If You Were Ours

Chapter Forty Two - Kinsley

Kinsley ~

It had been two days since Gia had been killed and I still couldn't believe it.

Her funeral was scheduled for the end of the week, but I was told there would be very few in attendance out of an abundance of caution.

Everything seemed to shift after that night as if a dark shadow settled over the house and wouldn't leave. The air seemed to be thick with sadness when Dane and Tyson were around and while I knew everyone experienced grief differently, I didn't expect Gia's death to have such an impact on them.

They were off and restless acting out of character which was concerning, but all I could do was love them and be there for them as they sorted through their grief in very different ways.

Dane had told me loved me nearly a hundred times over the past few days and when I'd say it back to him, his only response was "say it again". His eyes were sunken and sad like he needed my words to bring him back to life. But I didn't care. I'd tell him I loved him every minute of every day if that's what he needed.

Tyson was the opposite, which was no surprise. He barely spoke a word to me and maintained a permanent scowl as he went through the motions of his day, but he would find reasons to touch me - to grab me and pull me into his lap, or to wrap his strong arms around me and just hold me without saying a word as if he were soaking my love in through his skin.

I felt a pull in my heart that there was something they needed from me, something that they weren't saying or didn't have the words to explain.

They were both in the basement at the moment, so I grabbed a book and snuggled down onto the couch with a blanket wrapped around me.

I was lost in the story when I noticed both Dane and Tyson approaching the couch.

"Hey Kins. We need to talk." Dane said softly, taking a seat in front of me and placing his hand on my leg.

"That's never a good way to start a conversation." I chuckled, pulling a small insincere smile from the side of Dane's mouth.

Tyson leaned me forward and took a seat behind me, letting me lean back onto his chest while wrapping his arms around me without speaking.

This can't be good.

"Shit's getting way too dangerous, Kinsley." Dane said, hanging his head as if he were telling me something I didn't already know.

Tyson tightened his grip around me and pressed his lips against the side of my head but still didn't speak.

"We uh...thought we'd take you on a trip. To get away from all this for a while. Would you like that?" Dane's expression softened slightly but his eyes were still full of sadness.

"A trip? Where?" I sassed excitedly having not left the house in weeks.

"New York. We've got friends there that are loyal and can act as security and we thought you might want to connect with your mentor."

"Oh my gosh are you serious?" I squealed with a smile on my face that I couldn't control.

"How long are we staying?

"A long time." Tyson added from behind me.

They are trying to distance themselves from Angelo...is this a permanent move?

I nodded as I considered his words carefully.

"We bought an apartment in the city. It's safe and even has a room you can use as a studio."

My smile returned as I pictured the three of us in New York together, away from all of this hatred and bloodshed.

I had a thousand questions but I was too excited to ask them.