“I’m here,” I tell him, pressing my lips to his forehead. “I’m right here.”
His lips tremble.
“CJ…”
Just my name.
That’s all it takes.
My chest caves in. Tears spill before I can stop them.
“I’ve got you, Baby Boy. You don’t have to fight anymore. You don’t have to survive this alone anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
He breaks.
Not loudly. Just a quiet, shattered release as everything he’s been holding finally gives way in my arms.
And I hold him through it.
Deck holds us too.
We hold him through every tremor, every sob, every piece of him Adrian tried to destroy.
“You came,” he whispers.
I kiss his hair.
“I’ll always come for you.”
37
CJ
Deck’s voice cracks as he holds us.
The last time I heard that much emotion from Deck was when I was holding Charlie as he died in my arms.
Through his tears, Eli looks up at him.
“Hey, kid.” That’s all Deck manages.
Eli doesn’t answer at first. Then Deck reaches out, placing a careful hand on his shoulder. “You with us?”
Eli nods, barely. “Yeah.”
Deck swallows hard. “You sure?”
A broken little laugh slips from Eli. “Yeah, Deck. I’m sure.” The sound from him is thin, fragile. It carries more exhaustion than certainty, but he’s trying.
Deck holds him in silence for a long second, really looking at him: the bruises, the exhaustion, everything he’s been through. Then he nods. “Okay.”
One word, but it carries everything.
“Finn?” Eli asks, barely above a whisper.
“He’s okay.”
Eli’s eyes close. A breath leaves him like he’s been holding it for days.
