of time.
By the end of it, her eyes are wide, but she’s smiling like it’s the best story she’s ever heard. “Bright side, you couldn’t have picked a better place to get grounded. I’ve been here for centuries, and I promise, there are plenty of ways to stay entertained.”
“Actually,” I tentatively bring up, fidgeting in my seat. “I have an idea I was hoping to run by you to help me flesh out better before I bring it up to the guys. You’re either going to love it or hate it, but if everything’s going to hell anyway, we may as well go all in on blowing it up and be dramatic about it.”
Her eyes light up conspiratorially. “Go on.”
“If it’s a fight they want, let’s make it one they’ll never forget.”
* * *
As soon as the door opens, the guys shove off of the walls they’re leaning against, standing to attention and studying my face nervously. Carina pats my shoulder in support and slips past them, shouting to the guards that she’ll be at the gym if anyone needs her.
“You were in there a long time,” Kodi says softly.
Going to him first, I hug him tightly. “I’m okay; promise. Delved into the emotional part more than I did with you guys, but same basic story you already know the highlights of.”
He tightens his arms around me as Raiden tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and asks, “What do you need? We could head home and get some sleep, find something to eat, or-”
“I need to visit the transition center.”
By the way all three of them stiffen, they’ve likely already riddled out that it’s Terra, but to Raiden’s credit, he manages a weak smile. “Sure.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m staring at the building and mustering up the courage to go inside. Steeling my resolve, I reach for the button to be buzzed in, pausing when the guys follow me.
“Can you guys wait here? I need to find out if it’s even something she can do, and I don’t think she’ll talk in front of you.”
Kodi glances away, and Raiden’s jaw tenses, but he gives me a terse nod. Stone is the only one that’s completely calm. Confident.
Closing the distance between us, he tilts my chin up with his knuckle, staring directly into my eyes. “Do whatever you need to, we’re not going anywhere.” Kissing me fiercely, he pulls something out of his pocket and places it into my hands. “But do me a favor and look through those before you talk to her.”
As he steps back, I glance down to find a silver camera. Frowning in confusion, I silently nod. Before they change their minds and insist on joining me to intimidate her out of agreeing to help me, I hit the button and rattle off my name, a loud buzzer unlocking the first set of doors.
Aaron is at his post behind the bulletproof glass like always, his familiar stern expression in place. Scanning for signs of visible injury and noting that I left my mates outside, he gives no indication of his feelings on the matter, simply filing away all the facts in a heartbeat. “Nice to have you back, Miss Amara. Planning on sticking around for a while, or just visiting today?”
“Stopped in to see Terra.”
He dips his head in acknowledgement. “That’s a relief. I saw pictures of those boys’ warpaths, and would prefer not to lose my head keeping you away from ‘em.” Holding the buzzer, he unlocks the next set of doors and says more seriously, “Would’ve done it though. After your last visit, my men and I worked out an emergency plan for the residents here that those mates of yours aren’t privy to, just in case. You ever need out, we’ll make it happen.”
I blink back sudden tears. “You ever need anything for this place, you let me know. There aren’t enough people in this world that actually give a shit; don’t ever change.”
Yanking open the door, I find myself in the lobby, but don’t bring myself to meet anyone’s curious gaze yet. I step off to the side and rest the back of my head against the wall, closing my eyes and taking a few slow breaths to pull myself together. Not a single person comes over as I slide down to take a seat on the floor, recognizing that I need a minute.
The camera powers on quickly, and it only takes a minute of poking around to access the saved gallery of pictures. Every single one I flip through hurts my heart a little more. It’s a slideshow of most of our trip home, but from different angles than I’d experienced it. Close up pictures of Raiden’s face, capturing the contented look in his eyes. Him staring at me with a soft smile when nothing exciting was even happening, just me walking down the street talking to Kodi. Me sitting on Stone’s lap beside the fire the other night as Kodi laughed right before Raiden let us know he was awake.
Of me smiling and laughing, even when everything was falling apart around us.
“Well played,” I chuckle under my breath, smirking down at the camera.
All this time I’ve spent running, waiting until things were safe enough to start living my life, and they throw down irrefutable proof that it doesn’tneedto be safe to make good memories. Life happens in the little moments, and if you’re not careful, it’ll pass you by before you even realize you were left behind.
“Lady boss! You’re not dead.” Terra’s chipper voice has me jerking my head up. She saunters over, dropping to sit in front of me with her legs crossed.
“I know, I was surprised too.”
