Page 63 of Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5)

TRACE

Regardless of how many hours had passed, it was nearly impossible for me to take my eyes off Ellie.

It didn’t matter that she’d been checked over in the emergency room and miraculously had nothing more than a mild concussion from Jasper’s assault, and bruised ribs from her fall.

Still, I feared if I took my eyes off her for more than a handful of seconds, she’d disappear in front of my eyes all over again.

But there my girl was. Sitting on my couch piled high with pillows and colorful blankets.

Keely was tucked against her on one side, Grem between them.

Linc and Arden were curled in a chair on the other side.

Rhodes and Fallon sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table as Sutton and Cope helped Nora in the kitchen.

Thea and Shep were doing a puzzle with Luca at the dining room table while Anson took a call out front, and Lolli made a grocery run.

Everyone was sticking close, wanting to make sure Ellie really was okay. Simply needing to be in her presence. The only one missing was Kye. Which wasn’t like him. But maybe too many demons had been stirred up for him this time .

And as my gaze moved to the French doors that led to the back deck, I knew he wasn’t the only one. Dex stared out into the yard, but I knew he wasn’t actually seeing anything.

“He’s still out there?” Anson said, moving to my side as he slid his phone into his pocket.

“Yeah. I still can’t believe he made that shot.”

When Anson had said Dex was a good shot, he hadn’t been kidding. He’d managed to take down Helen Newbury with a clean shot through the neck. Anson had tried to keep her alive until the medics arrived, but there was no saving her.

I wanted to feel bad about that because I knew taking a life carried weight—and from what I could see, that weight was somehow more for Dex—but I couldn’t.

Anson stared out at his friend as Dex answered a phone call. “He didn’t have it easy growing up. This’ll stir that up.”

Just like it had for Kye. I couldn’t help but wonder what demons the two had in common. But before I could ask anything, Dex strode back inside.

All eyes went to him. There’d been a lot of gratitude for what he’d done, thanks that made Dex extremely uncomfortable. But there wasn’t a lot I could do to help him there. My family always let people know when they appreciated them.

“Got a call from a friend at the bureau,” Dex said, swinging his phone between his fingers. “Turns out Bradley and his friends were part of a little trafficking operation. Serving the wealthy in specific exotic locales. He’s going away for a lot longer than a week or two.”

“There’s Helen Newbury’s trigger,” Anson muttered.

Ellie’s gaze flew to me, but I was already moving. I dodged different family members until I reached the arm of the couch. Lowering myself to it, I bent and brushed my lips across hers.

She stared for a moment, her mouth hovering over mine. “I’m free.”

“You’re free,” I whispered. “To be wherever you want to be.”

Ellie pulled back a fraction, her hand lifting to my face. “With you. That’s always where I want to be. ”

Relief flooded me. I hadn’t realized until that moment just how worried I’d been that Ellie would want to leave Sparrow Falls when the dust settled, feeling like it held too many painful memories. “Blaze.” I took her mouth again, deeper this time.

“Gross,” Keely complained, leaping from the couch. “Cooties.”

“Watch out,” Luca called from the dining room. “They’re gonna do it all the time now.”

Everyone laughed.

Linc leaned forward so he could see Ellie. “You’re really going to stay?”

She smiled at her brother. “My family’s here. Plus, I can’t miss seeing you covered in spit-up. And I plan to make a serious campaign for favorite aunt.”

“Hey!” Rhodes and Thea protested at the same time.

The front door opened, and Lolli swooped in, laden with bags, her whole form jangling with all the jewelry she wore. Dex frowned as he studied her. “Are those…light-up pot leaf earrings?”

Anson clapped him on the back. “Welcome to the Colson family.”

Lolli moved to the living room and set down all her bags. “You,” she said to Dex as her gaze roamed him. “You know I’m not usually one for the law-and-order types, but I’d climb you like a tree.”

Dex’s eyes widened, a little fear filling them. “Uhhhhh…”

Lolli pulled out a bedazzled tin decorated with mushrooms and rainbows. “These are a thank-you for saving my Ellie girl. She’s the most fun of all this lot, and I’d be lost without her.”

Some of my siblings let out sounds and words of protest, but Ellie just pushed in closer to me. “Lolli,” she whispered.

“It’s true,” Lolli said. “And I expect you to recover from those injuries quick so we can hit up the cowboy bar.”

Ellie laughed. “As soon as these ribs heal, I’m there.”

Lolli turned back to Dex, handing him the tin. “For you. My special brownie blend.”

As Dex took it, the entire room shouted, “ NO!”

Nora handed me one of the pots she’d used to make some veggie chili especially for Ellie, and I systematically started drying it.

Everyone else had left as Ellie dozed on the couch.

Leah had come to pick up Keely so Ellie could sleep in, knowing she’d need the rest to fully recover.

And she’d brought a bouquet of flowers and specialty tea that was supposed to be good for sore muscles.

Our family was becoming even more blended, and something about that had a sense of peace I’d never known settling into my bones. There was gratitude, too. For my siblings stepping up. For Lolli and her mischievous ways, which always brought a smile to Ellie’s lips. And for Nora, my mom.

Quiet moments like these had always been our thing. She never pushed or pried; she simply let me know she was there.

As I crouched and put the pot back in its spot, I looked up at her. “Love you, Mom.”

Nora looked down at me, her face softening. “Love you, too. Love that you’ve found the happiness you’ve always deserved.”

I straightened and turned to face her, ready to give her everything. “Ellie made me truly see what has been around me all along. She made me believe I could accept it. That I could really be a Colson. Could be who you taught me to be.”

“Baby,” Nora said, lifting a hand to pat my cheek. “You’ve always been a Colson. You’re the best of what our family is. Loyal and caring. Giving and protective. You make our family better by being a part of it.”

Pressure pulsed behind my eyes as I pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you for giving me a place to belong.”

“Thanks for letting me.” After a long moment, she pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “How dare you make me blubber when I made it all day without losing it.”

I chuckled. “I’m sorry.”

“You should be. Now, you put these last mugs away and then get in there and get that girl up to bed. She needs to rest on a soft mattress. I’m gonna get on.”

I kissed Nora’s cheek. “Text me when you make it home, please.”

“Always looking out for his people,” Nora said with a smile as she headed for the door.

I dried the two mugs we’d used for coffee as we cleaned, but when I opened the cabinet, I stilled. Then I scowled. There were no longer mugs in perfect, precise order in there, but a mix of bowls and plates with a note.

Chief,

Three guesses where I put the mugs. You’re welcome for keeping you on your toes.

xx Ellie

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. Opting to leave the mugs on the damn counter, I moved toward the living room. Ellie’s eyes fluttered as I entered. “Hi…”

She was a little loopy but so damn adorable. I sat on the edge of the couch and gently brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Want to tell me where you put the mugs?”

Ellie’s beautiful mouth curved. “Just try to get it out of me.”

My lips twitched. “Blaze?”

“Yeah?” she asked sleepily.

“I want you messing with my cabinets every day.”

A look of confusion swept over Ellie’s face. “Okay?”

“Move in. Move in with me and Keels now and then into the farmhouse when it’s done. You can help me finalize the plans with Shep. We can make it something that’s truly ours.”

Ellie blinked up at me, her eyes turning glassy. “This is a big step. Keely?—”

“Loves you,” I said, cutting her off. “Nothing would make her happier than having you with us all the time. But if it’s too soon?—”

It was Ellie’s turn to cut me off. She pushed up and kissed me, stealing any additional words from my lips. When she pulled back, mischief danced in her eyes. “Can I have a goat friend for Bumper?”

I laughed. “You can have a whole damn goat sanctuary if you want.”

Ellie’s mouth hovered over mine. “I’m reminding you of this moment when I bring home a whole herd.”