Page 96 of Three to Fall

It was more generous than she deserved, and I think she knew it.

She pulled away, wiping at her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

I was too.

Hayden, Grayson, and Hawk all glared at my father, just silently daring him to say a word as Jax and I ran up the stairs and packed the few meager belongings she wanted to take with her.

We walked out of Ethereal Eden, my sister and Shari at my side, and the three men I loved at our backs.

24

KARA

“Hop. Hop. Both feet. Hop,” Grayson coached, while Hayley Jade made her way across a hopscotch grid I’d drawn onto the concrete patio at the compound.

She coordinated her limbs into the combination of moves required to play the game, pigtails bouncing, Grayson teaching all three girls at once.

I watched from the edge of the concrete, absentmindedly doodling chalk flowers and leaves, and just enjoying the sounds of my child, my niece, and my sister playing together.

Remi tugged Jax’s arm. “Hayley Jade wants you to come play Barbies with us. Do you want to?”

Hayley Jade hadn’t said a word, but it was clear from the way she nodded and the excitement in her eyes that Remi was right. She and Hayley Jade had developed a strong bond, and even without speaking or signing, Remi was empathetic enough to pay close attention to everything Hayley Jade did. She was a lot like Fang in that respect. Quietly watching, making sure everyone around her was taken care of.

Jax, despite being years older than both girls, nodded. “Sure. Let’s go inside.” Then she paused and looked over at me. “Unless there’s something you want me to do? I could prepare dinner? It’s getting late. Or clean. Or do some laundry?”

I got to my feet, brushing the chalk dust off my hands. “You’re already doing what you should be doing.”

She glanced over at the hopscotch game they’d abandoned. “I’m just playing.”

I put my arm around her neck. “Exactly.”

“I’m too old to play.”

“Says who?” Grayson hopped his way backward down the hopscotch grid to land at our feet. “I didn’t hear anyone giving you a hard time. The girls are loving having their aunt here to entertain them.” He grinned at her. “We gotta get you up to speed for the next family day at the club. Hopscotch is one thing, but I hear Scythe is Double Dutch champion, and I have my eye on his crown.” Grayson cocked his head to one side, studying Jax like a coach would his star athlete. “Maybe ring toss is more your thing? Strong arms. I think Kian has the title for that one, but I reckon you could take him.”

She raised one shoulder. “At home, I always had chores…”

I squeezed her arm, hating she hadn’t been able to have a childhood. “You’ll have them here too. Don’t worry, you aren’t getting off scot-free. But you get a few days’ grace after what you’ve been through.”

Most thirteen-year-olds would have been too old for Barbies and would have found their two little nieces irritating, but Jax had spent her entire childhood acting like an adult. So when she scurried off to sit on the floor of the bedroom she was currently sharing with Hayley Jade and let the two girls use her as a mountain for their dolls to climb, all I could do was smile.

Grayson wrapped an arm around me. “Want to play hopscotch?”

I twisted in his arms and peered up at him over my shoulder. “Seriously? Do you also plan to take the hopscotch title from Lexa? You do know she’s only five, right?”

He chuckled, nuzzling his face into the side of my neck. “Actually, I just wanted to watch your boobs bounce.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed him away, right as a commotion kicked up in the common room. Everybody shouted at once, and Grayson and I both paused, peering through the doorway to see what was going on. Everyone was in the main living area, staring at the big-screen TV.

“Kara!” Rebel bellowed. “You better get in here.”

“That can’t be good.” I pulled away to link my fingers between Grayson’s. I led him inside to join the group gathering around the TV. “What’s going on…?”

All Rebel did was point.

A still image of Josiah’s face filled the screen, and a newscaster’s voice came through the speakers.“Breaking news this hour of a police raid on a religious cult in Texas known locally as Ethereal Eden. Their leader, John Gooseman, known to his followers as The Prophet Josiah, is tonight in custody after police descended upon a property and seized extensive evidence of fraud and child pornography.”

Hayden whistled under his breath. “Can’t believe the media is only just catching on to this.”

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