Page 131 of Silas

I pause at my door and open it. Inside, it’s just as I left it, of course. My bed, a dresser, a shelf of books, a small flatscreen TV on the wall, and nothing else.

Naomi peeks her head in curiously. “This is your room?” she asks.

I nod. “Yup. Home sweet home.”

She frowns up at me. “Um.”

“What?”

“It’s a little…” she wrinkles her nose, looking for a good word. “Sparse.”

I chuckle. “It’s just a bedroom, babe.”

“No photos? No personal effects?”

I shrug. “Photos of who? What effects?” I kiss her temple. “I’m looking forward to you adding a woman’s touch to it, though, I’ll say that.”

She runs her fingers up into my hair as she leans into my kiss. “I’ve never put a woman’s touch on anything before, Silas. So maybe don’t expect too much.”

I just laugh. “We’ll make it homier together, then, how about that?”

“I like the sound of that.” She leans back out of the room and turns to look at the crowd in the common area. “It’s very loud.”

I chuckle. “Sometimes, yeah.” I cup the small of her back. “Come on. Let’s go introduce you to everyone.”

We head into the common room, and Myka, sitting facing the hallway, sees us first. Her eyes light up. “Silas! You’re back!”

That gets everyone’s attention; Lash even mutes the TV.

The next moment, we’re swarmed, everyone clustering around me, peppering me with questions.

“HEY!” I shout over the din. “Chill, everyone. Shit.”

Rev claps me on the back. “Good to see you in one piece, brother.”

Kane shakes my shoulder. “We would’ve come. You know that.”

Chance rests one huge, meaty hand on my shoulder, and it nearly knocks me to my knees. “Good to see you, Si.”

Annika stomps her cane on the floor, getting everyone’s attention, “Yeah, yeah, Silas is back, blah blah blah. Great. But let’s get to the important shit, here: the new girl.” She pokes my chest with the tip of her cane. “Introductions, man, introductions.”

I wince, rubbing the massive purple-black-and-blue bruise hiding under my T-shirt. “Hey, easy there, killer. I took a bullet to the vest less than two days ago.”

She winces. “Sorry.” She leans to one side slightly, and I realize Naomi has tucked herself into my ribcage, all but hiding behind me. “Hey. I’m Annika.” Her smile is warm and inviting. “We’re crazy and loud, but I swear we’re all good people. You can come out.”

Naomi takes an audible breath and then steps out of the shelter of my body. “Hi. I’m Naomi.”

I tuck her against my side with an arm around her waist, and she leans into me, resting her cheek on my chest.

I point to each person as I name them. “Annika, Anjalee, Myka, Rev, Chance, Kane, Taj, Toro, and Lash. Everyone, this is Naomi Ibsen.”

“Not Ibsen,” Naomi cuts in, her tone sharp but quiet. “I’m not an Ibsen.”

I glance down at her. “Just Naomi, then.”

She glances up at me, blinking, puzzled, and then starts laughing. “I just realized I don’t know your last name.” She nuzzles my chest, laughing. “All that, and I don’t know your last name.”

“Cabot,” I answer. “Silas Mackenzie Cabot.”