Page 135 of Beautiful Trauma

“We should be grateful for that peace,” Callum mused.

“I can’t wait to meet them.” Turning to Kellan, I said, “I know how much he loves his nephews and nieces.”

Caterina smiled. “They can’t wait to meet you as well. They’ve been missing their uncle K very much.”

Kellan beamed. “I’ve missed them, too.”

Feeling overwhelmed in the crowded kitchen, I said, “You should probably go and get some rest.”

Orla nodded emphatically. “She’s absolutely right. You’ve had enough excitement for the day.”

Kellan rolled his eyes. “Great, now I have two of you on my ass.”

“Apparently you need us, right, Mila?” Orla teased.

I laughed. “That’s right.”

With a grunt, Kellan started up the back staircase. When I started to go with him, he said, “You should stay and get to know everyone.”

“What if you need me?”

“I think I’ll be fine.”

“Och, you silly man. You’ve still got a lot to learn about each other, don’t you?”

Kellan furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“Can’t you tell the poor girl is gobsmacked by the lot of us and needs some time to decompress?”

I blinked at Orla in disbelief. How could she possibly have known that was what I was feeling? At what must’ve been my questioning look, she cupped my chin. “It’s a mother’s intuition.”

For reasons I couldn't understand, I blurted, “I don’t understand that since I don’t have a mother.”

Orla’s expression turned forlorn. “I’m so sorry, love.”

Shaking my head a little manically, I replied, “I mean, I had a mother. A very good mother. But my father killed her in front of me when I was twelve.”

At the silence echoing around me, I whispered, “Oh God, did I actually say all that aloud?”

Kellan stepped back down and slid his arm around my waist. Without a word to the others, he started pulling me up the stairs. “I’m so embarrassed,” I moaned.

“Don’t be. Every one of us in that kitchen has dealt with loss and trauma.”

“But you’re family. I just met them.” As we reached the landing, I placed my hands over my eyes. “God, what do they think of me?”

“That you’ve been through a hell of a last two weeks. You’re overwrought from saving my life and having to leave your family behind.” He kissed the top of my head. “While my wounds might be visible, yours are buried beneath. But they’re still just as painful.”

There was so much I wanted to say at that moment, but the words wouldn’t come. Words of gratitude. Words of appreciation. Words of endearment.

Instead, I leaned my head against his arm and let him lead us to the guest bedroom.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: KELLAN

After Mila and I went to lie down, exhaustion set in, and we both fell asleep. Mine, however, was aided by pain medication. When I woke up, it was still light outside. Turning my head on the pillow, Mila slept soundly.

As I stared at Mila at peace, worry pricked its way up my spine. She’d been through too much in a short amount of time. There had been Brian’s attack and Dima’s shooting in addition to the most recent events. That was enough to send anyone into an emotional tailspin.

But then, when you added her having to cut ties with her family, I didn’t know if she would be able to survive it. I would do anything in the world for her, but I didn’t know how to fix a broken heart.