Page 65 of Pastel Kisses

I shake my head, trying to hold it together, but the anxiety is spreading like wildfire. “She could be anywhere. Watching. Waiting.”

“What about my dad’s house?” I ask suddenly, dread filling my lungs.

“We have someone stationed there as well,” Swanson assures, his voice steady. “All of your known addresses are being covered.”

But that assurance doesn’t soothe the terror gripping my chest. They’ve already let her slip through their fingers once. She’s smart—manipulative. Capable of vanishing without a trace.

Kamden’s jaw is tight, his arms folded across his chest like he’s one second away from going full beast mode. “No. She’s not going back to her house,” he says with conviction. “We’ll secure a floor at the hotel Jaxton stayed in. The suite is secure, top floor, limited access. We’ll set Dan up in a room on the same floor. She’ll never be alone. We’ll lock down that entire floor.”

He looks at me then, his gaze softening as he brushes a loose strand of hair away from my face. “Private security, 24/7. Nobody gets in or out without our say. I swear to you.”

A lump forms in my throat, but I nod, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief. I want to be surrounded by them—all of them. Only then do I feel even an ounce of safety.

Jensen nods in agreement. “It’s a smart plan. We’ll keep officers on-site at both homes, just in case she returns to one of them.”

The conversation continues between the guys and the detectives, but my thoughts start to drift. The fear is still there, lurking like a shadow in the corner of my mind. But their voices—their presence—keep me tethered.

When the detectives finally leave, Kam returns to my side, his presence grounding me like it always does. He doesn’t say anything at first, just gently takes my hand and kisses the back of it.

I glance up at him, voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think they’ll catch her?”

His eyes meet mine, dark and full of promise. “She’ll never hurt you again.” He presses his cheek against the top of my head, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I curl into him, breathing in his warmth, but the tremble in my voice betrays me. “I’m scared.”

His arms tighten around me, holding me like he’ll never let go. “You don’t have to be—not anymore,” he whispers back. “Because she’s the one running now. And we’re not stopping until we end this—for good.”

And in his arms, with all of them surrounding me, I believe him. For the first time since my escape, I start to believe I really am safe.

Even if the monster still lurks in the shadows…

I’m not alone in this fight.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Liam

Avery’s finally sleeping.

It took a while to convince her to let the nurses give her something to help. None of us wanted her sedated unless she felt safe, and God knows the word “needle” sends her into a full-blown panic. We didn’t push—not right away. But she hasn’t rested, not truly, and the baby needs her strong. She needs to heal.

Eventually, she agreed—more for the baby’s sake than her own. The nurse came in afterward and told us they had to wait until Avery was completely out before they could place the IV. She kept flinching and crying “No needles,” even while half-asleep. It tore something in me. It tore something in all of us.

But she’s resting now, and that’s what matters.

Dan sits near her bed, hand lightly resting on the edge of the mattress like he’s afraid to let go. He hasn’t stopped looking at her since she fell asleep, and I get it. She’s here. She’s safe. But it still doesn’t feel real.

I rub my hands over my face, standing near the window while my brothers move around the room quietly. Kam’s on the phone securing the hotel floor for us—top floor, limited access. No one in, no one out without our say. It’s a fortress now. Dan will be staying in another room on the same floor, making sure Avery will have everything she needs when we bring her there tomorrow.

Hospitals like to discharge in the mornings, and if all goes as planned, we’ll have her out of here before noon. But we’re not taking any chances. We’ll have the car waiting. Security. A full plan.

"Dan, you ride with Jax and Lennox," I say, stretching the tension from my neck. "Head to your place and Avery’s, grab clothes and anything she might want around her.”

Dan nods, eyes never leaving his daughter.

“I can’t believe they let that psycho slip away,” Jax mutters, his jaw clenched as he zips up his jacket. “They had her right there… and she disappeared.”

Kam lets out a low grunt from the corner. “She’s desperate. That’s when people get sloppy. She’s not thinking straight anymore. Just reacting.”

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