“Good, he’s been too needy recently. Do you need help with dinner?”
“No, I’m just about done.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll set the table.” Without giving me a chance to respond he heads to the cabinets, and I’m reminded how kind this man really is under all his layers.
* * *
The days that follow are peaceful and somewhat normal. Rhett is obsessed with his new room, all his new toys, and most importantly his new Uncles, who worship the ground he walks on. The guys have a tutor who comes to teach them new signs five days a week and they all take it extremely seriously. It’s a competition on who can learn quicker. Rowan is of course in the lead, but surprisingly Kieran is right behind him.
Rowan works from his home office except for the one time he had to go meet with some guy named Rossi. He answers whatever questions I have but I’m not much for digging intohis business. What I am much for is getting out of this house. Rowan walks out onto the patio where I’m relaxing with a book while Rhett plays on his play set with Safe. Rhett didn’t freak out about the loss of his turtle like I thought he would, Safe is the new obsession and we go nowhere without him.
Rowan walks up behind me and pulls on my ponytail so my head leans back and I’m looking up at him. “Hey, Pretty Girl. So I have to go handle an incident at one of our businesses. Killian and Nolan are going to stay here with you, you’ll be safe, but call me if you need me. Let Rhett call me if he needs me.”
I nod slightly, “Okay, I’ll miss you.”
He gives me that dirty smirk, “Maybe you can show me how much tonight.” My spine tingles and my whole body heats. He chuckles then leans down and kisses me. “I’ll see you soon, Pretty Girl.”
Smiling a megawatt smile back at him, “I’ll see you soon, handsome.” He gives me one last lingering kiss before going over to Rhett to tell him bye, too.
I watch them exchange goodbyes, hugs, and a kiss to the top of the head from Rowan. As Rowan’s walking away Rhett starts clapping. Confused, I meet Rowan’s eyes, his look equally as confused as he turns around to Rhett.
“What’s up, Little Bear?”
Rhett lifts his hands and solidifies that I need to tell Rowan how I’m feeling soon, because my four year old just beat me to it,“I love you. Be safe.”
I see Rowan grab his chest and let out an emotional breath,“I love you too, Bear. Safe, Promise.”He turns back to me and I swear I see the tears forming in his eyes. He locks eyes with me and takes a calming breath before quickly wiping his eyesand leaving.
It’s been hours since Rowan left, and it seems all of his brothers are gone too. Rhett and I are bored, and tired of being cooped up in the house. I can’t go back to work until Preston is found, Mr. O’Brien was so understanding about it, and I’m assuming that’s because Rowan called him instead of me. It’s been a weeks since the night at my apartment. Nothing has happened, it’s been quiet. So Rhett and I decided to go scheming. We find Killian in the living room on the phone. His voice is hushed so I can’t hear anything until he spots me and says, “Yeah, I got it. Soon. Okay, I’ll call you later.” and hangs up. “Hey, what’s up?”
That was odd, but whatever. “So, did Rowan say we couldn’t leave, or just that we can’t leave without you and Nolan?”
Killian’s eyebrow hitches, “The latter, why?” Smiling Rhett just watches between us. He’s amazing at reading lips but Killian doesn’t enunciate enough for Rhett to pick up on anything.
“Rhett and I want to go to the ice cream parlor by the apartment. It’s our favorite, and we’re going insane just being here.” Killian doesn’t acknowledge me but does type something on his phone.
When it pings with what I’m assuming is a response he nods at me. “Okay, Let’s go.” Rhett and I already have our shoes. Rhett is armed with Safe and myself with my purse.
We walk out to a black escalade, and I strap Rhett in then move to sit beside him. Killian drives and Nolan is in the passenger seat. They talk in hushed voices the whole way there and Rhett and I play with Safe and giggle together. When we arrive at the parlor Killian parallel parks in front of the shop, he and Nolan get out to survey the area. Once they deem itsafe I unbuckle Rhett and move us inside. We get in line and get our favorite Mint Chocolate Chip in a waffle cone then make our way to a back table. Killian and Nolan sit in a seat across from us constantly scanning the small crowd.
We take our sweet time just enjoying being out of the house and people watching. Rhett’s finishing up his ice cream when he gives me those puppy eyes he knows I’m a sucker for.
“Mama, can we go to the park?”Before I’m able to answer him I hear Killian’s phone going off, then Nolan’s. I turn and watch them just in time to see both their faces pale.
Nolan grits out, “I’m getting them back now.” Killian finishes up with whoever he was talking to and they both turn to me with sunken expressions.
Nolan breaks the silence first, “Clara. We have to get back to the house now. It’s the Boss.” Grabbing Rhett and Safe we’re rushed into the Escalade and before we pull off I hear “What the fuck.” At the same time Nolan rolls the front window down and pulls Rhett’s prized stuffed turtle off the windshield. Only instead of the turtle being in the same condition we last saw him, this time his head is missing and pinned to his shell is a piece of paper, ‘You can’t hide from me.’ We take off in the direction of Rowan’s house, and I think every higher power that exists Rhett is still rear facing and has no idea what we’ve just discovered. Whatever is happening with Rowan we’ll handle. Unless one of the men says something about it, I’ll handle this Preston thing on my own.
16
Chapter Sixteen
Rowan
Leaving that shit show of a meeting with Theo Rossi, my head is pounding. Declan and Kieran flank me as we make our way to the Tahoe. First I was called to our main warehouse because they thought someone took a crate of product. They didn’t, these idiots just counted wrong. Then, Theo called me to come meet him at his office just outside of the city limits. He’s pissed that his daughter hasn’t been acting the same since that day her and the twins skipped.
The problem? I have no idea why. All three of them have clammed up and no one is speaking. Theo isn’t pissed at me, he gets I’m the parental figure to them and I’m doing my best with everything I have going on. He’s pissed the boys won’t talk. Hell, I’m pissed the boys won’t talk. Secrets are fine and all except this seems serious and I think Theo deserves toknow what’s going on. I’d want to know if it was them, and I’d demand to know if it was Rhett. My thoughts drift to this morning when he told me he loves me.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt that earth shattering feeling of completion before. He told me the other night too, but I wasn’t sure if that was a half asleep thing or not. This morning he was awake, alert, and intentional with it. I love him so damn much, I dare anyone to say he isn’t my kid. The shitty part? I still haven’t told his mom that I love her yet. I keep waiting for the perfect time. I don’t want to screw this up. At the same time, I don’t want to hold back anymore. I’m telling her tonight. Just as that thought cements in my brain Kieran’s shouts pull me out of my thoughts.
