“I should push you into that tub. How dare you.”
“You’ll get over it.” I smiled at her and blew out the last of the tension I’d been holding. Standing up and stretching, I met my reflection in the mirror and winced. “I’ve never looked better.”
“Nothing a few days of sleep won’t fix.” She stood up and kissed my forehead. “I know you’ll probably say no but let me keep Hank for you tonight. You need sleep.”
“I don’t think I can, yet. I just need to hold him tonight.”
“I figured. I brought a bag for you, too. Let me grab it.” She opened the bathroom door and grunted. “The two of you need to go make her some dinner and a stiff drink. What are you doing just sitting around, eavesdropping like a couple of old biddies?”
I laughed and shook my head at her when she came back in. “Go easy on them. It’s not their fault.”
“Oh, I know. I’m just making sure they know they need to take extra special care of you tonight and for the next several days. Plus, I love seeing them wince away from me.” She laughed maniacally. “Makes me feel powerful.”
“You’re a villain; you know that?”
“I know it, and I love it.” She handed me Hank and put the bag down. “Sit on the tub. I’ll brush your hair like I used to.”
I was so tired by the time she was done brushing and braiding my hair into the same pigtail braids she’d done on me as a kid that I could barely keep my eyes open. I pulled on pajamas and sighed. “I just want to go to bed now.”
She kissed the top of my head and took Hank from me. “I brought his little travel bed. I’m going to hand him off to one of those idiots that are definitely still listening in and then go. I’ll check in with you tomorrow, okay?”
I nodded and followed her out of the bathroom, happy to see the bed already turned down for me. Blake and Isaac were standing around, looking worried. I smiled as much as I could and climbed into bed. “I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit.”
I barely even heard Kara threatening the guys again before I fell asleep. I didn’t dream at all that night, despite the nightmare of a day I’d had. I must’ve been too exhausted. I didn’t feel Isaac or Blake in the bed with me and I didn’t hear them talking that morning, either.
The first thing I became aware of was the sun shining through Isaac’s windows. I stretched and looked around for Hank, but he wasn’t in his bed. My heart raced as I flew out of bed and rushed out to the main part of the house. I wasn’t expecting to come face to face with Julian, but I did.
He looked me over and reached out to touch one of my braids. “Hey.”
“Where’s Hank?” I looked around him and saw Isaac sitting at the island, not holding Hank.
Blake popped up from the couch and held up a giggling Hank. “We’re hanging out.”
Relief coursed through me, and I leaned heavily against the wall beside me. I felt like I’d never be able to not worry about Hank again. He’d been threatened, and it’d activated every fear I’d ever had, plus some.
“Can we talk?” Julian moved closer to me, and I finally put together that he was really standing there.
“I thought you’d be in jail.”
Isaac snorted. “Don’t let him fool you into thinking he’s some hardened criminal now. They didn’t charge him. They just held him overnight so he’d calm down.”
Julian glared at his brother. “I can handle this.”
“Can you? Because you’ve really managed to fuck this up.”
“Fuck, Isaac, I’m trying.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m going to brush my teeth and wake up a bit before this starts. Can you three try not to kill each other?”
Blake grunted. “I’m just over here, being the best uncle in the world.”
I bit my lip, fighting a smile. “Good job, Blake.”