For once in my life, I didn’t want to move with stealth. I wanted to be heard, for Sloane to know I was coming for her. Heel-toe. Heel-toe. My boots clanked against the floor with the grace of a toddler first learning how to walk. I’m sure I looked fucking ridiculous, but it was better than the alternative. The last thing I needed was for Lanie to catch wind of Sloane’s earlier threat regarding bells on my shoes.That girl had been promising something similar for years.
“I’m here, Sloanie. We’ll get through this together,” Finn declared quietly.
As if sensing my presence behind her, she turned in her brother's hold. She was so damn beautiful, yet so completely wrecked. The anguish in her brilliant sapphire eyes was palpable, almost bringing me to my knees.
“I hate this for you. If I could make it disappear, I’d do it in a heartbeat. What do you need?” I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Whatever it is, it’s yours. You wanna go to Tennessee? We’ll be on the road in an hour. Just say the word, Sunshine.”
“My mom and I have unfinished business. That’s on me. I never should’ve left without confronting her.” Shifting on her feet, she asked, “Before we go, do you think you’d be able to find out why she hired a private investigator?”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best.”
“Good, because I don’t trust her. She’s already proven to be untrustworthy. I wouldn’t put it past her to lie to save herself. Once I’ve had my say though, it’s over. I’m done. Maeve Beckington won’t be welcome in our lives again.”
“Are you positive you want to cut her off? I don’t want you to have regrets.”
“My only regret is allowing this to carry on for so long.”
“What about Dad?” Finn asked as he stepped out from behind her.
“I don’t know.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I only have the bandwidth to handle one malicious parent at a time.”
“That’s okay. I’ll deal with Shawn O’ Lachlan. If he’s involved, Joel will find out. Then I’ll feckin’ ruin him.”
And I’d help. His selfishness had torn his family apart at a time when they should’ve pulled together. Sick or not, her father would regret the day he crossed my path.
Her lips tipped at the corners. “Thank you, big brother.”
“You’re my sister,” he answered nonchalantly. “Speaking of, I texted Shannon earlier to let her know what was going on. She wants to stop by later when the dust settles.”
“Fudge. I’ll message her.”
“We’re going to head out.” Waverly linked arms with her fiancé.
“We are?”
“Yes, Finnian, weare.”
I glanced over my shoulder to find the rest of the team packing up our equipment. While I was grateful for their presence, today was supposed to be about me, Sloane, and the kids. We had time to salvage most of it.
Goodbyes were said and soon we were alone, just the four of us. Sloane shooed me out of the kitchen when she began cleaning up her char-whatever-you-call-them boards. The twins were thoroughly engrossed in the movie they were watching, at least until I meandered through the living room. They tracked my every movement, studying me like a slide under a microscope. Lowering myself onto the same chair from earlier, I resumed my previous position. Elbows to knees, I shrank in on myself, trying to look slightly less imposing, which––at six foot six––was laughable. Nevertheless, I’d do whatever it took to make them feel comfortable around me.
Reagan’s timid voice was barely audible over the TV in the background. “What do we call you?”
Of all the things she could’ve asked, I didn’t expect her to dive headfirst into the deep end. How did I respond? This was about them––their wants, their needs. Mine took a back seat.
“What do you want to call me?”
Instead of answering, she slowly turned her head toward her brother. I’d heard of twins having their own language, but what I was witnessing was something else all together. It was utterly fascinating. The two of them were locked in a silent conversation.
“It freaks me out when they do that.”
My elbow slipped, jolting me forward. “Jesus, Sloane. You snuck up on me.”
“Now you know how it feels.” She sat on the arm of thechair, pointing to the kids. “How long have they been like that?”
“A few seconds.” I lowered my voice. “Reagan asked what they should call me.”
“Oh boy. What did you say?”