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“Whatever helps you sleep tonight.”

I flipped him off without turning around.

By the time I got home, the whole house was quiet.

I locked the door behind me and slipped my heels off before walking farther inside.

The TV was still on low.

Xay was asleep on the couch.

Serenity was asleep in her bassinet beside him.

His busted lip was swollen. Bruise darker now. One eye still fucked up.

A blanket was halfway hanging off him, and Michael’s little dinosaur was sitting on his stomach like one of the kids had left it there before bed.

I stood there looking at him.

And all I could think was⁠—

His brother’s hand was just under my fucking dress.

My stomach dropped.

I went upstairs.

Straight into the shower.

I scrubbed myself harder than I needed to.

Washed twice.

Then stood underneath the water longer than necessary.

But it wasn’t because Levin disgusted me.

That would’ve made this easier.

He didn’t.

That was the fucking problem.

I got dressed and climbed into bed.

I didn’t know how much later it was when the mattress dipped.

Xay.

He slid underneath the covers and immediately reached for me.

My body stiffened for half a second.

“Damn,” he mumbled. “It’s me.”

“I know.”

His arm wrapped around my waist.