Reign A Romance Anthology - Nina Levine Page 0,292

me. She’s grateful, only beyond the exhaustion, she stares at me with hope. “Sorry. I…”

“Hey…” I take her in my arms and hug her gently.

“I’ve no one.” She sobs into my shirt.

I stroke her hair.

I can’t shake the need to want to protect her, and if I’m being honest, it extends beyond tonight, tomorrow or the near future.

“You have me.”

11

Star slept the entire flight.

It was less than three hours and now we have about the same time in the car. We walk to the short-term parking, and I press the button to unlock my car. “These are my wheels while I’m in Adelaide.”

“It’s yours?”

I hold her door open while she slides into the front seat, then curls into a ball on her side. “For now. I’m undecided about what to do with this car and my house. I guess it depends on how my contract in Brisbane pans out.” After I close her door, I walk around to the driver’s side and buckle up.

“It’s a three-hour road trip so get some rest, princess.” I press the button to start the car, adjust the temperature because it’s cooler here than in Brisbane. “Is that okay with you?” She’s still wearing her tank top and denim shorts. “There’s a jacket on the back seat if you want it.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t feel anything. I’m not hot nor cold.”

I expected her to be in some shock. She’s tough, yet it’s going to take time for her to trust again.

“Is your Mum really expecting me?” she asks with a hoarse throat, indicating she’s probably getting sick from being run down.

I cup her beautiful face and hold her gaze. “Yes. I told my family you mean a lot to me, and I was coming to get you. Mum notified the police in case any shit went down, and Rhett was videoing everything. It was all her idea.”

A nervous expression crosses her face, and her brow pulls tight. “I look terrible.”

“No one is going to care what you look like, babe. They’ll be asleep, and there’s plenty of time to clean up in the morning.”

Her eyes flutter closed. “Thank you, Dusty. For everything.”

Before I veer the car out into traffic, she’s asleep.

We arrive home, and I carry Star into the house. The doors are unlocked, which is not unusual when you live on a farm. Trust is a big thing out here. I kick the door shut with my foot and take Star to my wing, as Tori describes it. I creep lightly even though the renovations are so large and the bedrooms are spaced out that no one will hear me.

Before I make it to my room, there are footsteps behind me.

“You made it,” Rhett whispers.

“Yeah.” I turn with Star still cradled in my arms.

Rhett stares at her, then back at me. “Is she going to be okay?”

“I hope so.”

Rhett pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Tell Mum she’s okay, and we won’t be up early.”

He nods and hesitates. “You did good, bro.”

I smile. “Yeah. Knowing you were with me helped. My plan may have tanked if I didn’t tell the fucker you were recording everything.”

“Yeah, well… we’re family.” We assess each other for a moment, then he nods. “See you tomorrow.”

Family.

Something I’ve dismissed for years.

It all changes, especially for Star.

I carry her to my bed and let her curl up on the pillow. “You’re safe now.” Then I head back out to the car to grab her bags. When I take the steps to the verandah, I turn for a moment and look to the night sky, to the stars that seem to give my mother so much peace.

Right now, I’m thankful that the universe has allowed me to get Star home. “Thank you,” I murmur into the night, then turn on my heel to join Star in my bed.

“Are you ready?” I ask Star the following morning.

I’m sitting on the edge of my bed watching her dab makeup around her brow.

“Nearly. I need a few more minutes.”

She hasn’t ventured out of my room until I borrowed some concealer from Tori, so she could make herself presentable.

Star’s words, not mine.

Her long dark hair drips some moisture onto her top. A restful sleep, plenty of water to drink, and a long shower have done wonders because she’s looking brighter this morning. Even the makeup she is applying doesn’t hide the tension because I know she’s anxious to meet my family, especially under the extenuating circumstances.

“Not what I mean. Are