“This isn’t any of your concern,” Giada said, but she wasn’t flippant about it. She was genuinely concerned for Ronan trying to get involved.
“It’s all my concern, Giada,” Ronan said gently.
“Ronan, I can’t let you get involved in this. You need to just walk away. You could be putting yourself at risk, and you’re not up for the fight that would come if you’re found anywhere near us — if we’re ever found. I’ve told you far more than I ever thought I would. Please forget I said anything and just stay away,” Giada said. She stood up, slipped her purse over her shoulder and held out a hand to each of her kids. Each boy slipped off the seat and took her hand. She looked at Ronan who’d stood when she did. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re a very nice boy, but you’re just not aware of what you’ve stumbled into. Please, just stay away and let me make my own way.”
He watched her as she led the boys from the cafeteria before he finally convinced his feet to move. He darted out of the cafeteria and into the reception area in time to see them going through the front door. He hurried to catch them and stood in the doorway when he called her name. “Giada!”
Giada turned to look at him.
“I am not a boy, I’m a grown-ass male. And I’m not going anywhere. There is nothing in the world that frightens me, other than not being able to see you and Matteo and Leo again. Other than that, I’ll handle whatever comes. Age doesn’t matter to me. Hearts do. Yours is the heart that matters to me. Yours and your kids’. I don’t give a damn what year your birth certificate says you were born. It’s irrelevant. The sooner you come to terms with all that, the easier it will be for me.”
“Easier for you to do what?” she asked exasperatedly.
“To prove to you that I’m the male you’re supposed to be with. I’m the male that will protect you and love you for the rest of your life. I’m the male those boys will learn to trust, not fear. This is not just a safe place to stay temporarily. This is your home. Forever. You just don’t know it yet.”
“I can’t live here forever! Other people will need the opportunity to get on their feet. I have to move on eventually.”
“Not here, the shelter. Here, the area,” he said, gesturing with his hands around himself.
“Ronan, you don’t even know us!”
He smiled at her. “I do. The problem is that you don’t know me. You will, though. Have a good evening and stay warm. It’s going to be a cold one tonight.” He stepped back inside the building and started to close the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To check the side door to the office and make sure it’s locked. I’ll see you soon.”
Chapter 6
Ronan pulled up in front of Havoc’s house and got out of his old beater truck. He looked up at the house and the warm glow shining through the windows. Even the house gave off the feel of family, love, safety, and sanctuary. Anybody driving past this house would get the feeling that those living inside it were loved — it gave you the warm fuzzies, as his sister would put it. And that’s just what he wanted for his family. He started up the stone steps, taking two at a time until he reached the front porch, then went straight to the front door, rapping on it three times before stepping back to wait.
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and grinned to himself as he heard kids yelling from inside. He turned away from the door and meandered a few feet away before turning back when he heard the door open.
“Damn it! I said shut it! And go somewhere else!” Havoc yelled, shoving his hand out in the direction of the interior of his home as multiple sets of little feet squealed and ran in the direction he pointed. Havoc turned his attention to Ronan. “Enter at your own risk,” he quipped.
Ronan laughed. “You got it good. You know you do,” he said, as he stepped inside Havoc’s and Analise’s home.
“Why didn’t I stop with Harley? Hmm? Tell me that one. She was precocious, but so easy to deal with. These two? Hellions!”
Analise swept past where they stood just inside the doorway. She paused beside Ronan to briefly hug him. “It’s good to see you, Ronan. And don’t let him fool you, he has so much fun rolling around with these babies. All of them, not just Harley.”
“I have no doubt,” Ronan said.
“You hungry? We’re about to start dinner. We’re late today, but it is what it is,” Analise said with a smile and a shrug as she continued into the kitchen.
“No, I’m good. I just had dinner with Giada and her boys.”
Analise was reaching for a pack of ground beef she’d left defrosting in the sink, but stopped midway as she looked back at Ronan.
“Who’s Giada?” Havoc asked suspiciously.
“That’s what I was going to ask,” Analise said.
“A woman. A special woman,” he said with a goofy look on his face.
Havoc canted his head just slightly, then stepped closer. “Is what I think’s happening, happening?”
“I don’t know. What do you think is happening?” Ronan asked.
