Page 129 of The Forever Rule

Blakely gave me a thankful smile, as Isabella released her.

“Sorry about that. But seriously, thank you for saving them. Even your ex. Because she sounds like a really nice person now that she’s doing better.”

Since the fire the day before, Isabella seemed to have been off kilter. Hell, everyone seemed to be. I had met with Blakely’s parents at the hospital so she could get checked out, and as many of the firefighters who had once worked with or heard of Blakely’s father had come to check in. Then, the Cages had shown up en masse.

In other words, we had taken a full waiting room, and had made sure that Blakely and Meredith were never alone.

The fact that Meredith’s parents hadn’t shown up because they were out of town, worried me. However, Ihad a feeling that with the way that Blakely and Meredith had bonded in an incident I never wanted to think about again, my ex wasn’t going to be alone for long.

I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that, but in the end it didn’t matter. Because they were both fine.

“I just opened a door,” I said, though it was much more than that. I had ended up needing stitches on my hand from a cut I had hid from Blakely at first. Having to use a crowbar to pry open the door had scared the shit out of me, but I had heard them banging on it, and knew that they had no other way out.

So now my hand was wrapped up, and Blakely seemed in better condition than I was. Then again, I couldn’t help but hold her, wanting to make sure she was actually real.

I could have lost her when I had just found her. And I never wanted to have that feeling again.

“I’m really okay. And I could use something to drink. Since you blocked me on my way to the fridge,” she said, and Isabella rolled her eyes.

“I just need to make sure you’re okay and relatively unharmed. Of course, the bandaged one behind you won’t let me ensure he’s fine as well.” My sister glared at me, as Emily and Sophia pushed me down on the couch.

I let out a grunt and glared at them. “Really?”

Emily shook her head. “You won’t rest. You have stitches. You’re supposed to be resting.”

I held up my arm. “On my hand. Not my feet.”

“Just let them do it,” Kyler said from his perch on thearmchair. “It’s really hard to fight against them. I just let it happen.”

“You should listen to him, he grew up with us,” Isabella said, and I met the gazes of the others in the room.

Somehow all twelve siblings, plus Blakely and Cale, had fit into my living room. We had invited Blakely’s parents as well, but they had declined, saying that it might be a few too many Cages all at once. I didn’t blame them, and it was nice to have the siblings all in one place. We really hadn’t been like this since everything had happened.

“Okay, so we’re not buying that building,” James said suddenly.

Blakely snorted. “That’s what Aston said. Though it was really cute, but clearly not taken care of.”

“We’ll find another place, and make sure it’s inspected before we walk into it,” Flynn said dryly.

“The problem is, itwasinspected,” James growled. “They’re fired, don’t worry,” he added as I narrowed my gaze at him.

“It was an odd set of circumstances with the storm and everything, but the emergency exit? That’s a worry.” I shuddered and was grateful when Blakely sat down next to me.

I kissed her temple, and she wiggled closer. “I’m fine. I’m safe. Just breathe.”

“I’ll breathe later,” I grumbled, while Dorian and Theo came into the living room, their hands full of platters.

“We’re just going to eat in here,” Theo stated, as it wasn’t really a question since he was already making it happen.

Kyler hopped off the couch, and Hudson followed him, and soon we were overflowed with fifteen kinds of appetizers and finger foods.

“I cook when I’m nervous, just let it happen,” Theo said pointedly, as Emily rubbed her hands together.

“Having a chef in the family might be my favorite thing ever.” She looked up at him and beamed. “I know you’re busy, but I really would like to learn how to make a soufflé.”

Dorian snorted, as Theo just grinned. “Brother dearest over here is laughing because he cannot make a soufflé. But I can help. But can I ask why that in particular?”

“I don’t know, I just always wanted to make one after watching Dr. Who. And my favorite restaurant that I went to in Paris was all about the soufflés.”

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