Vicky's POV
I flinched when a soft voice broke through the quiet. "Why are you hiding here?"
I turned, startled, and found Ella approaching me from the stairs. I forced a smile and lifted a shoulder like it was nothing. "I'm not sure. My legs just… walked me here," I joked weakly, leaning against the cool back wall of the kitchen.
Ella stepped closer, eyes narrowing with that annoyingly perceptive look of hers. "Or maybe," she said, "you're worried. Not just about your brothers… but about Oliver too. Right?"
My smile faltered. I exhaled, letting the truth slip out in pieces. "Maybe. I just…" My gaze drifted past her, toward the open dining where the men were gathered, drinks in hand, the sun catching their laughter. "I just wish Oliver had chosen a different path. Don't misunderstand, I'm thankful. He's been with us for years, carrying more weight than he ever should've. But this life? It's dangerous, Ella."
Her brows pulled together. "Dangerous how?"
