Page 132 of The Devil's Chaos

He claimed my mouth in a searing kiss and poured all his desperation, relief, and adoration into it. I kissed him back just as fiercely as I clung to him, and the shattered pieces of my world slowly started to realign.

We only broke apart at the sound of a tentative throat clearing. Kai kept an arm securely around me as we turned to face Cassian, Evelyn, and Archer—my real family.

Evelyn stepped forward hesitantly, her eyes shimmered with tears. “Haven,” Evelyn said softly while her voice trembled withemotion. “I know this is overwhelming, and you must have so many questions. But please believe that your father and I never stopped loving you or grieving your loss.”

Cassian nodded solemnly beside her, his own eyes misty. “When we thought we lost you, it shattered us. If we had known, if there had been even the slightest hint you were alive, we would have torn the world apart to find you. I promise you, I will make Abel Benson pay for what he took from us—for what he took from you.”

I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat as I struggled to process everything. “I…I don't know what to say. This is all so much to take in.”

Archer stepped forward then and offered me a tentative smile. “I know we just met, but…I've always felt like a part of me was missing. Like I wasn't quite whole. Now I know why.” He reached out a hand. “I'd really like the chance to get to know my sister if you let me.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I slowly reached out to clasp his hand. “I…I'd like that too.”

Kai gave me a gentle, reassuring squeeze. I drew strength from his solid presence at my side. Turning back to my birth parents, I took a shaky breath. “I have a lifetime of questions. And a lot to work through. But…I want to try. To be a family. A real one.”

Evelyn let out a choked sob, fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she reached for me hesitantly. I stepped into her arms and let her engulf me tightly. It felt strange and yet somehow familiar, like a long-forgotten memory surfaced from the depths of my mind. Cassian wrapped his arms around both of us, his large frame enveloping us in warmth and security.

“We'll take things slow,” Cassian murmured. "Get to know each other, make up for lost time. We have the rest of our lives now.”

I nodded against his chest, too overcome with emotion to speak. For the first time in my life, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere—with my real family, with Kai.

Archer joined in the hug, his arms came around all of us. “No more secrets,” he said firmly. “From now on, we face everything together. As a family.”

53

FIFTY-THREE

KAI

Tonight was the first night I thought the devil was actually going to personally come and drag me down to Hell, where I belonged. I had accepted my fate long ago—a cat only has so many lives before they meet their maker. If I was going to die, then I guess I could find comfort in the fact that I was dying next to my brother, Archer. I would know that I did everything possible to keep Haven safe, which included stationing two guards outside her room while I snuck off with the boys and wreaked havoc on that slimy bastard’s compound.

But I made sure I had a backup plan because I wasn’t ready to leave this world without knowing that I took out every member of Haven’s family that could ever find her and hurt her. What I didn’t account for was the fact that she was more stubborn than I gave her credit for. There was a reason I gave her the nickname little lamb because, against all odds, that damn woman would always sacrifice herself to save the people she loved and cared about. So, when Alex recorded that video, I knew she would come.

She couldn’t help herself.

It was in her nature.

My beautiful, self-sacrificing lamb stood before us, and for the first time in my life, I found my reason to want to survive whatever Alex had planned for us.

Not just survive butlivefor her.

Her eyes remained locked on her brother’s every move as he gave his theatrical speech, and it was then that I realized just how much I had underestimated her strength and courage. She wasn’t just some fragile lamb who needed protection—she was a lioness ready to fight for those she loved. She knew the risks and the danger she faced by coming here, yet she stood tall, unwavering, and prepared to do whatever it took to bring us home—to bring me home.

When Theo and our men showed up, it was almost a moment too late, but the feelings they brought me were indescribable. I would never forget the look on his face when he realized it was over for him. All I could think about was getting to my girl.

She was it for me.

Nothing else mattered.

No one else mattered.

It was her and me against the world.

Forever.

As the dust settled, and the chaos subsided, I stood next to my queen as I watched Alex and his men being placed in a line in front of us. I had made a promise that I would free her from her family, and I intended to keep it, one asshole at a time. She watched silently as I poured gasoline around the club, but I saved the last of it for the men who stood before her.

“Oh my God!” Mila’s voice called out from behind us. “Archer!”

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