Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (92)

“Second, it may have been trauma that brought us together, but that’s not what binds us. It’s how she battled her way out of the ashes. It’s the way she lives, how she gives me quiet and acceptance to be whoever I am and share whatever I need to. And maybe our wounds make us understand each other better than anyone else, but that doesn’t mean this is some toxic connection.”

“I never said that,” Wylder argued.

Frustration and something just a bit greater than annoyance flitted through me. “Didn’t you? And like you’re one to talk. I see the way you look at Cora, how you’re the one picking up the pieces for her.”

Wylder’s mouth slammed shut.

It was a low blow. I shouldn’t have gone there. I scrubbed both my hands over my face. “I’m sorry.”

God, I was fucking up left and right today.

“Let’s all take a breath,” Mav said. “And be honest. None of us enters into relationships from a perfectly emotionally healthy place.”

“Or at all,” Dex said, moving into our group and slapping Mav on the shoulder.

He glared at Dex. “You know what I mean. Healing is a journey. The best we can hope for is to find someone who’s willing to go on it with us.”

The back door shut. “Maverick Archer, have you become a wise sage?”

I turned at the sound of Ever’s voice, anxiety washing through me. Where was Nova? Was she alone? Was she okay? Did I need to go up there?

“You should know by now that I’m the genius of this bunch,” Mav shot back with a grin.

Ever sent me a reassuring smile. “Brae’s with her. She’s good. They’re eating, and Nova’s getting ready to come downstairs.”

“She should rest—”

Ever cut me off. “She should do what feels right to her.”

I let out a huff of air. “Damn you for always being right.”

Ever’s lips twitched. “That’s what I like to hear.” Her gaze swept over my brothers. “I’ll also say, we had a good talk. Encouraging her to find some therapy or a therapist that works for her would be good. But don’t push it. That’ll do more harm than good.”

Ever turned to me, her expression softening. But there was something beneath it. Pain or even longing. “I’ll also say, she’s with you for the right reasons. Because you give her a safe space to express herself, not because she feels she owes you anything.”

I fought the urge to send Wylder a pointed look.

“But this won’t be easy,” Ever went on. “She’s going through a lot.”

“I know that,” I gritted out.

Dex cleared his throat. “And not to be a Debbie Downer, but what about your job? They aren’t going to like this. Is that why you’ve been keeping it a secret?”

My gut churned because it was more than them not liking it. Sherri would fire my ass—or maybe just suspend me if I was lucky. It was as if two parts of me were locked in battle. One that needed control and justice, and didn’t trust anyone else to get it. And one that simply needed Nova.

“If we close the case quickly, it won’t be an issue,” I gritted out.

“Because we’re so close to that,” Wylder muttered.

This time, I did glare at him. “Then maybe we should be a little more focused, a bit more dedicated. Because I’m not the only one who cares about this outcome.”

Dex held up a hand. “We all care.”

Ever looked back and forth between us, a hint of confusion on her face. And that’s when I realized my mistake. She didn’t know about the Hourglass Network. She didn’t know that we secretly helped to find missing people whose families had nowhere else to turn. And by connecting my brothers to the case, I’d almost blown that cover sky-high.

I pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes, trying to beat back the headache and pressure building from all my screwups.

Ever glanced around the back deck, but she let it go. Instead, she simply said, “I’m going to go try to see him.”

That stopped us all. Because we knew who him was. Just like we knew that Orion would never see her.

But it didn’t stop her from trying. She’d stand outside his door and wait. Sometimes, just thirty minutes. Other times, she’d wait hours. She’d tried every method under the sun.

She’d held up signs, knowing the security cameras would pick up the words. She’d blared music he hated, music he loved. She’d tried just talking at the cameras. She’d tried silence.

Nothing ever moved him.

And the longer it went on, the harder it was for all of us to take.

I needed to talk to Orion. Because I thought if he saw her just once, if he gave her the closure she deserved, maybe Ever could move on.

“Come back for dinner,” I said gruffly. “Waylon’s making chili and biscuits.”

One of Ever’s brows arched at that. “One, two, or three pepper?”

My mouth twitched. “Just one. Nova’s stomach is still tender.”

“That’s okay, I’ll bring my own hot sauce to spice things up,” she said.

Dex chuckled. “It’s no wonder you’re Waylon’s favorite.”

Mav looked thoughtful. “I wonder who would win in a hot-sauce off: Little Badass or Ever?”