A ripping sound, followed by a whimper of pain, finally breaks us apart. We whip our heads around in unison, watching Alessandro tie a torn piece of his shirt around the bullet wound in Serena’s arm. “How bad is it?” I ask, sensing Sierra stiffen in my arms.
“I don’t think it’s life threatening, but I can’t see the bullet,” he says. “It’s deep enough not to be a graze though.” Which means the bullet is embedded in her arm and needs to be removed.
“We’ll be picking the doc up in twenty minutes,” I explain. “He’ll fix you up.”
“I’m worried about my kids,” Serena says. “They are back at the house with some ofhismen. What if they hurt them?” Her voice elevates a few notches.
“I’ll get Barretta to call them immediately. Don’t worry, they won’t touch them.”
I hope.
We have a rule about not hurting women and children, but DeLuca broke that when he threw out the rulebook, so I can’t reassure her with complete confidence.
I message Natalia to discover Leo has already called her with an update.
When we arrive at the house, a sleepy but eager Rowan is in my sister’s arms, waiting for us.
“Rowan!” Sierra screams, racing out of the car and climbing the steps that lead to the front door.
“Mommy!” Rowan runs in his oversized Batman slippers toward a barefoot Sierra, and I battle a wave of emotion as they embrace.
“I can’t believe what that monster tried to do,” Georgia says, creeping up alongside me.
Ciro comes with us while Alessandro, Serena, and the doc stay in the car. The driver will take them to the back entrance so they can slip into the house undetected. I don’t want Rowan to be frightened by all the blood on their clothes or the gaping hole in his aunt’s arm.
“You didn’t know?” I arch a brow in disbelief as we walk up the steps. Sierra has Rowan in her arms and joyful tears are streaming down her face.
“Not until the engagement announcement was made in the paper.” Georgia folds her arms around her body. “I knew he was lying to me, and I wanted to call you, but he forbade it. I’ve been sick with worry all week. Serena was too. I was so scared he had killed Sierra,” she cries, sniffling and swiping at tears as they form in her eyes. “We knew we’d see you tonight, and we planned to corner you and demand answers.”
“Daddy! Look, Mommy is home from vacation!” Rowan yells as I approach.
Leaving Georgia, I jog forward, closing the distance with a few long strides. “I told you she’d be home soon, buddy.” I ruffle his hair as my arms encircle my family.
“I missed you, Mommy.” Rowan rests his sleepy head on her shoulder.
“I missed you too, Firecracker.” Sierra peppers kisses into his hair as she smiles at me with glassy eyes.
“Did you miss me too?” I murmur against her ear.
“So damn much.” Holding Rowan on her hip, she stretches up, whispering in my ear. “I’ll show you just how much later.”
55
BEN
“Is he okay?” I ask when Sierra materializes in the main living room a short while later. After the doc set Sierra’s hand and wrist in a cast, we took quick showers and changed while Rowan told his grandma all about his new house and his new tutor. Sliding my hands over Sierra’s naked body as I washed her in the shower had me longing to bury myself deep inside her, but with a full household and a sleepy child waiting for his mommy to put him to bed, there was no time.
“He’s fast asleep though he fought it,” she says. Her bright smile reassures me she will be okay, and I’m grateful she is so strong. She has endured a lot tonight and this past week. That she is still standing, let alone smiling, is a testament to her resilience. To think there was a time I doubted she could exist in my world. She belongs in it with me, and I know, no matter what the future brings, we will face it head-on together.
Rowan insisted on sleeping in our bed, and neither of us could refuse him. I guess our proper reunion will have to wait a little longer. But I don’t mind. I’m just glad to be going to sleep with my fiancée and son safely tucked into bed alongside me.
“Come here,” I demand, pulling her into my arms, because I can’t seem to stop touching her.
“You two are so sweet together,” Georgia says from her chair in front of the roaring fire.
I snort out a laugh. “I think that’s the first time in my life where anyone has referred to me as sweet.”
“Own it, my love,” Sierra says, swaying in my arms. “Because Mom is right. Youaresweet.” She stretches up, pecking my lips. “I love you. Thank you for rescuing me.”
