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“No, I’ll be fine, thanks.”

Jace nods his approval and leaves, he clearly knows I am safe here.

“Thank you for that, Knox. I know you’re not my biggest fan, but I appreciate you protecting me.”

He might not remember me saying this, but I feel the need to thank him, nevertheless. For a moment, I think he’s not going to say anything, so I turn to leave.

“I’m sorry, Leah, for what I said before… on the day that… on the day Donna and Zeus died. I was hurt, but I know it’s not your fault,” Knox mumbles, surprisingly coherent all of a sudden.

“Thank you, I appreciate you saying that, but you were right. If I weren’t around, or if we’d stayed to help, they might have survived.”

He shakes his head vehemently, attempting to sit up before flopping back down onto the bed. “No. I was wrong. Chances are, I’d have lost two of my best friends, too, and the baby. You did the right thing. The baby is all that matters now. I promise you, I might be a fuck up, but I won’t let anything bad happen to you or this child. Your family now.”

“I appreciate that, Knox.”

“Leah…”

I wait for a moment, wondering what else he’s going to reveal, but then I hear his deep breathing, and I realize he’s fallen asleep. In sleep, he seems peaceful, more innocent somehow. It’s clear there are sides to Knox I’ve yet to see, that for all his bravado and wildness, he’s a good man.

It feels good to know he’s fighting in my corner. He called me family.

A foreign and strange concept. Do I want to be part of this crazy, fucked up family?

I think I do.

Chapter 11

Leah

The fight has been forgotten, and the party is in full swing when I return. There’s a live band performing, which helps to keep people happy and distracted.

“Everything okay?” Axel asks me, his handsome face furrowing with concern as he comes over.

“Yeah, he’ll have a sore head tomorrow, but he’s fine.”

Axel nods in approval, and we both fall silent, watching the band.

“They’re good,” I say, gesturing to the band. “The lead singer is something else, he’s got some real stage presence.”

“Yeah, they’re gonna be looking for a new lead soon, though. He’s been scouted for a record deal but isn’t gonna take the guys along for the ride.”

“Wow, good for him. I mean, sucks for the guys, but getting signed is a big deal, it’s not easy,” I say wistfully.

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” Axel observes, taking a swig of his beer and looking at me.

“I am,” I reply, surprised that I’m telling him. My failed music career isn’t something I often divulge. “I moved here to try to make it as a singer. But, well, life had other plans.”

“What happened?” Axel asks, seeming genuinely curious. “Why’d you stop trying?”

“I just realized I wasn’t good enough,” I say with a casual flick of my wrist, trying to play down the heartbreak that revelation once caused me.

“Who told you that?” he asks, astutely realizing I didn’t come to that conclusion alone.

“What makes you think someone told me?” I throw back, lightly teasing, not wanting to offload just yet.

“You don’t strike me as the kind of person to travel halfway across the country to pursue a dream you didn’t have a chance of fulfilling,” he states seriously.

I’m flattered that he didn’t simply assume that I might actually just be bad.