“Looks like baby-size portions to me.” Gertie gives him a hint. Phoenix snaps his head up and meets Kailyn’s eyes.
“Baby, are you… Are we…” Phoenix stumbles over his words, his expression hopeful.
“Yes, we are. We’re going to have a baby, honey,” Kailyn confirms. She no sooner gets the words out than she finds herself in Phoenix’s arms, and he kisses her fiercely.
The room erupts with well-wishes and laughter. We gather around the soon-to-be parents, exchanging hugs. “When you’re all done, perhaps I can have a turn with Mama and Papa,” Gertie says, making herself heard.
Immediately, Kailyn and Phoenix go to Gertie and Hubert. Hubert comes to his feet and brings Phoenix in for a manly hug and a slap on the back, while Kailyn bends down to receive a kiss on the cheek from Gertie. Gertie reaches for Phoenix. He comes down on one knee in front of her.
“This child is going to be so loved. They’ll have loving aunts and uncles and grandparents to spoil them. But most of all, two wonderful, devoted parents. I’m so happy for you, my dears.” Her voice is full of emotion, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
“Let’s not forget Great-Grandma Gertie and Grandpa Hubert,” Phoenix adds. “You’ll tell them all your stories. They’ll be hooked on every word, just like we are.”
“Well, of course, lovies. They’ll love me most of all,” Gertie says, filling the room with laughter.
Suddenly, I feel Wire’s arm come around my middle, pulling me toward him so that my back is tight against his front. He whispers in my ear, “I want kids.”
I smile, turning my face up to him. “Me too.”
“One day soon, we’ll be announcing our own baby news,” he finishes, then brushes his lips over mine.
Chapter 12
Part of the Job
Wire
We arrive home late, but Wolfie is waiting up for us, demanding to be petted, and following us around the house and into the bedroom. Wolfie didn’t like being away from us and decides to settle himself at the foot of the bed. I normally don’t allow him to be on the bed, but he gives me those sad, wounded eyes, and I don’t have the heart to kick him off.
I nestle Remmi close to me, spooning her, and drape my arm over her middle to keep her close. She wriggles her ass into my crotch. “Keep doing that, and we’re going to give Wolfie a show,” I warn her.
“Sorry, I was just getting comfy,” she says.
I give her a squeeze. “It’s been a long day, baby.”
“And another busy day tomorrow. Sadie’s coming with Maya. I’ve gotta buy donuts, and we’re ordering pizza,” she murmurs with a yawn. Her words become mumbles until there’s only the soothing sound of her breathing, and she falls asleep. I nuzzle my face into her neck, reveling in the feel of her in my arms.
The next morning, I wake Remmi up with my mouth between her legs. I was going to let her sleep in, and even got out of bed and took a shower, and started the coffee. When I come back for her, she is lying on her back, her long brown hair strewn over the pillow, the sheet kicked off, and her nightie had ridden up, exposing her delectable legs and pink panties.
So I do what any red-blooded boyfriend would do: I gently open her legs farther apart, move the gusset of her panties to one side, and have a taste of her sweet nectar. Damn, she tastes so good that I can’t get enough. And the sound she emits when my mouth is on her is an aphrodisiac. Her sweet mewls of delight, her moans and gasps are an addiction.
When her eyes open and find me between her legs, they are hazy with desire. I hold her gaze and see the raw emotion as she gets closer to coming for me. She shudders in my arms as she comes hard, her lips parting, panting as she calls my name.
I kiss her inner thighs and then her mouth.
“Good morning,” I say.
“Best wake-up call ever,” she utters, then wraps her arms around my neck. “I’d like to return the favor.”
“No time, baby. But keep that thought on the back burner for later,” I reply with a grin. I get out of bed, taking her with me, and slap her ass lightly toward the bathroom to get ready.
The team has a lot to do today, and I need to be prepared. I drop Remmi off at her place, where Vic is already waiting.
Falcon and I meet prior to the others. The camera footage from several places where Maria and Franco have stayed shows an automobile parked on the same street for several days in a row. The photos aren’t clear enough to make out who is behind the wheel, but Maria’s correct in saying that these cars stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood. It means that these guys either don’t care that they might be spotted, or they assume Maria’s unaware she’s being watched.
That backfired because Maria did catch on and disappeared in the night. The next morning, when she didn’t come out of her place as usual to drop her son off at day care, two men emerged from the car and went into the building. Not ten minutes later, they rushed back to their car. One man was on the phone while the other was slamming his hand on the steering wheel. These guys won’t make the same mistake twice. The next time they locate Maria and Franco, they won’t wait. They’ll strike fast.
They watched Maria and Franco for a long time. They followed her from town to town without making a move. Then suddenly, they ran out of patience. What’s prompting them to make their move now? It’s another question we don’t have answers to.
