Page 100 of This Reckless Home

Rich men like Wilson fucking Devonshire swept it all away like it was lint on his expensive tailored suit.

And just like most of the past eight years, Jus is in a house and I can’t reach him.

The only saving grace is knowing Blossom is there too. Knowing that she’ll take care of him, even if I’m stuck in here.

Not to mention even if we do somehow get out, the kinship application for guardianship will be fucked if the charges stick. If this goes on my record. It will be the final nail in a coffin they’ve been building round me for eight long ass years.

Spiraling won’t help, so I breathe deep knowing that Blossom will do everything she can to help. She will throw everything she has at getting us out, at getting the charges dropped. I know that as well as I know how to breathe. It’s bone deep. She will not abandon us.

The image of Blossom going down on the gravel and Jus following flashes in my mind, and I flinch, trying to breathe through the fact no one was there to catch either of them. I wasn’t there to catch them.

We’re coming back.

I have to believe that.

We’re coming back.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“TILL I SEE YOU AGAIN” BY UNSECRET, THE POWDER ROOM

BLOSSOM

Iawake just before dawn, my eyes gritty and my head fuzzy in the way that a terrible night’s sleep does to you.

Sitting up, the blanket pools around my waist and I remember I’m on the sofa because going back upstairs to the bed on the floor they made for us was too painful.

My phone lands on the floor with a thud, and my heart beats loudly as I recall the number Henry gave me, of my mother’s old lawyer and the fact he’s not connected to Wilson.

Bending over I pick up the phone, checking the time and deciding that four in the morning on a Sunday is probably not the best time to call. But maybe six or seven would be okay. I’ll go make tea, maybe try to eat something.

My stomach roils at the idea, but then I hear Ant telling me I must eat, Steele and Nox giving me a look that says the same. I swallow back the tears that sting my eyes, because they won’t help get them out of jail. They won’t reverse what my father did.

With a sigh, I get up, fold the blanket and put it on the back of the sofa where it lives, then make my way into the kitchen only to come up short when I spot Tina, putting what looks like a tray of my favorite blueberry muffins in the oven.

“Morning, love,” she greets warmly, like it’s usual for both of us to be up at this time. “I won’t ask if you slept well, I can tell you didn’t and frankly neither did I.”

She closes the oven door, turns around and pours water from an already boiled kettle into my favorite mug, the handmade in Mexico one with orange and black butterflies on it.

“Henry gave me the number for mum’s old lawyer. Said he might be able to help. Ralph Symes, Esquire.”

“He was always a good man, that Ralph,” Tina comments, coming over and handing me the tea. “Call him in a couple of hours when he’s had a chance to wake up a little.”

“That’s the plan,” I sigh, letting the steam from the mug curl around me and warm my cold insides. “What are we going to do with the kids today? I’m not sure I can face them until I at least try to sort this out.”

“I’ve spoken to Henry and we will take them out for the day, don’t you worry about it. Focus on those boys.” A lump forms in my throat at the way, like usual, she thinks of what I need before I do and then makes it happen like it’s nothing. It’s everything.

“Thank you, Tina. I’d be lost without you,” I tell her, my voice choked and raspy.

She gives me a smile, wrapping her arm around me and pulling me close. “You too, love. You too.”

Tina and I quietly bake for the next hour or so, and then I slip into the formal dining room, shutting the door behind me with my phone in hand. My pulse skitters as I sit on one of the chairs, opening the contact for Ralph Symes and hitting dial.

He picks up on the second ring.

“Miss. Blossom? Are you okay?” A deep accented voice asks, and I’m stunned for a moment.

“H—how did you know it was me?”