Page 72 of This Reckless Home

And she carries the weight of it after.

Doesn’t make it right. Doesn’t make the harm any less. Still is a choice she made.

I think of what I'd do to protect Justin. And the answer sits in my gut like a stone I can't shift, because I don't like what it tells me. Don't like what it means for how I feel about what she did.

I glance back again. She's holding Noah like he might disappear if she lets go. Her eyes are closed, tears tracking down her cheeks.

I look away.

She risked everything tonight. Broke every law. Threatened a man. All for a kid the system failed.

Just like she paid Nazis to save Liam. Just like she walked into danger for Mia.

More truths that battle each other.

And the Liam money? It still fucking bothers me. Probably always will.

Tina is waiting on the porch with the rest of the kids, regardless of the fact it’s way past everyone’s bedtime. I watch them hopping with excitement as we pull up and Ant parks.

“Noah, darling?” Blossom says softly, her voice thick with emotion. He stirs, blinking his eyes open, though one of them opens less than the other, no doubt from a punch from his piece of shit dad. “We’re home.”

I open the door, going to the back and opening Blossom’s door before she gets to it. Our eyes meet briefly before she darts her gaze away and something in my chest hurts. “Thank you, Steele.”

“Noah’s back! Noah’s home!” All the kids shout before I can think of something to say to her, and they’re surrounding the poor kid with questions and hugs, pushing me back.

Tina bustles through the group, her face soft and her eyes glistening as looks at him, top to bottom. She pauses when she gets to his face, her jaw ticking ever so slightly at the puffy eye. “Let’s get you some hot chocolate and some food, love.”

He nods, smiling wide as she ushers him and the others back to the house. I look over at Blossom, still by the open car door, and spot the fine tremble in her limbs. I go to step towards her, wanting to hold her and assure myself she’s okay regardless of what happened on the drive to get Noah, but Nox is there, pulling her into his arms. She melts, and my stomach twists, wondering if she’d still melt in mine. If I still want her to.

“You okay, Bloom?” Ant asks as he comes around the front of the car, stepping up to her side and I’m left looking on, not sure where or if I fit in anymore.

“I broke so many laws tonight.” Her voice is unsteady, a little flat and my teeth grind hearing it.

“Yeah, and you saved a kid. Again, Flower,” Nox tells her, and Ant moves so I can see her face, see how pale it is in the dark. How dark circles ring her eyes.

“If anyone finds out⁠—”

“They won’t,” I rumble, and her dull gaze flits to mine. Fuck. It hurts looking at her feeling like there is something unspoken between us now. Something that’s created a distance I fucking loathe. But I can’t just forget what she did, even if Nox was right and it was a shitty choice in an even worse situation. And knowing that the man held a gun to her head…

“And if they do somehow find out, we were all there so you won’t face anything alone, Bloom.” Ant interrupts my spiral.

I watch her throat bob as she swallows, looking at each of us, her eyes landing on me last and staying there.

“Thank you.” It’s a whisper, but I feel it to my very soul.

Shit, my mind is in knots, my stomach too right now.

“Always.” The word is pulled from me before I’ve thought about saying anything. And I realize that despite my swirling thoughts, and the time and space I need to process tonight and its revelations, I will always be there for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER” BY BILLIE EILISH

BLOSSOM

Once the kids are finally in bed, after Tina made hot chocolate for everyone, I walk back into the kitchen to find Steele standing at the sink, looking out of the window at the dark backyard.

“Steele?” My voice comes out much smaller than I intended, making me almost wince.