“Are you listening to anything we’re saying, Rafe?” Sasha demanded.

“Yes. And no,” Rafe answered honestly. “You guys can talk all night, but I think Mercy needs to get some sleep. I’m taking her back to our house. Farrah, you too, if you’re ready to go.”

“I’m so sorry, Mercy,” Daisy said, dismay in her tone. “I didn’t realize how late it was. You must be exhausted.”

Irina and Karl looked equally dismayed as they really looked at Mercy. “Oh, izvini doragaya maya,” Irina sighed, zapping back from savvy media planner into mama bear in the blink of her eyes. “We are sorry, too. You can sleep here, of course.”

Mercy’s gaze flicked to Rafe’s. “Thank you, but . . .”

Rafe jumped in to save her from needing to decline. “It’s quiet at my place, Mom. Sometimes some folks need a little quiet to rejuvenate.”

Sasha’s eyes turned shrewd as she tilted her head, studying him for a moment, then giving him a brisk nod. It was like she saw that he needed the quiet as much as Mercy did. “I’ll get the cats ready to go.”

Farrah was smiling at him. “I’ll get our bags.”

Karl harrumphed. “I’ll get the bags. You and Irina can wrap up some supper to take back for leftovers.”

Irina was already on her feet. “But it’s secure here, and—”

Just then the front door opened and closed loudly. “Rafe?” Damien called.

“In the kitchen!” Rafe called back. “Damien’s going to escort us home,” he told his mother. “He’ll stay up on the third floor since Daisy’s with Gideon tonight.” As she should be, because Gideon needed her. Rafe hadn’t seen his friend that devastated in a long, long time.

Irina’s smile was rueful. “I should have known you would have prepared, Raphael. But tomorrow is Sunday. You will come back for dinner, yes?”

Rafe gave her a nod. “Of course, Mom. We wouldn’t miss it. Thank you.”

Irina winked at him. “Is nothing,” she said, waving her hand and layering her accent on thickly. “You’re a good boy, Raphael.”

Mercy snorted quietly. “Suck-up,” she whispered to him, but she was smiling and that was all that mattered. She turned to the rest of the group. “Tomorrow I’ll be able to think more clearly and I’ll do whatever we agree is best. Rafe is right. I need a little quiet time to recharge. I don’t want you to think I’m unappreciative—”

Karl patted her hand. “We get it, Mercy. Rafe thinks we don’t know that he fixed up that house to give himself quiet time, too.” He arched a brow at Rafe. “You really didn’t think you’d fooled your mother and me all these years, did you?”

Rafe opened his mouth in surprise, then closed it again when he realized he had no idea what to say.

Mercy snickered. “Busted.”

He had to smile back at her. Mercy was beautiful, but smiling? Her face simply glowed. And reassured him that she was going to be strong enough to weather this storm.