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“Hey, you,” I reply.

“What happened? April didn’t look like someone who was about to walk out on you. She looked the opposite.”

I sink down onto the sofa and stare out of the window. Leah is right, we had gone from special to almost dead in the water in less than twenty-four hours.

I fill Leah in, on what occurred at the party, leaving out none of the details.

“I knew I didn’t like that man. I met him once. He gives off serious creeper vibes.”

“His particularSiris hereditary, handed down. Old school makes him think he’s a cut above the rest of us,” I add.

“April’s lucky she’s got you. And with Elijah on her side—he looked like he was about to tear apart the world last night.”

I smile at Leah’s words. She and Elijah got off to a rocky start, but that is ancient history now. I think our eldest brother would take a bullet for our sister-in-law.

“She’s not alone. She means too much to me. But I’m not sure it will be enough.”

There’s silence for a moment, and I hear Callum gurgling in the background.

“Tread gently. Be patient. April is smart, but she’s had years to build up some major defences. She’s been through a lot. She wasn’t raised with the security you and I had growing up. That has to leave scars.”

“I’ve told her I want to be there for her.”

“Telling and showing are two very different things. April’s not going to drop her shields overnight. But if you show her she can trust you, that she can trust us,” Leah says.

“When did you become so wise?” I ask her, chuckling.

“I’ve always been wise, jackass. How do you think I deal with your brother?”

I hear the laughter in her voice, followed by a, "Hey, I heard that!"

I smile even more. My brother did good when he finally opened his eyes and heart, letting Leah into his life.

“Thank you for welcoming April. I know she appreciated it,” I say to Leah.

“It’s no hardship. She’s lovely. And Caleb, it’s clear you make each other happy. This is a test. All relationships have them. Gabe and I had our own, as you well know. If you’re meant to be together, it will sort itself out.”

“I know.”

“I’ve got to go, little man wants feeding. Your nephew is a hungry soul.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” I say, about to disconnect when Leah adds.

“If April wants someone to talk to, tell her to call me.”

“Thanks, Leah.”

I end the call as my nephew lets rip an angry cry. No one keeps that baby away from his food. Like father, like son.

CHAPTER 58

CALEB

When Elijah walks into my office unannounced and drops into the chair opposite me. I sit up. My brother folding himself into a standard office chair is amusing. His tall, and equally broad frame, makes the chair seem invisible, like he’s floating on air.

“Morning,” I say brightly.

“Did she leave?” Elijah asks.