Chapter 5 Laney
Laney
Ican’t stop shaking.
Even after the gunshots stop.
Even after the shouting fades.
Even after Saint locks the door.
The world is quiet again, but my body doesn’t seem to understand that.
My hands tremble so badly I can barely keep hold of Emmy.
I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching her too tightly.
She squirms in protest.
“Laney.”
Saint’s voice is calm.
Low.
Steady.
He kneels in front of me so our eyes are level.
“They’re gone,” he says softly. “You’re safe.”
I try to breathe.
The air won’t go all the way into my lungs.
“They were in the tavern,” I whisper.
The words feel unreal even as I say them.
“They made it upstairs… to the living area.”
My voice shakes harder.
“They were right there.”
Saint’s jaw tightens, but his voice stays gentle.
“I know.”
His eyes search mine.
“I’m sorry we didn’t realize how dangerous they were. Now we know.”
His tone hardens slightly.
“It won’t happen again.”
“They were going to—”
My voice cracks.
“They were going to kill me.”
Saint doesn’t hesitate.
“And they didn’t.”
His gaze sharpens.
“Because they don’t get to.”
He reaches for Emmy.
For a second my arms tighten instinctively.
Then I let him take her.
The moment she settles against his chest, she relaxes.
Like she recognizes him.
Like she belongs there.
“She knows you,” I whisper.
Saint looks down at her.
Something soft moves across his face.
“She’s mine,” he says quietly.
Then his eyes lift back to mine.
“You both are.”
That’s when I break.
The tears come hard.
Painful.
The kind I’ve been holding back for months.
Saint shifts beside me on the bed and pulls me against him, Emmy cradled between us.
His arm wraps around my shoulders.
Solid.
Warm.
Safe.
“You’re not alone anymore, Laney,” he murmurs into my hair.
His voice is a promise.
“Not ever again.”
I cling to him like he’s the last solid thing in the world.
And for the first time since Italy…
I almost believe we might survive this.