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She pulled away, and I looked over her shoulder at Zee, Tristan, and Ezra. They all wore matching heart-eye stares and shy smiles—just like me—and I cuddled into Ry’s side, shuffling closer and laying my head on his chest.
“Thank you,” Ry responded quietly. He squared his shoulders and inhaled as if he was sucking up some courage. “Mum, I’m not just with Flynn. We’re all together.” He gestured between the five of us and swallowed hard, waiting for her reaction.
“All of you,” she repeated, looking between us. “As in, the five of you together.”
He nodded, a sharp dip of his head. Tension vibrated off him, his muscles taut and his breaths coming quicker.
“Wow, um. Okay.” Kristy laughed and shook her head. “Sorry, Ry, I’m shocked.”
He paled and seemed to shrink into himself. I stepped in front of him, shielding him with my body as Tris, Ez, and Zali rushed to his side.
Kristy reached out and cupped his face gently, tears in her eyes and her smile back as she flicked her gaze between each of us. “I just gained a daughter and three new sons.”
I nodded, and her smile grew.
“Ry, you surprise me every day, but this…. This is the best surprise I could have asked for. It’s unconventional, and I have no idea how you’ll make it work, but judging by that reaction—” She gestured to indicate the way we were gathered around him, Ry in our centre protected from all ends. “—you’re already doing a great job of it. I don’t know a more deserving group of people.” She covered her mouth and laugh-sobbed. “Oh hell, you’ve got me blubbering now.”
Still hugging the urn, Roe reached for her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her the same comfort she’d given him a few moments ago. The afternoon’s emotions were like a rollercoaster—up and down and twisting and turning. I was dizzy with it. I could only imagine what Roe was going through, and yet he was still there for his friend. They had a completely platonic love, like siblings, and it made me smile seeing them together.
“We’re both thrilled for you,” Roe said with a warm smile that was still a little sad. “Thank God we’ve got some happy news to celebrate.”
I looked between Zee and my guys, and they nodded. “There is something else,” I added. “We’re moving in together. We already spend most of our time on the Noble Steed, but we’re thinking of getting a house.”
“We’re looking at one this weekend,” Zee added. “It’s ten minutes away, private, on the water, and has a deep-water berth off a jetty. It’s also got a recording studio.” She left the rest unsaid, but Roe swallowed and nodded.
“It’ll be perfect to record your podcast in, Tristan—”
“Martha Holt, my backer, has agreed to amend my funding terms to make the requirement to publish conditional upon your consent. We’ve done what we set out to do. We found a money trail and followed it. More importantly, we’ve gotten justice for Asher. Nothing more needs to happen.”
Roe bit down on his lip and nodded slowly. “I appreciate that. But the narrative I helped spin was false. I want it corrected.” Roe lifted his chin defiantly. “I want the world to know what she did. I want them to hear what a monster she was. Her suicide was the best thing we could have asked for. I’m sorry you had to witness it, but the world is a better place without her in it.” He exhaled sharply and forced a smile.
It was the one lie we’d told him, and it was as much to protect Zee as it was for his sake. He didn’t need to know that his daughter had fired the fatal shots. I suspected that he’d be proud, but I wouldn’t dare risk it. Our decision to withhold that piece of information was unanimous. Even Zee preferred that he never found out. We’d explained the fire that consumed her house as her attempt to harm us.
Martha had kept us in the loop, explaining that the police had accepted Rosa’s staff members’ account of the evening. They’d told them they heard her screaming, hurling insults at her visitors. She’d thrown the bottle of booze at us and then threw a candle at it. While it burned, she’d pulled the gun and shot at us, hitting Ry before turning it on herself. The story wouldn’t stand up if an autopsy or a coroner’s investigation were carried out, but her staff’s eyewitness accounts had avoided the need for it. The death certificate was issued with suicide by gunshot wound as the cause of death.
Zee had already been in contact with the Grande Banque Unie to have her accounts closed down and the funds donated to a charity she planned to set up in her brother’s name. She’d asked Ez for help with it, and together they were going to start drawing up the mission statement. She wanted to help victims of parental kidnapping—children in Asher’s position—to reach out and seek help. Zee would provide the resources necessary to back up operations to get them home. I was so freaking proud of her.
Roe interrupted my musing, adding, “But enough of her. Let’s talk more about this house you’re looking at.”
Twenty-two
Zali
The afternoon was full of highs and lows. I was so fucking proud of Dad for the way he handled himself. He was so strong, and even through his grief, he’d thought about everyone but himself. He’d been so happy for us, and after pulling Ezra aside, he’d asked Ry outside to sit down and talk. Ry thought he was in for a lecture, but Dad had offered to listen to him if he ever needed to talk.
They were out there for over an hour, sitting together on the couch I’d sat on many times before, talking. Ry was happy when he’d walked back inside—lighter too. Just like he’d done with Tristan, Ry opened up to Dad. I didn’t know what they’d spoken about, but Dad had assured me when we left that we were all going to be okay. That was all that mattered to me.
I flopped onto the bed, exhausted. I was completely drained, emotionally spent and empty. I didn’t know what I needed, but my guys were a good start. Not for sex. I didn’t know if I could even get into it, but I needed to be in their arms.
As if he could read my thoughts, Flynn crawled up over me, straddling my hips and leaning down to kiss me. The kiss he’d shared with Ry at Dad’s was so intimate, so loving, yet so innocent at the same time. I wanted that. I think I needed it too.
He wrapped himself around me, crushing me into the bed and holding me tight. Ez was next to us a minute later, kissing my forehead and hugging me tight. Tris squeezed in behind him and brushed my hair off my forehead before running his hand down Flynn’s back. Flynn shivered above me, arching into Tristan’s touch, and it was as if he’d touched me. I hummed and snuggled into their embrace, but I was missing my other guy.
“Where’s Ry?” I asked.
“Right here, baby girl,” he said from the doorway. Leaning against the frame, he wore only a loose pair of basketball shorts that sat low on his hips. The top of the V framing his cock was visible, and I sighed happily. He was tanned and gorgeous. They all were.
“We want to make you feel good, love,” Tris rumbled in his deep voice.
