Chapter 3
THREE
FIONA
There’s something deeply humiliating about being ushered through a compound like a stray dog someone finally decided to help. Especially when you’re still in yesterday’s jeans and your hair looks like a raven tried to build a nest in it.
But I don’t flinch.
This compound gives off some serious Jason Bourne energy, but I appreciate my brother and his friends coming through for me.
“Come on, I want you to meet Kayley,” Gavin says, ushering me into a room near the back of the entrance.
Chase follows closely behind, and I hate to admit that I kind of miss his hands keeping me upright. Kind of.
The door swings open before we reach it, and a woman with warm brown eyes and a dark braid over one shoulder steps out, holding a baby on her hip. She waves at Chase and then at me, like we’re old friends, not strangers showing up with emotional baggage and possibly a stalker in tow.
“Hey!” she calls. “Is this her?”
“This is Fiona, my sister,” Gavin says. “Fiona, this is Kayley.” He wraps an arm around her.
The woman beams like I haven’t got mascara flaking off my lashes and a perpetual RBF. “We’re so glad you’re here. Come on in, you must be starving.”
I blink. “Um. I mean, I’m fine—”
“Nope. That’s not how this works,” Kayley interrupts cheerfully. “You come in, I feed you, and then I hug you if you allow it. It’s the Haven 7 welcome package.”
She smiles wider, and damn it, I like her. I don’t want to like her, because liking people usually ends with disappointment and regret, but something about her is just…sunshine wrapped in steel.
The baby on her hip babbles, waving a chubby fist in my direction.
“Who’s this little drooler?” I ask, managing a small smile.
“This is Aidan. He’s the real boss around here,” Kayley says, kissing the top of his fuzzy head. “Come meet the rest of the circus.”
I follow her inside.
The place is cleaner and cozier than I expect—like a mix between a mountain lodge and a war room. There’s a scent of fresh coffee, pine, and leather. And testosterone. So much testosterone. It’s practically layered into the walls.
Inside, there’s another woman—curvy, blonde, absolutely glowing—cooing over a baby girl in a little pink onesie. They’re surrounded by men who look like they wrestle bears for fun on the weekends.
One of those men steps forward. “I’m Boyd, and over there is Harlan.” He points to another man. “And that’s Rhett and Emma over there.”
I give a weak wave. “Hi. Thank you.” I tip my chin so nobody notices the tears threatening to spill over. I’m not sad by any means. No, I’m happy. Incredibly happy that Gavin has this place and they’re all so willing to help.
When I made the decision to come here, I figured I’d get help from only Gavin. Honestly… I don’t know what I expected. But it wasn’t this.
Gavin rubs the back of his neck. “We need to figure out where you’re sleeping tonight.”
The blonde woman stands. “I’m Harper,” she says kindly, offering a hand. “Welcome to the madhouse.”
I shake her hand, nodding a little too stiffly. “Thanks. You all seem…charmingly dangerous.”
“That’s our whole brand,” she winks.
Kayley bounces Aidan on her hip. “There’s a room in the back we can set up.”
“No,” I say automatically. “I don’t want to be a burden. You’ve got babies and jobs and…” I gesture at the literal command center behind them. “Whatever CIA business this is. I can take the couch. Or the floor. I’ve slept in worse places.”
Gavin looks ready to argue, but then Chase speaks up from behind me. “She can stay with me.”
I turn, eyebrows lifting. “Excuse me?”
“My cabin’s got two bedrooms,” he says with a shrug like this isn’t a bombshell. “It’s quiet. Private. More comfortable than a back room here.”
Gavin scowls. “You sure?”
Chase doesn’t flinch. “Yeah. She’ll be safe there.”
Safe.
That word hits me right in the chest. Because truth is? I haven’t felt that way in months.
I glance at Chase. He doesn’t push. Just waits, steady and calm. Patient. Which is somehow worse than pressuring me. Because I want to say yes.
“Okay,” I say quietly. “Yeah. That’s…fine.”
Gavin’s jaw ticks, but he nods. “You’ll check in regularly.”
Chase just gives him a look that says obviously.
Kayley claps her hands. “Perfect! I’ll put together a basket of essentials. Snacks, toothpaste, the good stuff.”
Emma adds, “And I’ll throw in some of the cookies I made yesterday. You’re going to need chocolate. Trust me.”
I blink, overwhelmed. “You people are weird.”
Kayley grins. “You’ll get used to it.”
Chase touches my elbow lightly. “Ready?”
No. Not even a little. But I nod.
And as we head out of the command center and toward his cabin, I hear Harper say, “She’s going to fit in just fine.”
I want to believe that. Really, I do. But I’ve never fit in anywhere. And if this place is anything like the others? I won’t let myself hope. I’ll just stay alive long enough to figure out who’s after me—and then vanish before I can disappoint anyone else.
Again.