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Alexis stays sound asleep against my chest, her breathing deep and even, one arm anchored tightly around my waist. The sun shifts across the bedroom floor, slowly fading from bright afternoon gold into the deep shadows of early evening.

My arm goes completely numb under her neck, but I don't care. Every time she soft-sighs or shifts in her sleep, I just hold her a little tighter, watching her peaceful face until the violent edges of my mind finally begin to settle.

When she finally stirs, the room is bathed in the soft indigo dusk. Her long eyelashes flutter, and she blinks up at me, a lazy, sleepy smile slowly spreading across her lips.

Before saying a word, she leans up and presses a warm, soft kiss to my cheek.

"Hi," she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.

"Hi, doll," I whisper back, running a thumb over her cheekbone. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she breathes, resting her chin on my chest. She looks at me with clear, hopeful eyes. "Can we go see Milly? I just... I really need to see her with my own eyes."

"Of course," I agree immediately. "Whatever you want. Do you want to eat something first? I can whip something up."

"No," she says, gently shaking her head as she starts to pull back the duvet. "I want to see her first."

We dress quickly in comfortable clothes, and within twenty minutes, I’m navigating the car through the quiet evening traffic toward the secure safe house.

When we step through the front door, Milly is sitting on the living room sofa, a soft throw blanket over her lap. The moment her eyes land on us, her face lights up with instant relief and joy.

"Oh, look who decided to drop by!" Milly beams, setting her reading glasses aside as Alexis rushes forward to wrap her in a tight, delicate hug. Milly holds her close, kissing her forehead before pulling back with a playful scowl. "I’ve been trying to call your cell phone all afternoon, young lady! It went straight to voicemail every single time."

Alexis freezes for a split second, her shoulders going rigid. Her eyes dart nervously over to me, completely at a loss for words, knowing damn well that Nolan shattered her phone into pieces floor just hours ago.

I hold her gaze with a steady, reassuring look, giving her a faint nod.

Alexis clears her throat, forcing a small, sheepish smile as she turns back to her grandmother. "I'm sorry, Milly. I... mislaid my phone earlier today. I haven't been able to find it, but Cain's helping me get a new one tomorrow."

Milly shakes her head with a gentle laugh. "You always were terrible at keeping track of your things. Well, at least you're both here now. Sit down! You're just in time—I was about to head into the kitchen and put together a meal."

"You're supposed to be resting," I cut in smoothly, stepping forward with a warm smile. "How about I help you in the kitchen tonight?"

Milly lets out a delighted chuckle. "I’d love that.”

"Count me in too," Alexis adds, wrapping her arm around mine with a bright, genuine smile that warms my entire chest.

For the next hour, the lingering horror of the Devlins and the blood on my hands completely fades away. The three of us crowd into the cozy kitchen, chopping vegetables, seasoning broth, and passing dishes back and forth.

Milly bosses me around with a wooden spoon, calling me out every time I chop the potatoes too thick, while Alexis stands beside me, teasing me endlessly and stealing bites of food when her grandmother isn't looking.

Listening to their bright, effortless laughter echoing against the yellow kitchen walls, I lean back against the counter, watching Alexis laugh until her eyes crinkle at the corners. For the first time in a very long time, the dark world I live in feels miles away.

We sit down at the small dining table and eat our meal together, full of easy conversation and lighthearted laughter. Once the plates are clear, I stack them up and carry them over to the sink. Milly tries to wave me off, but I gently nudge her away from the counter and convince her to let me handle the washing up.

"Go relax in the living room, Milly," I say with a small grin. "I've got this covered."

Alexis smiles softly at me, taking her grandmother by the arm, and the two of them drift out of the kitchen into the living room. I turn on the tap, letting the warm water run, intentionally giving them both the privacy they need.

Just as I’m rinsing off the last dish, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I dry my hands on a hand towel and pull it out to check the caller ID.

Ezekiel.

I press the phone to my ear, my tone immediately shifting back to business. "Zeke."

"Cain," Ezekiel’s voice comes through, low and grave. "Our contacts at the private airfields just got back to us. Brendan and Lachlan managed to slip through under fake identities. They’ve already flown out of New Orleans."

My jaw tightens, but I don't let the frustration get the better of me. "We just have to be prepared for the worst when they decide to resurface."