It took a while to figure out the logistics of getting everyone to the storage unit, but in the end they decided that Ernesto would drive the two Floreses in his car while Kai took the Stone brothers. Eliot climbed wordlessly into the back seat, leaving the front seat to Jake. He didn't seem as excited about it as when he'd taken the spot from Alex. Actually, they both seemed subdued. Granted, nearly dying was something that would definitely put a damper on anyone's day, but Kai had a feeling it was more than that. And it was none of her business and she should leave it alone.

But she had to admit she was curious—especially after hearing the panic in Alex's voice. She'd never heard him that rattled, not even when Alex's former partner Todd Carpenter had kidnapped his daughter. But he'd been focused on her rescue, on making a plan and following it through. This time he'd been powerless to help, and it had gotten to him.

And Eliot... he hadn't exactly been chatty before, but now he was downright stoic. He hadn't said a single word after Alex's phone call, and when Kai glanced in the rearview mirror she found him staring pensively out the window. Jake was the only one acting somewhat normal, and he was the one who'd almost died.

She drove as quickly as she could, hoping to save the brothers more turmoil. The sooner Alex could see for himself that Jake was okay, the better. She had the horrible mental image of Alex passed out on the floor of a storage container, his wrist monitor beeping away while Flores escaped with his mountain of dangerous magical weapons.

Even when he was across the city, he still stressed her out.

"Turn here," Jake said, pointing. Kai followed his direction, trying not to frown when she saw how wan his face looked.

"You sure you're okay?"

"I feel like I need a steak dinner and a nap, but otherwise yeah. Really, I'm good."

"I'll drive you to the hospital after we arrest Flores," Kai offered.

Jake shook his head. "How would I explain the blood loss? It'll be fine after I get some rest. Trust me, this ain't my first rodeo."

Considering how well he was taking his brush with death, she could believe that. What was with these brothers and choosing careers that frequently threatened their lives?

Kai turned into the lot of storage containers, watching in the mirrors as Ernesto followed. She parked in front of the container Jake pointed out, leaning past him to get a view of the inside.

She let out a relieved breath. Alex was shuffling through a container full of who-knows-what and barking something at Flores, who sat a little ways away with his wrists chained together. Kai made one last glance at Ernesto's car, pulling into position behind her, and opened her door. It was time to finally end the most confusing, ridiculous, and annoying case of her career.

"Robert Flores," she said, slamming her door shut and pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "You are under arrest. Hold out your hands."

Flores complied without argument. Kai knelt and grabbed his wrist in one hand and his ring in the other, pulling carefully until it slipped off his finger. She looked around, half expecting an explosion or flash of light, but Ernesto just smiled and tapped the roof of his car.

"They're gone," he reported.

Finally. It was over.

"Get up," Kai said. She frowned at his chains and looked to Alex, who shrugged.

"I didn't have handcuffs. Hang on." He crossed the storage container and removed the chains, tossing them into a box and dusting off his hands. "So? That's it?"

"That's it," Kai said. Ernesto came forward to take Flores to his car, and Kai allowed her shoulders to relax. "Where's his key to the storage container?"

Alex produced it from his pocket and handed it to her. "Figured we'd want to lock this up once we left."

"Good work," she said, offering him a small smile.

He returned it hesitantly. "You're just saying that because you want my brothers to leave."

"Three Floreses? Three of you? Way too many. I'm ready to go back to one of each."

Alex gave a strained laugh and took off his hat. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's never worked with us all together."

"That's not what I meant," Kai said. "You three work too well together. You haven't talked in what, 30 years? And you were able to make a plan to arrest a man who uses magic. Successfully. In less than two days."

"Careful," Alex said. "Keep going like that and I'll think you're trying to compliment me."

She elbowed his arm. "Don't let it get to your head. It was mostly Jake and Eliot."

"Right. I just caught the real Flores and brought you to his stash of magic junk."

"Which we already knew the location of, thanks to Jake."

"Yeah," Alex said, his eyes drifting past her.

"Go on." She nudged him toward the door. "You said you wanted to talk in person. Go talk."

"Yeah." Without looking at her, he pulled in a deep breath and left the storage container, moving over to where his brothers stood beside Kai's car. She watched him, folding her arms and telling herself not to eavesdrop but knowing full well that she was going to anyway.

Kai expected a flippant comment—something to show that Alex wasn't as scared as he'd seemed—but instead he just walked up to Jake and pulled him into a tight hug. Jake leaned into the embrace, laughing in that same tense way Alex had, pressing his fist to Alex's back. They stayed like that for a moment before Alex leaned back and threw an arm around Eliot as well.

"Don't do that again," Alex said, his voice muffled by Jake's shoulder.

"I'd just heal again," Jake pointed out.

"No, man. Never again."

Jake pulled back slightly. "Does that mean there's going to be an... again?"

"I'd settle for a beer on the beach for your next visit," Alex said.

Eliot let go and stepped out of the others' reach. "I'm not sure that's such a great idea. With everything that's—"

"No." Alex's arm was still draped over Jake's, and he pulled him forward so he could grab Eliot's shoulder. "What we've been doing, just... just pretending it's fine that we don't know each other, that we don't keep in touch—I'm not doing it anymore. We have another chance at this, and... I want to do things differently."

"What," Eliot said. "You wanna send Christmas cards? Do a family reunion twice a year?"

"Why the hell not?" Alex said.

Eliot pushed his hand away. "Because we're not that kind of family, Alex. When we get together, people get hurt. Look what happened to Jake."

"That's not—" Jake started.

"You remember how it's gone every other time we've tried this," Eliot said. "I know you do. You both do. We just don't work, alright? We can text or whatever, keep each other up-to-date, but I don't think it's a good idea to get together often."

"You were the one who wanted us to talk," Jake said. A hint of anger burned in his voice, though Kai couldn't see his face. "Now, what? You're just done? Because I got shot?"

"It's not—that," Eliot said. Not just that, Kai thought. He took another step back and threw out his hand toward the storage container. "Hell, look what two days with us have done to your friend Kai. She's ready to buy all of us tickets off the island."

His words hit her like a punch. Sure, she'd taken a while to get used to the idea that Alex had identical brothers, but had she been that harsh with them? Eliot wouldn't really refuse a relationship with his brothers because of her, right?

"Don't try to blame this on her," Alex said. "This is on you. If you don't want it, just say you don't want it."

He didn't. He didn't say anything, and he didn't move, even when Jake disentangled himself from Alex and turned to face Eliot.

"I want it," Jake said.

"Then do it," Eliot said. "Do whatever you want. Think I'll head back to my hotel."

"Eliot," Alex started, but Eliot waved a hand to cut him off.

"I won't leave without saying goodbye. I promise."

Great. Kai had spent so much time wishing she wasn't in the middle of this situation, and now that it was finally over she was having regrets? She wasn't sure what Eliot's problem was, but she knew she wasn't about to let him leave without reconciling with his brothers.

Apparently Alex's meddling tendencies had worn off on her.

"Ernesto," Kai said, jogging toward them. Eliot had already started walking across the lot, and he didn't turn back when she called out. That was fine. There was still time. "I'll take Flores in."

Her partner cocked his head. "I'll come with you."

"No," she said, sending a pointed look at Jake and Alex. "I think the boys need some soup."