Page 60 of Fractured Future

“I’m just surprised. I never thought I’d see the day either of you settle down.”

“Thanks for the slut shaming. It’s perfectly fine to spend your life having endless threesomes with hot, single men without taking on their baggage, you know?”

Grabbing his keys, we step out into the thickly carpeted hallway. He lives in a beautiful, luxury apartment building, set in a renovated mansion block with all original, Victorian features.

“I agree, but you have taken on someone’s baggage now,” I point out as we head for the stairs. “So that kinda refutes your argument.”

“Bloody know-it-all,” Tom grumbles.

“So what’s it like? You know, being off the market?”

“It feels really, really great.” He grins to himself. “Jamie makes me happy. He got me through the past few years, all the police investigations, everything.”

“I’m glad you had someone here to look after you.”

“He wanted to come see you, but I thought it may be too much right now.”

Guilt crackles through my grief-tightened chest. “I hate that I’m a burden to you.”

Halting at the top of the staircase, Tom captures my hand. “No. Don’t do that to yourself. You’re not a burden, and I would never think that.”

“I’ve interrupted your life. If I had anywhere else to go?—”

“You think getting my little sister back after all this time is an interruption?” he asks incredulously.

His fingers cinch around mine, anchoring me in the present moment. Far from the wails and cracking whips that still bounce around my mind.

“Maybe?”

“Jesus, Em.”

I bite my tongue to hold another pointless apology in.

“You’re my priority,” he declares without hesitation. “That will never change. This is your home now. Jamie doesn’t even come close to you in importance.”

Appreciation warms my skin, pushing out some of the disorientating fog still lingering in my mind. I latch onto the feeling with both hands and drag it to the forefront of my inner darkness.

“You don’t have to look after me. I’m a big girl. I’ll figure it out.”

“Less than forty-eight hours, and you’re already done being coddled.” He snickers to himself. “Why am I not surprised?”

“At least I’m consistent.”

“Consistently annoying. I agree.”

“Love you too, bro.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he groans humouredly.

Tackling the marble staircase side by side,I focus on the pressure of Tom’s hand wrapped around mine. Even though I’m a grown-ass woman who shouldn’t have to hold her brother’s hand. I want to.

For all those times I wished I wasn’t alone, I now have what I wanted. Perhaps I can forget the evil I’ve seen. Forget the way my mind has broken into a thousand pieces. Maybe I can forget the monster Gael’s street fights made me into.

I can forget it all.

Can’t I?

CHAPTER 8