“For a while. Eventually, you’ll go home again, but not until your Mommy is ready to.”

“I don’t want to go home. It’ll be too hard to be there without Daddy.”

“We offered our house on Ninth Street to your mom and you kids.”

He seemed to brighten a bit hearing that. “Are we going to live there?”

“It’s up to Mommy to decide that, but maybe.”

“That would be good,” he said, sounding relieved.

“You need to get some rest, little man. It’s time to turn off that busy mind of yours, close your eyes and have sweet dreams.”

“I’ll try.”

“Come get me if you need me. You remember where my room is, right?”

“Yeah, I memorized the way.”

Smiling, Sam kissed his forehead and smoothed a hand over his hair. “Love you, Jackpot.”

“Love you, too, Samsonite.”

“Another good one,” she said, laughing.

“I used Mommy’s phone to Google some new ones.”

“Shhh, don’t give away your secrets.” She kissed him again and tucked the covers around his tiny shoulders that held the weight of his world on them. “See you in the morning.”

“Will you be here?”

“You bet.”

“Okay.”

Sam turned on his nightlight and left the door cracked open the way he liked it. For a long moment, she stood outside the door, head back, eyes closed as she breathed through the tsunami of emotions.

That’s where Nick found her when he came looking for her.

His unmistakable scent washed over her, providing immediate comfort. He curled his hand around hers. “Let’s go to bed, babe.”

Chapter Fifteen

Sam and Nick went downstairs to their suite and closed the door.

“I simply cannot stand this,” Sam said, turning into his embrace.

“How’s Jack?”

“He’s sick with grief, the poor guy. And what the twins said…”

“I know, love. All our poor babies have seen too much, too soon.”

“I hate that the twins are afraid of losing us, too. Maybe I should’ve taken the deputy chief’s job so I could be off the streets and safer. I was only thinking of myself when I turned it down.”

“If you’re unhappy, you’re no good to anyone.”

“It kills me that they’re worried about us when we both have jobs that put us in danger.”

“We’re as careful as we can possibly be, and we’re surrounded by world-class security.”

“Still, the older they get, the more they’ll realize they have good reason to be worried.”

“I’ll mention this conversation to the therapist before their next appointment,” Nick said.

“She must cream her jeans every time she hears from you.”

“Ew.”

Sam laughed at the face he made.

“Thanks for putting that image in my head.”

“I do what I can for the people.”

“Speaking of doing what we can, I’ve given considerable thought to our loft not being currently available to us.”

“Have you?” she asked.

“I have, and if you’re in the mood to shed all your worries for a bit, I’d be happy to show you.”