Pulling up, I park my car then help Clara out. She gets Bear out and situated in her arms. My hand goes to her lower back as I lead them up to their apartment. As we approach her door I notice that it’s cracked. What the actual…. Pushing her behind me but keeping one arm firmly wrapped around her hip I shoot off a text and draw my pistol from behind my back. Nudging the door open with the barrel of my gun. I get my first look inside her apartment and my eyes widen, “What the fuck?”
* **
Clara
I’m shaking like a leaf as I try to peek around Rowan’s broad back to see what’s happening. He’s pointing a gun into my apartment. Why does he always have a gun? He’s a businessman? I continue to lean around Rowan to the best of my ability but I can’t see anything. I’m also unable to move but so much with not wanting to wake Rhett. A loud BANG echoes through the hall as three men I saw earlier tonight sprint down the hall guns drawn. Declan yells “Roe, you good?” They all skid to a stop beside Rowan further blocking my view. Kieran, the tallest and broadest of the brothers mutters, “Holy shit.” I’ve had enough of this so I push myself through the wall of men and stand in front of Rowan my free hand comes up to my mouth as I scream. Rowan grabs me by the hips to support my weight as my knees buckle. Rhett starts to wake up so I place my hand on the back of his head keeping him still. Rowan lifts his hands to sign something to Rhett, I can feel Rhett moving his hands to respond but I have no idea what’s happening with them.
Kieran reaches out to Rhett and takes him. “We’re just going to go wait in the car, Mama Bear. I won’t take my eyes off him, I’ll protect him with my life.”
Looking over to Kieran, I’m wanting to say so much but all that comes out is a strained, “Safe?”
He smiles and nods, “Promise.”
I watch them until they disappear down the stairs with Mac on their heels. Finally turning back to see my living room walls are splashed with red paint.
Surveillance style pictures of Rhett and I together and separate over the past few weeks litter every inch of floor and furniture in the room. I step into the room and see on the far wall it’s clear of paint except for a message that’s clearly for me and I know we’ve been found. I have to get back to Rhett. We have to get out of here NOW. Fear, dread, and horror shivers down my spine as I take one more look at the wall.“I see everything.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I look up at Rowan, who’s still holding onto me. He’s speaking as low as he can into his phone but his eyes stay on mine. I have to go. I have to get away, I still have time. I have to get Rhett and I out of danger and also keep Rowan and his brothers safe. Pulling out of his grasp, I’m bolting into my bedroom in record time. It’s been ransacked but I find a duffle bag and start throwing as many clothes that can fit and aren’t cut up. I move the loose board in the back of the closet and grab our documents, throwing them in the bag too. Wasting no time I’m zipping it while heading into Rhett’s room to do the same thing. His turtles missing, FUCK! He’s had it since he was born, he loves that stuffy. I don’t hear Rowan come in, but he crouches down beside me and gently grabs the back of my neck, “Baby, stop. We need to talk about this.”
I don’t stop, I’m continuing to throw what’s salvageable of my son’s possessions into a duffle. Repeating the process, zip it up then stand to make an exit, “No Rowan. You don’t understand. I’m sorry, Maybe in another life. In another time and place. But I can’t do this, I have to go. I have to get Rhett and we HAVE to go. I don’t have a choice here.”
He stands and grabs both shoulders not rough but firm, histone is the same, “Clara, stop. You’re not leaving. Rhett’s already in my car with Kieran and Mac. We can go back to my place. I swear to you there’s no safer place in the country for you two. We’ll get Rhett settled and then we’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything you want to know, and we’ll figure this out together….Please, baby. Give me a night to lay it all out.”
The heartbreak in his eyes, the pain and sincerity in his voice as well as the slight tremble in this strong impenetrable man is what has me nodding in agreement. “Fine,onenight. If I want to leave tomorrow you’ll help Rhett and I leave.”
He nods before I even finish my terms. “I promise, just let me get you to safety. We need to move.”
He shoulders my duffle bags, grabs my hand and leads me back out to the Tahoe. My body trembles the whole way back down to the car. Rowan’s arm is wrapped around my shoulder but that helps nothing. I want to throw up but I’m too scared to stop moving.
Declan is carrying our bags and walks a few paces behind us. We get out to Rowan’s car and I glance around the parking lot. Spotting something on the hood of my car, without thinking I move towards it to get a better look. Someone’s talking and walking behind me but I’m too into my own thoughts to even process it. Making my way to the hood and my heart drops out of my stomach and this time I do bend over and throw up until my stomach is empty. Laying on my hood is my engagement ring and red paint painted across the windshield that says, “TIL DEATH”. My legs give out on me but before I land on my knees I’m scooped up by strong, warm, safe arms. Letting out a loud scream, releasing all my fear and pain, Rowan cradles me to him and whispers about how it’s going to be okay.
He says it, but I can feel the rage coming off his body in waves.I somehow end up in the car beside Rowan with Kieran and Mac in the front two seats. My leg bounces, Rowan has to put his hand on it to get it to stop. And because our life isn’t chaotic enough right now Rhett stirs and blinks over at us.
“Are we going home now?”
I choke back a sob and sign to him,“We’re going to have a sleepover at Rowan’s house. Is that okay?”
Rhett looks next to me at Rowan and nods,“Can you sleep with me? I don’t want to get scared.”
Rowan reaches over me and I don’t think my heart will ever be the same after what happens next. He lifts his hands and signs,“Of course she can. I’ll even sit by your door all night again and make sure you guys are safe.”
Any walls I still had in place before that have just been blown to smithereens.
Rhett looks to me then back to him,“Really?”
Rowan nods and signs,“promise.”
Rowan starts running his fingers through Rhett’s curls again as Kieran drives. I must have dozed off on the way to Rowan’s house. When we stop, I hear men speaking in low voices. I pick my head off Rowan’s shoulder and look around, “Shhh, it’s okay, Pretty Girl. It’s just the guards.” I nod and sleepily watch as they wave us through and we take the trek down the long driveway. We park in the garage and Rowan helps me out then opens the other back door so I can get Rhett out. His eyes flutter open when I unbuckle him and pick him up. Clutching his bear and blanket one of the men must have thrown over him when he fell asleep, he looks at Rowan for reassurance and Rowan signs,“Safe, promise.”Rhett nods then leans over to my shoulder closest to Rowan. I try to adjust him then realize he’s actually leaning for Rowan to take him. Shockedhe’s choosing Rowan over me, I whip my eyes to the man who may have stolen both our hearts.
12
Chapter Twelve
Rowan
Ilook to Clara for guidance on what to do. I’m in uncharted territory and I have no idea how to proceed. She gives me a slight nod, “You can take him if you want to. Since he’s normally afraid of men I don’t know how he’s going to react if he really wakes up, so if he startles awake and panics don’t freak out. He’s half asleep, he may not even realize you’re the one who has him.” For some reason that last part feels like my heart is in a vice. I want him to trust me, I want him to look to me for safety. Because I will keep him and his mom safe if it’s the last thing I do.
“I’ll take him. Dec’s grabbing your bags now, and I’m sure it’s not easy carrying him up stairs in heels.”
