Chapter 173 Chapter 173
Kobie looked at Blair and met his gaze. He wasn’t just saying it, he meant it. She could not only see it, but she could feel the emotion coming off him. Later, she’d work through the shock she was feeling. Right now, all eyes were on her waiting, for her to say something. “I want to find my people,” she said to him before turning back to the King, “I want to free others and,” she turned back to Blair, “I want to help Blair find his brother, bring him to justice for what he did to Blair’s and my family.”
Blair inclined his head to her.
“Okay. Then you need to pick a second family in the clan—it’s my understanding the last of your father’s choices went with him.”
Kobie nodded, “they took his wife and daughter earlier this year.”
“Sir,” Blair waited for him to look over, “I trust in Gage and Jake and the guys to watch over the others if we’re not here.” He cleared his throat, “the girls need to heal more than they need to be worrying about taking over in case anything happened.”
Shep sat there for a moment thinking that over, then nodded and looked at Kobie, “you’re all right with that?”
Kobie nodded. A week ago she would have said hell no, but now that she knew Blair’s clan and how they were, she could think of no one better to look after everything if something happened. She got stuck for a second, they were asking her, not telling her. “I agree with him, yes.”
Blair squeezed her knee gently, with an emotional expression was in his eyes when he looked at her.
Devin’s father looked at his phone again. “I’m glad we settled that,” he lifted the phone, “Jesse has just informed me they have found a few of your men.”
“Found?” She couldn’t bring herself to say alive.
He nodded, “yes two that weren’t captured.”
Kobie sat on the edge of the chair.
“They’re in rough shape, but not like your brother.” He stood up. “I’m going to call and get more details.” He turned and walked out of the room.
Kobie stood up and put her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god.” There were tears in her eyes. She wanted it to be Robbie, Daisie’s dad but wanted it to be others just as much.
Blair gave Devin a look and then stood up and pulled her closer.
“I’ll go see if we have names.” Devin got up.
Blair nodded but didn’t take his eyes off her.
“I’m going outside to patrol. Let me know if we’re needed for more discussion.” Noah walked by them.
Kobie’s heart was beating so fast she was having trouble breathing. She held Blair’s look, trying to stay calm.
“I’m going to check on Shae, she’s in with Jay.” Calum left quietly.
“Hey,” Blair touched her shoulders gently, “breath, this is good news.”
Kobie nodded, “I just…” She couldn’t voice it. How could she want it more for one than another? “I need it to be Robbie, for Daisie.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “But then there’s Annamarie, Nichelle, and Franki.” Blair pulled her against his chest. He didn’t try offering her words that would make it okay to hope for one and not another. There were four from what was left of her clan that had no answers, that waited on news of a relative. Grasping his shirt, she pushed her face into the scent that was unadulterated Blair. Inhaling it, she searched for calm. Even her cat didn’t know what to do. He was right there, his scent inside them, but clan members’ families mattered too. Blair just stood there, running his hand up and down her back, the motion was soothing, comforting, but she noticed it was his scent that helped her keep it together.
“Dev will find out, babe.” He whispered against the top of her head.
She nodded, not able to say anything, she just needed to touch him, inhale the warm scent of his skin. It felt like hours were crawling by.
Someone cleared their throat. Kobie lifted her head and looked over to see Devin standing in the door to the living room area. She straightened but continued to cling to Blair.
“Niles and Robbie,” Devin said softly.
Kobie nodded. A tear ran down her cheek.
Blair held her shoulders and leaned down. “Niles?”
Kobie swiped at more tears. “Nichelle’s uncle.” She said in a voice shaking so much, she wasn’t sure he’d understood.
“Okay.” He nodded and kissed the top of her head.
“This is stupid. It’s good news.” She leaned her face into him again.
“It is.” He hugged her. “Just hold on to hope that more will be found or rescued.” He leaned away again, “we’re part of that rescue team, babe.” He offered her an understanding smile, “we’ll find as many as we can.”
Daisie came running into the kitchen and stopped. She gave Kobie a wary look, then frowned at Blair. “Did you make Kobie cry?”
Blair hugged Kobie against his side, “no, sweetie, I didn’t.” He cleared his throat. “Can you go round up your mom and Nichelle for me?”
She looked at Kobie again.
“It’s a happy cry.” Kobie lied.
Daisie frowned even more, “there’s happy crying?” She slumped her shoulders and turned to the door. “There’s so many kinds of crying.”
Blair went to step away, Kobie grabbed the back of his jeans. “Please stay.”
He smiled down at her. “I was just going to grab you a Kleenex.” He made a scoffing noise, then pulled his t-shirt up and wiped her cheeks gently. He kissed the top of her head, “so they don’t freak out and beat me thinking I made you cry.”
She had to smile at that. “They wouldn’t beat you.”
He raised both eyebrows and looked down at her. “I would put nothing past the group of you.”
“You wanted us?”
Kobie turned to see Cortney and Nichelle standing in the door with Daisie right beside them.
“She was crying,” Daisie said.
Kobie smiled at her briefly. “I was.” Taking a deep breath, she inhaled slowly. “They’ve found Robbie and Niles.” She waved her hand in the other room. “They’re in rough shape, Devin’s father is getting more details now.”
Cortney hugged Daisie against her side, her hand over her mouth. “Any of the others?”
Kobie shook her head. “Not yet, but they’re still searching.”
Nichelle looked from Cortney to Kobie, then back. “Uncle Niles is alive?”
Cortney nodded.
Nichelle turned to Blair, “are they coming here?”
“I’m sure they will as soon as possible.”
Nichelle nodded her head quickly. “We need to get more rooms done.” With that she spun around and went back outside.
Cortney looked at the door. “I’ll go make sure she’s okay.” She gave Kobie a quick look, “let me know when you know more.”
Kobie nodded. She held her breath until they went out after Nichelle. Blowing it out, she looked up at Blair. “I need to go for a run.”
He searched her face for a moment. “Do you want me to come along?”
“I just need some time to process.” She whispered.
Leaning down, he kissed her mouth softly. “I’ll tell the guards to give you some space,” he straightened up, “any hint of anything off, you hightail it back here.”
She nodded, even though it wasn’t a question. “Thank you.” She rubbed her hand over his chest. “For everything,” she motioned to the table, “you shocked me by some things you said.”
Blair shrugged one shoulder, “I meant them. Where things go from here is your choice.” He looked at her for a moment, “everything.”
Stretching up, she pecked his cheek, then turned and went outside.