Page 94 of Finding Hope

So much worse.

Walking down the family home’s ornate timber staircase, the carved and flowery handrails with the smallest detail etched in, the individual flowers and curves, they all work to distract me from my pending death. The most beautiful staircase I’ve ever seen in my life distracts me for half a second.

Just a half.

Dragging my feet, I follow behind Jack and study his fresh tank, the black fabric, the white and purple gym logos; his arms, large with defined muscles… they’re all about as distracting as the flowers on the staircase.

Every step we take brings us closer to the noise of the kitchen, to the hustle and chaos of God knows how many adults and children.

I know for a damn fact all his siblings live in this estate. I do the mental math. So… eight adults and ten kids?

Fuck.

Off!

Squeezing my hand in his, Jack glances over his shoulder and stops on the second to last stair. “Hey.” Turning, he presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “I swear it’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.”

I let out a fortifying breath, nod, and follow him down the last two stairs and let him lead me through the entrance and into the kitchen.

Yeah.

Just a fast headcount has me thinking eighteen humans is an underestimate.

How does he live like this?

I thought having the band around was a lot, but this is just a whole new level of noise and crazy.

Everyone races around, pancakes are flipping, children are squealing, and adults are doing their best to ignore it while they inhale caffeine as fast as humanly possible.

“Want some coffee?”

Startled, I look back into Jack’s eyes and silently thank him for not being loud. I nod. I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my life. “Yes please.”

Yes, I want coffee. No, I will not release your hand.

Following him into the chaos, it’s like I’m walking into a battlefield; a flaming hot, bomb blowing, dust flying, shrapnel spewing hot zone, but I’m without body armor or a weapon. I simply have Jack’s hand in mine. And though I know in a real danger situation he’d protect me, I feel like despite his words, today, in this kitchen, gloves are off.

And I’d deserve it after what I said about them.

“Morning, Britt.”

I look up into Tina’s kindly smiling eyes and gulp. “Morning.”

“Hey, Britt.”

My eyes snap to Izzy’s as she busily cuts pancakes for the twin boys. “Hey Iz.”

I almost jump out of my skin when a wet, slobbery tongue slides along my arm. Glancing down into Annie’s deep chocolate eyes, I pull her close when Jack detaches his hand from mine and moves toward the coffee machine.

I was wondering where she was, but my pity party was running too deep for me to actually ask. The sliding back door stands open, and a steaming pile of dog crap sits in the middle of the back lawn like a beacon in the night.

Guess what Jack’s doing in a little while.

She presses her face to my stomach and snuggles in. I rub her ears and try to remain as invisible as any strange female in a strange kitchen with hickeys on her neck can be.

Every second that Jack’s gone has the nervous flutters in my stomach growing into powerful angry wings. They tear me up and force bile to rise in my throat.

Someone just say something!

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