Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 80~

~Colby~

I sobbed, the weight of everything crashing down on me. Relief, exhaustion, grief—it all hit at once, overwhelming me. But I couldn't break down now. I wiped my face, sucked in a deep breath, and forced myself to move. My legs felt unsteady as I ran upstairs to meet the others.

The moment they saw me, they fell silent, their eyes searching mine, waiting.

I swallowed hard, my voice cracking as I spoke. "It's finally over," I said. "He's gone."

The words hung in the air, thick with emotion. Jake was the first to move, pulling me into a tight embrace. Corey and Sam followed, their grips firm, reassuring. I exhaled shakily, clinging to them for a moment before stepping back, nodding.

Just as we were about to leave, Liam stepped forward.

"Colby, can I talk to you?"

I studied him warily. "Yeah," I said, nodding, but my guard was still up.

Liam's jaw tightened, and he took a deep breath. "I don't want to be a part of this pack anymore," he said. "I want to join you and the others."

I stared at him, measuring his words. He had helped Raelyn, yes, but could I really trust him? Could I trust that he wasn't just switching sides out of convenience?

"Why?" I asked bluntly. "Why would you risk it all to help my wife? You could've gotten yourself killed."

Liam met my gaze without hesitation. "Because I would do anything to help a friend," he said. "I know I was on the wrong side before, but I see that now. I was tired of what Layne stood for—torture, brutality, power over everything. I don't want to be part of that anymore. I want to stand for family, for love, for peace. And I know that's what you all have."

I studied him, searching for any trace of insincerity, but all I saw was honesty. I let out a slow breath, then gave a small, tired smile.

"You sure you're ready for that? We get kinda crazy," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Liam chuckled. "You guys look like a great family. I've never had a family and now I want to be part of it."

I held out my hand, and he took it, gripping firmly. "Welcome to the family, then. You're a good man, Liam. And... thank you. For helping my wife."

"It was the least I could do," he said, and I knew he meant it."I would do it again in a heart beat."

~

The night air was thick with the scent of blood and burning wood as we stepped out of the cabin. The moon hung high, casting an eerie glow over the forest. We moved quickly, loading into the SUV. Corey had called the police before we left—Layne had already been wanted for the murder of Everett Young.

Jake held Raelyn in his arms as we settled into the vehicle. She was limp, barely conscious, her breathing shallow. The girls hadn't seen her injuries yet, and when they finally got a look, their faces twisted in horror.

"Oh my god," Katrina gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "What happened to her?"

"Is she going to be okay?" Devyn whispered, her voice trembling.

Isa squared her shoulders, trying to mask her worry. "She'll be okay," she said with forced confidence. "I'll take care of her."

In the backseat, Blake's wide, scared eyes met mine. His voice was small, uncertain. "Is it over, Colby?"

I nodded. "Yeah, buddy. It's over."

Aspen, strapped in her car seat, stretched out her tiny hand. "Mama okay?" she asked, her little voice breaking.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sweetheart. Mama's okay."

Raelyn stirred slightly as I settled her in the backseat, resting her head in my lap. I stroked her hair gently. "Just rest, Rae. We're going home."

I pulled out my phone, hesitating for just a second before dialing Brielle's number. It was late in London, but she picked up after the second ring.

"Colby?" Her voice was filled with anxiety. "What's happened? Is Raelyn—is she alive?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said quickly. "She's alive."

She let out a shuddering breath, then asked, "And Everett? Did you—did you find him?"

I hesitated. There was no easy way to say it. "Yes," I said finally. "We found Everett. I'm so sorry, Brielle. My father... he murdered him."

A strangled sob burst through the phone. "Oh my god," she wept. "Everett..."

My throat tightened. "I'm so sorry," I repeated.

"No." She inhaled sharply, composing herself. "No, Colby... thank you. Thank you for giving me this closure. I've waited years to know what happened to my husband. And now I know." She took another shaky breath. "Please... give Raelyn a kiss and a hug for me. Tell her I love her."

"I will," I promised. "I'll update you soon."

"Okay," she whispered. "Thank you. Goodbye, love."

I hung up, my chest aching.

Isa and Liam sat in the back, talking quietly.

"Your sister is a fighter," Liam said. "She's strong."

Isa smiled faintly, nodding. "Yeah. That's why we all love her. She's a badass with nine lives."

Soft laughter filled the car.

Isa sniffed, blinking back tears. "I don't know if she would have survived without you," she admitted. "She needed a friend down there. And you—you were that for her."

Liam squeezed her hand. "I'm just glad I could help."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and for the first time that night, I saw peace in her eyes.

I took a deep breath and called my mom.

She answered immediately. "Colby? What's wrong?"

I exhaled slowly. "Mom... he's gone."

Silence. Then, a sob. "Layne?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "You don't have to worry about him anymore."

She choked out a cry. "You did the right thing, baby. He was too dangerous to be kept alive."

I swallowed hard. "I know. But it still feels—" My voice broke. "I don't know how to feel."

"That's normal," she said gently. "Layne was still your father. But he was also a monster. And now you're free."

A tear slipped down my cheek. "Give Kalani and Gigi a hug for me?"

"I will," she promised, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Colby."

I clenched my jaw, my breath unsteady. "I love you too, Mom." I hung up the phone as I wiped a stray tear from my eye.

The car fell into silence until Corey finally spoke.

"So," he said, his tone lighter, "what do we do now? We kind of killed the villain in our main story."

Sam snorted. "Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe we can actually live normal lives for once."

An idea formed in my head, and before I could think twice, I blurted it out. "What if we start our own pack?"

The car went still.

"A pack?" Katrina repeated, raising a brow.

"Yeah," I said, my voice firm. "A crazy, dysfunctional, badass pack. All of us."

Silence. Then, one by one, they nodded.

"That's a great idea," Corey said.

"Yeah," Tara grinned. "We're already a family. Might as well make it official."

I looked down at Raelyn in my lap, her breathing soft and steady. My fingers brushed her hair, and I felt something settle in my chest.

We had been through hell. But we were still here. Still together. And now, we had a future.

Together.