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“Nope,” Val said. “You’re stuck with me and Czar. And Kaj and Elijah, too.”
Tears filled Jace’s eyes. “I can live with you?”
“Yes,” Val said. “I have to figure out where I’m living, though. I can’t live in my brother’s house anymore. Not knowing how he paid for it. You can help me look for a place, so get better fast.”
Jace’s mouth curved up and he looked so young and eager it made Kaj’s heart hurt.
“Jace,” he said, closing his hand over Val’s where it gripped Jace’s. “Thank you for protecting Elijah. I will be forever grateful. But you didn’t have to do that. We still would have wanted you.”
Jace made a contented sound. “I know there’s still problems, like, Aaron and Rick are still going to jail, but... this feels like one of those movies where everyone is happy.” He abruptly frowned. “Did you catch Corey and Bobby?”
Kaj and Val shared a glance. “Jace,” she said gently. “They’re gone. They’re dead.”
Jace’s expression hardened. “Is it wrong that I’m glad?”
“No,” Kaj assured him. “You have every right to feel that way. Now, it’s late. You need to rest and so does Val. It was a busy day. She needs to have a meal and go to sleep. We will be back first thing in the morning. Don’t worry.” He wrote his cell phone number on the notepad next to Jace’s bed. “This is my personal number. You need me, you call.”
“Okay, Mr.Cardozo.”
“Kaj. Call me Kaj. Elijah and I will see you tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” Kaj brushed the hair from Jace’s forehead. “Get some rest.”
Jace swallowed. “Thank you.”
Kaj tugged Val to her feet, but she turned to kiss Jace’s forehead. “You and I are going to be family, you understand? And that’ll include Burke and Antoine and Phin and Molly and Kaj and Elijah and everyone else.”
Jace’s smile was bright. “I understand. Go to sleep, Val.”
With a final caress to his cheek, she let Kaj lead her from the room. “I’m tired.”
“So am I. You want to stay with me tonight at Genie’s? Czar is already there. Molly brought him by for Elijah.”
She smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”
EPILOGUE
Tulane-Gravier, New Orleans, Louisiana
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2:30 P.M.
WIPING HIS DAMP palms on his jeans, Jace took a seat in the visitation room of the jail.
“Breathe, Jace,” Val said from beside him.
He appreciated that she didn’t tell him it would be okay, because it wouldn’t. Not for Rick.
Jace’s breath caught in his throat when the door opened and Rick shuffled in. His legs were shackled, but he wasn’t handcuffed, so at least there was that. He didn’t look hurt, either.
Jace had been afraid that Rick would be beaten in jail. Or worse.
He rose as Rick approached the table, not sure what to do with his hands. “Rick.”
Rick smiled tiredly. “Hey, kid.” His glance flicked to Val and his eyes widened. “You visited me in the hospital. Your hair was brown then. Val, right? I mean Miss Sorensen.”
“I was wearing a wig that day,” Val said. “Please, sit down. Jace won’t until you do and he’s still not at a hundred percent.”
