“Uncle Danny never had to convince you to do your algebra,” she told him crossly, and he could see the marks of crying on her features and felt even worse.But instead of yelling more, she reached out and feathered that lovely healing mom-touch across his forehead.
“Don’t mind me,” she said softly.“Apparently it’s a good thing I didn’t have a whole day care center full of children, because I’m not great at balancing worry and pregnancy.And I’m not only worrying about you—although you do your share, let me tell you.The men try to keep the details from me, because my ‘delicate condition’ scares the raisins out of them—all of them.It’s hilarious and terrifying.But I’ve caught some of the transmissions and….”She shook her head.“My God, the risks you all are taking.I can’t believe I thought I could nap and retire during some of the planning stages and you all would carry on without me.Did Grace tell you about the cocaine plantation job?”
Josh’s lips twitched.“Something about him and Molly getting a face full of cocaine and how drugs are bad.”
She eyed him sourly.“That’s exactly what I got, and given that’s the sanitized version, I think we should both be having a retroactive panic attack.”
His shoulder still hurt, and his body felt like it was under a giant dollop of molasses.“Sure, Mom.I’ll get right on it.”
She let out a sigh and slumped back into her chair.“I’m sorry,” she said after a moment.“I… it’s strange.I’ve never in my life had so much good fortune, but for the first time in my life I’m—”
“Afraid of losing it all,” Josh filled in for her, understanding exactly.
She stroked his brow again.“Yes,” she murmured.“That.Okay.I promise not to overreact, but you—you have to promise me something too.”
Oh no.He knew where this was going.“Stay back with Stirling for this one?”
“You’re very bright,” she whispered.“No matter what the biopsy results are, yes.Please.For me?”
“Whatever,” he grumbled with little grace.“It’s not like I can move much now anyway.”
“How very adult,” Liam said into his hair.
“Wait until I exact promises fromyou,” Josh said, starting to fall asleep again.
“Yes, I’ll keep your family safe,” Liam said softly.
“How did you know?”But he was asleep before Liam could answer.
LIAM KNEWbecause Josh had been saying it in his sleep for the last ten hours.
He’d gotten back to the hospital early in the morning, after catching a few hours of sleep at Danny’s apartment and updating everybody there on his condition.(The team seemed to have split itself up into older and younger regarding the apartment/hotel sitch.Hunter, Grace, Molly, Tienne, and Stirling had taken over Danny’s apartment, while Chuck, Lucius, Carl, Michael, Tor, and Marco were staying with the “adults” in the hotel.Weird.)
When he’d returned to the hospital, he’d found Danny, pale and hollow-eyed, trying to console Grace.
“We can take care of ourselves.Why won’t he fucking sleep!”
“Hush, pet,” Danny had murmured, his arms around the young man like any parent’s would be.“It’s okay.He’s going to be worried with all our near misses.”
And Josh had muttered, eyes not opening, “Liam?Liam, take care of them.Keep them safe.”
And helplessly, like being swept away in a wave, Liam was back on the goddamned yacht, when the family had been about to leave to take care of the business that had drawn them to the Caribbean in the first place and Josh had been sentenced to staying behind.
Take care of my family.
And Liam understood about families, about knowing they were strong and fragile, and knowing that the loss of one member, only one, could shatter the peace of the many until the unit repaired itself with duct tape and superglue and sad, bleeding shards of their hearts.They both knew what he’d been asking, and Liam had jumped into the boat for Gunrunner’s Island without a qualm.
His only regret then had been that he and Josh hadn’t yet kissed.
Well, they’d kissed now.They’d made love, and it had been everything Liam had dreamed.And here he was, being given that same choice again.Stay with his… hisperson.More than a lover, more than a friend, the one human that fate seemed to have gifted him with, and he was inneed.
But more than that, Josh needed Liam to help keep his heart whole.
He’d barely looked at Danny and Grace after that.He’d crawled into bed behind Josh, the spot still warm, he suspected, from when Grace had slept, and he’d pulled his heart close.
“I’m here, boy-o.I’ll take care of them.Don’t you worry.”
“Liam,” Josh mumbled.And then he’d relaxed and, thank heaven, slept.
