Page 207 of Barinov

I stride across the room, stepping right into the danger zone, and cup my brother’s burning, damp cheeks in my hands.

“Zeke, look at me,” I command, steadying my voice against his panic. “Just breathe. Look at my eyes, Z.”

He blinks hard, a wild and feral look fills his dark eyes as he tries to force his gaze to focus on my mine.

“What is your name?” I demand.

He shakes his head, trying to pull away. I dig my fingers in gently and refuse to let him slip back under.

“I asked you a question, Zeke. What is your name?”

“Ezekiel…” A ragged breath tears from his chest. “Ezekiel Malik Blackwood.”

A small, breathless smile breaks out across my face as the relief rushes over me. “Again.”

His gaze finally locks onto mine as the terrifying emptiness in his eyes melts away into a heavy exhaustion. “Bella,” he whispers, the fight draining in his posture.

“She said,” Lex mutters from behind him. He loosens his grip from a restraint to a more supportive hold on my brother. “Fucking again, man.”

Zeke swallows hard and nods against my palms. “Ezekiel Malik Blackwood.”

“Good,” I whisper, pulling him down until my forehead rests against his. “That’s good.”

“I’ll take it from here,” Marisol whispers.

Lex slowly releases his hold as Marisol inches closer. Zeke reaches for her, wrapping both arms around her waist to pull her in close. And for the first time in days, I don’t feel guilty for taking a step back.

“We’ll be in our room if you need us,” I say.

His eyes find mine over her shoulder. “Thanks, sis.”

I smile through the sting in my eyes. “Always.”

Lex’s fingers weave through mine, giving my hand a gentle squeeze before guiding me toward the door. “Come on, baby.”

The smell of freshly roasted espresso greets us before we even make it to the bottom step of the spiral staircase.

Cade is already waiting in the kitchen, leaning shirtless against the island in gray sweatpants with a steaming mug cradled between his palms. He looks up the second we hit the bottom step.

“How’d it go?”

I accept the mug he offers and let the warmth settle into my palms before taking a slow sip.

“He came at me faster this time,” Lex mutters, rubbing his bicep. “But I caught him before I had to pin his ass down fully. He snapped out of it pretty quick this time, thank fuck.”

Cade’s shoulders soften. “That’s progress.”

“It is,” I whisper, taking another sip.

My tearful gaze drifts between them as silence settles over the three of us.

Cade notices. “Sweetheart?”

I shake my head, laughing softly through the tears. “I was just thinking…” My voice catches. “I don’t think I’ve thanked you.”

They exchange confused looks.

“For what?” Cade asks, setting his mug on the marble counter.