Page 47 of Breaking Conviction

Wes’s voice snapped her out of the terror now consuming her. She whipped her gaze back up at him, knowing she wasn’t hiding her emotions anymore. Not that she could if she tried.

His jaw was set, like he was biting back a million questions, but she only had one thought on her mind.

“I don’t have anywhere to go.” The words wheezed from her, like her lungs were trying to hold on to their last chance for oxygen. She scoffed and massaged her temples, hoping the answer would appear. “I don’t have…anyone. Safe homes are all booked. Dean could— Oh, God, Wes, I don’t have anywhere to go! What have I done?” Hot tears burned her eyes, but she widened them to keep from breaking down completely.

“Stay at BlackStone.”

Wes’s words were like a floodgate to her tension, letting it flow out but unsure where it was going to go or if the release would ruin the world as she knew it.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

He darted his glance at Hawk, who nodded once. “Come home with me.”

Naomi jerked back and groaned from the movement.

“Shit, I mean, no, it’s not like that.” He wiped at his face. “We have a guest room—or studio apartment. It’s certainly big enough for you and Thea to stay in, at least for a little while until we find a place for you guys.”

Naomi felt her eyes blink rapidly as she tried to follow what he was saying. “You mean... T and I come stay with y’all? Wait… is that the apartment Ellie is staying in?”

“Stayed,” Hawk’s deep voice answered. “She and Devil are moving her back to her dorm as we speak.” He checked his watch and lifted his brows. “They might even be done by now.”

Naomi swiveled her head from Hawk to Wes. “Really? Come stay with y’all? Just like that?”

“Yeah, I think you should. It’s the safest place you both could be.”

The idea was crazy but also... “That sounds perfect.”

Wes’s shy smile widened. “Yeah? Great... um... do you, uh, need help packing?”

Naomi shook her head. “No… uh, just help up please.”

“Oh, right.” He lent her a hand, being so ginger with her that it almost brought even more tears to her eyes.

God, I’m a mess.

“I’m gonna go pack a few things. If y’all could just... I don’t know, make sure he doesn’t come back without me knowin’?”

The two men scowled before nodding.

Wes turned to Hawk while pressing the button for the garage door, closing it. “You get the front door—”

“—and you take the back. We’ll both keep an ear out for the garage door.”

“Copy.”

As they walked away, Naomi waited until she could hear their long strides farther in the house.

“I’ll be just a sec,” she called out before walking around the house, double-checking that she hadn’t missed anything. She eventually grabbed dress-up clothes, Thea’s teddy bear, Angus, and another small bag from Thea’s closet before heading back into the laundry room.

She was embarrassed to admit that she and Thea had already packed go-bags full of everything they could need for a quick getaway. T had assumed the overnight bags were for sleepovers with friends. Naomi went with that explanation, hoping if she ever talked about it around Dean, it’d work in her favor. The duffels included essential paperwork, clothing, travel-sized necessities, toys, and some extra dash cash, all thanks to Sasha Saves's tips for victims…

No.

Survivors.

She smiled to herself before reaching the laundry room and digging into the extra hamper. To anyone else, it looked filled to the brim with unmatched socks. Bending to dig through the tall wicker hamper, she sucked in a pained breath. Pushing through her fresh injuries, she dodged the mismatched socks she’d planted in the hamper until she found the go-bags. Once she had their straps secured around her shoulder, she returned the socks that had spilled out.

The shelf above her head had the detergent she needed, but reaching up for it made her moan. Suddenly, cedar and citrus filled her nostrils as Wes reached from behind her.