Page 77 of Ace of Spades

I push into the break room, heart hammering like it’s trying to break free.

Josie’s sitting at a little round table, swinging her feet against the chair leg. A paper plate with half a powdered donut sits in front of her. Powder dusts her fingers, her mouth, even the front of her little jacket.

She looks up when the door swings open.

For a second, she just stares at me, big brown eyes wide and unsure. My chest nearly caves in.

I crouch down low, holding out my arms, giving her the space to decide.

Her face crumples. It’s relief, fear, and hope all tangled up, and then she bolts off the chair, launching into me so hard I nearly fall backward.

No words. No sounds. Just the tight, desperate clutch of her little hands grabbing my jacket, fisting it in tight knots like she's terrified I’ll disappear if she lets go.

I fold her into me, wrapping my arms around her small frame, breathing her in. Powdered sugar and baby shampoo. At least Evie showered her.

"I got you, Josie girl," I murmur into her hair. My voice cracks, and I don't care.

"I’m not going anywhere."

She burrows in closer, burying her face against my chest. I can feel her tiny heartbeat racing against mine.

Theo steps inside the room, slow and careful, like he doesn’t want to scare her. Carter follows, standing just inside the doorway, his arms crossed, eyes hard and wet at the edges.

“We’re here, Josie,” Theo says softly, crouching down beside us. “You’re safe now, okay?”

Josie peeks out from where she’s tucked into my jacket. She doesn't speak, but she gives Theo a barely-there jerk of her chin.

Carter clears his throat and moves in closer, voice steady even when mine isn't.

“We're gonna figure this out,” he says. “Whatever it takes, Levi. You’re not doing this alone.”

Theo nods fiercely. “She’s ours too.”

I close my eyes for a second, holding Josie tighter, letting their words settle into the cracks I didn’t even realize were still broken inside me.

Ours.Not just mine. Ours.

Family.

I press a kiss into the top of Josie’s hair, breathing her in like I could anchor myself with just her scent.

I stand slowly, still holding her against me. Her arms stay tight around my neck. She’s not letting go, and neither am I.

When I turn back toward Carter and Theo, both of them just nod at me with solid, unshakable loyalty.

Wordless promises exchanged just in tearful looks.

And for the first time since Theo came to tell me what happened tonight, something inside me eases.

We’re gonna be okay.

Chapter20

Sienna

It’s after work on Friday night and I’m sitting at the bar at Rusty’s waiting for Julian to get here so we can scope out some more of the island together.

What happened between Levi and I last night confused the hell out of me.

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