92. Tessa

92

Tessa

C hloe reaches for me, her lip wobbling as the tears come. "Mama!" The minute she's back in my arms, everything settles. My whole body hurts and whatever painkillers the doctors gave me have started to wear off, but I don't care.

I need my babies. Harry crawls onto the bed and curls up next to me. Stella grins, then says softly,

"He missed you like crazy, but the kids kept him distracted."

"Thank you for taking him," I mouth over Chloe's head while the guys chat to each other. "You're the best."

"I am your bestie," she snorts. "You've helped me out often enough. Remember the green hair incident? You literally saved my life."

We both laugh, remembering what an awful mess Stella made of her hair when she used one too many box dye kits at college, back before anyone knew who she really was. My sister, Marie, managed to rescue the situation. Speaking of... I really must call her once I get a phone. She must be frantic by now.

Each time I look up, the guys are watching me. All three of them. Of course, Stella notices.

"I see you got yourself a hot guy harem!" She laughs. I shake my head dismissively. There's no future to this. There's no way they're going to stick around. I'm well aware of how many thirsty DMs Cin gets on the regular. He has women throwing themselves at him every day. And he works with gorgeous celebs.

Why would he want to be with me?

Sure, we've had some great times, but I'm not dumb. I was there and he was horny. Madden probably can't want to move back to his house in the forest. He hates the city.

And as for Kade, he's my father's right-hand man. Yes, he told my father we were together, but I'm certain he meant it as a temporary arrangement.

I'm a mom. My kids come first. Whatever this is between us has an expiration date. It's better if I get that through my head now. I have too much to process to be dealing with a broken heart as well.

"They'll probably want to get back to their lives now that Mashkov is dead and I have Chloe back."

She leans forward and says quietly, "Hmm. I'm not so sure about that, Tess. They look all in to me. Kade was a wreck when he dropped Harry off after the... event ." I silently thank her for keeping it vague. "I went full psycho on his ass and he didn't complain."

When I look over her shoulder, Kade is staring at me, and I wonder if he knows what we're talking about. But then Quinn says something, and he looks away.

My eyes droop and before long, I'm falling asleep. The minute Stella realizes I'm losing the battle to stay awake, she hustles the kids out. Chloe cries, but Harry doesn't complain. I don't want to let Chloe go, but I'm in no state to look after her right now, and I trust Stella to care for her while I'm stuck in here.

"Thank you for...everything," I say with a sleepy yawn.

Cin presses a light kiss on my forehead. "Any time, sweetness. Now get some sleep and we'll be here when you wake up."

"You're safe now, baby." Madden leans in to kiss me, and I wonder for a moment whether this is a fever dream.

"You're not leaving?" I hate sounding needy, but my barriers are down and the words fall from my mouth.

"No, baby, we're not going anywhere." He smiles as my eyelids flutter shut. Knowing they're be there when I wake is comforting. Just as I'm drifting away, I feel Kade's lips brush my cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Kitten."