Part 22

Ira got down on her knees like a sinner in a temple, but she knew she wasn't about to be saved. How could she be? She was trapped in a fake bathroom inside a fake hotel room with a madman, and the only person she could count on to find her hadn't come. It was starting to feel like she never would.

"Lean forward." Suthep's hand on her back guided her into the position he wanted.

Ira gripped the edge of the tub so tightly her knuckles turned white. She bowed her head, but she didn't close her eyes. She couldn't. Closing her eyes made everything so much worse. A violent shiver ran through her. Her teeth chattered from the cold, but she knew it wasn't just the water.

"You're freezing." Suthep rubbed her shoulders, his touch eerily tender, like a lover.

She forced herself not to flinch, not to pull away. If she shattered his fantasy, she might not get another chance to escape.

"I'm sorry there's no way to heat the water," he murmured, almost regretful. "I didn't know they ruined your hair. If I had, I would've planned this part of our journey better."

"It's...okay," Ira whispered, forcing the words past the tightness in her throat. She had never felt so bone-deep cold in her life, but the last thing she wanted was for him to try and warm her up.

"It'll all be worth it when I'm done." His hand slid from her neck to her hair, his fingers gliding over the damp strands. "My beautiful girl will look like herself again, and then we can leave. I can't wait to show you our new home."

A tear dripped from her cheek and disappeared into the murky water below. Suthep smoothed her hair with a soft sigh. "Close your eyes, little one."

When she didn't obey, his fingers tightened around her neck.

"Now."

Ira squeezed her eyes shut, her breath shallow and quick. The pungent scent of his cologne filled her nose, thick and cloying. The heat of his body pressed against her back, suffocating. Her stomach twisted, threatening to revolt against the crackers he had forced her to eat while the dye processed. Water cascaded over her head as he ran his fingers through her hair.

She hated him. She had never hated anyone in her life the way she hated Suthep Anurak. She wanted out of this nightmare, but at the same time, she feared the moment it ended—because after he finished with her hair, she would have to face whatever came next. Just the thought of what he might want...what he might do... Her belief that Tawan was coming, that she would find her, was the only thing keeping her sane.

Suthep poured more water over her head, rubbing at different spots, as if trying to erase every trace of the red dye. The rage simmered beneath his forced tenderness. His fingers were too rough, his frustration slipping through the cracks of his performance. He had hated her red hair so much, he was shaking with the need to change it. The water trickled to a stop.

"This is wrong. This is all wrong."

Ira flinched as the empty water jug clattered against the tiled floor.

"On your feet."

Dread glued her to the spot. "Is there...a towel?"

"Get up." Suthep yanked her upright like she was nothing more than a doll, then spun her toward the mirror. "Look at this."

His eyes—wild, unhinged, almost feverish—locked onto hers in the reflection. She could see nothing but madness in them, a frenzied obsession that made her blood run cold. He shook her shoulders. "Look at your hair!"

Ira tore her gaze away from him and onto her reflection. The white robe she wore was streaked with reddish-brown stains, and her hair—formerly a deep, rich black—was now a brash, almost neon shade of orange. The color was unnatural, clashing violently with her skin. It made her look flushed, feverish, almost sickly. She wasn't Ira Suwannathat or Earn Phongphiphat anymore. But she wasn't someone else, either. Horror crept along her scalp, down her spine, into her very bones. If this had been a normal day, if she had been alone, she might have screamed, or cried, or grabbed a hat and hidden away in embarrassment. But she wasn't alone. And this was so much worse than a botched dye job.

Suthep's face twisted with rage. His lip curled in fury.

"What the hell?" His voice was sharp, vibrating with barely contained anger. "What the hell is this? What did you do?"

"N-nothing," Ira stammered, her throat tightening so hard it hurt to speak. "It always looks d-different when it's wet."

"Bullshit." Suthep's nostrils flared. "You fucked this up on purpose."

Before she could move, he shoved her against the bathroom counter. The sharp edge dug into her hip.

"Didn't you?"

Ira barely caught herself on the sink before she collapsed. "No. I—I've never dyed my own hair before, but I followed the instructions. Maybe it needs shampoo? There wasn't any in the—"

"You think shampoo would fix this?"

His hand fisted in her tangled orange locks and twisted hard, jerking her head back so fast that white-hot pain exploded in her scalp. Tears burned in her eyes, but she held them back. She had to.

"I'll do it again," she gasped. "I'll get it right this time. I promise."

Suthep let out a furious growl and yanked his phone from his pocket. His fingers flew over the screen. "We don't have time. This has already put us off schedule." He threw the phone down on the bed outside the bathroom. "Get dressed. We're leaving."

Then, just like that, he stormed out, leaving her shaking in place, struggling to breathe. Ira's fingers trembled as she reached for the pendant around her neck. She pressed the hidden panic button once. Twice. Again. And again. And again.

Nothing happened. Was it broken? If it wasn't...where was Tawan? If it was...

More tears slipped down her cheeks. She couldn't stop them. She clenched her jaw against the sob clawing up her throat and forced herself to focus. She needed to move. She grabbed the new clothes from the counter where Suthep had left them. A rhinestone-studded T-shirt. Baggy jeans.

She slipped them on in a haze of terror, careful to tuck the panic button inside the shirt where he wouldn't see it. She didn't know what else to do. A bell dinged in the bedroom. The absurdly cheerful sound made her flinch. Suthep swore loudly. His footsteps stomped toward the bathroom, fast and heavy. Ira instinctively tried to shuffle back, to put some distance between them. It didn't matter. He grabbed her wrist before she could blink.

"Come with me." His grip was so tight she swore she could feel the bones grinding together beneath his fingers.

"My shoes."

"Leave them."

She tried to drag her feet. It was pointless. He was too big, too strong. She lunged for the chair as they passed through the living room, hoping—praying—to catch it, to anchor herself to something. She missed.

He slammed Ira into the wall beside the front door. The impact rattled through her bones, and the whole frame shuddered with the force of her body hitting it.

"Keep quiet and move."

Suthep flung the door open and shoved her through. She stumbled, her bare feet scraping against the rough concrete floor. Something sharp sliced into her skin. A searing pain shot up her leg, and she gasped. She had enough time to register that she wasn't outside like she'd expected. She was still trapped.

The space in front of her was vast—an enormous warehouse with high metal walls and harsh industrial spotlights. Everything was too bright, too sterile, like a twisted version of a movie set.

Suthep didn't give her a second to take it all in. He was already dragging her toward a massive black van parked a few feet away. It was the kind with reinforced steel bars along the front—intimidating, heavy, built for pushing through anything in its way. She didn't want to get in that Van.

Her protest started as a choked whimper in the back of her throat, then grew and grew until it erupted into a scream.

"No, no, no, no!"

"Get in the damn Van." Suthep didn't even hesitate. He grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder like she was nothing more than a sack of rice.

The air whooshed out of her lungs as her stomach smacked against his shoulder.

"No!" Ira kicked wildly, twisting, struggling, desperate to break free. "No! No! No!"

None of her self-defense training had prepared her for this. There was no leverage, no way to break his hold. She flailed and clawed and hit, but she might as well have been trying to fight off a mountain. Then, the lights went out.

A deep, deafening thud echoed through the warehouse.

"Fuck!" Suthep hissed. He lurched forward, his grip tightening around her thighs as he rushed toward the Van.

Something was happening.

He fumbled with something—she heard metal scraping—then a flash of light burst from inside the cab of the truck. Ira's heart pounded.

Now. Move now.

The second Suthep threw her into the truck, her head slammed against the doorframe. White-hot pain exploded behind her eyes, and for a moment, everything spun.

And then—

A terrible, screeching sound ripped through the air. Metal grinding. Twisting. Something heavy crashed behind Suthep. He whipped around. Ira didn't waste the opportunity.

She kicked him—hard.

His grip loosened just enough. She scrambled out, head ringing, vision blurry. But she knew—deep in her bones, she knew—who it had to be. Hope burst through her chest like an explosion, pushing out the pain, the fear, the panic. She sucked in a deep breath and screamed.

"Tawan!"

Ira's scream cut through the suffocating darkness, echoing through the abandoned warehouse like a siren. It wasn't just a cry for help—it was raw, soul-deep terror. The sound burrowed into Tawan's brain and kicked her adrenaline into overdrive. She knew that sound. She had heard it once before—when she was too young, too helpless to stop it.

Never again.

She moved through the mangled opening of the warehouse, fast and low, night-vision goggles in place, gun in hand. The space was massive—nearly half the size of a football field—but the inside was pitch-black. Wei had already killed the generator Suthep had set up, plunging everything into deep, impenetrable darkness. It was a cloudy night. No moonlight seeped in through the high, metal-plated ceiling. The cover of night was on her side.

Tawan scuttled sideways, staying out of any ambient light. Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs as she scanned for movement.

Then—

A flicker of motion.

Ira.

She was struggling next to a black Van, arms flailing, her bare feet dragging against the warehouse floor. Suthep's massive arm was locked around her throat in a tight, unforgiving chokehold. Fury snapped through Tawan's veins like a live wire.

He's hurting her.

"Get the fuck out of here, rent-a-cop!" Suthep's voice rang out, cocky and unhinged. "You had your turn. She's mine now."

Tawan's grip on her gun tightened. She took a slow, steady step forward, but kept the barrel aimed at the ground—for now.

"Ira!"

Her name came out like a half-strangled gasp.

"It's over, Suthep!" Tawan's voice was low, deadly. "The place is surrounded. You're out of options."

It was true—if a slight exaggeration.

"Liar." Suthep Anurak shuffled along the side of the black SUV, dragging Ira with him. "You tripped my security feed, moron. One van. No flashing lights. No Police. It's just you and maybe that pathetic hacker. I already took out the dark-haired bitch and that lame lapdog. You're on your own."

Tawan barely controlled the snarl that threatened to rip from her throat. Wei's soft voice crackled in her earpiece. "In position."

Tawan kept her voice low. "Hold."

The plan was for Wei to keep the van in position for a quick exit while Tawan got Ira to the door.

"You think we didn't call for backup?" Tawan crouched, moving toward the front of the SUV. "The police are on their way. They know your name, Suthep. They know everything."

"You'd say anything to get your hands on her," Suthep snapped, tightening his grip on Ira. "She's mine, and there ain't shit you can do about it."

Ira let out a strangled sound before Suthep choked her into silence. Tawan's finger twitched on the trigger. "There's still a chance for you to walk away, Suthep. Let her go. This doesn't have to end with you in a body bag."

"Fuck. You." Suthep yanked Ira behind the SUV.

Tawan's night-vision goggles were good, but they weren't heat-sensitive. They didn't let her see through thick metal. She circled around, keeping her line of sight open. Every instinct in her screamed to take him down now, but she knew better. If she rushed him, Ira could end up in the crossfire—or worse. Suthep would snap her neck if she pushed him too hard.

"There's only one way out of this for you," Tawan said, voice cold. "Let her go. Walk away."

"You think you're in charge here?" Suthep sneered, dragging Ira toward the driver's side door. "She's coming with me."

Then, suddenly, Ira moved. A sound—half agony, half rage—tore from her throat as she twisted in Suthep's grip.

For a second, Tawan thought she had kissed him. Then Suthep reared back with a guttural howl. His face gleamed in the dim light—covered in blood.

"You bit me, you crazy bitch!" Suthep roared, eyes wild with pain and fury. Ira spat, her voice shaking. "You deserved it."

Suthep shoved her away, then ducked around the front of the SUV, disappearing from view. Ira hit the ground hard with a sharp cry of pain.

"Shit." Tawan holstered her gun and sprinted toward her. "We need to move. Now."

Ira looked up at her, eyes glassy with pain. "You came."

"Always." Tawan heaved her up.

Ira tried to put weight on her foot and immediately whimpered. "I can't... My ankle."

"Lean on me."

Tawan considered throwing Ira over her shoulder, but she needed her weapon hand free. Instead, she pulled Ira against her, half carrying her as they moved as fast as they could toward the hole in the warehouse wall. Wei's van was waiting on the other side. Twenty-five yards. That was all they had to cover. They just had to make it.

Fifteen yards.

Tawan risked a glance over her shoulder.

The dome light inside the black SUV flared to life. Suthep was getting ready to drive out of here—and he wouldn't hesitate to run them down in the process. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She tightened her grip on Ira and pushed forward.

Ten more yards and Ira was safe. Behind them, the SUV door slammed shut. Tawan listened for the rumble of an engine, her breath coming fast, but she didn't slow down.

Five yards.

"Door's open," Wei's voice crackled in her earpiece.

"Coming in hot," Tawan bit out, half carrying Ira as they barreled toward the waiting van.

Shots rang out. Two missed.

The third sliced through Tawan's left thigh, a searing line of fire. She staggered, biting back a curse as pain nearly took her down.

"Tawan!" Ira's scream was raw with terror.

Tawan forced herself to stay upright. Not now. Keep moving. But her balance wavered, and she let go of Ira before they both crashed to the ground.

"Go! Get to the van!" she ordered through gritted teeth.

"Oh God, oh God! You're shot!" Ira tugged desperately on her arm. "I'm not leaving you. Come on! You have to move!"

"You're shot?" Wei's voice cracked in her earpiece.

Another bullet whizzed past them, too damn close. Tawan shoved Ira forward. "Run!"

Ira hesitated, eyes torn between fear and stubbornness.

"I mean it!" Tawan barked. "Go. Now. You'll get us both killed!"

Ira's face twisted in anguish, but she turned and limped toward the van. Tawan spun, raising her weapon as she positioned herself between Ira and the next shot. The bullet slammed into her vest. It felt like being kicked in the chest by an elephant. The impact sent her crashing onto her knees, her lungs refusing to work.

Suthep Anurak stalked toward her, his gun raised, his expression an ugly mix of fury and triumph. He thought he'd won. Not today. Tawan rolled to the side, drawing his attention away from Ira.

"You missed, asshole!" she growled.

Suthep snarled and fired again, three rapid shots.

Tawan flattened against the ground, concrete scraping her skin as the bullets slammed into the wall behind her.

Ira screamed. Suthep's weapon swung back toward her.

No you don't.

Tawan fired two rounds, straight into his chest.

Suthep jerked, his eyes going wide with shock before he collapsed onto the concrete. His gun clattered to the floor beside him.

Silence.

Tawan kept her weapon trained on him.

One thing she'd learned over the years: Never assume your target is down until you make damn sure they're not breathing. Seconds dragged by.

Nothing.

"Target down," she said into the comms.

"Thank fuck," Wei exhaled.

Tawan let out a weak chuckle. "You're swearing now?"

"Fuck yeah. You've been shot. Yes, I'm fucking swearing. Stay still. I'm coming to you."

The spotlights flared to life, momentarily blinding her. She ripped off the night-vision goggles.

"Tawan!"

Ira collapsed beside her, hands pressing against her arm, her face a mix of panic and relief.

"Careful, your ankle," Tawan muttered, wincing.

"I don't care about my ankle. You're bleeding." Ira's voice was thick with emotion, her fingers hovering over the gunshot wound.

Dark bruises had already started to form around Ira's throat where Suthep had choked her. Tawan's jaw clenched. It was a good thing that bastard was dead. Tawan reached for Ira's hand, gripping it tightly as if to reassure herself that she was really there, alive and whole. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine." Ira clutched her hand even harder, her voice shaking. "This is not fine."

Wei appeared, a med kit clutched in one hand, his face pale with sheer panic. His gaze locked onto Tawan's injured leg, and his expression twisted in alarm. "Hell, Tawan. That's...shit." He dropped to his knees, already tearing into the supplies with frantic energy.

"Just a scratch." Tawan exhaled slowly. Why hadn't Wei turned the lights back on? Oh. He had. She just...hadn't noticed. Shit, she was tired.

"Ira...you okay?"

"Am I okay? Of course, I'm okay. You found me. You saved me." Ira's voice wavered as she blinked rapidly. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Tawan. You said I'd get you shot, and I thought you were exaggerating, and now you're shot and—" Her breath hitched. "Is she going to be okay? Please tell me she's going to be okay."

Wei's hands didn't waver as he worked. "An ambulance is five minutes out," he muttered, voice still a little shaky, but steadier than before. "She's Special Forces. They bleed like this for breakfast."

"That's not funny," Ira whispered, but there was a watery chuckle beneath the tears. Tawan let out something close to a laugh—short, rough, exhausted. Then Wei tightened the tourniquet, and white-hot pain flared in her vision. The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, head pillowed in Ira's lap.

"Hey, sunshine," she mumbled, squinting up at Ira.

Her hair—what the hell? It was orange. Not the warm, sun-kissed brown she loved through, but orange.

"What happened to your hair?"

"It's ruined." Ira's face crumpled. "He made me ruin it." She hiccupped on a sob. "I'm not Earn anymore."

Tawan reached up, fingers brushing an orange curl as the darkness started pulling her under.

"You'll always be Earn to me."

After being whisked away to the hospital, where she was poked, prodded, and bandaged, Ira woke up several hours... days?... later in a room filled with warm sunlight and familiar voices. She blinked at the brightness, her vision swimming as she tried to focus on the people around her.

All of her siblings were there. Even Kate, who was supposed to be in Singapore or Vietnam or somewhere. Phong and Prigkhing had come too, and even though she didn't see Tan, she knew he was around somewhere. He was never far from Wisanu.

How had they all arrived so fast? How long had she been asleep? Where was Tawan?

Wei had been in at some point—had she imagined that? He'd told her that Tawan was in surgery but that the wound wasn't too bad. A through-and-through, he'd called it. He'd patted her hand awkwardly and promised he'd be back with more news soon.

But his face had been tight and pale with worry. Had he just been telling her what she wanted to hear? Did the surgery go okay?

"Tawan?" she murmured, her voice hoarse and weak.

Nobody heard her.

Kate and Phong were huddled together at the window. Phong was studying a script, while Kate glared outside. It was her worried warrior face, the one she wore when she thought a crowd might get out of control. She was keeping watch. Ira's chest tightened at the gesture of love and protection.

Ying sat in a rickety metal chair near the door, curled up with Prigkhing, who had her arms wrapped around her protectively, murmuring something against her ear. Ira was surprised Ying was here at all. She hated hospitals. They reminded her too much of when their mother had died.

Wisanu sat in a chair near the window, his business face on, cell phone pressed to his ear.

"No. That's not good enough. Now. Yes, now. I don't care what you have to do, you keep them out of this hospital. Just do it."

He paused, listening, then let out an irritated breath.

"I don't care how many people you have to hire or where they have to come from. You keep those cockroaches out of this building. I'm not having my baby sister or her bodyguard hassled while they're recovering. She's been through enough as it is."

He pulled the phone away, staring at it like he wanted to throttle whoever was on the other end, then pressed it back to his ear.

"If you don't want to see your face plastered all over the internet with the headline 'Hospital Fails to Protect Patients,' you'll get on this train. This isn't a debate or a suggestion. If you don't nail down security around this building, I will. Then I'll send you the bill. Trust me when I say you don't want that bill. It'll be more than your yearly budget."

Kate snorted. "More than the entire city's budget. Another van just pulled up." She tilted her head, considering. "That's a major network. It's not just locals anymore."

"Did you hear that?" Wisanu's voice took on his deadliest I am in charge tone. "You're about to make national news. Do you really want to be the latest meme?"

There was another pause, then grim satisfaction spread across Wisanu's face. "Yes. That'll work for now. I don't know when we're leaving. When I know, you'll know." He hung up with a muttered swear. Just then, his gaze flicked to the hospital bed, and his eyes widened.

"Ira!" Wisanu's face broke into a relieved, joyful smile. He stood up, his stance protective, his sharp eyes softening for the first time since she woke up. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead."

"I hate that phrase," Ira croaked. "You know I hate that phrase."

Tears bubbled in Wisanu's eyes as he held a cup of water to Ira's lips. "How are you feeling? The doctor says your throat is bruised, and your ankle is sprained, but nothing's broken. They didn't check for..." He hesitated, his voice thick with emotion. "Sweetie, he didn't... do anything... else... did he?"

Ira closed her eyes against the thought. "No."

"Oh, thank God."

To Ira's horror, her take-charge, fix-everything older brother burst into gut-wrenching sobs.

Ying rushed forward, her eyes wide with concern. "Wisanu, bro, it's okay. She's okay." Ying guided Wisanu back to his chair, where he sat with one hand over his face, the other gripping a tissue as if it were a lifeline.

"You scared all of us, Ira, but it's hitting Wisanu extra hard right now." Kate grimaced as she pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat. "Who knew our big brother is such a softie."

"Oh..." Ira's own eyes blurred with tears. "Where's Tawan?"

Phong and Prigkhing exchanged a look before subtly backing toward the door. "She's next door. She wanted to know the moment you woke up..." Then, without another word, they scurried out.

"Cowards," Kate sniffed.

"You can't blame them," Ying said gently. "A room full of crying—is pretty intimidating." Despite herself, Ira managed a watery chuckle. "Tawan? The surgery...?"

"The surgery went very well," Wisanu said as he wiped at his eyes. "She'll need some physical therapy for the damaged muscle in her thigh, but she'll be good as new in a couple of months."

Kate blew her nose. "Seriously, Ira... I'm so sorry this happened to you. We never should have left you alone."

"You didn't." Ira tried to sit up, but the room still spun, so she collapsed back onto the pillows. Kate pressed the button to raise the bed into a sitting position. Ira gave her a grateful smile.

Ying was doing that silent crying thing she did when she was really upset—tears falling without a sound. "We were all so worried, Ira. It's been a rough twenty-four hours."

"More like thirty-six," Kate said. "Tan's been on a rampage ever since he got the alert from Wei. He's planning to revamp our entire security protocol."

Ira could picture that. Tan would be furious that her security had been breached. Her stomach twisted. "He didn't... he didn't fire Tawan, did he? It wasn't her fault!"

"Of course not, sweetie." Wisanu waved the idea away. "Tawan quit."

"Quit?" Ira gaped at him. "She can't quit."

Wisanu blinked at her, confused. "Why not? It's over. It's all over. Your stalker is dead. The assignment is over. We'll all go back to our normal security teams."

Ira stared at each of them in turn. They didn't get it. She didn't care about security teams. She cared about Tawan.

"Tawan..." she whispered.

"Don't you worry about her," Ying said softly, reaching for Ira's hand. "She'll be fine. Tan is making sure of it."

Ying sat on the edge of the bed, her presence gentle. "I've been thinking. They want to keep you overnight for observation. You had a nasty hit to the head at some point. But after that, you'll need somewhere to recuperate. Why don't you come stay with me? You can hang out by the beach or the pool, rest, and not have to worry about people sneaking into because it is an island. You'll have all the time you need to recover."

"I... thanks, Ying. That's really sweet, but..." Panic fluttered in Ira's chest. She didn't want to live in a island, no matter how safe it was. Picturing them in their pre-wedding bliss made her heart hurt because she'd be there alone...without Tawan.

"Well, you can't stay with me," Kate said. "We're stuck in a seedy hotel for the rest of the shoot. But my place is open. You and whatever security team you want."

"You can always come stay with me," Wisanu offered. "You know there's plenty of room, and I'd love to have you there. Weren't you planning to come anyway, closer to the baby's due date?"

There was a time not so long ago when that was exactly what Ira had wanted to do. But now... tears pricked at her eyes. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to the life she'd started to build in Bangkok. She didn't want to let it all go. She didn't want to let Tawan go. Before she could find the words to explain, a knock sounded at the door. A nurse peeked inside, glancing at her clipboard.

"Excuse me, is there a Earn Phongphiphat  in the room?"

Ira's heart skipped a beat, and she sat up a little. "That's me."

The nurse frowned at her. "Oh. Okay. Well, there's a delivery for you. Should I send it in?" Ira caught sight of someone standing behind the nurse, holding a vase filled with sunflowers. Her heart lifted. "Yes. Please."

"What on earth?" Wisanu asked as vase after vase filled with sunflowers was carried into the room.

Kate snatched the card off one of the larger arrangements and handed it to her.

Sunflowers for my Earn. Yours always, Tawan.

The flowers kept coming. There were so many that the six people carrying them had to spread them out on every available surface—the bedside table, the counter, the windowsill, even the small sink in the corner. By the time they were finished, the hospital room was bursting with bright yellow blooms, their sunshiny faces beaming at her.

"Yours always," Ira whispered to herself.

It was as if Tawan had reached through the walls and wrapped her in her arms. Tawan never said things she didn't mean. She meant exactly what she said.

Yours always.

Ira was hers. Always.

She hadn't imagined it. Tawan loved her. Maybe she hadn't used the exact words, but this—this was what she meant. A lightness bloomed inside Ira's chest, so strong she thought she might float right off the hospital bed. It wasn't just the pain medication making her head spin. Happy tears slipped down her cheeks.

Kate studied her face with a raised eyebrow. "Something you want to tell us, Ira?"

"Are you okay?" Wisanu sounded concerned.

"Maybe it's the medication?" Ying suggested.

Kate, however, tilted her head, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "You don't want to stay with any of us, do you, Ira?" She tapped a finger against her chin. "Could that be because you'd rather stay with someone else?"

For the first time in her life, Ira felt... a little self-conscious. She shrugged and avoided meeting her sister's gaze. "You're all very sweet to offer, but... I want to stay in Kalasin. With Tawan."

Comprehension dawned on Wisanu's face, followed by a slow, fond smile. "Well, I guess you'll have to ask the homeowner, but I have a feeling she won't object. Especially if this parade of flowers means what I think it means."

"You want to stay at Tawan's place?" Ying asked slowly, as if piecing together a puzzle.

Ira nodded. "It's a really great place."

Kate plopped onto the bed next to her, elbowing her playfully. "Did someone catch feelings for her warden?"

"He's not so bad." Ira twirled a sunflower between her fingers, trying—and failing—to hide her smile.

Ying let out a delighted squeak and slapped a hand over her mouth. Kate's grin widened. "I thought you didn't like her. That's what you texted me, wasn't it?" She tugged out her phone and started scrolling. "Let's see... Oh! Here it is. 'She's obnoxious and mean and no fun at all.'"

"I never sent that." Ira sniffed. Kate continued scrolling. "'She's the biggest killjoy on the planet.'"

"I did not send that either."

Kate waggled the phone at her. "Oh, it goes on for quite a while. Want to hear more?" Wisanu chuckled as Ira groaned and flopped back against the pillows. "P'san! Kate being mean to me!"

Wisanu rolled his eyes. "Kate, leave her alone. She's had a very hard day."

"You always take her side," Kate said with an exaggerated whine.

"Delete those, please," Ira begged, her face heating.

Kate flashed her a cheesy grin. "Never. I'm going to use them in my speech at your wedding. Because Tawan and Ira are sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S—"

"Okay. Time to let her rest," Wisanu said in a heads-will-roll-if-you-don't-listen tone.

Ying plucked a sunflower out of a nearby vase, twirling it between her fingers. "She's really into sunflowers. I think it's super sweet. It reminds me of something Prigkhing would do."

"It is very, very sweet." Kate tilted her head at Ira. "It's almost like she's trying to make an impression." Wisanu wrinkled his nose, then sneezed. "Not trying... succeeding."

"She knows sunflowers are my favorite flower." Ira reached for one from the bedside table, running her fingers over its soft petals.

"Since when, Little Miss 'Roses or There's No Second Date'?" Kate teased.

"Since she took me to see them. There are these huge fields outside the Kalasin, totally magical." She could see the future now, and it was filled with sunflowers and quiet afternoons, long conversations on the balcony, and Tawan. Because Tawan was hers. Always.

It said so on the card.

Ira stared at the sunflower in her hand, but she saw the woman who had sat in the corner of a restaurant to make sure she was safe. The one who had taken her to see fields of flowers and had fought for her. The one who had stood in the path of a bullet to protect her.

"I love her." She beamed at them. "I love her, and she loves me, and I can't stay with any of you because I'm going home with her."

Tawan hobbled through the front door of her house in Kalasin, wishing like hell Ira were with her. Somewhere in the past month, it had become their house. It didn't feel right to be here without her. She hated leaving Ira behind at that hospital. She didn't care how big her security team was or how many people they'd surrounded her with. Lin and Wei followed her in, a little too close and a little too ready to catch her if she fell. They'd been hovering ever since she'd gotten out of surgery.

"You want help up the stairs?" Lin used the carefully bright voice she broke out with children or old people.

"No." Tawan waved the crutch they'd forced her to use. "I'm going to the office to check the security feeds."

"I can do that," Wei offered a little too quickly. "They did say you should keep your leg elevated for the next forty-eight hours."

Tawan huffed out an annoyed sigh. "Don't you two have somewhere else to be? The job's done. You can both head back to Bangkok and take a few days. Our next job doesn't start for three weeks."

"Oh no." Lin shook her head. "Rule five. No injured left behind. Remember?"

"You're injured too." Tawan hated how defensive that sounded. Like she was back in high school. "You were in a car wreck two days ago."

"Yes, but unlike you, I have been cleared for duty. I was Tased, not shot." Lin looked smug. "Now accept help like an emotionally intelligent person whose personal value is not tied up in society's narrow view of what it is to be strong."

Tawan sneered at her. "I never should have hired you."

Lin walked with her toward the living room. "Think of it this way, you are the principal now due to your close proximity to our celebrity."

"That's right," Wei agreed. "We're your security now. I planted false trails across social media about Ira's location, but it's possible the savvy fans will see through it and head here. You'll need us as backup while you're, um, recuperating."

"What I need," Tawan stressed the word, "is a little peace and quiet. The more bodies circle this house, the more nosy neighbors will show up with food. Trust me."

"I'd love some food." Lin gave her an unapologetic smile. "I'm starving. That hospital food was pathetic."

Tawan's stomach growled as if to emphasize her point. She turned away from the knowing look on Lin's face and limped into the living room. "Fine. Wei, set up in the office. Any word on my special delivery?" Her leg was starting to ache, along with her head, but she'd be damned if she'd ask for a painkiller.

"Your delivery?" Lin said, her face carefully neutral.

Tawan narrowed her eyes at her. "You know what I mean."

"I do," Lin agreed. "Do you?"

"Get out." Tawan pointed the crutch at the door.

"Somebody is cranky..." Lin sing-songed.

Wei drifted toward the fireplace, his attention mostly on his phone. "She might be suffering from a lack of sleep and dehydration. A study showed that nocturnal noises in a hospital disrupt the circadian rhythms, resulting in—"

"I don't think that's it," Lin interrupted before Wei could spew more data about the sleep Tawan had not had.

She moved the coffee table out of Tawan's way so she could get to the couch, which she refused to acknowledge. "I think somebody is missing a certain someone with red hair. Well, orange clown hair now." Tawan shot her a dirty look. Lin gestured to the couch with a flourish. "Have a seat, gimpy."

She didn't sit down, despite the intense desire to sink into it and never move. She didn't want to give Lin the satisfaction. Lin was right. She knew it. Lin knew it. This house wasn't a home without Ira. Walking through the front door without her had made all the spaces in her chest tight.

Wei glanced up, then frowned at her. "You know, she could be hangry. It's been a while since we ate. Maybe I should—"

"Stop. Coddling. Me," Tawan barked like a drill sergeant.

"This isn't coddling," Lin said. "This is bare-minimum care given to a boss who's also a friend who's unable to use her leg."

"I'm perfectly capable of using my leg." Tawan thought about kicking her with it to prove her point. Then the wound twinged, and she thought better of it.

"You can gripe all you want." Lin's face turned serious. "We're not leaving. Now sit."

Tawan gave in to the inevitable and lowered herself onto one end of the couch so that she could still see out the window. The aching in her leg immediately eased. "What's the ETA?"

Wei checked his phone. "They're about fifteen minutes out. Nene says the plan worked perfectly. They weren't followed. All clear."

"Good." Tawan stared at the big black van with its unmarked sides and blackened windows now sitting in the driveway. It was exactly the kind of thing kids should avoid. Unless things had changed a hell of a lot since she was a kid, that meant every nosy brat in the neighborhood would be checking it out in the next five minutes. "It won't take long for word to spread. We need a plan."

"We already have a plan," Lin said. "We will secure the area. As the principal, your job is to rest and relax."

Tawan raised an eyebrow at her. Lin grinned. "It's not so easy being on the other side, is it?"

"Not the point."

"Oh, I know the point." Lin nudged Wei's arm. "Our boss is in l-o-v-e, love."

Wei glanced between them. "Are we allowed to say that? Doesn't that violate some kind of HR code?"

"It definitely violates The Rules, according to Tawan Liang," Lin said.

"Get out. Both of you." Tawan poked Lin's thigh with the crutch. "Don't you have a perimeter to check? And, Wei, get that van out of the driveway. It'll scare the neighbors. Park it out back under that tree by the workshop."

"On it." Wei appeared relieved to have a reason to get away from Tawan and Lin's teasing. Tawan's phone dinged. She checked the incoming text.

Heads up. Incoming. Sorry! — Brick.

She swore under her breath.

"What?" Lin asked, all business now. "Something happen?"

"Yes." Tawan realized what she'd said and corrected, "No. Not with the delivery. Brick opened his big mouth."

Tawan – You told them?

Brick – Yes.

Tawan – WTF, man?

Brick – Dude...your mom asked me straight if Ira Suwannathat's injured bodyguard was her Tawan. I'm not lying to your mom.

"Coward," Tawan hissed under her breath, muttering a string of creative swear words. "My family's headed this way."

Lin plopped down on the couch next to her and peeked at her texts. "Well, you were shot. No mother could ignore that. Might as well get it over with. They'll feel better when they see you being your usual grouchy self." Tawan shoved her phone into her back pocket. "You haven't done the math. They're headed here now. Ira and her family are fifteen—no, ten minutes out." Lin's eyes gleamed with delight. "An in-law meet and greet. Bold move. Especially since you haven't even taken her on a real first date. You know, as herself. Not your fake girlfriend."

"They aren't in-laws." Tawan scowled at her.

"Yet." Lin's eyes twinkled.

She ground her teeth. "The last thing we need is more people creating security risks."

"They're not people. They're family." Lin patted her shoulder. "You survived the Military. You'll live through this."

"Go away."

Lin winked at her, then stood to leave.

"You're enjoying this," Tawan called after her.

"Yes. Yes, I am." Lin paused at the door. "Because...and I really, really want to stress this because it's a phrase I've been longing to say to you since this assignment started...I told you so."

"You're fired." Tawan pointed at the door. "Get out."

"You can't fire me." Lin's grin was wicked. "I'm a founding partner."

Tawan heard the back door shut just as her father's old car pulled in a little too fast and parked as close to the front door as he could get. She considered following Lin out the back, but she'd never make it. Not on her injured leg. Besides, Ira was coming.

A few seconds later, the front door banged open, and his stepmother called out in a loud, somewhat watery voice, "Tawan Liang, where are you?"

"Here." Tawan slipped the crutch under the couch and leveraged herself up on her feet. Hopefully, her sweats covered the bandage on her thigh well enough that they couldn't tell she even had an injury.

Wishful thinking. Her family crowded into the living room. Wanthanee carried a worried expression and a glass dish covered in aluminum foil. Oom's eyes were wide and rimmed with red, making her seem a lot younger than her fourteen years. Guilt squirmed awake in Tawan's gut. Kai crossed his arms and scowled at her. Dad's hair stuck out in all directions. There was more gray in it now. Guilt poked her in the ribs and gave her a dirty side-eye.

"Ah, hell." She felt every inch of that guilt pound even deeper into her chest. She'd been a complete jackass. She should have called. Tawan held up her hands in surrender. "I'm fine. I'm sorry I worried you."

"You're not fine." Wanthanee shoved the casserole dish at Dad and descended on her. Tawan had no idea what her stepmother saw, just that it made her eyes fill with tears, which made her feel even lower than she had a second ago. "It's true, isn't it? You were shot. You were shot and in the hospital and you had surgery and you could have died and you... didn't... call?"

Her tears spilled over.

"Don't cry. Please don't cry." Tawan only thought she'd felt low before. Guilt picked her up, tossed her into a pit, and kicked dirt on her.

Tawan moved toward her sobbing stepmother, trying her best not to limp, so that she could put her hands on Wanthanee's shoulders and offer what little comfort she could. "I didn't want to worry you. I'm sorry. I should have called. I should have... I should have done a lot of things. I'm really sorry."

Her father dumped the dish into Kai's arms and clasped Tawan's shoulder. She refused to flinch when he squeezed the exact spot the bullet had grazed. "She looks okay, Wanthanee. How bad is it, kid?"

There was a tremor in his voice. Tawan winced at that and the pain she saw in her father's eyes. "It's not bad at all. It was a through and through. No major harm done. That last game against Udon Thani was worse."

"Yeah, I don't remember you being shot at a basketball game," Kai stalked off to slam the dish down on the hallway table.

Oom pushed in between her and their parents. "Are you going to be okay? They said in the fan group that Earn—I mean Ira—was beaten up and you were shot fifteen times. Nobody knew if either of you was even still alive. I mean, Kate posted on her channel that Ira was stable and recovering, but she didn't say anything about you." Her face crumpled as the tears she'd been trying to hold in escaped.

Tawan's heart twisted itself into a knot she'd never untie. She opened her arms, and Oom threw herself at her, jostling her injured leg. She breathed through the pain while she hugged her sister tight. "It was twice, not fifteen, and one was just a graze. You can't believe the internet."

She'd actually been struck three times, but one had been caught by the vest, which was why her chest looked like an impressionist painting. As far as she was concerned, that didn't count.

"We wouldn't have to believe the internet if you'd told us what was going on," Kai said with derision.

"I know." Tawan met his gaze. "I screwed up."

Oom hugged her tighter. "You could have died. We just got you back, and you almost died."

Pond scum. She was pond scum. No, whatever was worse than pond scum, that's what she was. She kissed the top of Oom's head. "I didn't come close to dying, and I'm not going anywhere. I promise. All I need is a little downtime to let the muscle heal up. I'll be as good as new."

She met her parents' eyes, knowing that some of their trauma wasn't just about her being shot. They were probably worried she'd go to prison this time.

"It was a clean shoot. Self-defense. The police and the authorities say the case is closed."

Wanthanee took a deep, shuddering breath. "That's good news. That's..."

She glanced at Dad. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's a relief. Glad to hear it, kid."

"You had time to talk to the cops but not us?" Kai asked, sounding a lot less like a teenager and more like someone's judgmental grandfather.

Tawan had a whole list of reasons why she hadn't called. She'd been bleeding out, for one. In surgery, for another. The first people she'd seen when she woke up were local police officers. After that, she'd known she was fine, and it hadn't seemed important. She figured she'd tell her family all about it when she saw them. Staring down the barrel of their collective worry, she realized that had been a bad call. "I wasn't thinking straight. It's been a distracting couple of days. No excuse."

"I'm just so grateful you're all right." Wanthanee put her arms around Tawan and Oom.

"Well, I'm not," Kai said.

Heads swiveled in Kai's direction.

"Kai." Wanthanee's stern tone made him stand a little straighter.

"Not like that." Kai rolled his eyes. "I'm glad she didn't get dead. I just don't think that's a good reason to let her off the hook. She said things would be different. When she brought her so-called girlfriend here to meet us, she said she wanted to fix things. That she'd been thinking about us and wanted to spend more time with us, but what she wanted was a place to hide her pop-star client. It wasn't about us at all. That 'I-want-to-be-part-of-the-family' bullshit was just a fucking lie."

"Kai...language," Dad said, but it didn't have any bite.

"It's not a lie." Tawan held up a hand. She wasn't ready to have this conversation, but she had to admit her brother had a point. A lot of things had changed, and some of it had to be said out loud. "When I brought Ira here, it was just a job. At first. But that changed. I fell for her. I shouldn't have, but I did. And because I did...she helped me realize what I'd been missing. This place. This town. All of you. I lost...I lost my mother. But I didn't lose you. So things are going to change."

She glanced at her surly kid brother. "You can be as mad at me as you want, Kai, because I'll be around for you to be mad at."

"You promise?" Oom said, sounding delighted. "Will Ira be here too?"

"Good question." Wanthanee's hopeful smile reminded her so much of their mother's that it nearly did her in. "Will she?"

"If I have anything to say about it." Tawan glanced out the window. "She should be here in five minutes. You can ask her yourself."

"Good," Kai said, sounding a little choked. He coughed to clear his throat. "She's definitely the coolest thing about you. Besides," he shot Tawan a pointed look, "I want to thank her again for that guitar."

The irritation that surged through Tawan was the kind only her brother could inspire. "I bought you that guitar, you ungrateful little shit. Not her."

"Tawan," Dad said. "Language."

"Uh-huh," Kai said with a smirk. "Because you know so much about music."

"I know more than you think—" Tawan's tirade was cut off by the sound of tires crunching on the driveway.

The entire family abandoned the argument to crowd at the window. Tawan felt like a teenage girl about to go on a first date, but it didn't stop her from joining them. The delivery van from a local flower shop and three SUVs filled with extra security were right on time.

Her heart tripped in anticipation. Ira was here.

"Well, that's a sight," Dad said. "All that for our Ira?"

"Did you order flowers?" Oom asked, frowning.

Tawan grinned. "Sunflowers, actually."

The three SUVs opened, and security spilled out. They swarmed the area like ants, setting up in a standard formation Tawan recognized as one of her own. Nene was a fast learner. She'd already translated the initial training Tawan had given her into boots-on-the-ground protocol.

Not bad. The driver, a kid who looked like he was fresh out of high school, climbed out and rushed to throw open the back doors of the van. Nene hopped out first. Then, three men with the combined star power of a small planet followed. The four spoke briefly, then Nene moved out of sight behind the van.

Tawan groaned. She hoped like hell the neighbors weren't watching this. Her yard was about to be filled with enough celebrities to make the entire province lose their collective minds.

"Hey, I know that lady!" Kai's excitement made him sound a lot younger and, Tawan was relieved to hear, a lot less antagonistic. "That's Prigkhing! She the lead actress for Delusions of Glory! What's she doing here?"

"She's Ying's fiancée," Oom said with an air of superiority. "Which you'd know if you actually followed music."

"I know plenty about music. I just don't stalk The Suwannathat Sisters the way you do," Kai shot back. "Who's the other guy?"

Wanthanee's hand fluttered to her throat. "Th...that's Phong Anuwat. He's a fantastic actor. My goodness. And who's that man? He's quite something. Is he an actor too?"

"No." Tawan would rather they not meet the third guy, but there was no way around it. Maybe if she avoided job titles, Kai wouldn't notice the star-maker in the group. "That's Tan. He's Ira's brother-in-law."

Oom slipped her hand into Tawan's. "Are all of The Suwannathat Family coming? Even Wisanu?"

"Better be," Tawan muttered.

She still didn't see any sign of Ira. The rational part of her brain knew she was here. Nene wouldn't be here without her. Neither would anyone else. The irrational side of her brain knew that if she didn't show her face soon, she was going to rip the damn doors off that van. Wisanu appeared next. Tan held out his hand. Ying emerged, then turned back to the van. Kate handed her two vases of sunflowers. She immediately shoved them into Prighking arms.

"Kai, let's go help them with those flowers," Dad said.

"Yeah, okay." Kai gulped. "Wow. Prighking."

Tawan squinted at the front window of the van. She was about to go find out exactly where the hell Ira was—injured leg be damned—when Nene appeared at the front of the delivery van with Ira holding onto her arm. Relief, palpable and painful, flooded her.

Ira wore a simple yellow dress that revealed all the scratches and bruises on her legs, and her hair glowed in the afternoon light like a fiery orange beacon. Tawan was at the front door before Ira made it to the steps. Ira's eyes met hers, and her face lit up brighter than her hair. "There you are."

She limped up the steps and flung herself into Tawan's arms like it had been weeks since they'd seen each other. Tawan savored the feel of her in her arms as she buried her face in Ira's hair.

"Don't make me do that ever again," Ira whispered in her ear. "I don't want to go anywhere without you."

"You won't have to." Tawan kissed her cheeks, then her lips.

For a second, or maybe a century, it was just the two of them. She wanted to take Ira upstairs, shut the bedroom door behind them, and keep it that way for a long, long time. They could take their time...recovering.

"Hey, lovebirds, go nest somewhere else," Kate said. "You're in the way."

Tawan lifted her head enough to scowl at her. Ira giggled. "We really should move. There's an embarrassingly large display of sunflowers headed this way."

Tawan pulled her to the side to give Kate enough room to get by. "They could just leave them on the porch."

Ira shook her head. "Don't be silly. They'll last twice as long inside."

Wisanu paused in front of them with two vases of sunflowers. "You should both get off your feet; you just got out of the hospital. Ira, be careful of that ankle as you go up that last step, sweetie."

Tawan pulled Ira up the last step and into the house. "He's right. You should sit down."

"My ankle isn't that bad. I've had worse on tour." She took one of the vases from Wisanu. "I want this one with me."

"We don't have to unload them all in one trip," Ying said. "We could take two or three trips."

"No, we can't," Prighking said. "The faster we get this done, the faster we can jam it out with that sweet new guitar I've been hearing about." Kai almost dropped his vases as he followed them through the door. "You serious?"

"Almost never," Prighking teased. "But in this case, hell yeah." They headed for the kitchen, talking excitedly about the make, model, and potential of Tawan's birthday present to Kai. Tawan watched them go, concern starting to gnaw at her. "That can't be good."

Ira leaned into her and sighed. "Thanks for the flowers. I love them. I especially love the card. 'Always' sounds really, really nice." She liked the way the sunflowers made Ira smile, but Tawan really wished their well-meaning visitors would find somewhere else to go.

"It's too crowded in here," she muttered.

"Oh, it's not that bad." Ira patted her arm. "You should see the inn at holidays."

Wanthanee appeared at the doorway. "Tawan, how many people do you think we have here? I count thirteen, but I don't know how many security people are in the yard. They've all blended in with the trees. I don't think I made enough food."

Tawan saw the plan spinning behind her stepmother's eyes with growing horror. She was ready to host a potluck—the kind that lasted for hours. "We don't have to feed the whole neighborhood."

"Don't worry about that, Wanthanee," Wisanu said. "We'll send Tan and Phong out for food or something."

"Oh hell no," Tawan said at the same time her father said, "Oh no you won't." The last thing they needed was those two showing their faces in the middle of town. Thank God Dad saw the lunacy in that idea too.

"You've all had enough takeout," Dad cut in as he set a vase of sunflowers on the hallway entry table. "We'll cobble together a barbecue. This house has a great setup out back. That yard was made for entertaining." Tawan watched the horde coming and going with increasing frustration. "Parties just pop up around you, wherever you go, don't they? Like a circus."

Ira giggled. "Why do you hate parties so much?"

"Today?" Tawan growled. She was tired, her leg hurt, and she wanted to be alone with Ira.

"I love a cookout," Prighking said as she strolled by with more flowers. "We should get a fire going."

"Do you think they'd notice if we sneak out?" Ira whispered. The look in her eyes was warm and inviting, filled with all kinds of promises Tawan intended to investigate. They needed to be alone. Now.

"This is our house. We aren't the ones who need to leave."

Ira stiffened. "Tawan..."

Tawan gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Attention!"

Phong startled as he passed by, but he didn't stop. Nobody else reacted. Ira put a hand on her chest. "Tawan. Don't. This isn't like the pool party. This is your...our...family."

"I know. Believe me. Strangers tend to do what I tell them. Family never does." She let out a loud, piercing whistle.

"What was that?" someone asked from the kitchen.

"Fire alarm?" Wisanu called out.

"No," Kai said from the front door. "That's Tawan doing a captain call to attention."

"Oh, nothing serious, then." Kate took a vase from Kai. "Are all the flowers in?"

"Yeah." He lifted his chin at the door. "Think the driver is waiting for a tip."

"Right," Tan said. "I got it." He disappeared outside.

Frustration built in Tawan's chest. "Hey!" she bellowed loud enough to make her old drill sergeant proud. Heads swiveled in her direction, and finally, it was quiet enough to get a word in.

"Thanks for stopping by, everybody," Tawan said, "and thanks for your help unloading the flowers. We appreciate it. Now get out."

Kai snorted.

"Tawan," Wanthanee chided.

Ying slapped a hand over her mouth, but her body shook with laughter.

"Dude," Phong said, "I like your style. You remind me of my mom."

Tawan frowned. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. She had no idea who Phong's mother was, but she suddenly felt old.

Wanthanee grimaced. "She's right. They really should get some rest. They don't need us all here right this second. Though honestly, Tawan. Yelling? Really?"

"What she means...," Ira said as she wrapped her hands around Tawan's arm, "is that we both really appreciate everything you're all doing for us. You're so sweet, and I know you were all worried, but—"

"You're tired, and you'd really like some quiet time to rest," Kate finished.

"I doubt they'll be resting," Prighking said.

"Prighking." Ying poked her in the ribs.

"The whole point," Kate said as she gave them both a hug, "was to get you home safe and sound. I guess we did that."

Wisanu took his turn giving them hugs, then gestured at the door. "Okay, everybody, you heard her. Let's take this party somewhere else. I think there's a nice place near the city center where we can grab food."

"He really very hungry," Ying said.

"There'll be no hotel or outside food on my watch," Rong said. He took Wanthanee's arm in his and led her to the front door. "Everybody head to Sevens. Drinks are on me. And I make the best grilled cheese sandwiches you ever ate."

"That sounds fantastic." Wisanu licked his lips. "I can't wait to see this place. Ira's told us so much about it."

They left, only to be replaced by Ying and Prighking.

Ying folded Ira into her arms. "We'll stop by tomorrow. I have wedding plans and bridesmaids' dresses to go over with all of you, and it's super handy we're all in one place."

Prighking gave Tawan a friendly tap on the shoulder. "You saved Ira, which means you saved all of us. That means we get to bombard you with attention. Don't worry. We'll give you at least twenty-four hours all to yourself."

"Gee, that long?"

Prighking's grin was malicious. "If you're lucky."

Ying pulled her away with a well-practiced "Ignore her."

Ira elbowed Tawan in the ribs. "Smile, Warden. They love us and we love them."

"Right." Tawan had never been hugged so often in such a short amount of time by so many different people. If it didn't stop soon, her leg was going to give out.

Finally, it was down to Wanthanee and her little sister.

"I left the food in the fridge," Wanthanee said. "There are heating instructions on the foil."

"Thanks." Tawan supposed she could spare one more hug. She gave Wanthanee a long one. "Love you."

"I know, sweetie. I love you too. We all do." Wanthanee sniffed. "We'll check in on you tomorrow."

"Ira, will you still run lines with me?" Oom sounded tentative but hopeful. "I mean, now that you're yourself again?"

Ira threw her arms around the teenager. "Oh, sweetie, I'll always be your big sis. Of course, we're running through those lines. I can't wait to see you in that holiday play."

It took a lot longer than Tawan thought it should, but finally, it was just the two of them in the house. The woods around them swarmed with security, but she could ignore them. Ira tucked her hands around Tawan's arm, an unconscious gesture of possession she was really starting to like. "So now that you have me alone, what are you going to do with me?"

Tawan led her away from the door. "First, we're going to help each other up the stairs."

"That could take a while," she commented as she eyed Tawan's sore leg. "You're limping."

"So are you." Tawan grasped the rail with her free hand. The first step hurt like hell. "But it's this or sleep on the couch."

"Come on, Warden." Ira put Tawan's arm around her shoulders and gripped her hand tight. "Lean on me."

They made their way slowly upstairs, then down the hallway toward the master bedroom. There were at least a dozen sunflower-filled vases scattered throughout the room, and two big sunflowers rested on the pillows. She wondered who'd added that little touch.

Ira picked one up and twirled it through her fingers as she eyed Tawan. "What do we do now?"

"I was thinking of doing this." Tawan pulled her into her arms and kissed her, slow and soft. Ira's arms went around her neck, and she melted into her.

"That sounds... promising," Ira murmured. "Then what?"

Tawan glanced at the bed. "Then what I'd really, really like us to do... is take a nap."

"That," Ira breathed, "sounds amazing. Let's do that."

They climbed into bed, and Tawan pulled the blanket up over them with a satisfied sigh. Ira rested her head on Tawan's chest. She tightened her arm around her.

"I love you, Earn."

"I love you too, Warden." She sighed. "It's good to be home."