Page 159 of Nyx

Juliet

I felt like such a coward this morning, waiting until I heard the conference room door open and all of Cerberus leave before coming out of my room.

I had no real reason to hide other than feeling more than a little vulnerable to be the reason that all of this is happening in the first place.

Five women and two kids are having their lives uprooted, just so I can be safe, and although I doubt there was much hesitation in making the decision, I still feel like it's just too much to ask of so many people to benefit one person.

They've already been through so much, and I don't see how this isn't going to set back the progress they've made.

I'm grateful they won't know it's because of me, but it won't stop the guilt I feel.

I'm in the living room, sitting on the sofa and watching outside when I spot the first SUV coming toward the clubhouse.

I stand, looking around because I'm unsure of what I should do with myself.

But I draw in a deep breath, turning on the part of me that works for this organization, and treat it no differently than I would if I wasn't the reason all of this was happening.

I open the door, waiting on the porch for them to file out of the vehicles.

The men stay behind the wheel, letting Emmalyn, Misty, and Beth direct the traffic.

"We're going to go inside, and straight ahead is a big, giant room," Emmalyn explains to them all before turning to Dana. "Beth is going to take the kids to the room so the adults can go over logistics."

Dana nods, looking a little relieved when she looks up at me.

"Juliet!" Dean says as he runs up the front steps. "I felt like I was a part of a SWAT team!"

"That makes you a crime fighter," I tell him with a wide smile.

He puffs his little chest out just as his arms lift a few inches from his body, and he walks into the clubhouse behind Beth like he just gained forty pounds of muscle in his arms and legs.

"Kids," Daisy says as she approaches, shaking her head and rolling her eyes like she's grown.

"Good morning, Daisy," I say, not playing into her need for me to agree.

"You look different," she says, pausing in front of me.

"Do I?" I ask, resisting the urge to lift my hands to my face.

I slept so well last night, I woke up feeling like a brand-new woman.

That was until the guilt began to seep back into my mind.

"Daisy," Dana says, a mild hint of irritation in her tone. "Go with Beth."

Daisy rolls her eyes once again, but she listens, walking away without argument.

Dana notices, her eyebrows lifting. "Huh?"

"Huh indeed," I agree. "Conference room is just straight ahead when you get inside."

Dana heads into the house, with Kayla very close behind.

"Is it safe here?" she asks.

"Yes," I tell her honestly.

"People can't sneak onto the property or anything like that?"