Page 24 of Lost in the Light

“But is it safe to wake him like that? I thought you shouldn’t wake sleep walkers?”

“They have to, sweetheart. I can get really violent in the night terrors. The safest thing is to get me down and wake me up,” Asher told me as he patted my hand which rested against his chest, my arms still locked around his shoulders. “I want you to promise me you’ll get far away from me if that happens again. I could have really hurt you last night. I wouldn’t have meant to, of course, but when I’m like that I don’t see you. I see threats.”

“I couldn’t just leave you,” I gasped.

“You have to, shortcake. Asher’s right. He’s not himself when that happens and he’d never forgive himself if he hurt you. Adam, or Kane are the only ones who stand a chance againsthim. Maybe Jordan if there’s no alternative. Believe me. I’ve tried to wake him before and I barely got away.”

“Yes, and that’s why you are both to stay away from me if this ever happens again. Do you understand, Addy?” Asher asked firmly as he turned to stare at me.

“Fine, but I don’t like it,” I gave in.

“None of us like it. Luckily, it doesn’t happen so much nowadays,” Eli sighed.

“Here honey, take these for your throat and I’ll make you some lemon tea with honey. It sounds worse this morning.” Adam placed two pills and a bottle of water before Asher on the counter.

I nodded gratefully as I released Asher and sat on the seat between my brothers, swallowing down the pills with a sip of water. It hurt like hell to swallow, but I hoped the pills would help.

“So, what’s the plan then?” I asked, addressing the elephant in the room when silence descended.

“I have some friends arriving this morning. They’re all ex-military, and I served with two of them. They’re going to look into finding out who set up that explosion, hopefully get us a lead to work with,” Asher explained.

“I thought we knew who did it? It was someone who attended those sick parties, right?”

“We need to know who specifically, sweetheart. I need to know who exactly we’re dealing with so we can keep you safe and neutralize the threat against you.” I swallowed deeply, just theidea of more of those sick perverted monsters coming for me again causing my anxiety to rear up and take a grip on me.

“We’re going to keep you safe, Addy. We have a ton of security outside that door. No one can get to you,” Eli assured me, obviously sensing my distress. He grabbed my hand in his and circled his thumb over the back of it soothingly.

“Eli’s right. I’ve asked Harris and his team to work with us too, until Kane’s back in action, just as an extra precaution,” Asher added.

“Are they in security or something too?” I questioned.

“Yes, but not personal protection like our guards. They work mainly with security systems, and provide security for clubs and bars – that kind of thing. They’re very good though. They dealt with a serial killer who was stalking their girlfriend last year.”

“Oh my God! Is she okay?” I gasped.

“She is now. The threat against her is gone. Nick shot him when he came after Evie at her family home.”

“They’re good guys, Addy. I didn’t get to meet them for long, but I liked them. And if Asher says they can help us, then they will,” Eli assured me.

“Wait. You said, ‘their girlfriend?’”

“Yes. They have a rather unique relationship. The four guys are all with Evie,” Asher explained, and I realized this was the relationship Jordan had mentioned to me the day before. The polyamorous relationship, a lot like the one Jordan wanted all of us to have.

I glanced up to Adam and found him watching me intently. I knew I turned bright red as I dropped my gaze as fast as I could and stared at my hand laid on the counter.

“Yeah. I…I think Jordan mentioned them,” I said quietly, not daring to look up again.

“The guys dropped Evie and their kid, Zack, off with Evie’s family in Chicago, then they’re coming here. I’m expecting them in a few hours.”

“They have a kid?” I looked up, my interest piqued, and caught Adam’s gaze again. He was watching me thoughtfully, and I blushed all over again. At this point I knew my face had to resemble a very red tomato.

“Zack’s Nick’s kid from before they met Evie, but they have custody of him now. He’s the sweetest little thing,” Eli gushed, his pale face lighting up.

“Hopefully they’ll help us clear this whole thing up,” Asher concluded.

“Here, Addy. Try this for your throat.” I looked up at Adam as he passed me a steaming mug. He was still looking at me like a puzzle he couldn’t solve, but he smiled reassuringly when I started to worry about what he was thinking. I thanked him and took a sip of the hot tea. It felt good as it slid down, the pain pills obviously kicking in too.

“When can we go home?” I asked next. The apartment we sat in was beautiful, but it wasn’t home.

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