Chapter 80: New Routines
It’s been a few weeks since the Court departed, and life has settled into a gentle rhythm. The house feels quieter, shadows of laughter and old arguments echoing in the halls, but there’s a new kind of peace to our days. Mornings arrive with sunlight spilling through the kitchen window, and the scent of fresh coffee fills the air as we ease into another day of our own making. This is bliss.
We spend our days and nights together, finding comfort in the routines we’ve built and the steady presence of one another. The guys are still chasing down leads, determined to smoke out every last one of Adam’s minions, and the tension sometimes simmers beneath the surface. Lynn checks in regularly, her voice always bright, her updates laced with the kind of humor that makes even the darkest days feel a little lighter. I do my part too, offering whatever help I can, even if it’s just a listening ear or a few words of encouragement.
She’s off visiting her ‘little bird,’ as she affectionately calls the young woman she helped escape Sagare for a fresh start. I think her name is Natalia, but Lynn’s stories always change—a new detail here, a twist there. That’s Lynn, though. She’s always been the kind of person who collects lost souls and gives them hope, never hesitating to reach out a hand even when hers is already full.
Me? I checked out of that world a while ago. There were too many users, liars, cheats, and backstabbers for my taste, and I grew tired of fighting battles that never seemed to end. I’ve found peace in the quiet, in the safety of a small circle of true friends. The chaos of the past sometimes creeps in, but I’m learning to let it go—one slow, deep breath at a time.
Most people know Lynn, or at least know of her reputation. I’m perfectly happy with my anonymity, content to let others overlook me. There’s a certain freedom in being underestimated—it lets me move quietly, observe, and choose my own battles without fanfare.
Zack doesn’t shadow my every move these days, but he’s always close, working behind the scenes to end the threat of the Kingsleys once and for all, determined to keep our hard-won happiness safe from any more uninvited intruders. There’s a quiet ferocity in him now—a man who will do whatever it takes to protect what we’ve built together.
When trouble came too close—a suspicious orderly at Gran’s nursing home—Zack and the boys dealt with it swiftly and quietly. The man vanished from our lives as if he’d never existed. Luther pulled strings to get the person responsible for hiring him transferred, and now someone we trust is watching over Gran. For extra safety, we changed everything—Gran’s name, her home, even ours. She’s Madeline Price now, and Zack and I have become Mr. and Mrs. Russo. Our fake wedding bands have become as familiar as our real scars, symbols of the lengths we’ll go to for those we love.
I know this was all Lynn and Luther’s doing, their way of keeping an eye on us, even from afar. If I had to guess, Levi probably egged them on—he never could resist stirring the pot when it came to family.
Gran’s new nursing home sits just a few blocks from our place, nestled among tidy trees and cheerful flowerbeds. It’s strange how comforting it feels to have her so close, almost as if she’s become a part of our daily rhythm again. The fog that clouds her memories visits less often now, but when it comes, it’s like a storm rolling in—sudden and unpredictable. Each clear day with her feels like a small miracle, and I find myself cherishing every story she remembers, every spark of recognition in her eyes.
The story about Marsha Potts passing on the way to the hospital made Gran’s disappearance from her old nursing home believable. Sometimes I marvel at how seamlessly my guys and Luther pull together when things get complicated. Still, I catch the flicker in Zack’s eyes whenever Luther’s name comes up—a thread of jealousy woven through his usual calm. It’s oddly endearing, seeing him so protective, even if he’d never admit it out loud.
Honestly, I can’t help but find it both cute and hilarious. Luther’s always been like a big brother to me, steady and infuriatingly wise, ever since we first crossed paths. He’s the kind of person who advises with a smirk, who’d throw himself in front of a train for you and never let you forget it.
We’ve always shared a fondness for the shadows, for keeping the messy details of our lives private. At least, I used to—until Zack bulldozed his way in, all charm and stubborn devotion, refusing to let me hide behind old habits.
That man can turn a simple hug into a spectacle, his affection unfiltered and unapologetic. Sometimes he embarrasses me without even trying, but there’s a thrill in his unpredictability that secretly sets my heart racing. I stride up to Zack, grinning. “My former fictitious fiancée, I’m going to go get a dress for our date tonight.”
Zack gives me that look—the one that says I’d be beautiful in a trash bag, the one that makes my cheeks burn. “You don’t need my permission,” he says, his tone easy, but his eyes dark with something deeper.
I roll my eyes, but there’s a teasing warmth in my voice. “Oh, I know. I don’t want you tagging along and spoiling the surprise.”
“Well, the boys will be behind you,” he replies with a sly smile. “You’ll have enough privacy to shop—but not enough to get into trouble.”
“Fine,” I huff, pretending to be annoyed, though inside I’m secretly pleased by his protectiveness. “I’m taking the Audi since mine is in the shop.”
Zack wraps his arms around me, holding me just a moment longer than necessary before stepping back. “You know that poor car was overdue for maintenance,” he teases, his voice low and gentle.
I wave my hand, feigning exasperation. “Yeah, yeah. You sound like Gran.”