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Hunter and Becca had brought her dad, Bill Chandler, back to the house when they’d called to tell them what had happened

Bill had looked at Gareth’s body and had said to Michael,

"You all killed Gareth Brody You ht not have wanted a war, kid, but I think you just started one"

Adam studied Nick in the darkness, his eyes full of wary uncertainty Nick wondered if this was the wtf co home to set up shop

Ada, you expecthappened? That we had no idea?" His voice was level, even

Nick shifted on the step to look at hi, Adaned "I knohat I am I knohat happened If you want to tell the cops everything, I can’t stop you"

Ada

"Okay," Nick said softly "I don’t want--" He hesitated "I’ll leave"

He waited for Ada door His voice was rough now This was a thousand tiht by Hunter "Thanks for taking care of Quinn," he said

Then he didn’t wait for a response He slid the door closed and walked through the apartment to the front door

Follow me Please Follow me

Ada, through the locked front door, and across the parking lot

But when he pressed the button on the car door clicker, Adam’s voice stopped hi across the stretch of pavement to catch up with him

Nick wasn’t sure what he expected A kiss, a plea to stay, a hug, for god’s sake

But Adam stopped and said, "Why didn’t you tell me the truth about Tyler?"

Nick frowned "I don’t knohat you er, Tyler used to beat the crap out of you That Gabriel used to stop hiainst the car and memorized the asphalt "I didn’t lie to you Tyler is an assle" But he couldn’t say it with the vitriol he usually saved for Tyler Morgan

Adalanced up, then quickly away, feeling the weight of Ada he needed to offer more of an answer "I never told you because I was embarrassed" Another hesitation "And because I didn’t want to diminish what had happened to you"

"I wish I’d known" Adam hesitated "And what happens to you doesn’t di that happens todeal"

Ada deal All of this is a big deal If you’re in danger--if so you--" He broke off and swore "Da to work, you have to trustto work Nick stared at hiitated "You ht it was some stupid family rivalry I yelled at you at the studio, and I would have--I should have told hiet the hell out of there" He put his hands on Nick’s face, war and secure

But then he shook his head "I’ht you had to sit there with him"

Nick put his hands over Adalad I had to sit there with hiot the chance to tell him off"

Honestly, now that they’d co to Tyler years ago

No, he knehy Because he’d never ht to what he wanted, not just what everyone else expected

"Besides," Nick said "You were right People do have different capacities for failure"

"And triumph," said Adam Then he leaned forward and kissed hi, but not far His voice was soft

"Can you stay?"

Nick wanted nothing more

But he shook his head "Michael will have a panic attack if I’m not hoer?"

"We’re always in danger"

Adaer wait five er can wait ten"

Darkness had clai for hi the furniture to cover a large cut-out portion of carpeting Nick could hear Chris and Becca and Hunter having a hushed conversation in the kitchen

"I was about ready to send out a search party," Michael said

Nick flung his keys on the side table The day had been long and terrifying But now that his family was safe, old worries forced their way back into his head "I’ to start picking, and Nick wanted to head that off at the pass "What happened to Tyler?"

"He helped make sure the woods were clear, offered to help re-carpet the living room, and then he left"

Nick scowled He’d hoped Tyler would be the usual selfish prick he knew hienerous of hi on for a long ti, and it starts being about who can bury the hatchet first"

Nick was too tired for this "Thanks, Yoda Wise words, you say" He headed for the stairs

"Hey," Michael called after hi about Tyler"

Nick didn’t pause "Caught the subtext, Mike Really understated"

Nick expected Michael to say so else, but his older brother moved away from the bottom of the stairs

When Nick ainst his bedroo

Nick had known he would be He’d known it alh the front door

His twin looked worn Tired and drawn Nick knew the feeling But Gabriel’s bullet wounds had healed A good night’s sleep and soood as new

"Hey," Gabriel said Hesitant, probably for the first tiht past him and slam his door in Gabriel’s face But he stopped "Hey"