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Jennifer

I knew I was safe the second Dylan walked through the door.

It wasn’t the way he launched at the masked man.

It wasn’t the fists or the fury. It was the instant stillness in my chest—the knowledge that, no matter what happened next, I wasn’t alone in it.

That was the shift. All the old questions about Haverwick and his twin?

They melted into the background noise of a life that had already been rewritten.

Because when things got real, love didn’t falter—not our love. We were solid.

And what Dylan had just done for me? That was real.

The man in black was huge, easily a head taller than Dylan. But he wasn’t fighting. He blocked Dylan’s hits, dodged them, braced when he had to—but he never struck back. I almost felt bad about hitting him.

But not that bad.

Steven stormed in, Bethany on his heels. “You told me to take the day off, Dylan. One day,” Steven barked. “And look what happens the second I’m gone. I swear to God I am never leaving you alone again. You’re trying to put me in an early grave.”

Dylan exhaled. “Steven, meet the guy who’s been writing all the threats. But he brought back the journals, and now I’m not sure what the hell to do with him.”

“I did apologize for the car accident,” Enimton said quietly.

Steven strode over and punched him in the face.

It was clean. Controlled. And kind of satisfying to witness.

Enimton stumbled back, hand to his lip, blood running down onto his knuckles. Suddenly, it felt like we were in the wrong.

Steven scowled, looked at Dylan like what the hell?

Enimton straightened, still breathing hard. “I never meant to hurt any of you. And I get why you’re mad at me. But I’m hoping we can put our differences aside and pretend none of this ever happened.”

“Pretend what?” Dylan said, deadpan.

Steven glanced at the security team, then back at Dylan. “You want me to call this in?”

Dylan shook his head. “Not yet.”

He nodded at the guards to leave.

They slowly filed out.

Enimton adjusted his jaw. “None of us benefit from this going public. You have your journals. No more threats. You’ll never see me again. Just let me go and we’re all good.” His voice lowered. “Or kill me. Lately, that’s probably the better option.”

There was a pause.

A long one.

And then I stepped forward and touched Dylan’s arm. “Enimton... are you hungry?”

Steven gaped at me. “Are you serious?”

Dylan slid his arm around me, pulling me close.

“She is,” he said. “And that’s one of the million reasons I love her.”