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“I’m here.” Summer’s small voice drifted from the doorway, and we all turned to see her with Bonnie in her arms and Ava clinging to her leg. Jax and Luke shot forward, gathering their children into their arms, and both of them crowded around Summer.
“Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?” Luke demanded. He caught her chin, lifting her head to reveal a thin red line across her throat. “He did this?”
“I’m okay,” she assured quietly, and the anger rose in me once more. The only thing that stopped me from chasing Felix down again was Kane who came running out of the dining room and threw himself into my arms.
“Dad!” he squealed, his cheeks still shining with tears. “You’re like Batman!”
“Oh buddy,” I chuckled lightly, cuddling him close.
“It’s true,” Jax said, sending me a concerned glance. “I’ve never seen you lose your cool like that.”
“He threatened my family,” I muttered, “that’s just the first time I’ve seen the prick face-to-face.”
“Language!” Tabitha scolded sharply as she appeared, skillet still in hand. “Honestly!”
“Luke, I’m okay,” Summer insisted, and she laughed softly as he continued to look her over head to toe. “He didn’t hurt me, not really.”
“I was so scared,” Luke admitted, running a hand up and down Ava’s back as she chewed on her own fingers. Suddenly he leaned forward and claimed Summer’s mouth in a deep kiss, squashing Ava between them. Jax immediately beamed at me. He’d told me some of the struggles Luke had been having with Summer’s involvement in his accident.
It looked like he had found peace with that.
As the kiss broke, Ava cheered, and Jax pressed a sweet kiss to her temple, then he stepped back to fully focus on Bonnie who had sobbed herself hoarse.
“I’m so sorry,” Summer said, her own voice just as hoarse with emotion. “Felix, he grabbed her, and I couldn’t—I did everything I could to help her, but he had her for a while.”
“Oh sweetie, oh baby it’s okay. Daddy’s here now,” Jax soothed, cradling Bonnie to his chest and rocking her. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
“S-Summer protect’d me,” Bonnie gasped out through several hiccups and sobs.
“Yes she did,” Jax agreed. He kissed Bonnie’s head and held her close. “Thank you, Summer. I can’t—I can’t explain how much that means to me.Thank you.” He moved closer to her, and Summer’s lips parted, but her words were lost as Jax kissed her hard. Bonnie nuzzled in, and I glanced between all three children. We had worked so hard to keep our feelings and relationship quiet and away from them, just in case. After the craziness of this day, what was one more thing?
When the kiss broke, Summer’s cheeks were rosy and the tears that had lingered in her eyes faded.
“I’m… I have no words,” she admitted, shaking her head.
“I do,” I said, closing the gap. Kane groaned dramatically in my arms.
“Put me down! Kissing is gross!” he declared, and I obeyed, but he still remained by my leg as I cupped Summer’s neck.
The scratch was glaring against how pale her skin was but her eyes were shinning. My hand trembled slightly, knuckles swelling from the punches I had landed, but it all melted away when I leaned in and kissed her. Her soft lips melted against mine, and I kissed her until my lungs burned and she gasped against me.
“We love you,” I said softly as we parted.
Summer waved a hand and gave a warm smile, trying to brush off the affection, but I wanted her to swim in the love she deserved.
“I—I love you too. All of you. Even the rascals,” she murmured, nudging a soft knuckle against Ava’s cheek. Ava giggled and as I stepped away, Kane whined to be returned to my arms. I scooped him up immediately.
“Ma?” Luke glanced at Tabitha. Her cheeks were now rosy from alcohol, yet she still brandished the skillet. “Are you okay?”
“Oh yes!” She said cheerily. “It’s all quite exciting, isn’t it? Bad guys vanquished, love is in the air… it’s like one of your stories, Kane!”
Luke laughed and Kane bounced in my arms, waving an arm before he settled in, and I cuddled him tightly.
“Alright,” I decided, quickly running through how best to keep the children safe and calm while soothing everyone at the same time. “I think we head upstairs, get in our pajamas, order some food, and watch movies all day. What do you think?” Calming the children was the only thing that mattered right now.
All three children cheered softly, their attention swiftly moving on from the attack and to better things. Luke walked up to me and scooped Kane right out of my arms.
“You can join us after you clean up those knuckles, okay?” he said. “And tend to Summer’s throat. And find how… how he got through here.”
