“What about you?” she asked, studying the side of my face.

I realized my temple was throbbing. My fingers prodded the area, and I winced. As I brought them back, I found them sticky with blood. “I’m going to be fine, too. We just need to get cleaned up.” I turned my focus back to Mia, carefully studying the nicks in her perfect cheek, making sure there were no shards of glass left behind. They’d need to be cleaned with alcohol and dressed, but I didn’t exactly have access to my first-aid kit at the moment.

When I was done wiping the blood away, I pressed a kiss to Mia’s forehead. “Feel better?”

She didn’t say anything, just clung to my belt loop as if it were a personal safety line. I wrapped an arm around her and squeezed.

“What about you, Cae Cae?” Ava asked. “Want me to clean your head?”

I plucked a tissue from the box. “I got it.” I wiped at my temple, but it just seemed to keep bleeding.

“The deputies are here,” Will called. “They’re approaching the house.”

“Tell them the front door is unlocked,” I replied. And how stupid was that? I’d come in from lounging on the porch and hadn’t even thought to lock the deadbolt. I might as well have welcomed the attackers in with open arms.

Footsteps sounded in the hallway. “Sheriff’s department.”

“We’re in here,” I called.

“Stay put for now. We’re going to search the house and then we’ll be back with an all-clear.”

“Okay.” My voice was steady, but the rest of me was anything but. As my gaze swept the room, all I could think was that these kids had already been through something far too similar, and how all of this had to bring back so many terrible memories. I’d promised them and myself that I’d keep them safe.

But I’d failed.

24

Griffin

My phone rang just as I took a long pull of my beer. The sound almost had me choking on my drink. No one called me. But I’d taken to carrying the device around with me because I’d given Caelyn and Will the number. I wanted them to be able to reach me whenever they needed.

Ford flashed across the screen, and my stomach sank. I hit accept. “Hey.”

“You’re gonna want to get over to Caelyn’s place.”

My muscles pulled so tight, I thought for sure one would snap. “What happened?”

“Someone threw a brick through the window. Mia got a few cuts. We’re heading over there now, but I thought you’d want to know.”