I wanted in.
But I wanted Saint with me—Ineededhim with me. “Come inside?”
He just stared, not refusing, but cementing his boots to the ground all the same.
I stepped into his personal space, wrapping my hands around his face, that scruffy jaw, thumbs skimming his scarred neck. “Stand at the back with me. I won’t let anyone near you.” I held his gaze, his love. “Please?”
Saint gnawed the inside of his cheek, his entire body braced for escape.
Then he shrugged. “Okay.”
Okay.That simple word held so much power, and I knew I was about to have one of the best experiences of my life. My soul swelled with happiness, like I could float away on it.
The only shadow tying me down to the world was knowing what would come after.
* * *
We gathered in the dark, the night all but over, the heat of the next day already brewing. Most of the festival was sleeping, the camping grounds quiet and still.
As were we.
Me.
My brothers.
Eleven of us plus the two I’d come to depend on more than I’d realised until this moment bore down on me.
Thirteen.
Except, we weren’t. Not for much longer.
Ranger and Viktor.
They’re leaving.
A reality I’d lived with before, but not like this—cos this wasn’t a fucking haulage run. A few nights away on the wagons before they came home. Once they’d sprung Nanna Jean from the care home and boarded a commercial flight with her, this was permanent, and my heart already missed them so much a dull ache had taken hold in my chest.
By accident more than anything, we’d formed a loose line. Viktor and Ranger split up to say their goodbyes, and I couldn’t fucking watch, emotion building as Ranger hugged Rubi and my oldest friend had no hope of keeping it all in.
“Good journey and all that, Roo, you skinny fuck, but who’s going to punch incel Nazis with me now?”
Ranger snorted. “Take your pick. You don’t need me at your back when you’ve got this lot to choose from.”
“They all think before they do stupid shit. It’s not the same.”
“Don’t start fucking wibbling.”
“Piss off.” Rubi sniffed. “Or I’ll pack my bags and come with you.”
Fucking ridiculous, but I felt his pain. Ranger was irreplaceable. There’d been no brother like him and there never would be.
Viktor murmured something to Decoy I didn’t catch. Then it was my turn. I embraced him, wishing I had from the very first time he’d saved us from annihilation.
“Don’t be a stranger,” I gruffed out. “There’s always a place for you here.”
“I am only here to know it because of your kindness, Cam. I will never forget that.”
“Back at you.”