Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I’ve spent most of it hating myself for running out of there,” I admit. “I wanted to keep you safe, make sure they didn’t hurt you…but part of me hated that I went. Maybe you’d have known about Lily if I’d just stayed. M-maybe none of this would have happened.”
“Hey.” He hauls himself into a seated position and then scoops me up in his arms, cradling me against his chest. “Don’t do that,” he whispers, brushing his lips across my temple. “Don’t torture yourself with thoughts of what might have been. We have now. We have forever. It’s time to let all that go now. Lily is safe now. You’re safe now. You’re both mine, and nothing is ever going to take either of you from me again.”
He's right. It is time to let it go. It’s time…to forgive myself. I can’t undo the past. I can’t go back and redo that day or make different choices. Maybe the choice I made led me to hell. Maybe it is why the MC is hunting our daughter. Or maybe it’s why Keegan is alive right now with his arms wrapped around me and his ring on my finger. Maybe it’s why we have a chance at a real future. I don’t know.
But I do know that we’re here now. Despite everything, we made it to this point. And regardless of anything, we’ll make it through whatever comes next. We’ll do it one step at a time. Together.
Chapter Thirteen
Landry
The next two days are quiet. Blissful. I feel like I’m living a dream. But every dream ends eventually. Ours does on the second night after our wedding, when Dillon calls, informing us that the DEA and FBI are planning to raid the compound and the club the following night. They can’t risk waiting any longer.
I’m a nervous wreck as soon as I hear the news. I barely sleep all night. I don’t think Keegan sleeps any better than I do. When we get up the following morning, Keegan wants to stay home with me, but his schedule is packed with appointments that he’s already rescheduled once.
“You can’t reschedule them again, Keegan,” I murmur, cupping his cheek. “Lily and I will be perfectly fine here. Giant will be here in a few minutes to babysit us.”
With the security system, floodlights, extra locks, and cameras he and Finn installed all over the property, there’s really no need for him to sit out there all night when Keegan is here. He has a wife and kids waiting for him at home. He deserves time with them.
Keegan frowns down at me, clearly reluctant. “You’d be even safer with me and Giant here to babysit you.”
“Are you just trying to get out of work?” I tease.
“No. I’m trying to make sure my wife and baby girl are safe.”
I melt against him, leaning up to brush a kiss across his jaw. “We’re going to be safe. Giant will be here today, and you’ll be home before they raid.”
“Promise me that you’ll call if you need me.”
“You know I will.”
He grumbles reluctantly and then gives in with a heavy sigh. His lips come down on mine in a searing kiss, his hand tangled in my hair. “I can’t fucking wait until this is over and you never have to worry about these motherfuckers ever again.”
“Soon,” I whisper.
He kisses me again and then strides to the door, only to pause and glance back at me. “I love you, Landry baby.”
“I love you, too. Lock the door and arm the security system behind me. Giant should be here within the hour.”
He drags himself out, leaving me and Lily in the silence of his old farmhouse. I lock up and rearm the security system before I scoop Lily out of her bouncy seat.
“Hey, sweet angel,” I croon after I’ve changed her. “Are you hungry?”
She coos at me, her eyes wide and attentive as I settle into a rocking chair to feed her. I watch her eat for a long moment before my phone rings, making me jump.
I grab it off the coffee table, smiling when I see Samara’s name on the display.
“Hey,” I whisper. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to check on you,” she says, worry in her voice. “Tate told me what’s going on. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, surprised by how much I actually mean that. I’m anxious, but I feel like this is finally it. The end of my nightmare. By morning, Garrick and the MC will be in handcuffs. Lily and I will be free.
“Is Keegan there with you?”
“No. I sent him to work. Giant should be here soon.”
“Do you want some company?”
“I’d love that,” I admit. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“Not unless coffee counts.”
“I’ll make us something. Let me know when you and the babies get here.”
“It’s just me and Scout today, and we’re on the way.”