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Korren
I could puke. Like, I'm physically fucking nauseous. De-ja-vu is a goddamn bitch, and that's just me. I can't imagine what's going through Eve's mind right now. Somehow, I managed to hide the fork I just bent in half from everyone when she flinched at the sound of a knock on the door. The garbage was right below me, so I guess it wasn't all that impressive.
Fuck. She's been so damn quiet all day since she woke up from her nap with the guys. Her face is utterly blank whenever I've apologized or tried to get her to look at me. I feel like a jackass for feeling better at the observation of seeing her treating Ryan and Nolan the same as my brother and I.
She deserves better…smiles, laughter...sunshine. Glaring at the wheelchair that she's been hauling herself around in since she came down, I make my way to greet our guests. She's been so adamant that she doesn't want to be held, nor does she want the detectives to be in her bedroom while they speak with her.
I swear, if she weren't the love of my life, I'd tie her to the damn bed so she would actually listen to the doctor's fucking orders.
If I had another fork, I would stab the wall with it. My frustrations and helplessness are making me feel like I'm losing control. My girlfriend won't speak to me, she's injured so bad she should be lying in bed, yet she's too damn stubborn to stay in her room, and I have two fucking detectives waiting at our door to deliver news on the case that we haven't heard anything about in almost a week.
My deep breath is forced as I pull open the door to reveal a casual Dominic in jeans and a polo with his salt-and-pepper hair slicked away from his face. Beside him, Detective Brown's blonde hair falls freely around her cheeks and her blouse-covered shoulders. The bright yellow of her shirt and light jeans paint her in a completely different light than when she's in mission mode.
Who are these people?
"I'll still kick your ass in flip-flops, boy."
"Sweet Jesus! Brown is wearing flip-flops. Get the guns; we have an imposter!"
And just like that, the tension drains from my shoulders. A huff of laughter from my chest surprises me.
"I may be wearing denim, but did you know a gun still fits in them?" Smith cocks a brow at Ryan hovering in the doorway with me.
"Does it go up your butt...because your name-" My hand slaps over his mouth, cutting off whatever crap he was about to spew.
"Please, come in." Still censoring Ry with my palm, I walk him backward into the house and deposit him next to a wheezing Nolan. I doubt he will keep his boyfriend from lipping off, but Amiri is close enough to them that it's safe to assume he won't offend anyone.
"Would you like a water?" Amiri asks, not fucking realizing he was on puppy duty and walking across the space and into the kitchen.
Silence.
Fuck.
While I was so distracted with Ryan, I didn't think to check on Eve sitting at the dining room table. Her bloodshot eyes are darting back and forth between the two people who helped save her life. We haven't told her everything that happened on our end, and she hasn't asked. I think she fears the answers we might give. Nobody has mentioned Kyle around her, either.
"Good to see you again, Ms. Miller." Smith doesn't move to her, respectful of boundaries he may not know of.
"Hi," she whispers, a tear dripping from her eyelashes.
My heart thunders in my chest; the unknown powerlessness of this interaction is freaking me out beyond belief. We haven't heard anything about Kyle yet; our focus has been on Eve. What if he's still out there?
"Ms. Miller, I'm Detective Brown; you can call me Lisa, though. Dominic's partner."
I think we all double-blink at finding out her first name, but that piece of information flies away when Eve scoots back and wheels her way around the table toward Brown. Lip still trembling, she stops a few feet away from the detective duo and stretches out a palm.
"Please don't call me that; Eve is good." That's the first I've heard her dislike being called by her last name. I file that away for another time to analyze.
Crouching in front of her, Lisa meets her outreached palm and gives Eve a small, watery smile of her own. "We got him, Eve. Kyle will never hurt you ever again."
My little fighter shatters before my eyes. Her grip on Brown is firm as she draws it to her heaving chest, lurching the blonde woman into her. Careful of her injuries, she wraps Eve in her arms like a mother would. Hushed words are traded back and forth between the women, shedding tears on each other's shoulders.
My own eyes burn at the display of relief and support...this is what we all need to move forward. Sniffles can be heard across the room from each of us. Smith catches my eye and moves toward me, completely taking me by surprise when he gives me a clap on the shoulder and a wide smile.
"You did good, Korren."
"Thank you," my gratitude comes out choked; the validation from the lead detective on Evelyn's case is far more than I ever could have asked for.
Dazed and teary, I hardly notice Dom making his rounds to the rest of my brothers, offering them hugs and hushed words. My eyes are locked on my woman in the wheelchair, silently sobbing into Lisa's shoulder. I make out the words "thank you" murmured repeatedly into the yellow fabric.
