Everything in me screams how much of a coward I am. How could I let her stay when she did so much for us? Truthfully, she scared the hell out of me but I also saw how much love she had for those she cared for. She couldn’t stand the sight of me before this, which I couldn’t blame her for how nasty I was to her. She still would have taken everything so I wouldn’t feel pain.
I find a new respect for her. This time, I feel the need to protect her from the badge, even if she doesn’t need it. I’ll no longer step in the way of her and Alaric. He has a dark past that he hides well from others and they’re drawn together like magnets. Maybe he’s what she needs, tame down The Reaper until it’s absolutely necessary to come forth. I’ll give her a couple days and then a thank you is in order as well as a warning is needed.
Suddenly, the air shifts and loyalties start to shift.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CELESTE
“He who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
After a couple days of being monitored in the hospital, I’m finally released to come home. Unfortunately, the marks on my back are going to scar; I’m given ointment to apply on them to help avoid any infections. The doctor let me know he knew a good plastic surgeon he would contact for me to have my back worked on making it look like they never existed. I let him know I would think about it and took the information.
Alaric has stayed with me every single day, refusing to leave my side. From everything he caught me up on, he sacrificed a lot to make sure he could get to me in time. The way he worked with my family, he took a life and blew up on his Director, there’s no doubt how much I mean to him.
The feeling I get is so suffocating with love and care that I’ve never experienced with anyone I was with before. I don’t quite know how to handle it. The wayhe looked at me with the knife in my hand and blood all over my body was everything but fear. He didn’t try to coax it out of my hand or ask me when I stabbed Oliver to death. The only thing he focused on was to get me into his arms and to a hospital. He didn’t even bat an eye at the destruction I stood over.
I opt to stay at my apartment in the city for the time being until Samantha and her daughter are reunited. I need a place of silence and I can’t do that with a little running around the house and Adelina constantly checking on me, making sure I’m still breathing. That doesn’t stop her from calling me often to check in, though. If I don’t answer her, she will send Antonio and Larson to come over to check on me, considering we live on the same floor in the same complex.
Larson has been holding things down at the office the last couple of days until I return. He argued that I take as much time as I need but we have another issue at hand that needs to be resolved asap. There’s no time for rest in the world we live in and just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I can wallow. I have to show these men that nothing can break me. No injury, scars, or situation will ever put me in a position of being weak. Whoever tries to take me down will have a rude awakening.
For now, I’ll take some time to get some sleep, lie around in comfy clothes, and also reunite a very special little girl and mama! I’m honestly so excited to see the two of them finally see each other, hear the squeals of the vibrant little girl and see a family mend back together. I’m hoping that this will help with her healing process and give her the strength to keep living.
The doorbell rings, bringing me out of my thoughts. Pushing the fluffy blanket from my lap, I get up and head to the door. Swinging the door open, I’m met with a tall, muscular, breathtaking man holding food and flowers.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work at this hour?” I give him a questioning look.
He steps into me, kissing the top of my head. The simple gesture could bring me to my knees, sucking the air out of my lungs.
His woodsy scent fills my senses, flooding me with peace and happiness.
“Considering I’ve been suspended, no. Plus, I couldn’t stand being away from you.” He smirks as he walks past me towards the kitchen.
“You literally just saw me a couple hours ago.” I roll my eyes.
I can’t help myself from looking him up and down, taking in his muscular body. He’s wearing dark jeans that hug his legs and ass, giving me an amazing view and a tight black T-shirt that shows off his bulging arms.
Handsome.
Panty dropping.
My lady bits are screaming at me to rip it all off him and taste every single inch of his perfect body. My eyes travel back up to his darkened eyes full of want and lust. I definitely got caught checking him out. A blush creeps up my cheeks and I clear my throat shifting towards the counter.
“W-why were you suspended? You should be fucking rewarded for finding us first,” I stutter for a moment but quickly catch myself.
“Because I was told I was off the case due to my high emotions and I told him to fuck off. Instead of backing down, Beckett and I went to your mansion and sought our own plan with those who would go to the end of the world to make sure the three of you came home.” He shrugs like it doesn’t even faze him.
I walk around him, grabbing my meds, popping a Percocetas the numbness is starting to wear off. I take a long drink of water I’d left on the counter before turning back around to him leaning over the counter staring at me.
“What?” I raise my brows at him.
He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me like he’s in deep thought. Something in his eyes flickers as if he’s battling something deep inside of him from surfacing. I’m a little taken back by the switch of the heavy air that surrounds us. He was just so calm and collected a few moments ago. Now, he looks like he wants to tear someone from limb to limb.
“Alaric? What’s wrong?”
I move towards him and his stare doesn’t waiver from looking straight ahead. He’s stuck in a trance with his hands white-knuckled, gripping on the counter. Carefully, I raise my hand to his cheek and follow with the other until we’re face to face a breath away. My hands cup his cheeks softly, trying to bring him back to the present.
His body begins to relax under my touch and his beautiful eyes go back to the shimmering blue eyes that I love so much.
