Chapter 8 Shock Waves of Pleasure
Duncan
I had a rule against hitting women. Maeve Beckington was about to become an exception. This woman was seriously whacked in the head. The way she spoke, as if it was Sloane’s duty as a daughter to put her father’s welfare above her own or her children’s, was utter bullshit.
I draped my arm over her shoulder. “With pleasure, Sunshine.”
“Wait. Aren’t you going to tell them to let me go?”
“No,” I growled at the same time Sloane said, “Not a chance.”
Maeve dropped the loving mom facade when it was clear her efforts were wasted. Her face curled into a sneer right before she launched to her feet. Waverly and Shayne struggled to get her under control, no doubt being cautious because of who she was.
“You ungrateful little bitch,” she spat. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?”
The next few seconds happened in slow motion, but I couldn’t have stopped it if I wanted to.
Maeve lunged. Sloane countered with a right hook to the left side of her jaw.
It was spectacular, until I realized my girl didn’t have a clue how to throw a punch.
We were gonna have to make a trip to the emergency room before we went home.
“Ow. Crap. Son of a biscuit, that hurts.” Sloane hopped from foot to foot, cradling her hand to her chest.
“Let me see.” I carefully examined her thumb. It was already turning varying shades of light purple. She’d tucked it in. Rookie mistake. “You’re gonna need an X-ray.”
“She assaulted me. Arrest her.”
“You struggled and I had to slam you to the ground. Isn’t that what you saw, Special Agent Mitchell?”
“Sure was, Detective Black.”
“You’re all corrupt,” Maeve continued complaining loudly.
Sloane slumped against me. She was done.
Between the kidnapping and the shitshow with her mom, adrenaline dump was hitting her hard.
I recognized the signs. Bending down, I scooped her into my arms, bridal style, and hauled ass out of there, muttering words of praise the entire way.
I was so damn proud of her. She stood steady where some would have cowered.
Our children were lucky to have a mom with her strength and grit.
There was a slight chill in the air when we exited the house of horrors.
My team was huddled together on the front lawn, likely debriefing after the events of the day.
Thankfully, someone thought to drive my SUV down from our staging area.
Not that I wouldn’t have carried her the whole way. I would’ve. But this was quicker.
Lanie broke away, trailing us up the sidewalk. “Is she okay, Duncan?”
“She’ll be fine.”
“What do you need?” she asked, reaching out to open the passenger’s side door.
“Can you grab an ice pack from the kit in the back?”
“You’re hurt, Sloane?”
“Just my pride.”
“And her thumb,” I countered.
“It’s not bad anymore,” she muttered as I eased her onto the leather seats.
“Humor me.”
“Here you go.” Lanie squeezed the white pouch, releasing the ammonium nitrate into the water to create the instant cooling effect.
“It’s not going to feel the greatest, but it’ll help with the swelling and bruising.” She winced when I laid it across her thumb. “Sorry. Hold it on until we get to the hospital.”
“I’m not ungrateful, you know.”
“Sunshine.” I leaned in, kissing her lightly on the lips. “She was lashing out. Her words were meant to deliver maximum damage.”
“Well, it worked.”
“I wish I could say you’d never have to see her again but, unfortunately, there’ll be a trial unless she pleads guilty. After today’s performance, I don’t see that happening.”
“No. She doesn’t think she did anything wrong.”
“Let’s focus on something more important.”
“Like what?”
“Like where you want to go on our first family date.”
All the dates in the world would never make up for the years I missed, but the huge grin on her face was a start.
I shut the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.
Peering over the hood, I found all four of my agents waiting on the curb.
No words were needed. They’d stay and wrap everything up, including the dreaded paperwork.
I owed them each a nice steak dinner once our hectic schedule settled down.
Unfortunately, we still had the investigation into the car accident to solve.
Until then, the threat to my family remained unknown.
The ER at Cabell Huntington Hospital had been blessedly empty when we got there.
After an X-ray and a splint, she was released with instructions to take an over-the-counter pain reducer for the next week or so.
On the way home, we stopped at a drive-thru burger joint to grab dinner.
Finn, Sloane, and I were relaxing in the living room while the kids sat at the table tearing through their meals.
“I wish I could’ve been there to see you level that feckin’ bitch.”
“Wow, Finn. Don’t hold back.”
“Swear jar, Uncle Finn,” Rogan announced around a mouthful of food.
“Sorry, munchkin. Hit me up before I leave.”
“The going rate is ten bucks now, just so you know,” I added with a smirk.
“Christ, I’m gonna go bankrupt.” He shook his head, then returned his attention to his sister. “I wish you hadn’t been hurt though.”
“It’s a sprain.” Sloane rolled her eyes. “I think I'll survive.”
“Whatever you say, slugger.”
“Don’t you have a home to go to?”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“Depends.” She shrugged.
“On what?”
“On whether you’re going to finish the rest of your fries.”
“Take ’em.” He transferred the pile from his plate to hers. “I have an early morning meeting with the contractors anyway.”
A few weeks ago, a bomb went off in Finn’s new lab facility during an employee appreciation banquet.
Thankfully, no one had been seriously injured in the explosion, however the damage to the building was such that it would take months to rebuild.
In the interim, he rented a warehouse several blocks away to ensure his people still had jobs.
For all the shit I gave him when he started dating Waverly, Finn was a good man and, from what I’d seen, he was an even better brother.
Teasing banter aside, it was clear he’d do anything for his sister and her children.
I was grateful he’d been there for them when I wasn’t, but those days were over.
After a semi-emotional goodbye, Sloane announced it was bedtime for the twins. Unlike most nights, they didn’t complain. They yawned through changing into their pajamas, and were well on their way to dreamland when we tucked them in.
“Goodnight, baby girl.” I kissed Reagan’s forehead. “I love you.”
It was the first time I’d said it out loud, though I’d felt the words from the start. My nose stung when she returned the sentiment.
“Night, Daddy. Love you too.”
Switching places with Sloane, I went to Rogan’s bedside.
He lifted his eyes to mine. They were glistening and his bottom lip was tucked in between his teeth.
Seeing him upset hurt my heart. His pain was my pain.
When a single tear slid down his cheek, I couldn’t stand it any longer.
Crawling into the bed beside him, I pulled him into my arms. I felt completely helpless as he cried softly.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“No, Ro.” I pressed my lips to the top of his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I been mean to you.”
“You were scared, Rogan. That’s all.”
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m angry that some bad people kept you and your mom and your sister from me for so long, but I could never be mad at you. I love you, Rogan. More than my next breath.”
“Love you too.”
I held him close, not letting go until long after his body went lax with sleep. Even then it took a great deal of effort to leave their room.
“For the first six months, I used to stand over their crib just watching them sleep for hours,” Sloane said when I met her in the living room.
“I know you’re exhausted, Sunshine, but after today, I’d really like to look through their baby books, if you don’t mind.”
“I figured you might.” She gestured to the coffee table where a stack of books sat. “Do you want me to stay?”
“Please.”
Grabbing the light yellow colored one off the top, I flipped to the first page as I sank down onto the sofa next to her. Twin sets of the most spectacular pale-blue eyes greeted me. Below their picture was their birth date, along with a short note in the margin.
October 14
After twenty-six hours and thirty-seven minutes of labor (yes, I counted), you’re finally here.
Two bundles of pure perfection. Rogan James and Reagan Leigh.
Uncle Finn said you have my eyes, but I know better.
They’re your daddy’s ice-blue. He’ll find us.
Until then, I’ll love you enough for both of us. You mean everything to me.
Emotion clogged my throat, making the words come out as a whisper. “Finn was there.”
Sloane answered, even though it wasn’t a question. “He insisted.”
“I’m glad you weren’t alone. Will you tell me about their birth?”
“You look, I’ll talk.”
I did as instructed, turning to the next page.
Front and center was a picture of Sloane with a twin held in each arm.
As I ran my finger over the image, wishing I’d been there, she told me about the––not-so-sympathetic––labor and delivery nurse, who fussed at her when she screamed during a particularly strong contraction.
“In my defense, I wasn’t at my finest.”
“What did you do, Sunshine?”
“I hit Finn.”
“What?” The word came out as a laugh. “Why did you do that?”
“I was aiming for Nurse Ratchet, but he got in the way.”
Sloane had captured every moment of their lives, not just with pictures, but with handwritten memories for each occasion. Page after page, I became lost in them all.
December 25
Your first Christmas. It’s official. Grandma and Uncle Finn have lost their minds. I should’ve known they’d go completely overboard. But there isn’t a gift under the tree that’s more precious than the two of you.
April 10