She smiled, slow and lazy, and I swore my chest could barely hold what I felt for her. After everything—the fights, the fear, the secrets—we were here. And she was still mine.
She snuggled closer with a sigh. “Mmm. Don’t move yet.”
Christ, I didn’t want to. But I’d promised Dad I’d help him swap a throttle cable on one of the boats. “I’ve gotta give my old man a hand,” I said softly, pressing a kiss into her hair. “Be back soon.”
Her nose scrunched adorably. “Fine. But hurry.” She closed her eyes again, sinking back into the pillow.
I eased out from under her, tucking the sheet around her bare shoulders before pulling on yesterday’s khakis. One last glance at her—my girl, finally safe, finally mine—and then I stepped out into the heat and salt of the day.
The dock was already alive with gulls wheeling, tackle clattering, diesel fumes thick in the air. I was halfway to Dad’s boat when the bait shop door banged open, and Reef stepped out.
For a second we just froze, two halves of the same face, the weight of the last few weeks hanging heavy between us.
His hand flexed on the bag of bait he carried. “So… we’re good?”
I let the silence stretch, long enough to feel the sun beating down, the gulls crying overhead. Then I nodded once. “Yeah. We’re good.”
Relief flickered across his features. He shifted the bag from one hand to the other. “I didn’t tell you because… hell, I didn’t want to ruin it for you two. You finally had something good, and I wasn’t about to stomp all over it. Not over something I barely remember.”
I studied him for long enough to make him squirm, then gave a short nod. “I get it.” The past was the past. And he was always going to be my brother.
Some of the tension drained from his face, and the corner of his mouth tugged into a grin. “Besides, you’re the one who got the girl.”
That hit me square in the chest.Mine.After weeks that felt like months, after hell that welded us tighter instead of breaking us, Jasmine was mine.
“Yeah,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I did.”
And just like that, the edge between us eased enough to move forward.
Dad was already bent over the outboard when I reached his boat, a wrench in hand, sweat darkening the back of his shirt. He straightened when he saw me, squinting against the glare.
“You look lighter,” he said, giving me a once-over. “Guess that means things are finally settled.”
“Yeah,” I said. The word carried more weight than it should have.
He studied me for a long beat, jaw tight. “I won’t lie, son—I hate that you didn’t tell me sooner. That you thought you had to shoulder it all without me. That’s a hard thing for a father to swallow.”
I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand, stopping me. “That said…” His eyes softened, lines deepening at the corners. “You got through it. Kept your head. Protected the people you love. That’s all a man can ask for.”
He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder, the kind that spoke more than words ever could. “I’m proud of you, Kai. Proud as hell.”
The words hit deep, grounding me in a way even forgiving Reef hadn’t. For weeks I’d been braced against fear and secrets. Hearing that pride in Dad’s voice made the last of the tension in me finally relax.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said quietly.
He gave a short nod, like that was all that needed saying, and bent back over the motor. But the warmth of his words stayed with me, steady as the tide.
CHAPTER 35
JASMINE
The dogs trailed me to the door, nails clicking on the tile, tails wagging like I’d better not forget to come back. As I grabbed my keys, I bent to kiss each damp nose. Their ears drooped, big eyes full of betrayal.
“Sorry, fellas, I have to go paint.” I scratched under a chin, guilt tugging at me. “Be good. One of your daddies will be here in a few hours.”
After the whole hostage situation, I couldn’t stay here. Couldn’t even picture it without my chest seizing up. But with the danger finally behind us, Kai’s house felt safe again. We’d been spending most nights here. Kai was glad to be home, and the dogs were even happier.
For me, stepping back inside Kai’s house for the first time had been like testing my weight on an old bridge I’d once watched crack apart. At first, every creak in the walls and every dark corner set me on edge. But the more nights passed without incident, the easier it became to unclench my shoulders. The shadows shrank. I could finally be alone there, sink into thecouch with the dogs piled at my feet and believe nothing was waiting outside.
