The door to Addie’s room opens, and Roland pokes his head out. “Sorry about that, guys. I just wanted to run something by them without any bias.”
“Which is?” I frown, walking back into the room.
“I’m not gonna go with the twins anymore,” Mabel says with finality. That’s when I realize she’s holding the baby. “I’m gonna stay with Addie and Roland, and help with the baby. I’ll work as a waitress at a diner or somethin’ as well, but I think…I think this will be good for me.”
“And,” Roland adds, “I think I may have some resources that can help Mabel find out the truth of her parentage. Before I erased myself from the world, I was an IT security consultant.”
Hayden tilts his head. “Am I missing something here?”
“That’s the legal way of sayin’ professional hacker.” I cross my arms, giving him a look. “Though, I’m not sure how much I trust your skill set. Youdidmiss wipin’ your name from Addie’s birth certificate.”
“I know,” he gives his daughter an adoring look, “I couldn’t bring myself to. It was a security risk I was willing to take.”
Addie smiles at her dad before turning back to us, relief in her features. “I think Mabel and I have quite a bit in common. She needs a fresh start, and I need someone who…understands.”
“I’m gonna come visit all the time,” I tell them seriously. “You’re gonna be sick of me.”
This is alotbetter than her working for the twins.
“Where will you live?” West asks suddenly. “The cabin in the woods isn’t big enough…”
“No, it’s not.” Roland shakes his head. “I have a realtor already—I started looking at houses when I went to stay on the compound with you. I’m just going to put in an offer on the best one. We need…well, everything. The conversation started with me asking Mabel if she would stay with Addie while I ran a few errands, and when it came up that she’d be going with Illya and Luka…well, it all sort of naturally fell into place.”
It makes sense. They both need a friend, and I’m sure that Roland will need to continue working instead of living off the land.
How lucky that Mabel insisted on bringing her suitcase in the car.
There’s a knock on the door, and Roland frowns, going over to answer it. A female voice sounds from the hallway. “I hope we’re not intruding…”
Addie’s face lights up. “Helaena? What are you doing here?” Roland steps aside, letting in Helaena, Fuzzy, and Ozzy.
Oof. That’s a tight fit.
“I wanted to see you, darling girl,” Helaena smiles, setting a little teddy bear with a balloon attached on the windowsill. “How are you?”
The guys and I squeeze out of the room, leaving Addie, Roland, Fuzzy, Ozzy, and Helaena inside.
Now that I think of it, I never asked what Addie thinks of her dad being an omega. But knowing Addie, she wouldn’t care either way.
Mabel joins us in the hall, having passed the baby off to Helaena. “Oh, Addie, he is beautiful!” she coos before Mabel shuts the door behind us.
“I’ll go grab your bag,” Sam offers, “unless you want to go home first.”
“No.” Mabel shakes her head, “I’d rather just…make a clean break, ya know?”
“You got it.” Sam nods, disappearing down the hall.
I wrap my baby sister in a hug so tight I’m surprised her head doesn’t pop off. “I love you,” I whisper.
“Jojo,” Mabel sighs, “I love you too, but you know I’m gonna be, like…thirty minutes away, right? It’s not goodbye. Not really.”
Sam comes back with her suitcase, and she hugs me one last time before going back into the room. I catch Addie’s eyes and give her a little wave. She returns it, now holding her baby boy. As she looks down at him, I swear I see her mouth the name, “Vander.”
It would be fitting to name him after his father—the one who saved both their lives.
“You ready?” Sam asks, wrapping an arm around my waist.
I give him a sad smile. “Yeah, let’s go.”
