Chapter 36
I really didn’t think I would sleep, but with Seb’s warmth and most of my family close, I drift off.
Murmurs wake me sometime later. Blinking my eyes open, I see Gabby still lying across the couch, be she’s awake and watching television.
Listening, I hear Zander talking to someone.
Gently extracting Seb’s arm, I sit up and look around.
Bay has headphones on and is playing a game on his phone.
E's in the kitchen, and Dad's at the table on his phone.
After using the bathroom, I take a seat beside him. My phone is dead, so I check the clock on the stove, seeing it’s early afternoon. E drops off another tea for me, and I smile in thanks. “Do you need help cooking?” I ask.
“No, I’m just baking. Relax,” he smiles.
When Zander ends his call, I ask for an update.
“That was Troy. He and Nick are good. They’re still working through everything that happened between here and Tennessee, and Nick is helping to identify all the players.
Despite the short timeframe, they conducted raids in Tennessee as well, hoping to get everyone at once. ”
“That would be good for us,” I nod. “It would all be over, with no loose ends to come after us later.” That would be amazing, actually. We’d be safe finally.
“I agree, darling,” Zander smiles. “I was thinking of going to Finn. All the guys who were with Troy have given their statements and should be back at the office, and I’d like to get an update from them. Would that be okay with you?”
“Of course, yeah. Go do what you need to do. I’ll be right here.”
I get a kiss on my head as he gets up. “Charge your phone, and I’ll call when I have an update.”
After he leaves, I decide to call Sarah, so I let E know I’m going into our room.
Plugging my phone into the charger I have in my nightstand, I give it a few minutes before calling.
Sarah is shocked when I tell her what happened, but we work through everything I experienced last night.
When I get to the house being tossed, I shed a few tears.
I kind of forgot that happened, having not paid attention when we finally left the house this morning.
“Remember, belongings can be replaced. You and Zander cannot. I’m glad you had that room to protect you both,” Sarah comments.
“Yeah, me too. It was a crazy experience.”
“Definitely. Remember to focus on one moment at a time. All the stress may be over very soon.”
“I will, thanks, Sarah.” This woman never ceases to calm me and help process.
“You’re welcome, Summer. Please call when it’s resolved.”
Agreeing, I end the call. I’m a weird combination of wired and tired. I don’t think I’ll be settled until I know they successfully caught everyone and Nick is here with me.
Texting Ray next, I then video call Jake.
I tell him Nick reached out, that the bad guys were coming, about the attempted kidnapping and safe room, and that we’re fine now.
I also mention I won’t be able to visit after school today.
He’s rightly concerned, but I assure him both Zander and I are good, and I’ll visit him tomorrow.
Alex knocks and enters the room just as I hang up. “Would you like to swim this afternoon? I thought it would occupy everyone and act as a good stress reliever.”
“Good idea, Alex,” I smile. This might be just what I need.
Sitting around the rest of the day will cause my thoughts to spin and make me anxious.
Excusing myself, I go to the closet, grab a suit, and get changed in the bathroom.
Luckily, I've taken to leaving a few suits here because of the pool. Once I throw a t-shirt over top, I offer Gabby my other suit to use. We’re not the same size, but it’s a stretchy one piece so it should work for today.
When everyone has changed, we follow Alex downstairs to the pool. Despite my worry, I have a fun afternoon. After a few water volleyball games, I soak in the hot tub with Gabby as we pretend to score the guys’ dives, which get more ridiculous with each round.
Zander calls around 4pm with an update. All the Finn employees are safe, and he stopped by the house, but it’s trashed.
The FBI finished processing the area, and the insurance people have gone through the damage.
He suggests staying at a hotel, but I really want to be here, so he agrees, offering to grab a bag of necessities for me.
He’s going to swing by the police station to get an update on Troy and Nick before coming back here.
With tired, pruned skin, we head back up to the apartment to clean up. E goes to the downstairs kitchen with Alex to make dinner for everyone after they’ve both showered. Once we’re clean, the rest of us huddle on the couch to watch a movie.
Seb gets a text from Troy partway through that he, Nick, and Zander are on their way here.
He lets Alex know, who replies that dinner will be ready soon.
Getting excited to really see and talk to Nick, I jump up to set the table.
It will be a tight fit with all of us, but that sounds wonderful to me after we’ve been incomplete for so long.
As I’m placing the last dish on the table, the door opens with Alex, Steven, and E coming in, food in hand, followed by Troy, Zander, and Nick.
Gabby squeals, heading directly for Nick. Zander grabs the dish he’s carrying before Gabby hugs the life out of him. Seb and Bay are waiting patiently in front of them to get their greetings. I stand behind the table and watch, smiling at everyone being here in one place.
Once Nick greets everyone, his eyes find me.
Quirking an eyebrow as if to say, why are you across the room?
I leave my spot and walk his way, Nick not allowing me to break eye contact.
Once I’m near our family, he steps forward and pulls me into a hug, picking me up and burying his face in my neck.
I feel him shudder against me, holding tight.
Tears gather, blurring my vision, but I hold them back.
It’s so surreal that he’s back in my arms. I dreamed of this day so often these past months.
Looking over his shoulder, I see Gabby fussing over Troy and Seb beaming at us, giving me a wink.
Nick lets me down after a few minutes. I look over his face, running my fingers through his beard.
How did I miss the beard this morning? He needs a shave and a haircut.
I didn’t imagine his black eye this morning, although now that I’m rested, I can tell it’s not fresh.
He has dark circles under his other eye, probably exhausted. “Okay?” I ask.
Nodding, he grabs my hand and pulls me over to the island.
After handing me a plate, he fills one for himself, and then the others follow suit.
E made a mini feast for us with chicken, steaks, potatoes, roasted veggies, and fresh biscuits.
Sitting down beside Nick, he places his hand on my thigh while digging in.
Poor Troy is grimacing, so Gabby is cutting all his food up for him while he grumbles, and I can’t stop smiling.
Once we’re all full, we spread out in the living area for an update.
“It’s still early, but the FBI thinks they’ve gotten all the important people from Tennessee. Nick and Cash helped them identify several key players. The man in the suit at Z’s house was the boss,” Troy begins.
“Who is Cash?” Seb asks.
“Hacker working with Patrick. I got them out when I left. Boss had his sister to keep him in line. He got the evidence Fawx released to the FBI yesterday. That’s why they came,” Nick replies.
“What about Patrick?” I ask.
“I killed him,” Nick responds with no inflection in his voice.
Oh, my. Leaning forward to look into his eyes, I don’t see any regret there, just surety. “You’re safe now,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“Shit, man,” Seb remarks, shaking his head. “I’m still sorry you had to do that. So what now?”
“One of the FBI agents wanted to arrest Nick for being part of the crew, so we had an issue leaving. Mr. Macleod and Agent Kinsley, who’s in charge, stepped in.
The FBI wasn’t aware Nick was technically working for them because he didn’t have contact with the office in Tennessee.
Between that and Eddie being one of the crooked agents who arranged for Nick to be an informant — it’s a mess.
We think it’s straightened out now, but Nick will probably spend a few days with the FBI.
Mr. MacLeod will be with him, as will Kinsley. ”
“Do we trust Kinsley? He seems okay, but I’m skeptical of all the FBI agents,” I ask.
“We have to trust someone, and he is our best bet,” Troy replies to my question. “I’ll be there too.”
“What happens to Cash and his sister?” I ask.
“We don’t know yet. They’re staying at a hotel with guards. This whole mess will take a while to sort out,” Troy answers.
“How did you get shot?” Gabby asks.
“Z texted that one of the bad guys went outside his house, so Jensen and I crept through the woods to check it out since the FBI hadn’t shown yet. We were approaching either side of the garage when he must’ve spotted us. He shot me before we had eyes on him. Jensen hit him in the leg.”
“That’s enough questions for today,” Zander speaks up. “Troy and Nick both need sleep.”
“Can we stay here tonight?” Seb asks.
“There are several guest rooms on the floor below,” Steven offers. “You are all welcome for as long as you need.”
Zander and Troy exchange a silent conversation before they nod. “That would be appreciated,” Zander replies.
“Gabs, do you want to stay up here or down below?” Troy asks her.
“Can I stay here?” She looks at Alex and Seb.
“Of course, Gabby,” Alex smiles.
Zander and Troy follow Steven out of the apartment while the rest of us clean up dinner. Nick offers Gabby his bed to sleep in, looking at me. Nodding, I go back to loading the dishwasher. Once the kitchen is clean and Alex returns, we settle around the couch again.
Bay turns on a movie while Gabby and I surround Nick. After the movie, he gets up, with Gabby following him into his bedroom. Seb slides over and puts his arm around me, pulling me close.
“Summer, would you and Nick like the master bedroom tonight? The sheets have been changed,” Alex asks.
That’s very sweet of him. “No, but thanks for offering,” I smile in return. It might be crowded in my twin sized bed, but Zander slept there last night, so no, just no.
E gets up, coming back with a tray of snacks for us to share. Seb and Bay dig in, but I’m still full from dinner. When Nick and Gabby return, she’s smiling, so that’s good. Nick holds out a hand to me, quirking an eyebrow.
I kiss Seb and E on the cheek and get up to grab the bag Zander got for me. “Night guys,” I wave as Nick grabs my hand, pulling me towards my room.
“Glad you’re back, man,” Seb hollers as we enter and shut the door.
Nick leads me straight to the bathroom. “Shower?” He asks.
“Sure, Grumpy,” I smile. “Let me drop my bag, and I’ll be right back.
” Setting my bag on the floor beside my bed, I return to find Nick already in the shower, turning the water on.
I quickly strip down and slip in behind him.
His head is hanging forward, shoulders slumped as the water cascades over him, bruises visible on his back.
My poor Grumpy. Grabbing the pouf and body wash, I gently wash his mottled back.
He doesn’t move as I clean, and once I’m done, I turn him and start on the front.
He’s watching me quietly as I soap the contours of his body.
His abs are even more defined than when he left.
After he’s rinsed off, I tap his chin up and pour shampoo into my hands to clean his hair, massaging his scalp as I go, and his eyes close.
His body is awash in so many bruises that it makes me sad. Fighting, I would guess.
I let him rinse his hair, then move him out of the way to wash up quickly, and he stands behind me and watches.
Stepping out, I grab a towel to wrap around myself.
Nick turns the water off and steps out of the tub.
With an extra towel, I dry him, starting with his hair, and work my way down, being gentle around his torso, then hand him the towel to wrap around his waist.
Leaving the bathroom, I grab some clothes from my bag as Nick finds shorts to wear.
He turns off the overhead light and crawls into my bed.
The moon is out, casting the room in a bluish glow through the open curtains, so there’s enough light to see.
After brushing my teeth and taking care of business, I join Nick.
He lifts the covers for me to get under and then flips us so I’m against the wall, wrapping me up in his arms.
A few minutes later, I feel him shudder against me. “Love you,” he murmurs.
“I love you, Grumpy. It’s going to be okay now. You’re not alone.”
I feel a kiss on my head, his breathing quickly evening out as he falls asleep. We both have a lot to talk about, but it can wait for another day.