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Mia’s hands are wrapped in bandages after being thoroughly washed and disinfected, and both our wrists have been tended to, as well as our head injuries. Neither serious, thankfully.
I watch Mia from the kitchen, a blanket pulled over her lap as she chats excitedly with Emerson and Snow, while Rayne and Elijah hover in various parts of the apartment.
They came over with the guise of making sure the security system was up to speed after Kyle and the guard hacked it and killed the guard in the security room, but they’re really here to keep an eye on their women.
Emerson’s watches Mia closely—the whole reason I asked her to come over in the first place. I like to think I can read her better than anyone else, but what she’s been through today has been traumatic, and although she’s nothing but smiles and laughs, I want to make sure she’s not burying her emotions because they always have the tendency to crop up later.
Elijah approaches me, his gaze flicking to where Snow is curled up beside Mia with a cup of tea resting on her knee. “Security is back up and running. Everett is putting an extra fail-safe in just in case, but I can’t see anyone else coming after the two of you.”
“Thanks.” I push a glass of whiskey toward him even though it’s nine in the morning. It already feels like the longest day of my life. “I wanted to talk to you and Snow about buying this place. Mia seems settled here, at least for the moment, and I would rather not uproot her again. Plus, the state-of-the-art security system definitely allows me to sleep better at night.”
He nods. “Snow and I were talking about that on the way here. We’ll get it all sorted once the dust has settled.”
I let out a breath that at least one part of our future is settled for the moment. I like the idea of not knowing what’s coming at us next, but I also want to make sure Mia has somewhere safe to find herself again.
“Everett wanted me to let you know that we may have a location on Cyrus. He’s got a couple of our men traveling to Greece to check it out. What would you like us to do if it is him?” he asks.
I flick my gaze to Mia on the couch and smile. “Bring him back to Chicago. I have plans for him, seeing as I got to play no part in Kyle’s death.”
“I thought as much. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thank you for all your help,” I say, and although I expect to resent the words as they fall from my lips, I find they come easily. They’ve done so much for us, and maybe some of my dislike for the family as a whole has bled away.
He shoots me a look as he downs his drink in one hit. “I don’t do this mushy shit, so I will say this once, and then we never talk about it again.” He pauses to reach for the bottle, and I push it closer to him. “The Saint James family is a close unit. They choose people to become their family, and they protect them fiercely. You saw how they came together when Clara was in danger. When we rescued Mia, the two of you got into that club, even if you have never seen eye to eye with them before.” He downs another shot of whiskey. “Which is why they’re going to offer you a job. You can take it or not, whatever the hell you want to do, but Everett needs help now that he’s got Summer and isn’t available twenty-four-seven, and they’re generally better to work for than the scum of the earth you’re used to.”
“You know I used to do a lot of work for your family, right?” I quirk up a brow.
“Like I said, scum of the fucking earth.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He nods. “I thought you’d want to consider your options, which is why I’m giving you the heads up before they ask.”
“Thanks, man, for everything.”
“Don’t mention it.” He claps a hand on my back and gravitates toward Snow. I think to the outside world, watching these men interact with their wives may seem overbearing, but maybe they’ve just never felt a love so deep they can’t breathe without the other person.
I’ve felt that kind of love, and I’ve lost it, so I’ll spend every single day for the rest of our lives making sure Mia knows there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
MIA
The two weeks since Kyle broke into the apartment and kidnapped me with the intention of keeping me for himself have been the calmest I think I’ve had since my parents died when I was six.
There’s no one looking for me, no one intending to hurt me, no reason to look over my shoulder, and it’s nice. Really fucking nice.
My hands and wrists have healed, with the scars beginning to fade with the crazy moisturizing routine Snow insisted would help them fade. But from what she told me, she knows from experience, and I’m willing to believe whatever she says.
Ace has been giddy since we woke up this morning, which is not a word I would often use to describe him. He insisted we get up and go out, which was my first sign of something weird happening because he usually dreads me stepping foot into the elevator, something that has been evident during the two therapy sessions I’ve attended since I killed Kyle.
It was time to speak to someone, time to get some help so I can go on to live a normal life, and so far, it’s doing wonders for me, even in such a short amount of time.
Ace sits across from me at the diner down the road from the apartment building. Apparently this place has the best pancakes in Chicago, and from the first bite, I can confirm that’s definitely the case.
But the whole time I’m eating, Ace’s leg is jiggling, his eyes darting out the window like he’s waiting for something.
A week ago, I would have thought it was because he was looking for a threat, but he’s calmed down a little since Everett reminded him that I still have two guards with me every time I step foot out of the house. It’s an unnecessary precaution, but one that will be in place until they’ve been able to eradicate every person involved in my captivity.
