Page 58 of Consume
Mase pulled away and cradled my face in his hands. Then a beautiful grin bloomed across his mouth and evaporated the dark hollowness in his cheeks and the worry in his eyes. “You did it.”
I could only nod, even though I had so much to say, so many questions and a few answers.
“The Saelises?” he asked.
“Gone.”
“Holy shit.”
“Their ship?”
“It was already gone when the news broke that you were arrested.”
“Is Parker—”
“Dead.” He barked the word, his face tensing.
I tried to smooth it all away, including his memories. “You crashed into the police station for me?”
“I had help, but it’s the least I could do for my favorite college girl.” He hugged me to him again, and I nestled into my favorite place, the spot between his shoulder and neck, and sobbed. There had been so much pressure rising inside me, both from within and without, that I had to burst, and there was no place more comforting or accepting or safe than right here to do it.
A gasp sounded behind me, and Mase gently pulled me away and angled me toward Ellison, followed by Pop. We shared a wet, noisy hug that was swiftly becoming the Jones family’s new normal. Josh stood by with tears in his eyes, and I decided then that maybe he was good enough for my sister.
Poh appeared behind Ellison’s shoulder, somehow alive and whole. She limped badly, though, and several ugly wounds marred her face, neck, and arms.
She tipped her chin at me, the slightest of smiles curling her mouth. “Was there ever any doubt?”
Yes, and she knew it, and I would explain all that to the others in time. Now, though, I needed to know my entire family was alive and well.
“Is Crispin okay?”
“Alive, thanks to your sister.” A relieved smile twitched Poh’s mouth, so quick I might’ve missed it. “He’s getting us out of here lightning fast.”
“And Moon and Franco and Jezebel?” I asked.
“I’m right here,” Franco said, strolling in from around the corner. “Jezebel’s fine. Moon’s in the ship’s sewer. We borrowed a little of the waste treatment plant’s tech to bust you out of jail.”
Mase squeezed my hand. “Crashing the ship was my idea. That’s pretty much my go-to from now on since it’s worked out pretty well lately.”
“Mark that off your list of go-tos from now on, Mason,” a deep voice said behind me.
I turned and startled. Behind Mase were two people in wheelchairs, neither of which I’d ever met, but both of whom I felt like I knew very well. Captain Glenn’s wife and young daughter. The girl flashed me a toothless grin that just about puddled me all over the floor from an adorableness overdose.
“Hi.” I waved like the awkward ass I was.
They waved and laughed, and I instantly loved both of them.
Behind them stood Captain Glenn with a thick bandage attached to the side of his head and a spot of red slowly blooming over his ear. Almost everyone looked beaten and worn as though they’d just helped end a war.
His dark eyes were imploring as he asked, “It’s over? You really stopped the Saelises?”
Surrounded on all sides by my family, I took the first relieved breath I’d taken in a long time. I grinned, basking in their warmth and tears and love, and proclaiming myself damn lucky. “I did.”
“How?” Pop asked softly. “How did you do it all by yourself? How did you... The scales, Absidy. Where did they go?”
“Well...you’ll need to sit down for this. I know I do.”
“TheViciousis aboard this ship once again,” Captain Glenn announced. “She’s hurt, but like me, I know you prefer her dining room more than any other.”
