My chest tightened. “Julian—”
Nathan cut in calmly. “I handled it.”
Julian’s gaze snapped to him. “What does that mean?”
“It means Jax won’t be able to hurt your sister or anyone else for that matter, ever again.” Nathan replied.
Something passed between them in that moment, an unspoken understanding and whatever Julian saw in Nathan’s expression made his shoulders drop slightly.
His anger didn’t disappear. But it shifted.
“You sure?”
Nathan nodded once. “She’s safe.”
Julian studied him for another beat, then finally looked at me before pulling me into a tight hug.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured. “Always. You know that right?”
I nodded against his shoulder.
As Julian stepped back, Nathan’s arm slid around my waist, solid and sure.
And for the first time all night, I felt like I could breathe.
NATHAN
WE DIDN’T SAYa word as we made our way out to the car. Elise’s hand remained in mine, her grip tightening as soon as the cool night air hit us.
The drive back to the hotel was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like the kind of silence where words were unnecessary, where everything that mattered had already been said.
Once we were back in our suite, I shut the door and turned to her. “Cupcake,” She was leaning against the wall, arms wrapped around herself, her gaze on the floor. “I’m sorry if I overstepped back there,” I began, my voice low. “I know it wasn’t my place to.”
“Don’t apologize, Nathan,” she said, stepping closer. “No one has ever stood up for me like that. I didn’t even realize how much I needed it until you did it.”
Her eyes searched mine, and I could see the storm of emotions swirling in them, a mixture of gratitude, relief, and something deeper.
I reached for her, my hands framing her face as I pressed my forehead to hers. “You have no idea how proud I am of you, baby,” I whispered. “For everything. For surviving. For being the incredible woman you are. And for trusting me enough to let me in.”
“When did you learn how to speak creole?” Elise asked. I was honestly surprised she didn't ask me sooner.
“After you were hired.”
Her expression shifted immediately to confusion, tightening into something sharper. “After I was hired?” she repeated.“Nathan, that was three years ago.”
“I’m aware.” She searched my face like she was looking for a crack. She wouldn't find one. “You were on the phone your first week,” I told her. “Speaking to your family. I learned because even then… you weren’t temporary to me. If I was going to be part of your life, I wasn’t doing it halfway.”
Elise shook her head slightly, like she was trying to make it make sense, trying to rearrange the last three years into something that matched what I’d just said.
“I don't even know what to say to that.” Elise admitted.
“Then don't say anything.”
And she didn't. She just stepped closer, her hand settling against my jaw before she kissed me, soft and careful, warm like she’s trying to understand me, and when she presses just a little deeper I know she believes me, so I let her pull away without stopping her, already knowing that wasn’t nothing.
“You know, I was actually impressed.” Elise said, switching her tone to something lighter. “You didn’t even flinch when my father called you a child.”
“That’s because I’ve been called worse.”
