Page 70 of Kylie

The sound of my name caused me to turn, and as soon as I did, my heart stopped. Then it kicked hard. It skipped a beat, maybe two. My chest swelled at the same time a lump formed in my throat. My sinuses burned even as I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

They were here.

Travis. Gage.

Oh, my God! They’re here.

A sob ripped free as the dam on my tears broke. My heart slammed against my sternum when Travis came toward me at a run, Gage right beside him. It felt like an eternity had passed before they finally reached me.

But then they were there.

“Travis,” I croaked. “Gage. You’re here.”

I ran into Travis’s arms, and the next thing I knew, I was trapped between them both. Safe and secure for the first time in so long.

Was this real? Or was this some sort of warped hallucination? Maybe Martin had drugged me, and he was screwing with my mind.

But then I realized they were crying, too. The tears weren’t only mine. Their bodies shook with violent sobs as they held me. Had it not been for their arms around me, I would’ve been on the ground. As it was, I could hardly breathe for the relief that was tearing through me in an emotional storm.

I couldn’t believe they were there.

I didn’t move, not wanting to risk waking up if this were a dream because my husbands were there. I could feel their warmth, hear their breaths. It was surreal and a relief.

The nightmare was finally over.

One year, eight months, and twenty-six days.

That was how long it had been since I’d seen my husbands.

That was how long it had been since I’d held my babies.

“You ready to go home?” Travis asked, his big arms still wrapped firmly around me.

I nodded, not sure my voice would work if I tried to talk.

When he released me, I managed to remain upright. My knees felt like Jell-O, so I took a second to compose myself. When Travis pulled me against his side and Gage took my hand, I was able to breathe a little easier. We walked like that toward the house, and that was the moment I took my first deep, cleansing breath since the nightmare started all those months ago.

I prayed like hell that it was really over.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Kylie

A wall of men.

That was the only way to describe what I encountered when I stepped into the house a few minutes later. Big men, too. A lot of them.

“We’ll dispense with introduction,” Brantley said, his expression one of wonder and what appeared to be relief.

“Good idea,” Travis said as Kieran closed the door, sealing us all inside.

“Do you want to get your things?” Gage prompted.

I shook my head, leaning into him, eager for him to take me home. Whatever I had there wasn’t mine. Plus, I didn’t want to be there another minute. While I appreciated that Kieran had saved me from the brink of death, this had been as much a prison as the hospital and the shit hole.

I was ready to go home.

Travis put his hand on Brantley’s shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you.”