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Well, August wasn’t a complete waste of talent anymore. Damn, who would’ve thought the ex-royal would actually have a heroic bone in his body? No matter what had happened in the past, I was proud of him. He’d stepped up for Christine, and that was all that mattered.
“Hey, August?” I said while trying to keep my tone as sincere and humble as possible. Compliments were never my strong suit, but I owed him this one.
“Yeah?” he replied without taking his eyes off the horizon.
“You stepped up for Christine when she needed you most. You proved yourself more than I ever could’ve imagined. Being your brother is an honor that I don’t take for granted.” I clapped him on the back. “You’re a good man, August. A really good man.”
August’s mouth was left gaping open in shock. I could see the awe and pride in his eyes, swiftly followed by disbelief and embarrassment. He choked out a timid, “Um, yeah,” his voice thick with love. “Thank you, bro. Don’t get soft on me now. Just because you almost died doesn’t mean we have to get all sentimental.” He chuckled and lightly tapped my hand with appreciation.
“Of course not,” I replied with a smirk, my chest stinging as I forced out a laugh. I glanced over at Leo, who was still standing in the corner, distant but still in our presence. “Get over here, Leo,” I commanded with a gesture of my head. We had come too far for any of us to not be part of this moment.
The deep-set circles around his eyes were evidence of the sleepless nights he had spent agonizing over all of us. He kept his distance, attempting to protect us from being hurt again, like Christine had been.
My voice was unwavering and powerful as I spoke, “That’s an order.”
He hesitated for a few moments, but eventually he obliged and made his way to Christine’s side. She was perched on the bed, nestled beside me. He stood there, feeling the weight of our love and admiration for him, and a sense of closure settled over us while he opened his arms to embrace her.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he growled, his muscles tightening as he attempted to suppress the rage that lingered beneath. We were all still wrecked about what had happened to us. Christine went to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into an embrace. He held her for a moment before reluctantly releasing her.
“Thank you both for protecting Atticus,” she whispered, squeezing him close.
Leo glanced at me, conveying a silent message. “We’re family, Christine. We all have a stake in this.”
“We’ve all made it here,” she said, her voice shaky with emotion. Tears sparkled in her eyes, and Leo tenderly wiped them away with his thumb. “I never thought I’d have this again.”
He stroked her hair and nodded understandingly. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re safe. I made a mistake thinking I could do this alone. It’ll take all three of us to protect you and our baby.”
“Our baby,” she murmured, her hand caressing the bump on her stomach as she laid her head against his shoulder. “Damn it, I can’t believe this is my reality.” Christine tightened her embrace and stared up into Leo’s eyes. “You’re stuck with us now.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
A voice from the doorway broke up the tender moment, and I turned to look at my mother walking through the door, followed closely by Hudson. “Can I come in?” she asked.
My mother had always been such a gentle creature, controlled by a husband who treated her like a pet. But she had a fierceness in her gaze that felt unnatural. “Mom,” I said.
Christine and Leo stepped back with reverence as she slowly approached the bed. Her eyes were filled with tears, but Hudson’s gentle touch on her shoulder seemed to be the guiding light. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she stammered, her voice broken with emotion. “I…I couldn’t bear the thought. I’m sorry, Atticus.”
She tenderly grabbed my hand and I felt some semblance of strength return to my body. “Mom, it’s okay,” I whispered.
“No. It’s not.” She leaned closer, her face mere inches away from mine. “He will never hurt us again, Atticus,” she spoke in a shaky voice, laced with determination. “Never again.”
I looked up at Hudson and saw a firm expression on his face, as if he was conveying a deep-rooted resolve to keep us safe without words.
“Of course not, Mom,” I assured her with a warmth in my voice. “You’re safe now.”
Mom’s gaze shifted between Christine and me, her lips trembling as she spoke. “She showed me how to defend myself, Atticus. She’s…” Her voice trailed off as she wiped a single tear from her eye. “She’s a special one.”
I turned to face Christine, who was now weeping silently. “You did it, Elizabeth,” she said. “I’m so proud of you.”
I couldn’t understand what I was hearing. “Mom, what happened?”
My mother inhaled deeply and stood up, her petite frame radiating strength. “I killed him, Atticus,” she declared through clenched teeth. “I killed your father.” She bent down to press a gentle kiss onto my forehead. “And I’d do it a hundred times over if it meant protecting you and your family from any harm. I used to think you got all that fearlessness and bravery from him.” My mother lovingly caressed my dark hair. “But now I realize that you inherited some of it from me too.”
I reached up and grabbed her hand, pressing it against my forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Been better,” she said with a quiet laugh. “But I’ll get through this. I’ll get through it knowing that you’re safe. That your love and unborn child are safe, too.” I could feel her hot tears land on my skin. “And I get to see all of you together.” She pulled her hand away, and I saw the look of fierce determination in her eyes as she announced, “I’ll never stop protecting you and yours. You’ll always be my son.”
“Mom,” I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. I reached for her hand again and held it against my chest. “You made the right decision. You did.”
