Page 145 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

I knew it to my core.

If I reached out, it felt like I’d be able to sweep my fingers through the oppressive vapor that kept Theo concealed, and I’d be able to see the demons that roiled and seethed behind it.

Emery’s ambiguous words only compounded it.

What they do?

“What does that mean?” It was out before I thought better about asking it.

I shouldn’t want to know.

I should run, and here I was, trying to make this place our home.

Squeezing my hands in hers, Emery peeked back again. When she turned to me, regret and hope swam in the depths of her kind eyes. “It’s not for me to tell, but I want you to know that when I came here? I assumed every horrible thing I could pin on Kane, and I was wrong. So terribly wrong.”

Uncertainty buzzed through my veins, and I peered behind her to where Theo lingered inside the door, casually talking with Kane while he still blazed with that savagery that he still somehow directed at me.

“You get out of here,” Emery coaxed. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon at Raven’s.”

A fresh round of nerves fired through me at the thought. The idea of going to Raven’s house felt far too intimate.

Far too close.

Even if I stayed here? I couldn’t let down my guard and allow them to see who I really was.

“Are you sure you don’t need my help here tomorrow?” I asked around the knot in my throat.

We’d decided my schedule would be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, but I didn’t want to leave her in the lurch.

Emery shook her head. “No, I’ll be good. We’re only open for five hours tomorrow. I can handle it. Now get that booty out of here before Theo goes caveman and comes over here and throws you over his shoulder.”

Visions of him doing exactly that last night flashed through my mind. How free I’d felt being tossed around by those big, strong hands.

How much I’d liked it.

“Okay.” I squeezed her back then straightened myself out. I attempted to keep the shuddering from my steps as I strode through the displays toward the front of the store.

As if all of this was normal.

As if any of this really belonged to me.

This artificial life and this burgeoning joy and this man who was watching me like I absolutelybelongedto him.

When I got close enough, Kane reached out, wrapped his giant arms around me, and picked me up off my feet.

A shriek of surprise erupted from me as he tossed me around like a ragdoll.

“Put me down, you brute.” I demanded it through my laughter. Surprise and glee taking me hostage.

Obviously, I was feeling far too comfortable with this guy.

“No way. Never gonna let you leave. You’re ours now.” Kane flailed me around. “You walking through that door was meant to be, Piper Poo.”

A soft giggle rolled out at the ridiculous nickname he’d given me.

He and Emery were so genuinely kind.

All of them were.