Page 26 of Twisted Violet

I shake my head. “No. He’s welcome.”

He quirks a brow. “He snores.”

“I don’t mind.”

Dallas leans a shoulder against the doorway, watching as I toe off my shoes and sit gingerly on the edge of the bed. Ollie immediately rests his head on my thigh.

“This is… a lot,” I say quietly.

Dallas tilts his head. “Too much?”

I look around again. At the care in every detail and the effort they didn’t have to make.

“Kind of,” I whisper. “It’s just… no one’s ever done something like this for me before.”

Before he can respond, the elevator dings and voices sound from somewhere down the hall.

“I told you she likes strawberry Pocky, not chocolate.”

“That was one time. She ate the entire box of the chocolate one.”

“That was because there were no other snacks in the safe house, Rome.”

I blink.

Dallas gives a small grin. “Sounds like the grocery run was successful.”

A second later, Niko and Rome appear in the doorway,each carrying arm fulls of bags. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, even a few from a specialty bakery I love downtown.

They didn’t just grab essentials.

They gotmyessentials. The snacks I like. The drinks I always stock up on. The stuff you only remember if you’ve actually been paying attention.

They’re still arguing as they walk in, bickering about my dietary preferences, when they catch sight of me sitting on the bed and freeze.

Rome blinks. Niko actually pauses mid-step like he forgot how walking works.

“Didn’t think you’d be back so soon.” Rome says, clearing his throat. He fishes a box out of one of the bags and tosses it on the bed. “It’s that Mochi ice cream stuff you love so much. Keep it in the back of the freezer so Dallas doesn’t steal it.”

Dallas raises a brow. “I don’t even like mochi.”

“Doesn’t stop you from stealing shit.”

Niko says nothing. Just sets his bags on the dresser and meets my gaze like he’s checking for any fractures he might’ve missed earlier.

“I’m good,” I say before he can ask.

He nods once, then turns and walks away.

Rome ruffles Ollie’s head before heading after him, muttering something under his breath about Niko buying off-brand toothpaste.

When it’s just the two of us again, Dallas lingers in the doorway.

“You want anything else in here?” he asks. “TV? Mini fridge? Sound machine?”

“I think I’m good.”

He nods slowly. “Alright. I’ll be down the hall if you needanything.”