Talia gurgled, kicking out her legs.
“Oh, you’re awake, are you?” Noni asked, reaching down to lift Talia to her chest. “Wonderful. A night owl.” The baby snuffled into her neck, and Noni ran a gentle hand down her back, moving to the nearest chair.
There she sat and rocked the baby, turning her so they could look at each other.
“So. Guess I should tell you some things.” The feeling of love nearly took the words away from her, but Noni persisted. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Talia kicked her legs again and giggled. Was that a giggle? Maybe. It was more of a gurgle. But definitely a smile. Yep that was a smile.
Noni breathed out, the feelings overwhelming her. “But I want you to know that I’ll do my best. No matter what, it’s you and me.” She tilted her head. “And Franny and Verna.”
The baby squirmed and seemed to look toward the closed bedroom door.
“Not him,” Noni whispered. The baby had no clue what she was talking about, but she felt the need to say the words out loud. Just to hear them. “He’s leaving.” She cleared her throat, rocking gently, the words feeling like glass in her mouth. Painful and sharp. “Not all men leave, and we’re not going around calling them all ‘dickhead.’” She winced. That probably wasn’t language she should use with her daughter. “See? I don’t know what I’m doing.” God forbid, Talia’s first word would bedickhead.
Talia found her hand and stuck it in her mouth.
“I love you, baby,” Noni whispered. Geez. Twice in one night. She was getting sappy. “Those are words I’ll say every day.” That seemed like a good plan as a mom. It was the only plan she had. Survival and love. She could do those things. “How about one day, after you earn your doctorate, you find a nice quiet banker to love? Or maybe a dentist.” It’d be helpful having a dentist in the family. “Just not a renegade, rambling vigilante. Trust me. They break your heart.”
Talia snuffled again.
“Not sure I’m a good example in the area of love,” Noni said. “It’ll be more of a ‘Do as I say’ situation.” See? She was getting this down already. Kicking her feet out onto the table, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. This was a pleasant way to sleep. She was just so tired.
A sound, some sort of rustle, had her eyes opening. She lifted her head.
The door to the outside burst open.
She jolted and jumped up.
Smoke filled the room.
She turned to shield the baby. Adrenaline, hotter and faster than she’d ever felt before, rushed through her veins.
Three men in all black and wearing gas masks ran inside, guns in their hands.
Denver burst through the bedroom door, buck-assed naked, fury on his face.
The nearest guy fired twice, and Denver leaped to the side and just as fast took the guy down in a hard tackle. He slid an arm around the guy’s neck and something popped. The guy’s neck?
The man flopped unconscious and hadn’t even hit the ground completely before Denver was up and fighting the second soldier hand to hand.
Noni screamed, moving to get behind him to protect the baby. The third guy grabbed her injured arm, yanking her toward the door. Pain shot up her bicep. Tears streamed down her face, and her throat clogged. The smoke was terrible.
Talia started wailing, her arms and legs flailing.
Noni stumbled, and the guy righted her. She turned to see Denver break the other guy’s arm and then hit him hard in the gut. The guy doubled over, crying out in pain.
Noni struggled, holding the baby tight.
The soldier holding her lifted a hand and shot Denver three times. Were those darts?
He started to go down.
“Secure him,” the soldier holding her yelled.
The other soldier dropped to his knee, his broken arm against his ribs. “Can’t,” he coughed out, blood dribbling from his mouth.
Sirens trilled in the distance. Thank God. Somebody had heard the fight and had called the cops.
