But though it had been plunged into Alex’s neck, I had not been wielding it. That blade—that friend that had been my go-to problem solver when confronted with the guilt of being inadvertently responsible for my brother’s abduction and torture—had failed me when I needed it to harm another human being.
What did that say about me?
About the blade?
Jade had gone in to check on the boys. Dale was doing much better. Helping Ruby investigate the hoodie-wearing guy he’d seen at the playground at school had done wonders for him. He felt more involved now, more like part of the family. In another couple weeks, when we went to court, he’d be an official Steel. Talon and Jade had allowed the boys to choose new middle names. Dale had chosen Robertson, his original last name, in memory of his mother. Donny—whose full name was Donovan—had chosen Talon, after his new father.
Jade looked so beautiful now that she was finally feeling better. She’d entered her second trimester, and the nausea had finally eased up. Plus, she hadn’t had any more spotting, and the pregnancy was progressing normally.
“I can’t wait to see the baby,” she said, bringing us both glasses of water.
“He’s gorgeous,” I said.
“I was going to go with Talon this morning, but I had a meeting at the boys’ school.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just a parent-teacher thing. I insisted Talon go see his nephew, that I could handle it.”
“How are the boys doing?” I asked.
“Donny’s thriving, of course. Grades are great, and he gets along well with everyone. Dale’s grades aren’t quite as good, but his teacher says he’s doing better, and also he’s finally starting to make a few friends.”
“Do their teachers know…”
She shook her head. “They know they’ve been through an abusive situation, but we didn’t fill them in on the details. Talon felt it was important that their teachers not hold their situation against them.”
“Why would any teacher do that?”
“They wouldn’t, at least not on purpose. Talon thinks they might subconsciously either be easier or harder on them.”
“Harder?”
“I know. It doesn’t make sense to me either, but it does to Talon and to Melanie. And they’re the experts.”
I took a sip of my water. “I should call Bryce.”
“He’s not home.”
I jerked. “Oh?”
“Talon went to meet him and Ryan somewhere.”
“Where?”
“I asked. He didn’t say.”
“You didn’t insist on knowing?”
“If Talon wanted to tell me, he’d have told me. I can’t push Talon. I learned that the hard way in the beginning. You push Talon, and he shrinks away.”
“But he’s come so far.”
“He has, but every once in a while he’s still that little boy who had his innocence shredded way too early.”
I nodded, gulping quietly.
My security blanket was gone.