Page 51

51

ELLA

The moment Sebastian opened the penthouse door for me, my heart skipped a beat with joy. Alaric and Verity were sitting on the floor playing with Dope and Cami. But even the familiar comfort of home couldn’t stop my instinctive scan of the corners, looking for eight-legged shadows. I’d done the same thing at every stop on our drive, checking every room before I could relax. Sebastian had noticed but hadn’t said anything, just quietly checked the spaces with me.

“You’re back!” Cami yelled and jumped off the floor, nearly barreling me over with her hug.

I stiffened at the sudden contact, my body betraying me again. Dark spots danced at the edges of my vision as memories of being restrained flooded back. Cami immediately stepped away, understanding dawning in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I should have …”

“No,” I cut her off, forcing myself to breathe normally. “I want hugs. I want normal. My brain just … forgets sometimes that I’m safe.” I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “Try again? Slower this time?”

The second hug was gentler, and I focused on the familiar scent of her shampoo, on the present moment, on being in a safe place. The flashback receded, but the tension in my neck remained.

A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth with her embrace. “It’s super good to be here. Hopefully for a while too.”

Cami released me but held on to my shoulders. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

I nodded, a silly grin slipping into place. “We’re staying for a while, which means we will have more time together. I don’t think I would be able to sleep at the house in New York.”

“Shit, I wouldn’t be able to sleep with you there either. I would be worried about you and the kids every second of every day.” Her eyes cut over to Sebastian. “You on the other hand, I wouldn’t worry about since you uh …” She cleared her throat. “Ya know. Jekyll and Hyde your way through situations.” She gave him a small grin.

Relief washed over me. Maybe we were making some progress with Cami accepting Sebastian and Death.

“Ma Ma!” Verity squealed and lifted her arms.

I hurried over to her and scooped her off the floor, peppering her sweet little cheeks with kisses. Her infectious giggles warmed me as I held her closely. “Mama’s home, baby girl.”

Alaric released a wail, and I set Verity down and picked up my son. “Hi, baby. How’s my boy?” He laid his head on my shoulder and grabbed my shirt in his little hand. “I love you too.” I rubbed his back as he buried his face in my neck.

“Looks like everyone is happy that you’re here, including me,” Dope said, standing.

“How were the kids?” Sebastian asked, giving Dope a slap on the shoulder.

“Busy. They kept us busy. My ass is tired.” He chuckled, beaming at the twins.

“You two look like you need some coffee,” Cami said as she headed to the kitchen.

Alaric and I joined her and left Sebastian and Dope to catch up.

“You look exhausted. How are you holding up?”

I brushed the stray hair from my eyes and smiled. “I’m super glad to be back, and even happier to stay for a while. I’ve missed Portland.”

Cami gave me a concerned look as she placed a coffee cup beneath the spout of the espresso machine. “What about Sebastian? He’s back on Death’s stomping grounds, isn’t he worried?”

“No. We’ll manage it like we always do.” I couldn’t tell her we had immunity for anything that Death did. The thought speared my chest like a thousand needles because the price was too high. I would never give Verity to the Pied Piper. Never.

Cami waved her hand in front of my face. “Where’d you go?”

“Sorry. Just a lot to process. Xavier won’t be a problem any longer.” I needed to let her know that I wasn’t in danger from him at least.

Her brows shot up. “Did … is he …”

“Alive? Yes, but he won’t ever walk again. We traded him to the man that was behind my kidnapping for our freedom and protection.” That was all I was willing to tell her.

Her lips formed an O. “That’s good news then. I won’t ask any more questions because I get the feeling I don’t want to hear the answers.”

I sat at the table and adjusted Alaric on my lap. He stuck his fist in his mouth, slurping loudly.

“I won’t tell you anything that would hurt you. Trust me on that one.”

She started the next cup of coffee and leaned against the granite counter. “I know and at first it pissed me off, but I was just upset about Ryan and … Death.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to calling him that.”

“It will grow on you and so will he. All I can say is that no one better fuck with you or there will be consequences.” I shot her a knowing look and grinned.

“Oh hell, Ella. Seriously? He can’t go around”—she moved her finger across her throat like she was slitting her neck—“deleting everyone that annoys me. No one would be left in this city.”

I giggled, grateful for the lighter conversation.

“It’s so not funny.”

“It really is.” I blew on my coffee and took a sip. Cami disappeared and delivered Sebastian his cup. We were definitely gaining some ground with her accepting him.

She returned a minute later and sat at the table with me.

“Have you talked to Ryan?”

Cami pursed her lips, sadness flashing in her gaze. “Yeah.”

“And?” I couldn’t help but remain hopeful that they could work things out. I understood where Cami was coming from, but it was hard to see her so unhappy. Him too.

“I told him it was over. I just can’t sleep next to someone that has a hidden life. If he got caught, I would go down with him too. It’s dangerous, and you and Sebastian keep me busy enough trying to dodge the shit you two stir up.”

Cami’s expression was sad and lost, and my heart ached for her. Even though she tried to hide it, she was clearly devastated by Ryan’s betrayal. I suspected it was harder to leave someone when you were still madly in love with them. If I could, I would erase all her pain just to see her happy again. She deserved nothing less.

“Not sure I can disagree with that logic. I know that he kept you out of his work to keep you safe, but if I were in a serious commitment with Sebastian and learned about Death the way you did, I would be upset and most likely end the relationship too.” I didn’t tell her that I’d contemplated running, but I knew that Death would track me down, so it was a moot point. Honestly, I hadn’t ever wanted to leave him, I was just scared about a life with a serial killer. Now, I was running from a different monster, the Pied Piper.

We continued to chat over coffee until it was time to put the kids down for a nap. I needed one as well, but I knew I wouldn’t sleep unless Sebastian held me.

I kissed the kids goodbye as Sebastian and I left to check on Velvet Vortex, the bar and restaurant he and Kip owned together. It was a relief to do something normal for a change, and I was looking forward to having a nice meal and a few drinks with my husband.

The moment I stepped into the elevator, my stomach clenched. The enclosed space, too similar to the glass cage, made my palms sweat and my breathing shallow. Sebastian must have noticed because he immediately pulled me against him.

“Count with me, baby,” he whispered. “Five things you can see.”

I focused on his voice, on the grounding exercise we’d developed. “Your blue shirt. The floor numbers. Your wedding ring. The elevator buttons. My reflection in the mirror.”

By the time we reached the lobby, my heart had stopped trying to escape my chest, but my legs still trembled.

“Let’s get you outside in the fresh air.” He led me out of the building and to the garage where he kept the BMW. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the healing touch of the outdoors. Sebastian gave me a few minutes to settle down before we got into the car.

“It’s good to be back home.” He reached over the console and squeezed my hand. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve upgraded everything at the penthouse,” Sebastian explained. “Dope installed military-grade surveillance, and motion sensors on every floor. The elevator needs both keycard and biometric access now. No one gets within fifty feet of this building without us knowing. I hope it helps.”

“It does … a lot. Thank you.” I nibbled on my lower lip and then said, “As much as I love upstate New York, I think it will be best to sell the place and property. I’m so sorry. I don’t think I can go back there.”

Sebastian frowned. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, baby. I didn’t protect you the way I should have.”

“You can’t keep blaming yourself. We had no idea we were being watched.”

“We do now,” Sebastian muttered, anger in his voice. “Ella, I know something happened with the Pied Piper when he took you to the side to talk. Please tell me. You’ve been acting strange ever since.”

The glass of the passenger window blurred as tears were about to spill, my fingers trembling against the cold surface. Every word caught in my throat like shards of broken glass—each potential revelation a dagger that could slice through the fragile peace we’d fought so hard to maintain. Sebastian couldn’t know. The weight of my silence pressed against me, a suffocating burden that threatened to crush my lungs.

My daughter. My beautiful, vulnerable daughter. The thought of exposing her to even a whisper of additional danger made my heart seize with a primal, raw terror that cut deeper than any physical wound. I’d become an expert at swallowing pain, at burying truths so deep they might never see the light again.

The Pied Piper’s identity burned in me like a fever, a toxic knowledge that could destroy everything. And yet, I would endure. I would protect. No matter the personal cost, no matter how much each unspoken word felt like a betrayal, I would keep my family safe. Even if it meant carrying this darkness alone, consuming me from the inside out.

I blinked hard, swallowing the storm of emotions, and prepared to wear my mask of calm. Again.

“I’m processing it all. I went through a lot, and we’re just now settling down enough for it all to hit me like an avalanche. I almost lost you and the kids—lost my entire life.” The pain and the memories pressed against me like a cement block on my chest. “As for the conversation with the Pied Piper, I just wanted to make sure that he could be trusted. I’m still not sure, but he promised to take care of us again. He said he wanted to meet me, and that I was special for being able to marry you and hide your secret. I also asked about Xavier, and he promised he would never bother us and that Xavier was under his care. It was interesting, because he seemed to really care about Xavier. The rest of the time he was devoid of any emotion.”

“Other than living at the penthouse where we’re safer, I’m not sure what else to do to help you heal. I fucking hate it. I hate watching you hurt and pretend to be all right when I know you’re struggling, Ella.”

His words were a protective shield. He saw me. His love wrapped me in a warm blanket and reminded me that he would be by my side every step of the way. Even when he wasn’t physically with me, I knew Sebastian would remain close by. If he wasn’t, then Kip and Dope would be with me. Yet, even amidst the relief they provided, I found solace in moments of solitude, and I longed to make peace with them. However, it was a small price to pay for never being imprisoned in a glass cage again, though.

I was painfully aware that time could not be rushed, but today—this minute—I had the privilege of being with an incredible man who would move mountains for me. Taking a deep, calming breath, I lifted my chin defiantly, ready to embrace the night with my husband, my soulmate. Together, there was nothing we couldn’t conquer. We had already proven our strength and resilience through countless trials.