Page 68 of Simply You & Me

"Shit," I hiss, checking on Rory before I bolt after her. The little one seems fine, happily snuggled on the couch and sipping on a Capri Sun.

Skipping two steps at a time, I reach Wyatt's office just as Addie stumbles her way towards him where he's standing beside all his computers. Wyatt's eyes are so wide I'd laugh if this were any other time, but Lynnie breaks my heart with a choked sob before she flings herself into his arms.

I cringe as Wyatt grits his teeth, biting back a grunt of pain. His face is fucked with bruises and a pissed off nose. Looks like one of them already set it straight, but that shit hurts for a while. Smothering the urge to drag him into my own arms, I promise myself I'll check him over for other injuries soon.

Confused and worried black eyes meet mine before looking down at our girl in his arms again. Don't cry, I chant over and over again as I watch their reunion.

Reverently, Wyatt strokes a large hand down her hair, soothing her cries and mumbled gibberish. He leans against his desk, some of the pain receding from his features at the shift in weight and position.

"I'm okay, baby girl. I'm okay. You're okay," he coos, continuing to rock her until her watery sobs turn into sniffles and hiccups. "I think your ice cream melted, though. These assholes wouldn't let me bring in your groceries from the car."

Slowly, Lynnie tilts her head back to look at him clearly. "W-what?" she hiccups.

Another pet on her silky brown hair and she melts a little further into Wyatt's wide chest. "Your groceries, baby. I think some of the meat but most importantly, the ice cream is bad now. I'll get you some more, promise. I'll stock everything you need. Just give me a list."

Still, Addie frowns up at him. "M-my groceries?"

"Doll," Zach snags her attention when it's clear those two are just going to walk in circles with each other. "Wyatt's been running errands for your apartment and making sure we have everything you need to make the things you like. Plus, random things here and there like soaps. He also got work squared away for you with a leave of absence until everything is back to normal."

My heart lurches into my throat as she peels herself out of Wyatt's embrace. "I didn't know," she whispers, sounding sad and accusatory at the same time.

I clear my throat. "Lynnie, we didn't want to communicate for you two. We left it up to you both to communicate, which is why you’re only hearing about it now. Wyatt's been taking care of you in the background, my love." I offer her a small, hesitant smile, unsure of how she's going to react.

Wyatt seems uncertain while he watches her study him. It's fucking intense, just like she's been all night now.

He's been her background support for over a week, and she had no idea. Did she think he just wasn't around or cared? Fuck, I bet that's absolutely what she thought.

She takes Wyatt in again like she’s seeing him for the first time. “Thank you,” she whispers.

Her wilted stance shifts in the next second, then she’s moving away from us. With her back to the wall and feet of space separating her from us, her eyes harden. The intensity of her gaze increases tenfold, and my dick takes notice. If it could cringe, it just did.

“I want answers. Now.” Her voice is steely, none of the emotional torment present as she demands our truth.

“Adelyn,” Zach begins, shaking his head.

“No, Zach. Now. I need to know. This is ridiculous. You’re feeding me, you’re in my life more than I asked for, I’m living here for the foreseeable future, and I have no idea who you truly are! My kids are in your home, so tell me everything you know, right the fuck now.”

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. The moment Zach and Wyatt have feared. This conversation has the power to change how she views us. Therefore, I take control of it.

Zach will attempt to harbor all blame and guilt like it’s only his story to tell. Wyatt won’t know what to say, or how to explain that this family means everything to him, so when push comes to shove, he will always stay with us. Julian, he won’t know how to balance the facts and his feelings.

It has to be me. “My parents aren’t good people, Addie. I’m sure you know that from Rylee’s story. They aren’t the only ones. There are five families who we used to work for. Protected at events like the one the guys found me at.”

She nods, and I continue. “Part of that job was turning a blind eye to the workings of the Heads. At best, they scammed the poor of their money. At worst, they were murderers. Rapists and human traffickers.”

Lynnie gasps, breaking my heart. I swallow back the torment trying to steal my voice. “We each had our own reasons. For me, Zach, Julian, and Wyatt saved me. I stayed out of their business and tried to keep them levelheaded when they went on jobs. I knew some of what happened in the families, but I ignored it in favor of having a family finally care about me.”

Zach clears his throat. “My mom struggled throughout my entire childhood. She was a single parent. Things weren’t the best. When the first protection detail landed in my lap, I had to take it. We needed the money. I gave my mom the life she always deserved. Then she got sick, but she had an amazing final few years.”

Wyatt grips the back of his neck, staring at the floor. “I wanted to be included in something. I wanted to matter. And for once in my life, I was needed. Julian and Zach, they were my whole world. I would have done anything to stay with them.”

Julian’s gulp is like a damn gunshot going off in the room. He’s struggling. “I just wanted to stay with the guys. We were a team.”

Addie’s crying now with her hands clutched to her chest. I hold myself tall, needing to get through the end.

“Things changed when Rylee came back into my life. Mason was the son of one of the Heads. We took a job from one of the people in the society who was worried about their girlfriend. That was Rylee. We almost helped my sister’s abusive ex find her and Layla.”

She sniffles, and I have to fight my own urge to cry, too. “We have a friend, Sophia, who’s also Mason’s cousin. She was our inside person. Being the niece of one of the Heads was an invaluable leg up in sending everyone to prison. For four years, Lynnie, we’ve been collecting evidence to send each and every one of those bastards to hell.”

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