“Why does that matter?” I pushed, not really believing the story. I knew some of it, like how Madalyn had called Liz to babysit, but I wasn’t putting the pieces together quickly enough.
“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t invited them over, Madalyn would have been home. Liz wouldn’t have been at my house. They would have grabbed the right woman.” Another sob escaped. “They looked so much alike.”
“They killed Madalyn because she looked like Liz?” I didn’t think the cartel was that stupid, but I’d known plenty of people in the military who had shot first and asked questions second.
“They saw her as she left the grocery store. Didn’t think twice and ran her off the road. Died on impact.” He fell forward, lying on the concrete. “My Madalyn.”
“They looked too much alike for you to take the chance—emotionally,” Sabre commented dryly. “I always wondered why you were so flustered when Aunt E stood up to you the night Grace left. It was too much, huh?”
“I miss my wife,” Gerry mumbled.
Twig opened the cell, and with Berry’s help, hauled Gerry to his feet. They had his belongings from the rehab facility, and the plan had been to drop Gerry off at a hotel with a little money. It was somber as they dragged him past us, his sobs very real as the tears soaked the collar of his shirt.
What the fuck are we going to tell the girls?
Chapter 16
Feels Like Home
Elizabeth
The bedroom door opened as I was exiting the ensuite, and I didn’t think twice about crossing the room and throwing my arms around Thunder. He was my anchor when I wanted nothing more than to float away.
Thunder huffed, and the movement in his chest bounced underneath my ear. I hadn’t seen him since he’d left for the emergency church, but whatever it was couldn’t have been good. He took another deep breath, and I pulled away from him.
Putting my fingertips over his lips, I shook my head.
There was no need for words when we both knew there would be plenty to discuss. It could wait for the light of the new day. I’d spent the evening in fear, and tonight, I wanted to feel alive.
Thunder kissed my fingertips, his slight stubble tickling. I brought my other hand up to scratch his cheek, but he turned his head to kiss the inside of my palm. I gently framed his face between my hands.
I stood on my tiptoes, pulling his face towards mine, until there was a sliver of air between us. He waited until I closed the distance, our lips meeting in a chaste kiss. Our first.
He pulled back, taking my hands in his and kissing both palms again before hooking them around his neck. I played with the little curls at the bottom of his hairline when he swooped in and kissed me again. His lips crashed into mine, and I froze from the initial shock.
“Hey—“ I didn’t let him finish his sentence as I pulled him back in for more. When our lips touched the third time, I felt lightning zing through my body.
“Feel that?” he asked me, his lips not leaving mine. “It’s every time you touch me.”
I should have stopped. We should have talked about this, but there had been so much talking the last couple of days, even weeks before, that I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to when the lightning was addictive.
“Tell me if you hurt.” That was all the warning he gave me as his hands reached under my butt, picking me up. He adjusted his hold, encouraging me to wrap my legs around his waist, but all I did was tighten my arms around his shoulders.
“Scared?” he asked, his lips against my neck.
“Never…hurt…me.” It was the truth. I was sacrificing myself for my family, but if it came down to it, he’d always protect me, throwing himself in the line of fire. We were very similar in that regard.
He laid me flat on the bed, following me down until he surrounded me. There was no part of me that didn’t touch some part of him, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I let my hands roam over his neck, down his back, until I slipped them underneath the t-shirt he wore.
I wanted to feel him, skin to skin, but it wasn’t enough. I reached as far as I could and scratched my nails down his back.
He shuddered. “Do it again.”
I did, not wanting to leave a mark, and yet, if there was one, I’d claim it as mine.
Thunder sucked at the skin on my neck, and I tilted backwards against the pillows to give him more access. I’d only been with one man before, and while it had been explosive, it had never been like this. This was slower, more attentive, and I let myself freefall.
Thunder let out a low moan. “Do you know your knee is rubbing the zipper of my jeans?”
