Page 231 of Under an Endless Moon

While our family stood in a semi-circle around us. Their harsh pants ricocheted from the walls as everyone processed the scene.

It’d all happened so fast.

In a flash.

A blink of events that closed the book on years of history.

Otto carefully shifted me, sweeping an arm under my legs and banding the other high up on my back.

Slowly, he stood.

Carefully.

Cradling me against his chest.

“Need to get her to the doctor,” Otto grumbled low, his lips still pressed to my forehead, unable to tear them away.

I wound my arms tighter around his neck, and I stared up at the man who I’d loved for all of my life.

My safety.

My security.

The one who’d whispered belief into my spirit for all those years.

And I didn’t need the mirror to see myself right then. To know who I wanted to be. To feel the fulfillment of who I’d become.

“I don’t want to go to Dr. Reynolds’ office, Otto. I just want to go home. With you. He can come to the house.”

He edged back enough that he could peer down at me with those blue, fathomless eyes.

“That where you want to be?” he murmured. “With me?”

“It’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”

His attention slid to River.

The two of them shared a silent conversation.

One that transpired as quickly as the events that had just taken place.

A flash and flicker.

But in it, a thousand things had been said.

A claim.

An oath.

A new understanding.

River’s voice was gruff when he said, “We’ll clean up this mess. Looks like a domestic dispute to me.”

He looked to Kane, Theo, and Cash, getting a round of agreement from them on how they were going to handle the situation. How they were going to cover it.

Then he lifted his chin when he looked back at Otto, a clear message woven in the words. “Get her home. Where she belongs.”

Otto’s nod was clipped, and he carried me across the room and out of the house.

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