I drove into the parking lot, pulling into the spot next to the SUV Declan drove. He, Marcie, Heidi, Scott, and Lucia were already heading toward the building. The guys at the airfield grabbed the luggage out of our vehicle as soon as they finished unloading Declan’s car, except for Katie’s backpack and gig bag. Jackson grabbed the guitar, and Katie took her backpack, carrying them through check-in and then out on the tarmac, Marcie doing the same with the bag, which held her stuffies.
We filed up the steps and into the plane. It was hard as fuck to wrap my head around even being adjacent to this kind of wealth. Declan had tried talking to me about the trust and my place in the family, but I shut it down. I wasn’t there yet. And I’d never get there if there wasn’t a way to ensure Marcie was at some point, too.
The comment she made that first night about babies rattled around in my head at random moments. Declan and I needed to have a conversation about that as well. Without Marcie’s knowledge because I didn’t wanna worry her about shit that my damn fucked up head conjured up. The thing that bothered me the most was what he said about the trust all those years ago, about who got added and when.
If we had kids would be Marcie’s decision to make. Yes, I’d like some eventually, because I wanted a family with them. One we created together.
Marcie’s worry about who the father would be didn’t concern me. We were together—a committed throuple. I’d love any kid we had the same, no matter who donated the genetic material. But that wasifwe had any.
So, no, the who didn’t worry me. What concerned me was the difference in financial and familial status. I didn’t want a kid fathered by Declan treated any differently than my biological child. That was my biggest worry.
The government, and most people, would never recognize the three of us as legally married. I got it. The legalities would be a nightmare. My VA benefits, social security, you name it, the government wouldn’t pass that shit because of the logistics.
Did it suck?
Hell fucking yes.
I hated that there was an inherent difference between my relationship with Declan and our relationships with Marcie. And there always would be because he and I were married, and she was technically considered a girlfriend? Partner?
Whatever you called her, there would be people who saw her as she worried they would. An invader. A hanger-on. And, in Declan’s case, a gold digger. I wouldn’t fucking have it. Not ever. Because it was fucking wrong. This marriage was a partnership between the three of us. And if I wouldn’t condone it for her, I for damn sure wouldn’t allow it to happen to our children.
Blaring alarms and alerts filled the plane as several phones went off at once, dragging me from my thoughts. The sound was reminiscent of all the times I got called up while still active duty.
I looked around and saw Declan, Foster, Heidi, and Celeste’s faces turn white and their eyes grew rounder than the silver dollars I’d received while in the Marines.
“What’s going on, Foster?” Jackson asked.
Katie, who Jackson had pulled into his arms, yelled, “Goddammit! Tell me something!”
Reading over Declan’s shoulder, I said, “The house received a package…”
BOMB!
The word jumped off the screen of Declan’s phone seconds before Foster’s voice cut through the plane’s cabin.
“Get off the plane! Now! Fucking Move!”
Jackson… damn the kid had reflexes like a cat… grabbed Katie and ran for the door. Hot on his heels, I pushed Declan in front of me, my arm wrapped around Marcie’s waist. She had on sensible shoes, thank God, but she was fucking tiny and visibly upset, not moving nearly fast enough for my peace of mind.
At the foot of the stairs, I kissed Marcie before shoving her into Declan’s arms.
“Go with Daddy, pequeña.”
“Papi! No, where are you going?” Marcie screamed, her voice laced with fear, making tears run down her beautiful face.
“Declan, get her the fuck outta here!”
“Don’t go! Please! Papi!”
She cried for me, fighting Declan’s hold on her. I pulled them to me, kissing them.
“I love you both. Now, go!”
Shoving Declan toward Heidi, who headed toward the second SUV, I took off after Katie and Jackson. At the front SUV, I looked back to make sure Declan got himself and Marcie in the other car.
Jackson noticed, his gaze following mine, and said, “Go. We’ll be fine.”
Torn between the mission and my heart, I swore, my eyes closing as my heart won the argument that shouldn’t have been. I slammed the door shut and pounded the roof as Jackson shoved Katie into the SUV. The vehicle peeled away, and my feet flew across the tarmac to the other SUV.
