Page 350 of Romeo

“Fuck no.”

I looked at him. That last part made me smile despite myself.

“I’m serious, Jasper.”

“So am I.”

I thought about Banshee’s photograph again. A man searching for his niece because he promised his sister’s daughter he wouldn’t stop. Then Angel, who had spent two years looking for Kaylah before ever knowing the baby survived. And Kyllian, carrying a memory of a baby sister somewhere inside her life.

I didn’t want them searching tonight.

That realization came quietly.

I still wasn’t ready to hear their voices. I wasn’t ready for anyone to call me daughter or niece or sister. I didn’t know if I ever wanted Angel to be anything other than Marcus Ryker, the man whose blood I happened to share. But I didn’t need him wondering where Kaitlyn Grace was anymore.

“Tell King.”

Jasper searched my face. “You sure?”

“No.” I took a breath. “But tell him anyway.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“I’m not sure about any of this,” I explained. “I don’t think waiting until I magically feel sure is going to work.”

Something warm moved through his expression. “Probably not.”

“Tell them I’m alive. I’m safe. I know they’ve been looking for me.” My throat tightened, and I had to stop for a second before finishing. “Tell them I need time.”

Jasper squeezed my hand. “That’s exactly what he’ll tell them.”

I nodded. The decision left me strangely hollow after carrying so much emotion around it. Jasper picked up the burner but didn’t dial immediately.

“Want me to do it now?”

I looked at the screen one last time. Kyllian’s photograph was still there. “Yes.”

He stepped onto the porch for privacy I hadn’t asked for but appreciated. Through the screen, I watched him walk toward the dock before lifting the phone. I couldn’t hear the conversation, which was probably better. I didn’t need to hear King react or imagine what he might say to Banshee and Angel later. My part was done. For now.

I went outside after Jasper finished and found him sitting at the end of the dock with his boots planted against the weathered boards. He looked over when I approached but didn’t immediately tell me what King said. Instead, he held out his hand. I sat beside him and placed mine in it.

“Done?” I asked.

“Done.”

“That’s it?”

“King said he’ll handle it exactly how you asked. They get told you’re alive, safe, and you’ll contact them when you’re ready.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “No argument?”

“Not from King.”

“What about them?”

“They haven’t been told yet.”

I nodded and stared across the water. That was enough. Maybe tomorrow I would regret it. Maybe the moment I knew Angel and Banshee understood who Fiona was, I would want to hide even deeper in the bayou. Today, I felt lighter.