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Tera is sweet and understanding to a fault.

They round each other out perfectly.

When dinner is over, the rest of the group wanders ahead while Ash and I linger. We walk down the familiar sidewalk toward Asher’s car. He’s still parking near my old apartment building. Old habits die hard.

The others are talking and laughing ahead of us. Poe is behind them, giving me cautious glances over his shoulder. We keep our slow pace in silence for a moment.

“I’ll always love, Maman,” Asher admits in a rush. He sounds disgusted with himself over it.

I already knew that, so this isn’t the emotional blow he’s expecting me to get hit with.

I shrug a casual shoulder and tell him my honest opinion about it. “There’s nothing wrong with loving someone, Ash. Who you care about is your business unless you feel like sharing. Don’t let love go because someone else gets butthurt over it.”

He turns to me in surprise. Like he thought we were about to have a fight, ending with me walking away. My casual acceptance wasn’t a part of his calculations. I grin in his face without remorse.

“What’s the matter, little bro? Am I being too grown-up for you? Do I need to tone it down for your brand-new, sensitive feelings?”

His expression drops into a scowl, “Fuck you, Addie.”

“Aww, come on,Ashie-poo,” I whine loudly. The nickname draws a cackle out of Max that’s menacing. Even from this distance, he heard me clearly.

“No more heart-to-hearts,” Asher grumbles and starts walking away.

“But, Asher,” I whine pitifully. “I’m just trying to help you find your footing on your emotional journey!”

“Can you put a leash on your wife?” Asher asks through gritted teeth as he passes Poe.

Poe gives him a casual, cold look.

“No.”

I give my own cackle at his predicted response.

“The leash is for him, little bro. Get it right!”

Asher shudders and picks up his pace.

Epilogue

2 Years Later

Blue

(The Extra)

The walls are made of gray on a darker gray brick in a four-square pattern. Light, dark, light, dark. Repeating over and over. I’ve been standing here long enough to count them, although I already know how many there are. Five hundred eighty-six.

I force my eyes to move the innocent distance to the double doors. Clear glass on this side, hazed for privacy on the outside. Two handles in a mirror opposite position in the middle. A keypad/card scanner for a secure lock.

Outside is a walkway that’s five feet across and thirty feet to the street.

My eyes move away from that and focus on the grass on the sides of the path. I’m not ready to focus on what’s beyond that walkway yet.

Four guards are on duty outside. Defected Matthias men, hoping for a new life away from the bloodshed, with no place to go. The sixteen men residing here have been handpicked by me and vetted with Heretic. All are quiet, stern, and know how to keep their mouths shut on whatever happens here.

My mind is focusing on useless shit while my body remains frozen in place. Every part of my body is tense enough to snap. Sweat is starting to soak through my uniform. The idiotic piece of garbage Matthias Jr. expects us to wear to work.

I usually man the off-site computers. A duty I’m more than comfortable with. I could fall asleep with how little action I see on the monitors daily. Today is a one-off. A requirement for therapy.