Page 63 of Fragile Sanctuary

“Fallon Rosemary Colson. She does not need liquor right now,” Nora chastised.

Lolli fumbled in her purse. “What about one of my gummies? I just upped the potency of the blend.”

“Mom!” Nora snapped. “Do not try to get her high. There is law enforcement right outside, including your grandson.”

Lolli just kept right on looking. “Pot’s legal now, dear. And Rho has been of age for quite some time. In fact, she had one of my brownies at?—”

Nora held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear this.”

A laugh slipped from my lips and, God, I needed it. The release of pressure, of all the pent-up emotion.

Arden turned from her spot at the window, eyeing me carefully.As if she was worried I was cracking. And maybe I was. The fact that our sister, who barely left Cope’s property, was here in the middle of the night told me I should be concerned.

Her hand dropped to Biscuit’s head, and she stroked him softly. The animals always found their way to her. It was as if she spoke some language only they understood.

“You can stay at Cope’s if you want,” Arden said, her soft voice carrying a hint of a rasp. “With the season, he won’t be back for at least a month or two. And even if he was, he wouldn’t mind.”

I didn’t miss that she didn’t offer up her place. Arden liked her solitude, but even suggesting our brother’s place was a sacrifice on her part. The only way it worked for her to even live on Cope’s property was because hockey meant he was rarely home. Holidays and a few weeks during the offseason, that was it.

I smiled at Arden, trying to reassure her. “I’ll be okay. Thank you, though.”

“Just text if you change your mind. There are always guest rooms ready.”

“I will. Promise.”

Nora’s hand stroked my hair as she stood behind me. “I think you should come stay with me and Lolli. At least until they know what caused this. It’s too dangerous.”

I tried to fight the grimace that wanted to rise to my lips. I appreciated Nora more than I could say, but the last thing I wanted was to be hovered over.

Lolli sent me a wicked grin. “I’ll make you some more of those brownies…”

“Lolli, I was hallucinating for hours. No, thank you.” When she offered me one a few years ago, I’d had no idea what herspecial recipeentailed.

She frowned. “I might’ve made that batch a little too strong.”

Fallon snorted. “You think? Rho said the flowers in the garden were talking to her.”

The front door opened, and Biscuit let out a series of barks and growls as he charged toward the group of men.

“Oh, crap,” I muttered, jumping to my feet. The last thing we needed was Biscuit biting someone.

But Anson quickly moved in front of Trace, dropping low. As he crouched, he held out a hand. Biscuit slid to a stop.

“Easy, B,” Anson said. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

Biscuit let out a low growl as he eyed Shep and Trace.

“They’re friends,” Anson assured the dog. He inched closer to Biscuit and scratched under his chin, then behind his ear. Biscuit’s back leg thumped wildly.

“You got a leash?” Anson asked.

I grabbed one from the hooks on the wall and fastened it to Biscuit’s collar. “It’s okay, buddy. Everyone here is nice.”

Trace looked from the dog to Anson. “You’ve got a way with him.”

Anson shrugged. “Won him over with treats.”

Shep chuckled, but the humor didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Food is always the way.”

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