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“Go to the theater,” I blurted out “Now It’s an eet you”

There was silence, and I half-expected to be questioned, but she didn’t fight

I heard her s “Okay,” she replied quietly “I’ll text when I’m there”

“Love you,” I said

“Love you too”

We hung up, and I looked at Rika as listening in, her shoulders relaxing when I nodded

We didn’t ever overreact, and Athos knew it If I sounded worried, I had cause, and she needed to do what she was told

Rika reached behind and picked up a jacket out of the third row, pulling it on, and then dug under the seat, pulling out a blade She kept them in all of our cars and various spots in the house for immediate access

But I puther

She met my eyes, and I shook my head No Not this time

Her eyes narrowed, confused “You can’t be serious,” she whispered “I’m alith you”

My heart ached, because I never wanted to do anything without her She was the reason ho ere It had all started with her

My eyes dropped to her sto to show himself more every day

“I need you to be with him,” I told her

At all costs

“But Octavia and Madden—”

“We’ll get them”

Of course, she was needed And alanted

I touched her face, tipping her chin up to ht when she was thirteen, yelling atto see you andaround in one person,” I murmured

We loved Athos and ere lucky, because I didn’t give a shit about the mother who’d left her at the sitter’s when she was seven and never came back, or the father she’d never known

She was made for us

But I was dying for another chance to be a dad

Da lot of thewhite over the sea Rika finally nodded, knowing this was as far as she went

“I’ll call Search and Rescue” She took et here”

I took her face and leaned in, kissing her as Dahts fell upon us from behind

Kai and Will were here

“Lock the doors,” I whispered against her mouth