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Something swells in my chest. For so long I told myself I was on the outside looking in. That my brothers and Autumn were united and I was the odd one out. But right now, standing here with their voices solid around me, I feel it. The pull of belonging.The fierce, messy love of a family that refuses to let each other fall.

“Group hug?” Bennett pipes up. His attempt at lightness makes Autumn laugh through her tears, and even Hudson’s mouth twitches before he straightens it back into a scowl.

“You’re not off the hook yet,” Hudson mutters at him. “But… thanks for being honest.”

Bennett ducks his head, sheepish. “I’m trying.”

I let out a shaky laugh. God, how did this become my life? Protective older siblings, a found family, strays who want to be part of us. And in the middle of it all, West.

The moment fractures when Asher’s phone buzzes on the desk. He snatches it up, his posture shifting, sharpening. “I’ve got eyes,” he says, his voice low and taut. “He’s at Marchetti’s apartment. He was seen going in but he hasn’t come out.”

The room stills. My stomach drops like I’ve been hurled off a cliff. Hudson quickly picks up his phone. “Can you arrange a helicopter to pick us up at the hotel,” he murmurs into it. “We need to get to Manhattan.”

“Oh come on,” Autumn says. “Aren’t you being a bit over the top here?”

I open my mouth to say, no, we’re definitely not, when my phone starts to vibrate. West’s name is on the screen.

“It’s him,” I say, looking at Hudson.

“Confirmation he’s out of the building,” Asher says, nodding like a soldier getting a report.

My hand is shaking as I swipe to accept the call, lifting the phone to my ear. “Are you okay? Did you get my messages?”

“Hi.” His voice is flat. Tired. “Sorry, I missed them.”

“Did you see Vin?” My pulse is pounding so hard I can barely hear myself speak.

There’s a pause. Too long. “Yeah. We talked.”

“And?”

“Nothing you need to worry about.” His voice is tight, like he’s trying to keep the words short so I won’t hear the cracks in them.

I close my eyes, pressing the phone tighter to my ear. “West, don’t do that. Don’t shut me out. I need to know what happened.”

Across the room, Asher gestures sharply at me. “Ask him where he is right now,” he hisses.

Hudson leans in too. “Put him on speaker.”

I turn away, cupping my hand over the phone. “Stop it,” I whisper fiercely. “You’re making it worse.”

“Eden.” West’s voice is in my ear again, low and tired. “I’m fine. I’ll be in New York for a few days. I’ve got some things I need to take care of.”

My chest aches. “When are you coming back?”

A long breath. Too long. “I’ll call you later, okay?” He pauses. “We’ll talk then.”

I hate the way he says that. Not like he’s offering himself up to me. Not that he’s ready to be truly open.

It feels way too ominous for that.

“West—” My throat is closing up, the tears too close. “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong. Please come home. I know about Leona. I know she was Vin’s sister. Please talk to me.”

“I can’t.”

The line clicks dead.

Silence crushes the room as I crumble.