Page 86 of Too Far

She’s not safe. I’ll never be able to keep her safe.

As the guys file in behind me, I set Josephine on the bed. Kylian kneels at her feet, taking her hands in his, while Kendrick sinks onto the bed beside her.

A throat clears near the door.

It might as well be the starting shot of a race for the way I jump to my feet and charge.

“This is a private moment. Get the fuck away from us.”

I slam the door in the faces of our audience, then lock it for good measure.

Not that closing the door on the crew gives us a modicum of true privacy.

With an inferno raging inside me, I haul the trunk at the end of my bed to the far wall.

“What are you doing?” Locke demands.

I don’t bother answering. I won’t let anyone stop me.

Standing on the trunk, I’m just tall enough to snag the camera mounted in the corner of the room. I pull, and it falls away easily. Then I tug so hard the cords rip right through the drywall.

I throw it onto the ground, jump off the trunk, and smash it with my heel.

When I finally look up, all eyes are on me.

Kylian cocks one eyebrow so it raises over the black frames of his glasses. “We’re still not—”

“I know,” I relent, hanging my head and planting my hands on my hips.

“Bathroom,” Kylian reminds me.

Wordlessly, I nod, and we all make our way to my en suite.

Chapter 37

Josephine

There’snothingwecando.

There’s nothing to say.

We’re all so ravaged and hollow. Not one of us is in a position to comfort or support the others.

Kylian has asked me half a dozen times what I need.

I can’t give him an answer because I honestly don’t know.

“I want you to go to sleep,” I implore, my attention fixed on Nicky. The pain of sitting on the cold tile floor has to be excruciating. Yet he hasn’t moved since we shuffled into Decker’s bathroom half an hour ago. The second the door was closed behind us, we all sank to the floor.

Kendrick climbs to his feet, then offers Locke a hand. “Come on, brother. I’ll help you shower and get settled in.”

“I’ll come lay with you in the morning,” I promise. “After you’ve rested.”

Without argument, he nods once, then he lets his head hang as if he’s too depleted to hold it up any longer.

Kendrick murmurs in his ear. Then, as Nicky exits the bathroom, he squats in front of me.

He taps my jaw twice with his knuckles, then kisses me on the lips. “Chin up, Mama. I love you.”