Page 115 of Oracle Returns: Time will Stop

But it felt like they were being watched.

Yeah, screw that.

They had to get where they were safe.

Inside the house, he locked the doors, set the alarms, and didn’t mince words. He’d already given Maura the codes to the security so they could come and go.

Now, though, he was laying down the law.

“No gun in the bedroom,” he said, meaning the one on her hip. “Just in case. I’m not worried about us, but Ridge is depressed, and if he’s dreaming about Wynter, I don’t want him to shoot us or himself. She was strong enough not to give this animal all he wanted, but Ridge might not be.”

On that, she agreed there.

They may have sent Jo with the girls away to Boston, but they couldn’t have any mishap with the rest of them. The Maguires were tucked away in the one wing of the house, and they needed to be safe too.

In the safe inside their one cabinet, she locked up her service weapon and closed it up. No one had the combination but her, and there was no doubt that either man could overtake her if she got…shoot-y.

Then, together, they headed up to the bedroom. When they got inside, they found Ridge in their bed. It stopped them both in their tracks.

He was curled into the fetal position, whimpering in his sleep. It was heartbreaking.

“I didn’t put him here,” he whispered, assuming his wife was going to lose her mind.

She reassured him.

“He was probably stressed and looking for you. I know when I smell your cologne, I’m in a much better place. It’s okay. Let’s get changed and go to bed. There is plenty of room for all of us.”

Truthfully, how could she make him kick Ridge out?

It was sad seeing the man so battered. It was also clear he was hiding in sleep to escape what chased him here.

“Thank you, Bish.”

She gave him a kiss, and then headed into their closet to get changed. Normally, she liked to sleep naked, but that was done and over.

After pulling on pajamas, and brushing their teeth, together, they slipped beneath the blankets. When they did, Lucian put his hand on the man’s back, and without having to say a word, he communicated with him.

Bishop could see that connection and that bond.

Immediately, Ridge moved, slipping into Lucian’s side to get comfortable and where he could be in contact with him. Ridge’s head was on Lucian’s shoulder, and his hand was on his abs.

Lucian looked over.

“You too, Bish. I want to be able to feel if either of you move in case this asshole gets into either of your heads, or MINE. If I start acting weird, Bish, shoot me or incapacitate me,” he said.

“Lucian.”

No, he wasn’t kidding.

“Take out my knee or leg, or…I don’t care. Stop me from hurting either of you. Please. You’re my kill switch if I slip into the static, and he’s there.”

If he needed her to be that, she would be.

For him.

For them.

“Okay, Lucian.”