Page 49 of All The Pretty Little Lies

"It's okay," I murmur. “You're safe now."

Zaire appears on her other side, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by genuine concern. "We've got you, sweetheart," he says softly, placing a comforting hand on her back. She leans into him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. The sight of her seeking comfort in my brother is almost too much to bear.

Talon hovers in the doorway, his face a mask of worry. "I'll get some water," he says, disappearing down the hall.

As Vesper's sobs subside, she pulls away slightly, wiping at her face. "I'm sorry," she whispers, voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to..."

"Don't apologize," I interrupt gently. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. Talon returns with a glass of water, which she accepts gratefully. As she sips, I notice the tremors in her hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Zaire asks carefully.

Vesper shakes her head, then pauses. "I was back there. In that room. But this time, it wasn't just me. There were children. My children. They were taking them away, and I couldn't...I couldn't stop them."

The room falls silent, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. I exchange a glance with Zaire, both of us thinking about our earlier conversation about the egg harvesting.

"It was just a dream," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "No one's going to take anything from you ever again. We won't let them."

She offers a weak smile, but I can see the fear lingering in her eyes. "What if...what if it wasn't just a dream? What if they really did...?"

"We'll figure it out," Talon says firmly, stepping closer. "Whatever happened, whatever they did, we'll deal with it.”

I watch as Vesper's cheeks flush with embarrassment, her gaze dropping to the tangled sheets. The vulnerability in her eyes tugs at my heart, and I wish I could erase every painful memory from her mind.

Talon, ever perceptive, notices her discomfort. He steps forward, his easy smile returning. "Hey, don't worry about it. We all have nightmares sometimes. Just last week, I woke up screaming because I dreamt I was being chased by a giant slice of pizza."

Vesper looks up, confusion replacing embarrassment. "A pizza?"

"Oh yeah," Talon continues, warming to his story. "It was terrifying. All that cheese, threatening to smother me. And don't even get me started on the pepperoni. Those things were like ninja stars."

A small giggle escapes Vesper's lips, the sound like music to my ears. It's been so long since I've heard her laugh.

"And then," Talon says, gesturing wildly, "just when I thought it was all over, the crust started singing opera…in Italian. Which, let me tell you, is not as romantic as it sounds when it's coming from a homicidal pizza."

This time, Vesper's laugh is fuller, her green eyes crinkling at the corners. The sound fills the room, chasing away the lingering shadows of her nightmare. I can't help but join in, Zaire's deep chuckle harmonizing with Talon's infectious guffaw.

As our laughter subsides, I notice Vesper's stomach growl softly. "Hey," I say gently, "are you hungry? Talon made pasta,and I'm pretty sure he bought out an entire ice cream shop for dessert."

Vesper's eyes widen slightly. "Ice cream?"

"Nine flavors," Zaire chimes in, smirking. "Our golden boy here couldn't decide, so he got them all."

Talon shrugs, unabashed. "What can I say? I'm a man of many tastes."

She nods, a hint of shyness creeping back into her expression. "I...I could eat."

"Great!" Talon exclaims, clapping his hands together. "I made enough to feed an army. Or, you know, five people with varying degrees of emotional trauma and questionable eating habits."

We make our way to the kitchen, where Alex has already set the table. The aroma of garlic and herbs fills the air, making my mouth water. Vesper hesitates for a moment before taking a seat, her eyes darting around as if seeking permission.

"Go ahead," I encourage her, pulling out a chair. "Dig in."

We settle around the table, and I can't help but marvel at the scene. Just days ago, we weren't sure if we'd ever see Vesper again, let alone share a meal with her. Now here we are, passing bread and ladling out pasta as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

Vesper takes a tentative bite of the pasta, and her eyes widen. "This is delicious," she says, looking at Talon with newfound respect.

He grins, clearly pleased. "See? I told you guys my cooking would win her over."

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