Nyara pov
I glanced over at the man—Kail. He scanned the area one last time, eyes sharp and calculating, before pulling the car into the garage. The engine went quiet, but he didn't move right away. He watched the shadows outside through the mirrors, as if expecting danger to follow us even now.
A moment later, he stepped out and said, "We're good. Let's go inside."
He moved around to the back, grabbing the bags from the trunk. I turned to Iyla, still fast asleep in her car seat. Her tiny chest rose and fell in a slow, peaceful rhythm that made something tighten in my throat. Carefully, I unbuckled her, cradling her against me, making sure not to forget her little teddy bear—she wouldn't sleep without it.
Kail was already waiting by the front door, silent, holding the bags with ease. I shifted Iyla in my arms and stepped forward, punching in the code and scanning the keycard. The door clicked open with a quiet beep.
I turned to him. "Come on in."
He nodded and followed me inside, boots silent on the marble floor. "Where do you want the bags?" he asked.
"Upstairs. Follow me."
I led the way to the master bedroom, each step feeling heavier with the events of the night pressing down on me. Once inside, I laid Iyla gently on the bed, placing her teddy bear in her arms and pulling the blanket over her small body. She didn't stir.
When I turned around, Kail was standing near the door, still holding the bags, waiting for direction.
"Um… you can set them over there, by the bed."
That's when I saw it—blood. His shoulder was still bleeding, a dark, wet stain spreading across his shirt.
"Kail, go sit on the sofa. Let's get those wounds cleaned," I said quickly, trying to sound steady. "I mean… if you're okay with that."
He didn't answer, just moved toward the sofa like it was all the agreement I needed. I walked to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit, my hands shaking slightly.
Back in the room, I knelt by the sofa and spread out the supplies. "Can you roll your shirt up a little so I can clean that wound on your shoulder? Please."
He didn't hesitate, just did it—silent as always. I soaked a cloth in alcohol, trying to work quickly, not wanting to cause him more pain. But when I pressed it to his wound, he didn't even flinch. He just watched me, completely still, like he'd done this a hundred times before.
My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it echoing in my chest. The room was so quiet, it felt like the world had gone still. The only sound was Iyla's soft breathing behind me and the rustle of gauze as I wrapped his shoulder.
When I finished, Kail stood up as if to leave the room. And before I could think about what I was doing, I reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Wait," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart was racing, panic crawling up my spine. "Can you… can you stay in here? Just for a little while. Until I fall asleep. Please."
He looked at me for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then he nodded.
"Okay," he said softly. "I'll be right here on the couch."
He pointed to the sofa on the other side of the room, and I nodded, suddenly feeling a strange sense of comfort just from knowing he'd be nearby. I climbed into bed beside Iyla, who instinctively curled toward me in her sleep.
"Hey, Kail…" I said quietly, my voice already heavy with exhaustion. "Thanks… for everything tonight. You saved us."
He didn't hesitate.
"You don't need to thank me. This was my fault to begin with."
I didn't have the energy to argue. I just gave a tired nod and laid my head on the pillow. As soon as it touched the mattress, my eyes began to close. The warmth of Iyla beside me, the steady presence of Kail across the room… for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe we might be safe.
And then, I slept.