Page 44 of Keep Healing

“I n-need to go home,” I told him shakily.

“We can’t right now, baby. The security system was blown out by that explosion. It’s just not safe. Aleks has some guys going out to fix the gates and wall, but it’s going to take some time, then Aleks will need to rebuild the whole system.”

“No, not that home. I…I have to go back to Chicago. We need to work with my brothers to find Soloman and st-stop this once and for all. I can’t live like this, Nick. We can’t. If we really want a future together, this all h-has to end.”

“We considered that, but we didn’t think you’d want your family mixed up in it all right now,” Nick told me.

“I don’t,” I agreed, suddenly feeling completely exhausted, and not just physically. “But they’re already at risk right now. At least if we’re there we can help to protect them. My brothers can bring in extra security too. Believe it or not, this isn’t our first serial killer hunting a member of our family,” I sighed.

“Your sister in law, right?”

“Yeah, Livy. I miss her. I miss my parents too,” I admitted. All I wanted was to feel my dad crush me in one of his ridiculous, but amazing bear hugs.

“Let’s check on Zack, then join the others. You can tell them what you want to do,” Nick suggested.

“I’m so sc-scared, Nick,” I confessed as I looked up to him, my eyes glassy with tears. “And so damned tired too.”

“I know, but you’re not alone. We’re all here and we are going to get through this. One day, not too long from now, we’ll all be sat on the back deck, eating dinner, laughing, and smiling, and you’ll realise that all of this is just the past. I’ll scoop you up and kiss the hell out of you, and you’ll know that our future is going to be filled with good times and so much happiness. You’ll look around at your four sexy, handsome men and you’ll know that everything really is going to be okay, because we’ll have each other, and that is all we’ll ever need.”

“Sexy and handsome, huh?” I laughed.

“Damn right, but I’m obviously the sexiest,” he told me very seriously, making me smile widely.

“I like the sound of that scenario,” I told him as I moved to straddle his lap, so I could reach his lips. “But maybe you should kiss the hell out of me now, so I can picture it perfectly in my head,” I added.

Instantly his hand slid into my wild hair and he was pulling me closer, then his lips landed on mine and I was lost to his demanding, all consuming kiss. All I could do was hang on to him and enjoy every second of the passion filled reprieve I was getting from all of the craziness that surrounded us.

“You picture it now, baby?” he asked as he pulled back.

“Yeah,” I sighed dreamily. “I can, and I want all of it.”

“Then you’ll have it, soon.” He kissed me once more, then stood, taking me with him. I wrapped my legs around his waist and clung on, not wanting to end up in a pile on the floor – not that he’d let that happen. He had his hand under my thighs and the other around my back, holding me like I was way more delicate than I was.

“You can put me down,” I told him with a chuckle as he stared out of the room.

“Nope. I like having you right here,” he replied as he once again reached down and this time kissed the end of my nose. “You feel so right in my arms. I’d carry you everywhere if I could.”

“I don’t think your back would survive that,” I laughed.

“Evie, you hardly weigh more than Zack.”

Before I could argue that he was insane, he pushed open the door beside the office that we’d been in and we found the guy who had approached me when I first woke up, holding Zack. Eli? I was pretty sure that was what Nick had called him. Zack had his head resting on the guys shoulder, his eyes heavy and he was clutching his bunny close, as he always did when he was sleepy.

“Hey,” he greeted as we walked in. “I hope this is okay? He started to look really sleepy, then he was crying. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just picked him up.”

“It’s fine,” Nick assured him. “He’s almost asleep.”

“I’ve never really had much to do with kids, but this little dude is seriously cute.”

“He seems happy with you. I think you made a friend,” Nick chuckled.

“I’m Eli, by the way,” he said as he looked to me. I clung to Nick, but smiled and nodded.

“Evie. S-sorry about before. Nightmare,” I told him.

“No apology needed. I shouldn’t have approached you like that. I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“We need to speak with the others. Are you okay with Zack for just a little longer?” Nick asked.

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