Safe Haven

“Hey,” Ellis said softly as he pulled me into his arms. I flinched at first, but he was unyielding. “I’ll let go if you want, but I’m not him. You’re safe.”

“So, can we kill him?” Wells asked. The seriousness in the question had a slightly hysterical laugh bubbling out of me, and I pulled away from Ellis’ hug to face him.

“Nope,” I said with a shake of my head. “Power and influence, remember? They’d look extra hard for him.”

“Who is he? Is it the mayor? Someone else in his inner circle?” Miles asked sweetly, batting his long eyelashes like that would get it out of me. “I just want to have a little chat.”

“Convincing,” I wryly said, keeping my poker face in place. How could a few threats be so endearing? They cared enough to want to kill him, and that felt amazing.

My phone buzzed on the counter, and my eyebrows dipped down in confusion. My number wasn’t on the site, and no one used it. Stepping forward, I saw my brother’s name and snatched it up.

“Sorry, it’s my brother. The only good part of my past,” I said as I clicked the green button to answer. “Hey, Liam.”

“Don’t ‘hey, Liam’ me,” he grumbled. “You don’t call, don’t text. I give you to my friend for safe-keeping, and you ghost me?” His dramatic voice and feigned hurt had me chuckling as I walked to my room and settled into the window seat to talk to him. The view of the city was quickly becoming my favorite part of this penthouse. It was even nicer in the living room with an entire wall of windows, but this one I didn’t have to share with the others.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a bit crazy,” I admitted. “They wouldn’t drop me off at the shelter, so I had to adju—”

“Shelter?” Liam’s voice hardened, and I winced, realizing I’d slipped up.

“Look, I just didn’t want to be anyone’s burden,” I argued. “It was one not associated with the omega clinics.”

“Why would you try that? You’d be alone with strangers!” he said. The defeat in his voice was enough to show me he understood.

“I did go alone with strangers,” I pointed out. “Though they aren’t exactly strangers anymore.”

“I’m glad they didn’t let you,” he said. “You’re so damn stubborn, Briar.”

“At least I’m not an awful human,” I said bitterly. “How goes living with the devil and his wife?”

He laughed at that. “Fits them, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” I agreed.

“It hasn’t been too bad. I’ve remained silent in their presence and kept to myself. They know my feelings. I made them very clear. I will, in no way, stick around. They didn’t just exile one child; they exiled two that day. My departure is just a bit delayed.”

“I’m glad you stayed. An education is the least they owe you,” I said. “They can afford it even better now with their hush money.”

“It’s sick,” he bit out. “They’re acting like nothing happened. Mom’s systematically wiping out your presence here. She even had someone come pick up your stuff and clear your room. Pictures are down. It’s like you fucking died.”

“Well, they're dead to me, so I guess it fits.” We didn’t address the lancing pain going through me. They truly had sold their souls. Some part of me had been hoping they’d regretted it, that I’d get to listen to their pleas and tell them exactly how badly they’d fucked up.

But that day wasn’t coming.

“Briar?” Liam’s voice was desperate, clueing me in that I’d checked out on him.

“Sorry,” I rasped. “I’m just so fucking angry and hurt. Fuck them.”

“They don’t deserve to be called family,” he said with the same conviction. “But you’ve got me and that sweet baby.”

“And for now, I’ve got the guys,” I said with a soft smile.

“Is that going well?” he asked, grasping at the chance to change the subject.

“It is now,” I promised as someone called out my name. “Dinner’s ready, so I have to go. But I’ll call more, okay?”

“You better,” he said. “Briar?”

“Yeah?” I asked, chest already aching with the broken sound to his voice.

“Miss you.”

“I miss you too, Liam. But I’m okay now,” I said firmly, enough conviction in my tone that we both bought it.

And maybe, just maybe, I would be.