And then, there was also Lennon who deserved to know what was happening. He’d been River’s protector for the last few years and would also likely be home when I was at work, so it was important to be upfront with him. The kid’s face looked how I felt, worried and seething mad.
“Whoever it was, came from the side of the building so there was nothing showing him getting in and out of a vehicle. He also was wearing a ski mask and gloves,” Braxton stated.
My hands fisted at my sides, my fingers digging into my palms because they were clenched so tight. “Broad fucking daylight!”
I looked at Bronson hoping he had some good news after going by her place of business in person. He was shaking his head and blew out a frustrated breath.
“After arriving, I took a look around and went inside to speak with anyone who had offices there,” Bronson told us. “You mentioned River said a guy came out yelling and scared the dude off.”
Thank God that man came out when he had.
“Well, the guy wasn’t sure what to do since River took off, but he did call the cops. They’d taken the witness’s statement and got the info for the security company, along with obtaining River’s info so they could come back and talk to her,” Bronson went on.
Shit, she wasn’t going to like that.
“I’ve taken care of that and let the officer know I was family. I told them I was handling things with River and would be monitoring the situation.”
Thank fuck for that. River wasn’t going to like feeling like she was burdening anyone, but I knew she would much rather talk to her brother-in-law than random cops.
“Thank you,” I told Bronson, scrubbing my palms down my face.
A large hand clasped my shoulder. “We will keep looking into this,” Gyth said. “We know what you’re going through.”
All the guys nodded in agreement. I knew they understood; each of them had been right where I was at one time, going out of their mind with worry over the woman they loved.
Before anything else could be said, the door to London’s room opened and Lake waddled out with a concerned look on her face. She’d kill me if she knew I was thinking that, but it was true with her growing belly on her small frame.
She looked at me, then her gaze roamed the group. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”
Bronson was by her side and wrapped an arm around her waist in a split second. “Babe, don’t worry. I don’t want you stressing. We can talk when we get home.”
Lake huffed out a breath. “Fine, if you’re not going to spill the beans then you might want to take a peek into the room and look at your girl,” she said to me.
That had me curious and I was moving straight away. When I slowly opened the door, my gaze zeroed in on River immediately, and the sight stole my breath.
Swaddled safely in her arms, she held Lola Mae. The look of longing on her face—one I was sure she wasn’t even aware of— as she held the tiny bundle of joy, had a future we hadn’t talked about flashing before my eyes.
Had my girl ever thought of having a baby?
I could see it so clearly in my mind now, River round with my child. She loved her kids and was beyond amazing with them. She was a phenomenal mother. But something told me with her past a baby may not have been something she’d felt was obtainable.
As if she could feel me watching her, she looked up and our gazes locked. Her violet eyes glistened with unshed tears and a flicker of yearning sat heavy in their depths.
My heart pounded at the thought of adding to our family, something I truly hadn’t thought fully about until I met River.
Because I’d never been in love before I met her.
My girl was pooped.
While it had been a long day, one that lasted late into the evening before leaving the hospital, it wasn’t physical exertion that had her almost out like a light in my arms. No, it was the emotional toll, a mixture of her being scared out of her mind and then deliriously happy for her friend.
I had an inkling it may have also been that she didn’tknow what to do with that longing I’d seen in her eyes as she held the newborn in her arms.
Her silky, black hair blanketed my chest that rose and fell with a heaviness because of all the emotions and questions rattling around inside me.
“What was that sigh for?” my girl asked, her whispered breath dancing across my bare skin.
We’d come a long way in my mind—even if she didn’t think so because she was too hard on herself—that this amazing woman was now able to lay beside me each night and even basked in the comfort of my body next to hers.
