“I’m not going to lie, I’ve been watching you with her all day and thinking what it will be like to have our own,” John says.
“This isn’t insane… you want this? Like now,” I say.
“Nope, and I’m pretty sober today.” He winks. “You have no reason to doubt me.”
Suddenly, the little boy in my arms starts to hum. At first, I think he’s humming something random. I used to hum to myself when I was younger. It drove my father crazy.
I freeze. That memory came so easily. Me humming, my father’s face as I hummed to myself.
However, I’m brought back to the moment as the little guy cups my face. He stares at my chin as he hums some more. The song clicks and I draw my burrows.
“Say yes. No scared. Yes, okay?” he says reaching for my hand and John’s and linking them together. “Bella, say yes to everything.”
I look to John. I’m sure all the blood has drained from my face. John has a surprised look on his as well.
“He’s humming “You’re the One that I Want”. Who is this kid?”
“Hey, Sammy, where’d you hear that song?” John says.
The kid doesn’t answer. He jumps off my lap and races across the room to wrap around the leg of the woman with Paige and Camille. I look back at John.
“Could he have been there last night? Oh my God, John, after the movie we—”
“He and his family arrived this morning. No, he wasn’t there,” John says. He shrugs. “Coincidence. After all, you said it yourself. It’s a classic.”
When Logan calls it a night and collects his daughter, I need a drink.
John
“You look tired,” I say as I walk up behind Roni and wrap my arms around her.
She shrugs. “A little.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“I remembered something about my father today. It was something small. The little kid humming triggered it.
“I had pretty much given up on remembering more of my past. Sometimes… there are days when I think I should leave it all where it is. You know, like it’s all going to come back and bite me if I finally figure out how to pull the fog back,” she murmurs.
I turn her to face me. “Hey, if you remember nothing, I will be here to help you make new memories. If you remember everything, including the day you were born, I’ll be here to help you deal with how you feel about that.
“It will always be my sole mission to see you happy and safe. Don’t get lost in your head. I’ll be your anchor. Use me.”
She smiles at me. “Yes, boss.” I growl and palm her ass. “See, I can be a good submissive.”
“We have the rest of our lives to prove that’s a lie.”
She reaches to cup my junk. “I was wondering how I can get one of those spankings. Is this enough?”
I throw my head back and laugh. God, I love this woman. I’ll do anything to protect her and make her happy.
Chapter 57
Present Fire
Roni
Back to the present…
“It will end the way I want it to end, Cherone.”
The words ring like a bell as the bullet from my gun pierces through this son of a bitch’s skull. After all I’ve been through, it finally all falls into place. It’s clear as day as if I’ve lived it all over again. I remember every single detail, including the day this fucker groped me and demanded I marry Darius or be sold off.
Even over the last nine months, I’ve suffered because of this man. Or better yet, because of the people who sent him for me. Rage courses through me as his body drops to the ground.
I run over and empty my clip into his chest. Tears blur my vision. The more I remember, the more I become unhinged.
“Is this how you wanted it to end, you fuck?” I scream. “I’m going to kill you all. I’m coming for every single one of you.”
“Roni, Roni,” John calls out as he wraps me in his arms.
“What the fuck?” Ryan says somewhere close by.
I bury my face in John’s chest. “I remember. I remember everything. I know who I am.”
“Holy shit,” Ryan says.
“I’m going to kill them, John. I’m going to fucking kill them.”
John
When I say I’m coiled tight enough to spin, I’m ready to explode and I’ve yet to hear the truth. She remembers. That means that I can finally close this chapter for her.
With her.
I work my jaw. I understand Roni, she’s not going to allow me to do this for her, but I’ll be there with her. That’s a promise I can make.
“You guys all right?” Wyatt asks as he comes through the doorway panting.
“We’re good. Are we all clear? Roni and John need a moment, she remembers,” Ryan says.
Wyatt pushes a hand through his hair as he takes in a sobbing Roni. “We’re all clear here. Felix, you have an update for me on the rest of the family?”
“Toby’s getting mom stitched up. She was hit in the shoulder,” Felix says into the comms.
“No,” Roni screams, causing my heart to feel like it’s going to give out as my brain glitches from my brother’s words.
“She’s okay,” Felix adds, calming the storm in my head only slightly. “Toby said these fuckers got it worse.”
“Noah?” Wyatt asks.
“His place is shot up, but they’re fine. He says we’re going to want to hear what he and Bean learned.”
Wyatt nods. His lips tight. He looks to Roni still sobbing in my arms.
I already know what he’s thinking. He needs me to clean this mess up, but I have my girl in my arms, falling apart. I catch his eyes and nod.
“This is going to take a hell of a lot of favors,” he says.
“Yeah, but I’ll handle it. My team will cover. Get everyone out of here and be careful.”
This is definitely one of those times I’m grateful that I’ve expanded the team and have my own clean up crew. Our lives are leaving bigger messes in their wake. This needs a personal touch with finesse.
“The baby,” Carmen says.
“Safe,” Felix replies. “Tell her that Omid has her. She’s safe.”
Ryan tightens his hold around Camren and murmurs something in her ear. I still have my woman locked closely to my chest. I think I’m the only thing holding her up at this point.
“Felix, I can use a little assistance with this if you can,” I say. “I’m going to need eyes in the sky for the guys.”
“You got it.”
“John,” Roni whimpers.
“Shh, first, let me get you in the bird. Then, I’ll make some calls. After that, I’ll get you home and you can tell me everything. Okay?”
Roni nods and sniffles. She’s in that detached mode. I can feel it. This is a huge blow.
In the back of my mind, I know this all comes from the Alliance. We’ve been waiting for it. However, as I move Roni toward the chopper, I have one question.
How does this all connect to my woman?