Page 77 of Shattered Trinket

Ridge relaxes in his seat, nodding with a thoughtful expression on his handsome face.

“Ever done any construction work?” Manny chimes in, leaning around me to look at Jeremiah.

“No, but I pick things up pretty quickly.”

With a satisfied nod, Manny pushes his plate away, his arm settling on the back of my chair. Absent-mindedly, his thumb caresses my bare arm, teasing the sensitive skin and causing a delightful shiver to run down my spine.

“You could come work with me, if you think it’s something you’d like to do. I’m short a couple of guys for a few projects we have contracts for and could use the extra hands.”

Jeremiah stares intently at him for a few moments, before he eventually agrees, and Manny smiles at him.

“Perfecto.Then it’s settled.”

As I lean my head against Jeremiah’s arm, a yawn escapes me, my body feeling heavy and tired after filling my belly. Jeremiah pulls me into his lap, cradling me against his chest, and I relax, feeling safe and secure in his embrace as I nuzzle my face into the warmth of his chest and inhale his familiar scent. The struggle to keep my eyes open becomes futile as I sink into his hold, and eventually they close.

“Why don’t ye put her tae bed? We’ll clean up down here. She’s had a long day,” I hear Zeke murmur, his voice soft with a hint of a smile as I feel his eyes on me.

I’m jostled in Jeremiah’s hold as I feel him get up, but my eyes stay glued shut as exhaustion takes over. When he carefully places me in my new bed, I can feel the warmth of his kiss on my forehead before the bed shifts as he stands up, causing a slight whine to escape from me.

“Stay with me,” I murmur sleepily, scooting over without opening my eyes and sleepily patting the empty space in the bed as he laughs under his breath.

I can hear the rustle of fabric as he removes his clothes, followed by the gentle dip of the bed as he climbs in behind me. With his arm around my middle, he pulls me closer, and I can’t help but revel in the comforting heat that emanates from his body. As he kisses the back of my head, his nose nuzzles into my hair, inhaling deeply, and I’m overtaken by a sense of calmness as sleep beckons me further into its realm.

Twenty-Nine

Emmanuel

Opening my eyes, I hear a faint whimper echoing through the silence, causing me to sit up and scan my dimly lit room. I check the time and groan as I realize it’s only two in the morning, and I drag my hand down my face, trying to shake off the sleepiness.

Another faint whimper catches my attention, and I glance towards my bedroom door, which is still slightly ajar, realizing the sound is coming from Cozy’s room. I quietly get out of bed and step out into the hallway, furrowing my brows as I gaze at her closed door.

“No! Please!”

Her cry pierces the air, and I react instinctively. I push open the door to her room, my heart racing and filled with both fear and determination to find out if she’s alright. The door to her bathroom is wide open, allowing the light to spill out and making it easy for me to see. I glance towards her bed, surprised to see her alone, considering Jeremiah or Micah have slept in here with her every night since they arrived.

She’s wrapped in her sheet with the comforter kicked off. Her tousled hair frames her face, and I observe her troubled expression as she frowns in her sleep, her brows knitting together before a tearful sound escapes her.

A nightmare.

I move over to the side she’s sleeping on and crouch down, looking at her face and noting tear streaks that make me ache to wipe away. Cautiously, I reach out and touch her shoulder, gently shaking her. Her eyes pop open and she gasps, scrambling away from me as she stares at me with wide eyes that I don’t think are actually seeingme.I hold my hands up so she can see them, palms open and relaxed, to show her I’m not a threat. A purr rumbles deep in my chest to soothe her, and slowly the shadows in her eyes dissipate.

“It’s just me,mi corazón,” I murmur, and she relaxes, sniffling as tears shine in her eyes.

When she holds her arms out for me, I waste no time in climbing into her bed and pulling her into my lap until she’s facing me, legs straddling my hips. My heart is in my throat as she wraps her arms around me, burying her face in the crook of my neck. I hold her in my lap, feeling the quivering of her body, and I tenderly caress her back, providing comfort until her trembling stops.

“You wanna talk about it?” I ask her after several quiet moments, and she sits up, looking at me.

I bring my hand up, wiping away the last of her tears, and her eyes close briefly. She nibbles on her bottom lip, wiping her eyes, before she shakes her head and looks down. Her fingertips lightly graze my chest, their soft touch creating a delicate symphony of sensations that makes my heart race.

“Even after all these months, he still haunts my dreams. Not as often since I met all of you, but when I sleep alone, they sometimes break through. I figured I’d be okay to sleep by myself tonight after such a good week, but I suppose I was wrong,” she whispers with a hollow laugh.

Victor.

She’s talking about Victor Travis.

Even in death, his lingering presence continues to inflict pain on her, and I’m at a loss on how to free her of his oppressive grasp from beyond the grave.

It’s been several days since they all moved in, and while we’ve all adjusted and gotten to know each other better, she’s smiled more and more. Slowly, she’s become more relaxed with us all, and for once, our home feels like just that.