Chapter Seventeen
Was it a trap? Were they planning to attack and take her back? Tie her down after giving her the serum that kept her from moving? Would they kill Jonah? Her brothers? Tony? Mitch? Tah’s wife, Abby, who was pregnant with their second child? Would Bre be responsible for the death of all of them?
“Breathe,” Jonah ordered. “Nothing bad will happen to you. You’re safe. You’re not alone.”
She could see that by the crowd that had gathered.
Whoever had come to see her was inside the vehicle outside the gate.
Tah, Reno, Murphy, and Finn stood in a group, which Tony had joined.
Oakley’s team had formed a wall in front of them.
There were a few of Tony’s team already there, as well.
There were others she didn’t know. It didn’t matter.
She’d learned there were shifters of all breeds who came and went from Tah’s pride.
She’d also learned that the pride had been hurt by some of those shifters.
“It’s a trap. It has to be,” she muttered, more to herself than to Jonah or Drake.
“Unless it’s Enzo. A child. Cilia? Did he get her from wherever he had her tucked safely away?
Are they here for me?” There was only one way to be sure.
She had to get close enough to see who was in that vehicle.
Just a glimpse. If she didn’t recognize them, if no memory triggered, then she’d let the cards fall where they did.
There was a child in that vehicle. She wouldn’t see a child hurt.
She was moving before either of the men with her realized it.
She had to get out. To breathe. To see. She pushed the door open and left it wide while she headed away from the clustered group and toward the gate.
“Bre!” Jonah yelled as he followed her.
Tony and the rest of them glanced up and started for her.
She broke into a sprint. The closer she got to that vehicle, the higher her protective instincts rose.
She had to shield them. All of them. No one else would die for her.
Not from either side of the gate. She broke into a run, ducking between two of the guys and leaping over the gate just as one of the doors of the vehicle opened.
Roars filled the air, but it was a little girl who yelled at Bre.
“Aunt Brenna! Aunt Brenna! It’s me. It’s Cilia!”
Bre went to her knees as memory overwhelmed her. Too much. Too fast. Her arms were wide when Cilia hit her chest and wrapped around her. She closed her eyes briefly then glanced toward the vehicle where two men stepped out. One human. One shifter. She knew them.
“I know you! Oh, god. I know you both. Enzo. Rory. Oh, god. You’re here. You’re alive.”
“And me! I’m here, Aunt Brenna.” Cilia cupped her face.
Bre felt Jonah before he squatted behind her and pressed along her back. “Who’s this little poppet?”
“I’m Cilia. I’m four, and I’m a tiger. Rawr!” She gave the cutest little roar Brenna had ever heard. Cilia inhaled, tilting her head to the side. “You smell like Aunt Brenna.” She inhaled again. “And Aunt Brenna smells like you.”
“Let you out of my sight for a moment, and you get yourself mated,” Enzo said.
Brenna surged to her feet, Jonah rising with her, bracing her weight and helping balance Cilia. She grabbed Enzo’s hand and tugged him forward.
“You came back for me,” she whispered as Rory joined them.
“Holy shit,” Murphy said, and she figured this must be the first time they were seeing Rory. Red hair and big, blue eyes. Just like his niece. Just like his cousin, Finn.
“Rory,” she said as she hugged him tight, squeezing Cilia between them. “I’m remembering things. From the labs. From Ireland. Mags?”
Rory shuddered and gave a hard shake of his head. “She didn’t make it.”
“Oh, Rory. I’m so sorry.”
“Rory? You’re name’s Rory?” Finn asked as he and Murphy joined them.
She watched Rory’s gaze bounce between them and picked up on the nerves. He’d been just as anxious when he’d met her.
“He’s our cousin. Our fathers were brothers. Our real father,” Bre stated as if it wasn’t obvious they were related by blood. “My memories are coming back. So much information. The visits. The cell. I was so happy when you got away.”
“Mags paid for it.” He glanced at Murphy then Finn. “She was my twin. This is her daughter Cilia, named for her father, Cillian, and Rose for her mother, Maggie Rose.”
“We should take this conversation inside,” Murphy told them. “Sounds like there’s a lot to discuss.”
Cilia lifted her head and looked right at Finn. She held her arms out to him and Bre wasn’t surprised when he took her easily, sitting her on his hip.
“Hello, Cilia Rose,” Finn said. “I’m happy to meet you.”
“You look like my Uncle Rory. He and my mama grew together.” She patted her belly.
“Just like me and your Aunt Brenna,” Finn agreed.
“So, you’re my uncle, too. What’s your name?”
“Finn,” he managed.
“Uncle Finn.” She nodded then glanced toward Murphy and held her arms out to him. Murphy took her with a chuckle.
“Uncle Murphy,” he introduced himself.
“I have lots of uncles. This is nice.” She dropped her head on Murphy’s shoulder and put her thumb in her mouth. Her eyes slipped closed, and with a contented sigh, she settled.
“She doesn’t seem to know a stranger,” Rory said, and Bre felt his anxiety grow.
“We’re not strangers,” Finn said as if he felt the other man’s nerves, as well. He pulled Rory in for a hug. “A cousin. I can’t wait to hear more.”
“There’s a lot to tell,” Rory said with a glance at Bre. “From all of us.”
Bre grabbed Enzo, pulling him in so he was included. “I’d like to introduce you both to my mate, Jonah Conti. Jonah, my cousin, Rory, and his mate, Enzo.” Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you for never giving up on getting me away from them. For somehow figuring out a way to get me here.”
“We were never leaving you behind,” Enzo swore. “I’m just sorry it didn’t happen sooner.”
She shook her head, cuddling into Jonah. “No, this was where I needed to be.” She glanced up at her mate. “Who I needed to find.” She included Finn and Murphy then the rest of the group. “My brothers. My family. I’m finally home.”
“Let’s head back to the house. My mate has a bed ready for Cilia and refreshments for the rest of you,” Tah offered, reminding Bre that nothing was private when you were surrounded by shifters.
Not that it bothered her. Tah and his pride, as well as Tony and his team, were all her family now.
She might have fought it at first, out of fear and uncertainty, but they’d never stopped letting her know she was one of them.
“Why don’t we walk?” Murphy offered, patting Cilia’s back. “It’s not far, and I’m thinking you might want to stretch your legs.”
“That’d be good,” Rory agreed with a glance at Enzo. “I… I understand this might not be acceptable here, so I promise we won’t outstay our welcome.”
“Not be acceptable? What are you talking about?” Bre demanded.
Enzo laughed. “Not everyone is willing to accept two men in a relationship. It’s one of the things shifters and humans have in common.”
“Not here,” Tah growled. “You’re both welcome here for as long as you’re willing to stay. Anyone who says otherwise will deal with me. We won’t tolerate that bullshit here.”
Tony glanced at Tah then at Rory and Enzo, and Bre saw something on his face. A peace that wasn’t there before.
“Same goes for my team,” was all he said, though. “No one has the right to tell you who to love.”
“Tony’s looking for a man who was taken by the hunters here in the States. I recognized him. Enzo, you might be able to place him better than me.”
Enzo nodded. “I’m happy to take a look. If I’ve seen him, I’ll know where and when. I never forget a face. Plus, there’s a boy I’m looking for. I wasn’t able to get him out, but I tried to make sure help was sent to where he and others were being kept. I’d like to make sure he’s safe.”
“I’d appreciate the look, and if we know anything about the boy, we’ll let you know,” Tony said.
“Let’s get you all settled at the main house first. We just finished a new cabin.
I can send some of my men to get it ready.
It’s two bedrooms. I can have everything you two and Cilia need delivered by morning. ”
“We have supplies in the car,” Rory said.
“But we’d appreciate anything you can offer,” Enzo said with a look at his mate.
Rory sighed and nodded. “We would. I apologize. I’m not good at accepting help.”
“We’re family,” Tah said, patting Tony on the shoulder. “It’s what we do here.”
Tony nodded then held out his hand. “Give me the keys. I’ll get your car parked and have your things taken inside. When you’re ready, we’ll get you settled. Sound good?”
“We appreciate it,” Enzo said, handing off the keys. “Bring the picture when you head back. The sooner I take a look, the sooner we’ll see if I know anything.”
“Thank you,” Tony said quietly then turned and walked away. Drake moved with him, stopping only long enough to pat Bre on the shoulder.
They were a good-sized group, walking down the road that led back to the main house and the rest of the land the pride owned.
Jonah was on one side of her, with his arm around her, while she held Enzo’s hand.
Finn walked with Rory, the two of them talking quietly.
She heard her twin mention his son and knew who he was texting when he took out his phone.
Laura and Sean would be joining them. Oakley walked with Murphy.
She looked a bit sad as she glanced at Cilia in Murphy’s arms, but there was nothing but love for her mate when she gazed at him.
Bre was home. Surrounded by the people she loved and who loved her.
The emptiness in her head was disappearing, filling in with memories.
Solid, real memories. Some she shuddered to recall while others brought joy to her heart.
She’d lived in hell from the moment her mother had died and Brian, the man she’d thought of as her father, had taken her away, but there’d been moments that brought her joy, as well. Rare but there.
“You okay?” Jonah whispered.
“I am,” she quietly assured him. “I really am.”