Page 239 of The Rebel Billionaire

“What the? Rebel, is that you?”

A wide grin lights up her face as her eyes travel over me, her delight palpable.

She rushes forward, pulling me into a sisterly bear hug, one I return with gusto.

“Surprise…”

I sigh, leaning into her embrace, letting her big sister strength ease my recent stress, at least for this one moment.

“I… we weren’t expecting you until the morning. What the hell are you doing hiding up here? Why didn’t you come down and see everyone?”

Pulling back, I gaze into my sister’s face. Before I can stop myself, my face crumples and racking sobs overtake me.

Kat pulls me hard against her.

“It’s okay, Harps. I’ve got you, little sis. You’re safe now.”

She manoeuvres us to the bed and sits, rocking me, just as she always did when I was little and my emotions overwhelmed me.

“It’s okay, everything will be okay,” she says over and over, her cheek pressed against my hair.

Jax must have raised the alarm as my siblings appear one by one.

Caleb rushes through the door first and grabs me in a bear hug. “Oh, Harps,” he says, his voice catching, his eyes glistening in the light from the lamp.

“Hey, you,” I say, burrowing into his chest, before I’m pulled away and into another embrace.

“Why are you hiding up here?” Gabriel asks, gripping my chin so I’m forced to meet his gaze.

“I needed time to decompress,” I say truthfully, earning myself a nod, before I’m pulled once again into his arms. Of everyone, he knows best what that means.

I turn my head as a hand squeezes my shoulder, before a kiss is dropped on the top of my head. I look up to find Elijah standing next to us.

“Harper,” he says, his voice catching.

I bite my lip to stop it from quivering, but it’s impossible to miss the look of alarm on his face.

Mum enters in a flurry. Gabriel relinquishes his hold as she pulls me into her arms.

“We’ve got you, my darling,” she says, kissing my temple. “Everything will be okay.”

She looks up at my brothers.

“There will be time for questions in the morning,” she says firmly and I watch each of my brothers open their mouths to protest before closing them again. Mother is not someone we argue with.

I wrap my arms around her waist and let her move us to the bed, burying my head against her stomach, loving the way her hands instantly smooth over my hair, just as they did when I was a child.

I don’t know how long I sit cocooned between my mother and sister, Kat having remained when the others left, but I don’t push them away. I let them take some of the trauma from me and offer me their strength. I’m tired of being brave, of trying to stand alone. Tomorrow will be a new day, one we will face together. The press is waiting, and questions will need to be answered. I’m back in the fold.

Back where I belong.

CHAPTER 72

HARPER

Imake my way towards the drawing room, stopping outside the door when I hear raised voices.

“What do you mean she’s pregnant?” Caleb’s voice echoes through the space.