“Cole said you’re leaving.” Keira comes to stand beside me.
I nod, not dragging my attention from Toby.
“You’re not waking him?” she queries.
“No.” As selfish as it is, I’m going to leave without saying goodbye. He doesn’t need to witness my theatrics. The poor kid has already been through enough without having to deal with whatever direction my unpredictable emotions decide to take.
“All he does is speak about you,” she continues. “He said you’re like a mother to him.”
My eyes blaze, the promise of tears hovering close, yet so far.
“You can call him any time.” She keeps her voice low. “You can video chat and email or text. Whatever you like.”
“I don’t have a phone.”
“I’ll make sure you get one. And if there’s anything else, you only need to ask Sebastian. He’ll get it for you.”
With dirty money, no doubt, but I keep that thought to myself.
“Did Luca tell you how your brother came to be a part of our family?” She leans against the doorjamb, her body turned toward me.
“No, and I don’t want to hear it. I’m not ready.”
“I understand. But if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m always—”
“Keira.” I turn to her. “I appreciate the offer, but I can whole-heartedly tell you I will never, ever seek out the daughter of my rapist as a comforting shoulder. I’m sure you can understand that, too.”
She holds my gaze, her pained eyes punishing me. “Yes, I do.”
“Thank you.” I walk into the room to kneel before the bed. I place my hands on the edge of the mattress and my chin atop them to stare at Tobias.
“Is there anything I should know about him?” Keira inches toward me. “Any medical history or useful information?”
There’s seven years worth of things she should know. All his demons. All the damage. But maybe those ghosts are better left buried until Tobias is ready for the outside world to know.
“He’s allergic to grass,” I whisper. “It’s nothing serious. He’ll break out in bumps all over his skin and he’ll itch like crazy. Just make sure you put him in a bath and give him an antihistamine.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“And he doesn’t like carrots.” My throat clogs as I recount memories of our time together. “At all. No matter what they’re mixed with, he won’t eat them.”
She lets out a breath of a chuckle. “Stella’s the same with corn.”
“And don’t listen to him if it gets to bedtime and he says he’s not tired. He always is, and it’s ten times harder to get him to sleep if you give in.”
I can’t remember how many nights he’s talked me into staying awake an extra thirty minutes, only to throw an unruly tantrum when it finally came time to crawl into bed.
The kid has always been a master manipulator. At least where my heart was concerned. He knew he could talk me into anything if he tried hard enough. Usually, all it took was a bat of those innocent eyes and a pout of his kiddy lips.
“What time?” Keira asks.
“Excuse me?” I glance at her, confused by the question.
“What time should he go to bed?”
“Oh.” I frown. “He’ll be thrown out of whack because of the last two days. But usually he’s in bed by eight-thirty. A little later on weekends if he promises to sleep in.”
I turn back to him and reach out, sliding a lock of hair from his face. “I’m going to miss you, little man,” I whisper, my throat tightening.
He whimpers, his eyes still closed when he says, “Penny?”
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart.”
He nuzzles into his pillow and lets out a sigh. “Are you leaving?” His question comes so easily as he remains in sleep mode.
“Yes. I need to get to the airport.”
He nods. “Keira says I can call you whenever I want.”
“That’s right. Whenever you like. No matter what time it is.”
He nods again, his face remaining nestled against the pillow. He doesn’t say another word. As far as I know, he’s slipped back into sleep.
Again, so easily.
Without a care.
I lean in, place the lightest kiss to his cheek and begin to drag myself away, only to have him wrap an arm around my neck, holding me tight.
I smile through the heartache. I fucking die through it.
“I love you,” he murmurs.
I close my eyes, pressing my forehead to his cheek. “I love you, too. I love you more than anything.”
I remain against him for a tortured eternity, his hold slowly loosening, his breathing returning to the deep lull of slumber.
When he starts to let out the lightest rumble of a snore, I break away, gently guiding his arm to the mattress.
Each retreating step is done not only with reluctance, but with soul-tearing sadness. And when I turn to face Keira, she’s not there, Luca having taken her place in the doorway.
He’s dressed, in black jeans and a matching T-shirt, and with the growing stubble along his jaw, the mass of darkness makes his hazel eyes more intense.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
“Do I have a choice?
“Nope.”
I sigh. “Then yes, I’m ready.”
“Keira will take good care of him. She’s always been great with kids. And I’ll keep an eye on him, too.”
“Thank you.”
I follow him as he leads the way down the hall and into the living room. My brother is already there, leaned against the back of a sofa, a suitcase at his side, his gaze lowered. He doesn’t look up as I approach. The only acknowledgement of my existence comes from the slight tightening of his shoulders. The lightest flinch.
“Well, I’ll see you around, shorty.” Luca gives my shoulder a quick squeeze, the touch lingering well after he drags his hand away. “Look after your—”
“I wouldn’t say your farewells just yet.” Torian pushes from his seat at the dining table to walk toward us. “You’re the one taking her home.”
There’s an awkward pause. My stomach drops. Everyone glances at each other. Me to Luca. Luca to Sebastian. Sebastian to Cole.
“No, he’s not.” My brother straightens from the sofa. “I am.”
“You were,” Torian corrects. “But not anymore. It’s Luca who has to leave.”
15
Luca
“No fucking way,” Decker snarls. “I’m taking her back. Not him.”
“There’s been a change of plan.” Torian pins me with a stare. “You need to return to Portland.”
“Why?” Foreboding crawls up my spine. He’s got that look in his eyes again. The one that announces he’s made up his mind. “What happened?”
“You’re hurt. It’s not safe for anyone if you stay.”
“Then give him some Advil and a fuckin’ Band-Aid and he’ll be fine.” Decker clenches his fists at his sides, barely containing his anger. “Because she’s not leaving with him.”