Page 41 of Rampage

"Reid's Lily," Leah says, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I've heard so much about you, I feel like we're already friends." She pulls me into a hug before I can prepare myself, her embrace enthusiastic and without reservation. "Welcome to the family," she says, squeezing me tight. "Any girl who's got my brooding brother so wrapped around her finger is good in my book."

"I… It’s nice to meet you," I manage, flustered by her immediate acceptance.

Leah steps back, studying me with open curiosity. "She's even prettier than you said, Mom," she stage-whispers to Grace, who laughs softly.

"Stop embarrassing the poor girl," Grace chides, but there's no heat in her words. "Lily's had enough excitement for one day."

"Oh, I doubt that," Leah says with a knowing grin. "Not if she's with Reid."

The sound of heavy footsteps draws our attention. Reid approaches, his expression changing as he takes in the scene—his mother, sister, and me surrounded by shopping bags, clearly mid-conversation.

"I see you've met the rest of the welcome committee," he says, coming to stand beside me. His hand finds the small of my back automatically, the touch possessive yet comforting.

"Just getting to know your girl," Leah says innocently, though her eyes dance with mischief. "I was about to tell her all your embarrassing childhood stories."

"You'll do no such thing," Reid warns, though there's no real threat in his voice. His arm slides fully around my waist now, drawing me closer to his side.

Leah grins, unintimidated. "Spoilsport. Fine, I'll save the story about the frog incident for another time."

"Frog incident?" I can't help asking, curiosity piqued.

Reid groans. "And it begins."

Grace intervenes with perfect timing. "Leah, help me get these things to Reid's truck, will you?"

As they gather the shopping bags, Reid turns to me, his expression concerned. "How are you holding up? Really?"

I consider the question, taking stock of my emotions. "Overwhelmed," I admit. "But in a good way, I think. Your family is… They're incredible."

"They like you, and they don't like many people." He tells me, and I let out a deep breath with relief.

"Reid," Aiden calls from across the room. "Need you for a minute."

Reid hesitates, clearly reluctant to leave my side.

"Go," I encourage him. "I'm fine right here."

He searches my face, then nods. "I'll be right back. Stay where I can see you."

As he walks away, Leah sidles back up to me, a conspiratorial gleam in her eye. "So, while my overprotective brother is distracted, want to hear about the time he tried to perform surgery on my teddy bear?"

I can't help but laugh. "He was practicing medicine even then?"

"Oh yeah. Eight years old with a kitchen knife and my favorite stuffed animal. Said it had appendicitis." She rolls her eyes fondly. "Mom caught him just before the first incision."

The image of a small Reid, serious and determined even as a child, makes my heart squeeze with unexpected tenderness. "He really always wanted to be a doctor, didn't he?"

Leah's expression turns more serious. "It's all he's ever talked about. Saving kids like us." She pauses, then adds more quietly, "He told you about how the five of us came to Aiden and Grace?”

I nod. "Some of it."

"Then you understand why pediatrics means so much to him." Her eyes drift to her brother, watching him in deep conversation with Aiden and Lane. "He's always been the protector. Even when we were kids and I was older, he was the one standing between me and danger."

The revelation adds another layer to my understanding of Reid, this fierce man who has built his life around protecting others.

"He's never brought a woman to meet the family before," Leah adds, her tone casual but her eyes sharp as they assess my reaction. "Not once in all these years."

It just hits me at the seriousness of it all with us.

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