“What are you talking about?” He demands.
“If you’re going to play the game, Richard, you really ought to learn the rules. I have everything. The files you have on us? Gone. Your whole database? Now mine. Every single one of your employees is now mine, and the men who swore loyalty? Dead.”
If he can pale any further than his already translucent shade, he does.
“Oh, and all those girls? The ones you stole from their loved ones, we have them too. You can’t hide from me, Richard.”
“I’ll leave!” He changes tactics, “You’ll never see or hear from me again!”
“We made that mistake once,” Malakai says, seemingly bored with the conversation now, “We won’t make it twice. Bast, he’s all yours.”
“Wonderful,” Sebastian grins before he closes the short gap and slams his gun against his temple, knocking him out. Of course, it won’t be a quick death with Bast, he has a score to settle, and he’s never been known to be merciful.
Chapter Forty
Iglance to Lily as I shake her bottle, ready for her feed, and stop dead.
“Oh my god!” I gasp as she attempts to push up on her elbows, head wobbling a little, but she’s doing it! She’s doing the whole thing. “Wait! Wait! Stay there!”
I frantically look around for my cell so I can record it or take a picture, or something for Dean. He isn’t here, and there’s so many milestones he needs to be able to see!
I locate my cell on the couch cushion and swipe open the camera just as Lily plops back down onto her stomach and lets out a loud wail.
“It’s okay, sweet girl,” I throw the cell back down, “Daddy will be home soon.”
I pick her up and settle on the chair with her, offering her the tip of the bottle, which she takes easily, her eyes still watery.
“You’re getting so big and strong,” I coo down at her, “Look at you.”
Her wide eyes stare up at me as she drinks, chubby fingers wrapping around one of mine. I’ve fallen in love with her as much as I’ve fallen in love with Dean.
Behind me, I hear the key turn in the lock and the door open. “Sloane?” His deep, comforting voice sounds from the front of the house.
“In here,” I call back. With every step that sounds with him getting closer, a weight shifts and loosens. I hadn’t realized how much comfort I’d found in his presence, how much it is tied to my inner peace.
Leaning down, he brushes his lips across my forehead before he does the same to his daughter, who doesn’t pause for a second with her bottle.
“How are my girls?” He asks.
I take a minute to look at him, the light way his shoulders are resting, the stress lines that were present this morning before he left now gone.
“We’re okay, are you?”
His eyes bounce around my face. “I am.”
But there’s something else there. Something he isn’t telling me.
“What happened?” I press.
He lets out a long sigh, “We dealt with Richard. He is no longer a threat to you, or anyone else, for that matter.”
“Well, that’s good news, is it not?” I frown, “I’m confused.”
“It is,” He agrees, “We handled his organization. The girls he took are being found and get to go home. There’s no threat anymore.”
“So, what’s wrong?”
His eyes flick to Lily who is now half asleep, still taking her bottle in the cradle of my arms. “I want you to stay.”
