Chapter 459

[ 1,130 words ]

Katia’s POV

They discharged me just after nine.

Julian signed every paper they put in front of him. Sam had already packed the small bag I hadn’t known she brought. Zane stood near the door like he didn’t trust hospital corridors on principle. Aiden waited in the car with Grandma’s driver, too restless to sit in the room and too scared to say so.

“You can still change your mind,” the nurse said, glancing at my chart. “One more night is not a weakness p>

“I’ve had enough of this room,” I said.

Julian looked at me.

“If you feel worse in the car, we turn around p>

“I won’t p>

Sam slung the bag over her shoulder.

“Then let’s go before they find another form for him to sign p>

Zane opened the door.

“Car’s ready p>

The ride home was quiet at first. The rain had stopped. The streets looked washed and ordinary, which made the whole morning feel like a lie. Aiden kept glancing at me, then at Julian, then back at me.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked.

“A little p>

“The baby p>

“The baby is fine p>

He nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. He reached back and squeezed his knee.

“She’s coming home. That’s the part that matters right now p>

Aiden stared out the window.

“People at school said Mom crashed because of the rain p>

I turned my head toward him.

“Who told you that p>

“A boy in my class. His dad saw it on the news p>

Julian’s jaw tightened.

“We’ll talk about that later,” he said. “Not in the car p>

Aiden went quiet again.

When we pulled up to the house, he unclipped himself before the car fully stopped.

“Slow,” Julian said.

Aiden slowed. Then he opened my door and stood there, staring at the bruise along my collarbone like it might explain itself.

“I’m okay,” I said.

“You don’t look okay p>

“I look like someone who got in a car accident and walked out of it. That’s better than the other option p>

He leaned in and hugged me carefully, the way someone hugs a thing they have been told not to break. I kissed the top of his head and let him help me out of the car even though I didn’t need it.

Inside, the house smelled like coffee and the flowers someone had put on the hall table. Sam went straight to the kitchen. Zane checked the windows without making a show of it. Julian stayed at my side until I sat on the couch.

Aiden climbed up next to me.

“Can I stay home today p>

“Yes,” I said.

Julian glanced at me.

“You’re sure p>

“I’m sure. I just got home. I’m not sending him back to a classroom full of children repeating news stories p>

Sam came back with water and set it on the table.

“Good. School can wait. People can wait. You need a morning that doesn’t involve nurses p>

Zane returned from the hall.

“Perimeter’s clean. Two of Marcus’s people are outside. They’re staying p>

“Good,” Julian said.

Aiden looked between them.

“Why do we need people outside p>

Julian crouched in front of him.

“Because I want this house watched until we know everything we need to know. That’s all p>

“That’s not all,” Aiden said.

The room went still for a second.

Sam raised her eyebrows, and then Zane looked at Julian.

I put my hand on Aiden’s back.

“He’s not wrong,” I said. “But he’s also not getting the whole version this morning p>

Aiden frowned.

“I’m not a baby p>

“No,” I said. “You’re my son. That means you get the truth when it’s safe to give it, not when you’re angry that people are whispering at school p>

He sat back, unhappy, but he stayed against my side.

Julian stood.

“Sam, can you stay today p>

“I already cleared my morning,” she said. “I can clear the rest if I have to p>

Zane dropped into the chair across from us.

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me otherwise p>

For a few minutes, the house almost felt like a house again. Aiden told me about a science project and a boy who claimed his father knew someone at the hospital. Sam told him that people talk when they don’t know what else to do with their mouths. Zane asked if anyone had eaten. Julian admitted he hadn’t. I told him to eat anyway.

“You look worse than I do,” I said.

“I haven’t slept p>

“Then sit down p>

“I will p>

He didn’t.

He stood behind the couch with his hand on my shoulder, present and already half somewhere else.

Sam noticed.

“You’re waiting for a call p>

Julian didn’t deny it.

“Marcus is still working p>

“And if he calls p>

“Then I go p>

I turned my head enough to see his face.

“You go with people. Not alone p>

“I know p>

Aiden looked up.

“Go where p>

Julian hesitated, but I answered for him.

“Work. The kind that can’t wait p>

Aiden didn’t like that answer either, but he accepted it the way children accept things they don’t have the power to change.

Then Julian’s phone rang.

He looked at the screen, and the room changed.

“Marcus p>

He walked toward the kitchen. Not far enough. I still heard him.

“Where?” A pause. “How long ago?” Another pause. “Don’t lose him. We’re leaving now p>

He came back in.

I already knew.

“They found him,” I said.

“A sighting. Not a hold. Jersey side, near the units we hit last night. Marcus wants me there now p>

Aiden sat up.

“Dad p>

Julian crouched in front of him again.

“I have to go out for a bit. You stay with Mom. Sam and Zane are here. You’re safe p>

“You said that yesterday too p>

Julian’s mouth tightened.

“And I came back. I’ll come back again p>

Aiden looked at me.

“Is this about the rain p>

I pulled him closer.

“It’s about making sure the rain doesn’t happen again p>

Zane was already on his feet, jacket in hand.

“How many of ours are on site p>

“Marcus didn’t say,” Julian said. “Enough that he called instead of waiting p>

Sam looked at me.

“I’ll stay. If anything feels off, I call Marcus first and you second p>

“Call me first,” I said.

She gave me a look.

“Fine. You first. Then Marcus. Then I lock the doors and stop being polite p>

Julian came to me. I caught his hand before he could turn away.

“You don’t go in first p>

“I’m not planning to p>

“That’s not what I asked p>

He looked at me properly then.

“I hear you. Zane’s coming. Marcus is already there. I want Renner alive. I want him talking. I’m not going there to make a mess I can’t use p>

“Alive,” I repeated.

“Alive p>

He leaned down and kissed me. Not careful this time. Short. Certain.

Then he kissed Aiden’s hair.

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