Page 108

“You did what?” I burst out. “Why didn’t you say no? Why didn’t you come get me?”

Claire held up her hands, obviously trying to calm me down, but it wasn’t working. She told me about the way Asha had taken advantage of my absence and talked to her, and I was angry. Asha hadn’t visited her once before now, and she’d only shown up now because she was trying to manipulate Claire again. It was a lot less effective with me around, and she knew it.

“I wanted to hear her out,” Claire replied, her eyes pleading with me. “She saved me when she didn’t have to. I’m not saying I trust her, but that counts for something. At least it does to me.”

I shook my head irritably. “You forgive way too easily. Have you forgotten what she did to us? Or does it just not matter?”

Hurt registered on her face. “How can you say that to me, after everything we’ve been through? Of course it matters. But I’m tired, John.”

Her eyes shone with tears, and I suddenly felt awful for upsetting her. She was still badly hurt, and her judgment was probably clouded by constant pain. She hadn’t slept in her own bed in nearly two months, and she’d almost died. She’d been through so much, and here I was, making it worse for her.

All of it came down to me failing to protect her, to keep her safe. The least I could do was not give her more grief on top of everything else. However I felt about things, she needed stability and comfort right now. Fighting with her wouldn’t do shit, and it might even be what Asha wanted—to divide and conquer.

“I’m so tired of being angry,” Claire sighed, swiping at her eyes. “So tired of fighting. Tired of hate. I want to be done with it.”

I touched her cheek, wiping away a tear with my thumb. “I know, baby. I’m sorry. Come here.”

She moved into my arms, and I held her as gently as I could so I didn’t hurt her ribs.

“Is Kimmy getting us ready to go?” she asked after a minute, and I nodded.

“As soon as she’s done, we’re heading home.”

Home. I couldn’t fucking wait. Claire still had a long recovery ahead, but we’d all be less on edge at Summerhurst. We’d be back in time for the autumn harvest, and getting back to normal would be a massive relief.

“Help me get dressed?” Claire asked, a little shyly.

She was still embarrassed asking for help with basic things, but I didn’t mind. After so much time apart, I wanted to take care of her. I wanted to make up for all the time that I hadn’t been looking after her the way she deserved.

She’d mostly been sleeping in one of my t-shirts, which fell to her thighs, and nothing else. It was fucking cute.

“You’re adorable,” I told her, and I grinned when she blushed.

“I’m not sure sweaty and unkempt count as adorable, but I’ll take it, I suppose.”

I pecked her warm cheek, then helped her back into the Delta uniform she’d been wearing when we got here. For a moment, it felt like we were us again, the way we were before this mess.

“Thank you,” she murmured, leaning into me. Her eyes were lighter, less sad, and my heart lifted a little. “I know it hasn’t been easy. I appreciate you.”

I bent to kiss her. “It’s what you—”

The cabin door banged open. I turned, expecting to see Kimmy, but instead, Cade, Leo, Asha, and Dom walked in. Instantly, I was on alert. Their faces were tense and serious, and I instinctively moved in front of Claire, shielding her.

“We need to talk,” Cade announced, cutting me a look. “We’re not here for anything else. We just want to ask Claire some questions.”

“What questions?” Claire asked hesitantly, resting her hand in the crook of my arm.

“Leo said you know what happened to us when we left the Delta,” Cade answered, and he looked troubled. “Why everyone died. We just want to hear what you know, and the story of what happened at our compound. That’s all.”

“And the threats you made?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “We’re just forgetting those?”

“That was a mistake,” Leo interjected, giving Cade a hard look. “We have no intention of doing anything to hurt you or your community. We just want the truth after all this time.”

I looked at Claire. The lines around her mouth had softened, and I knew her good heart was going to win. It would always win, and it was why she needed me. I was the barrier between her and the people who’d take advantage of her need to do the right thing. Now more than ever, being her protector was the most important job I had.

“They deserve to know the truth,” she told me, biting her lip. “Everything I did to expose Julius was because I believed that everyone did.”

I sighed. “Fine.” I rounded on the others. “But we’re leaving as soon as she’s done. You won’t follow us. You won’t threaten us. You won’t do anything that makes me think twice about not killing you all when I had the chance. Got it?”