Page 150 of Nyx

"I think it's dangerous to make decisions for a handful of women based on one person," Dominic says.

"I've considered that, too," Kincaid tells his brother. "But what if we make every accommodation we can so no one feels like they're having to choose between being unsafe in the outside world if they decide not to come here or feeling unsafe while they're here?"

"If we make one of the hallways for them only and give them the empty rooms so they can have a living area, an area for the kids, etc., then we could fully limit any fear. They know we don't go into the house when we very easily could, so hopefully they'd understand when we tell them we won't enter that part of the clubhouse; we mean it," Kid offers.

"If one of them doesn't want to come because men will be in the clubhouse, I can offer the two empty rooms in my house for the guys," Apollo says.

"Same for me," Thumper adds.

"And me," Bishop says. "If the guys are okay with it."

Many eyes turn to the newest guys, and get no argument from them.

"Nyx?" Kincaid asks as if it's a simple question.

I know I would struggle not seeing her, but I already go all day without contact when she's at work, so I guess it really wouldn't change much on my end.

"If it meant all of them would be here, then I'm okay with that," I say.

"We have some decisions to make," Kincaid says. "I'm not saying it's a go, because we have to see about the logistics of making it happen, but it looks like we're leaning in that direction."

"What's the deciding factor?" I ask.

"It all depends on the women," Kincaid says.

"And it's all or nothing?"

He shakes his head.

"No. If women want to stay at Juniper House, we will continue to provide security and resources."

"And if Juliet chooses to go to work instead of staying here?"

"Then Juliet gets to make her own life choices, and we can't fight her on that. Protecting her and forcing her to do something she doesn't want to do makes us no better than the abusers, even if it's for her own good," Kincaid says. "We aren't in the business of keeping prisoners and taking freedoms away from women."

"Yes, sir," I say, understanding this but also knowing it's a fine line between fully protecting her and trapping her.

"I'll let everyone know what the decision is as soon as I know," Kincaid says. "Meeting dismissed."

The scrape of chairs on the concrete floor fills the room, but no one moves faster than I do.

I tug open the heavy conference room doors and look in the direction I left Juliet. My heart pumps faster when I see the sofa filled with kids rather than Juliet sitting there.

"Kitchen," Gigi says with a chuckle as she walks past me, as if she knows my entire life story.

I look to my left, seeing the flash of her hair as she walks toward the sink.

Relief washes over me, and I take a few deep breaths so I won't seem as crazed as I feel when I step into her line of sight.

Maybe I'm seeing more in her response at the sight of me than is actually there, but she glances over her shoulder at me, her face transforming into a bright smile.

She doesn't stop what she's doing, which appears to be helping Emmalyn make lunch, but she seems happier with me around.

I'm not one to picture myself in any sort of domestic relationship, but it doesn't stop my mind from seeing her in a kitchen we share, a place where she's happy and safe and free from the fear she has been living with for so long.

I know I can't be the one to give her a life that looks like that, but she deserves one, nonetheless.

"We're just about done," she says.