Page 48 of The Cousins and the Brunette

Love and logic were playing tug-of-war with my heart, and I was the fraying rope in the middle. The idea of juggling three relationships felt almost impossible.

Kay snorted. “Now who’s being the kid? You’re not gonna know unless you try.”

Her words echoed in my head, mingling with memories of tender moments and all that hot, passionate sex. The thought of losing them, of never experiencing those moments again, made my chest tighten. And the guilt was bearing down on me like a lead weight. I’d left them during a crucial moment, without even a goodbye. How could they ever forgive that?

“Maybe you’re right. But how do I even start that conversation? ‘Hey guys, sorry I bailed on you during a high-stakes heist. Want to grab a coffee?’”

Kay giggled. “Well, maybe not exactly like that. But you could start with the truth. Tell them why you left.”

I sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair. “The truth, huh? That I was trying to protect them from Shoemaker’s wrath? That I couldn’t bear the thought of them getting hurt because of me?”

It had seemed so noble at the time, sacrificing my happiness for their safety. Now, I wasn’t so sure. Had I made the right choice, or had I just been running away, like always?

Doubt gnawed at me like a persistent rodent, chewing holes in my conviction. Had my grand gesture of self-sacrifice been nothing more than an elaborate escape act? The line between bravery and cowardice suddenly seemed blurrier than ever.

“Yeah.” Kay nodded. “And if they care about you as much as I think they do, they’ll understand.”

As I mulled over Kay’s words, a sense of boldness began to build within me. I needed to face the consequences of my actions, confront the Porters, and lay bare my true intentions. With a deep breath, I turned to Kay, gratitude shining in my eyes.

“Thank you, sis. I’ll go back. I owe it to them, to us, to at least try.”

Kay bounced up and down in her seat. “And hey, if things don’t work out with the Porters...you’ve always got me and our maintenance closet to call home.”

The thought of returning to the Porters, of facing my fears and the consequences of my actions, was both scary and exhilarating. My heart fluttered. The maintenance closet might have been our home, but it wasn’t where I truly belonged. I knew now that my place was with Sebastian, Joel, and Braxton—if they’d have me. And I was finally ready to give love a chance, and to fight for the future I wanted. It was time to stop running and start living.

Chapter Fourteen

BRYNN AND THE ARREST

The first glimpse of the Porter Mansion after weeks away hit me like a wave of déjà vu. Its towering presence in New Boston’s Elite district, seemed unchanged, timeless. I paused at the grand entrance, my pulse speeding up.

The familiar stone steps and ornate doors loomed before me, a stark reminder of the life I’d left behind. My stomach churned with a mix of anticipation and dread. Would they welcome me back, or had I burned that bridge for good?

I knocked and blew out a breath. Joel swung open the door.

My hands fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. “Joel.”

Joel’s shoulders relaxed visibly. “Hey, Brynn.” He stepped aside, granting me passage back into a world I had fled without warning.

I crossed the threshold, the memories it housed rushing back in vivid flashes. The scent of polished wood and expensive cologne washed over me as I entered. It was achingly familiar, yet felt foreign after weeks of living rough on the streets. A part of me longed to turn and run, to escape back to the simplicity of survival. But I owed them this much at least.

Sebastian sat on an armchair, his face framed by the bright rays of the afternoon sun filtering through the expansive windows. Beside him, Braxton was reclined on the leather sofa.

I swallowed hard. “Sebastian.”

Sebastian’s posture straightened. “Brynn. You’re back?”

They looked exactly as I remembered, yet somehow different. Had I changed so much in such a short time, or was it just my perception?

Approaching them, I forced a half-smile. “Couldn’t stay away forever.”

Braxton’s lips quirked up. “We thought you’d joined a circus or something with that disappearing act of yours.”

A faint smile touched my lips. “Guys, I...” My throat tightened. “I’m sorry. That night, the heist...I couldn’t say goodbye. It was either leave you in danger or...vanish.”

The confession felt inadequate, a pale shadow of the turmoil I’d been through. How could I explain the gut-wrenching decision to leave everything behind? The nights spent wondering if they were safe, if they hated me for abandoning them?

Tears blurred my vision, spilling over my cheeks. I faced the consequences of my choice. I hadn’t allowed myself to fully feel the mournfulness of it until now, surrounded by the very souls I had tried to protect.

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