Page 67 of From the Shadows

“Oh, sweet girl, I missed you.” I breathe her in. I want to take her home, run her a bath with bubbles and silly music. Slather her in lavender and honey lotion and brush out her black curls. Cuddle on the sofa and watch one of our shows until Eddie tucks her into bed. Then and only then, I want to lose myself in him. But I can’t. I’m not sure I can ever go home again.

The first tear falls.

And then another.

“Dessy sad?” Evie’s little brows draw together as she pushes at my cheeks trying to rearrange my face into a smile.

I force my trembling lips into some semblance of one, to make her happy. “No, sweet girl. I could never be sad when you’re here.”

“I’m going to need you to go on and get out of here,” Teague says, joining us. “Go home. Get cleaned up, and we’ll gather at the estate and iron out the details of what the f— duck just went down.” He tickles Evie, quacking at her while he does. We all know duck was not his first word choice.

But Teague’s directive is enough to tip a handful of tears into a full sob.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Eddie pushes my hair behind my shoulder and cups my jaw, tilting my face to his.

I shake my head. “I can’t go back there.” I love my little house, and now it’s ruined. Tears gather and fall at the ruin of something I cultivated, cared for… and now lost.

“Here,” Eddie says, taking Evie from my arms. He guides us to his SUV, tucking me into the front seat and Evie into her car seat. Before he climbs behind the wheel, he snags my yellow boot off the rain-soaked road and dumps it out. “Just in case,” is all he says when he hands it to me.

He steers the car toward town. I close my eyes as we pass my bungalow, so I don’t have to see it. I don’t think I can handle confronting that catastrophe at the moment.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“Home.”

The window is cool on my temple as I shake my head. “I can’t, Eddie. I’m⁠—”

“We’ll go to mine. That can be home until we figure out what we’re going to do with yours. But my girls need a bath, and I have to dispose of my snake-juice shoes.” His smile is so much more beautiful because it’s a rare sight to see.

“Teague said⁠—”

“Teague can kiss my ass. We’ll go to the estate when we’re good and ready.”

“Ass?” Evie parrots from the back.

Eddie redirects her with, “Donkey. What does a donkey say?”

Her reply? “Waffles.” Then she says ass on repeat until Eddie pulls into an underground parking garage and parks next to a pretty, luxury, rose-gold SUV.

We ride the elevator up in silence, Evie in his arms, my yellow boot in mine. This is the first time I’ve been here—my place was always just so much more convenient—and I’m barefoot, clinging to a single boot, with puke staining my shirt, and dried blood on my knees.

When the doors open, Eddie sets Evie down by her toys and takes my hand, guiding me through his penthouse and into his room. Dark violet-gray color washes the ceiling and walls. The espresso-stained wood floor is covered in a soft gray rug with a massive bed perfectly centered. It’s moody and masculine and so very Eddie.

He twists the taps, filling the tub as he peels my clothes from me piece by piece, holding my hand to steady me as I climb into the steamy water. I lounge against the slope and bite back a hiss as the hot water hits the abrasions on my knees and palms.

When he finally breaks the silence, it’s to say, “I’m going to get Evie cleaned up and give her a snack. Is there anything I can bring you while you soak?”

“Wine? Maybe some brie, if you have it.” For all the stress and trauma and vomit, I’m so hungry I feel nauseated.

Eddie slowly shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

“What? Why? If ever there was a day that I earned the right to wine—a whole damn bottle—this is it.” My protest is weak, but Jesus, today took a lot out of me.

His chuckle is warm, low, and full of secrets. “Baby, we have not used a condom one single time. We have fucked like rabbits and taken no preventative measures. And you’ve puked in both of your boots.”

“That was stress,” I counter.

He stares at me, his face softer than I’ve ever seen it. “Maybe. But until we know for sure, I’ll bring you a ginger ale and crackers.” He presses his lips to my forehead, stands, and saunters out of the bathroom.