Then Wren was there. “Move over, G, my belly doesn’t fit.”
Grae laughed and scooted. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there. I let their love pour over me. I didn’t care that Oren had attacked me. That I would have one hell of a shiner. Because in that moment, I felt more at peace, at home, than I ever had in all my days.
45
ROAN
As I turned onto Huckleberry Lane, I noticed both Lawson’s and Nash’s headlights following me. I groaned. All I wanted was to go to what I thought of as home. To wrap myself around Aspen and make sure she was okay. To listen to Cady tell me all about the many adventures of her day.
But I should’ve guessed that Lawson and Nash would also want to check on them. I turned onto the drive and grimaced at all the vehicles in front of the farmhouse. Scratch that. My entire family had decided they needed to make sure all was okay.
I parked at the end of the row and slid out of my truck, heading for the door. I opened it to laughter. Everyone was piled on every available surface.
I scowled as I took them all in.
Grae caught my look and burst out laughing. “Someone is not happy we’re here.”
Maddie grinned and waggled her eyebrows. “I think he was hoping for some alone time with Aspen when he got home.”
My scowl deepened.
Nash smacked me upside the head as he passed. “Don’t glare at my girl.”
Cady launched herself off her chair and ran toward me. “Mr. Grizz!” She leapt in the air, and I caught her, balancing her on my hip. She pressed her little hand to my stubbled cheek. “Why so grumpy?”
Everyone hooted at that.
I loved my family, but sometimes I wanted to kill them.
“It’s a little loud in here,” I told her.
Cady giggled. “We’re having fun.”
“Yeah, Mr. Grizz,” Grae called. “You should try it sometime.”
I shot her a glare and moved through the throng of people. There was only one other person I wanted to see. I pinned Holt with a stare, and he instantly rose from the spot on the couch. I lowered myself and Cady to it.
“Mr. Grizz, we invited Heather to play at recess, and she was nice.”
My brows lifted, a bit of anxiety swirling in my chest. The last thing I wanted was that kid hurting Cady.
Charlie scrunched up his face. “She wasn’t that bad. She doesn’t like frogs, though, so we can’t be best friends.”
Lawson chuckled at that. “It’s good to have priorities.”
“But also to give people second chances,” Aspen said, ruffling Cady’s hair. “Proud of you, Katydid.”
She smiled as she clambered off my lap and called to Charlie about getting out her new game.
I turned to Aspen. My hand lifted, ghosting across the deepening bruise on her cheek. “You should be resting.”
Her beautiful mouth curved. “This is way better.”
Something shifted in my chest. Gratitude for my interfering, nosy family. That they made my girl feel loved and cared for. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her forehead.
“Oh, schnitzel,” Grae muttered. “I’m going to cry.”
Caden chuckled and pulled her tighter against him in the overstuffed chair. “Gigi.”
“It’s the freaking hormones,” she muttered.
Wren laughed. “Welcome to my world.”
My dad looked around the room, surveying its occupants. “What’s the latest?”
It was then that I realized he was checking for kids. None of them were here. Cady and Charlie had taken off for her room, and I guessed Luke and Drew were playing video games in Aspen’s tiny office at the back of the house.
Lawson frowned, his gaze shifting to Aspen. “Not good.”
She stiffened next to me. “What?”
I wrapped an arm around her. “The victim was Tyson Moss.”
Aspen sucked in a breath.
“Who’s that?” my mom asked.
Wren sent her a worried look. “One of the podcasters.”
Lawson kept his focus on Aspen, something in his expression telling her to brace herself. “We need to consider the possibility that someone who likes killing came here because of their fascination with John’s case.”
“Oh, God,” Aspen whispered.
“Hey,” I said, cupping her uninjured cheek. “None of this is your fault.”
“People are dead,” she said, the words barely audible. “Animals, too.”
“Because of someone who’s seriously messed up in the head. Not because of you.”
Aspen nodded, but her eyes glazed.
“I think we need to consider asking Holt’s company for a security detail,” I told her.
That pulled Aspen into the here and now. “I don’t know. Having strangers following us would scare Cady.”
“We can explain it to her.”
Aspen’s brows pulled together as she stared out the front windows. “It’s like there’s no good choice. One scares her; the other puts her at risk.”
I couldn’t take the pain in her voice, anything but that. “We can figure out another way.”
Lawson nodded. “We can station an officer at the school and keep one at The Brew. Roan, Nash, Holt, or I can drive you wherever you need to go.”
Gratitude swept through me at my brother jumping in to help.
“What about me?” Caden groused.
“You got a concealed carry permit I don’t know about?” Lawson asked.
Caden scowled at him. “Fine.”
Aspen scanned the room. “Thank you. For keeping us safe. For making sure Cady has the life she deserves.”
I pulled her to me. “Nothing’s going to happen to either of you.” I knew my voice held a hint of desperation, but it couldn’t be avoided.
Aspen’s head tilted back, and she lifted her hands to frame my face. “It’s not going to happen again. We’ll be okay.”
Holt’s gaze narrowed on the two of us. “What’s not going to happen again?”
“Nothing,” I muttered.
Aspen dropped a hand to my chest and whispered, “Tell them. It’s time.”
Everything in me constricted. I knew this secret had built a wall between me and my family. Created a darkness that ate away at me. Until I’d seen Aspen. She’d reminded me of all the good there was in the world. Helped me fight off the darkness before I even knew her name.
I pulled back, searching Aspen’s eyes. I saw nothing but acceptance in her gaze. She’d be there for me either way.
My dad shifted on the other sofa. “What’s going on, Roan?”
I swallowed, my throat going dry. I turned to see all of them staring expectantly.
Aspen wove her fingers through mine, squeezing.
“I lied about something,” I said. My voice was calm and even, nothing giving away the war going on inside me. That calmness had always been my protection. My mask.
I stared down at my hand linked with Aspen’s, the point of contact grounding me. “Remember when I had my mountain bike accident?”
The energy in the room shifted, everyone going on alert. Every single person aside from Aspen had been affected by that time. Wren had almost died. Holt had almost lost the love of his life—Grae her best friend. My parents had been a wreck. It was Lawson’s first murder case. And Caden, Maddie, and Nash had all been trying to support the people they loved.