Page 71 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

Colt's expression darkens. "After what happened with the power—"

"I know. It's not risk free." My words come out clipped. "But we're trading one kind of danger for another. They need to feel like they have some control, some freedom, or we'll lose them in a completely different way."

The security feed shows Jade pacing alone now, her movements sharp and agitated. Sunny has disappeared from view.

"She used to dance, you know," Colt's voice is quiet. "Before the club. Ballet, if you can believe it. Now she can barely stretch her legs without hitting a wall."

"Start with the porch." I meet his eyes. "Twenty minutes, every night. We'll have teams positioned, have you both covered. Give her that much at least."

A soft knock interrupts us. Sunny stands in the doorway, her sketchbook clutched to her chest. The sight of her makes my chest tighten—it always does.

"Sorry to interrupt." She glances between us. "I thought you should know that Chase left right after him and Jade were finished practicing with the blades. Jade's about ready to start taking out the punching bags. Thought you might want to know."

Colt rises immediately but pauses at the door. "Twenty minutes?"

I nod. "Starting tonight."

After he leaves, Sunny slides into the vacant chair. "Twenty minutes of what?"

"A compromise." I study her face, noting the shadows under her eyes, the slight tremor in her hands. "How you holding up, Angel?"

She attempts a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me." My voice comes out softer than intended. "I can tell."

Sunny's facade cracks slightly. "I feel like I'm suffocating sometimes. But then I feel guilty for feeling that way because everyone's just trying to keep me safe and—"

"Stop." I lean forward, taking her hand across the desk. "This is tough situation. You're allowed to feel what you feel—and if that's trapped, then that's what it is."

Her fingers tighten around mine and she shrugs. "Jade's taking it a lot harder than I am."

"I know. That's what Colt and I were discussing." I trace my thumb across her knuckles. "We're going to try something new. Small steps toward finding a balance."

"A balance between?"

"Safety and sanity. Or something like that." I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Always."

She smiles then, a real one this time. "Always, Z."

The moment is interrupted by the sound of something crashing in the gym, followed by Jade's colorful cursing. Sunny winces.

"I should probably go help with damage control." She stands but hesitates. "Z?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. For understanding that bars are still bars, even when you can’t see them."

I watch her leave, her words echoing in my head. She's right—we've been so focused on keeping them safe, it's been easy to forget what we're keeping them safe for. It's about more than survival.

Through the window, I watch the sun begin to set. In a few hours, Colt and Jade will have their drinks on the porch. It's a small thing, twenty minutes of fresh air, but sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

I reach for my phone to coordinate the security adjustments needed for tonight. It's time to find a new normal—one that doesn't feel quite so much like a cage.

I wait until Sunny's footsteps fade before calling Levi. He appears in my doorway minutes later, jaw tight with tension that never quite leaves him these days.

"Close the door." I gesture to the chair Sunny just vacated. "We need to talk about security."

Levi's eyes narrow as he takes the seat. "What's changed?"