Page 66 of Fragile Sanctuary

Shep gave him a chin lift in response. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate your help.”

There was something about Shep’s tone. There was a gravity to it that didn’t quite make sense. But then again, I wasn’t sure why Shep had called Anson in the first place. There wasn’t anything he could do to help tonight.

Anson simply nodded, and then his gaze swept to me. I froze. Something about that look held me in place as it glided over me. It was as if he was checking for injuries, making sure that I really was okay.

“Be safe, Reckless,” he gritted out.

It was my turn to nod because my vocal cords didn’t seem to want to work. But Anson didn’t wait for my response, he just took off for his truck.

Shep gave my shoulder another squeeze and then released me. “What’s the deal with you two lately? I can’t tell if you still hate each other or if you have some sort of weird friendship happening.”

I grimaced. I wasn’t sure Shep would appreciate the knowledge Anson had imparted on me earlier tonight. So, I kept it to myself. “I think we understand each other in a way.”

Shep stilled, his gaze landing on my face. “What do you mean?”

I shifted from foot to foot. “He hasn’t told me what happened to him or anything, but I know he’s experienced loss. He gets what I went through. Some of the things that are hard to say. It doesn’t make him less of an ass, but he’s an ass I understand.”

Wariness spread across Shep’s expression. “Just be careful.” He worried the inside of his cheek. “The shit Anson’s dealt with…it’s dark. Darker than anything we’ve seen. I don’t want it to pull you down, too.”

My stomach twisted viciously. Given what all my siblings and I had been through, we’d seen some of the worst of the worst. At least, I thought we had. What was darker than that?

“No, we need Nutella and berries.”A voice cut through my groggy mind.

“Lolli,” Nora hissed. “I think the whipped cream is enough.”

“The girl’s house nearly got burned down, and she’s got a creepy stalker. I think she’s earned some chocolate,” Lolli shot back.

A groan sounded beside me, and then Fallon’s elbow landed firmly in my gut.

I let out an oof as I rolled to my back. “I’m too old for this.”

“Sorry,” she muttered, struggling to sit up. “You need a bigger bed.”

“I didn’t plan on having sleepovers at age twenty-seven,” I grumbled.

Fallon arched a brow at me. “I think you need to be having some sleepovers of the grown-up variety.”

I glared at her. “You’re one to talk. When’s the last time you went on a date?”

She snapped her mouth closed.

“That’s what I thought.” I scrubbed at my face. My eyes burned as if they’d been stewing in acid all night. Only I hadn’t been asleep nearly that long. I glanced at the clock. Eight-fifteen.

Pots and pans clattered from the kitchen.

“Quiet,” Nora hissed.

“Too late. Everyone’s up within a three-mile radius,” Kye called back.

Lolli giggled. “Sorry. But we’ve got waffles.”

I couldn’t help it, I smiled. God, my family was amazing.

Tossing off the covers, I sat up and slid my feet into slippers. I didn’t bother changing out of my PJs, just made a quick stop in thebathroom to brush my teeth. By the time I made it to the living room, Keely was running down the hallway.

She hit me full force, looking up at me with accusing eyes. “You had a sleepover without me?”

“It wasn’t planned. I swear.”

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