I didn’t know what else he was going to say, but I didn’t need to hear it. It was pointless, because at the end of the day this was my problem, and it was endangering all of us.

“I go to these fights because I would do anything to make sure you are safe. I go because I know if I was in this situation, you wouldn’t hesitate to have my back. Lucio is fucking crazy, and we knew that from the beginning. We knew that when he was ready to use your sister to get his money.” He took a deep breath. “I would go through this pain again if it meant you didn’t have to suffer for it. I know that while you say you’re fine after fights, you’re not. It’s affecting you more than you’d like to say, and I wish there was a way for us to stop it.” I was in front of the sink, facing away from him.

I hated that he was ok with it. I hated that he would go through it again just because he felt like he had to.

“It’s my problem. I should have been going alone this whole time, not putting you guys in danger,” I said, turning around.

“That’s not how this works, and you know it. We step up when we need to, and I will always stand up for you.” Nathan raised his hurt hand. “I would go through this again because if he did this to you, we wouldn’t have been able to take you to the hospital, and then where would you be?”

I nodded. He was right. I would be at home with a broken hand that didn’t heal right and I wouldn’t be able to fight, much less do any of my job. “I just hate that you have to suffer with me.”

“You’ve suffered with me plenty. The first year after Natalie was gone, do you remember having to spend the night in the hospital with me?”

I nodded, remembering he had almost killed himself with alcohol poisoning. I made him throw-up while Aiden looked for a hospital.

“That’s nothing compared to what you’ve gone through for me, but I get what you mean,” I said, stepping closer to the island and leaning over it. “I’m sorry, I said we loved her. I think we all have for a while, and I just wanted her to feel loved.”

“I’m being an ass. I swear, we take two steps forward with Jane, and it feels like we take five back,” he said, looking exhausted. “I’m just worried about her too. I just don’t want her to do anything she is going to regret.”