Marco pulls back slightly, breathing hard. “I can’t. That’s the office ringtone.”
“Marco—”
“I have to take this.” He lifts me gently off his lap and answers the phone. “Reyes.”
I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but I watch his expression shift from frustrated to professional.
“Yeah. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He hangs up. “I have to go back to the station. Ryan’s lawyer showed up, and there are some procedural things I need to handle.”
“Now?”
“Now.” He stands up, adjusting his shirt. “I’m sorry. Terrible timing.”
“Understatement of the year.”
He cups my face, kissing me once more. “We’ll finish this later. I promise.”
Then he’s gone, leaving me alone on the couch, still catching my breath, trying to process what just happened.
Marco kissed me.
Marco, who's been distant and professional this entire time, just kissed me like I was the only thing that mattered.
I touch my lips, still feeling the pressure of his mouth on mine.
Three men. I've now been intimate with all three of them in some way. And instead of feeling guilty or confused, I feel—
No. I can't think about this right now. I need to call Jake. He needs to know they caught Ryan.
I pull out my phone and dial his number.
He answers on the second ring. "Rachel? Everything okay?"
"They caught him. The arsonist. It was Dorothy's grandson, Ryan."
"What?" There's a pause, then his voice comes back louder. "Are you serious? When did this happen?"
"This morning. Marco just left. They set a trap and caught Ryan trying to set another fire at Dorothy's temporary housing."
"This is incredible! You're safe! Tommy's safe! Derek's custody case is dead in the water!" Jake's excitement is infectious. "I'm coming home for a break in two weeks. The research team is taking a scheduled pause, and I want to see you and Tommy. Make sure you're really okay."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to. I'll text you my flight info."
We talked for another ten minutes. Jake's relief is overwhelming.
When he hangs up, the house is quiet again.
I sit in the silence, phone in my hand, and let myself feel everything I’ve been pushing down.
I can’t stay here forever. This was temporary. Emergency housing while someone was trying to kill me. Now that the threat’s gone, I should move out. Find my own place. Get back to being an independent single mother who doesn’t need three men to take care of her.
Except I don’t want to leave.
I want to stay. Want to wake up to Cole making breakfast, Theo’s terrible jokes, and Marco’s quiet presence. Want to feel safe in a way I’ve never felt safe before.
Want to be with all three of them, even though I have no idea how that’s supposed to work in the real world.
