“Not then. Later. Felix said they had so much fun messing with the guards that they partied the rest of the night at his place.” Frankie giggled. “After dropping off the women and children in town, half the transport team joined the party. There were many tall tales of courage told that night.”

Kit relaxed back onto her pillows with a smile. “Well. Okay then.” It was an oddly satisfying picture, a celebration of bravery. And life.

“Did Hawk bring Aric in this morning?” Frankie asked, derailing her thoughts.

“He did.” Her poor baby had almost burst into tears at seeing her stitches. How many times had he seen her after a beating? She shook her head. “I’m worried…he’s still whispering.”

“Naturally.”

“What?” How could Frankie sound so nonchalant?

“It’ll take time to believe he’s safe and even longer to let go of the habits he learned.” Frankie’s gaze was level, her tone even. She was always honest with her friends, no matter how unpalatable the truth.

Kit swallowed. Aric whispered because children who made noise would be switched. “I hate that you’re right.”

Aric would eventually move past his fears. Would she ever move past her guilt? Look at the damage she’d done to her son’s childhood. All because she thought it would be good for him—and herself—to have a strong man in their lives.

Stupid. Yes, she really was.

Thinking of the harm done to others, Kit considered Frankie.

The letter asking for help had brought Frankie running. Leaving her job, her home, her friends. Risking her life. And undoubtedly upsetting her family. “How upset is your family that you’re here?”

Frankie averted her gaze. “A bit. But, hey, I was due a vacation.”

“Way past due,” Kit said lightly. As if this mess had been much of a vacation.

Way to mess up your bestie’s life, Kit. She pulled in a careful breath—because big ones made it feel as if someone was stabbing her right in the side. It was time to put on her adulting cap so Frankie knew she could go back to her real life.

The thought of managing without Frankie here was…frightening. Even so, she owed it to Frankie to let her go. “Did you know, the two women who live next door to Hawk stopped by. They said they’d keep an eye on Aric. Then Hawk actually came into my room for a whole minute today.”

That was one minute longer than he ever had before. For the previous two days, she’d only seen him when he let Aric into the room, then he’d wait outside in the hallway.

“Huh. Progress.”