Chapter 75
R ock stood by the door, watching over his family.
The need to protect them rode him hard.
That was job. His girl could have died today and he hadn’t been there to keep her safe.
But you were here with Hope.
Fuck. He didn’t like this. Feeling like he was being torn between two people.
Slade was sitting in the recliner with Indie in his lap. She was holding Hope. Spencer was leaning against the wall, staring down at Indie intently while Quaid paced back and forth.
They were all on edge. No one could believe that Alaistair had betrayed them.
“We should have been there,” Spencer said in a dark voice.
“There was nothing you could have done,” Slade told him. “We kept Indie safe and you were here keeping Hope safe.”
Indie stood with Slade supporting her and handed Hope to Spencer. Immediately, the darkness lifted off his face, replaced with love and caring. Leaning down, he kissed Indie lightly.
Rock loved seeing how his brothers were all changing for the better because of Indie and Hope .
To his surprise, rather than return to Slade’s embrace or move into Quaid’s, she made her way to him.
Taking hold of his hand, she tugged him away from the door and over to the sofa. There she pushed at his chest until he sat and she settled in next to him.
“You’re part of this family, not our bodyguard, okay?” she whispered to him.
She signed the words as she spoke them. Her movements were slow, a bit clumsy, but she was doing so well. His pride in her grew and he leaned in to breathe in her scent before placing a kiss on the top of her head.
She was so beautiful.
He glanced around at everyone.
We need to find Alaistair and take him out. Slowly and painfully.
Unfortunately, Alaistair hadn’t been at his apartment when Shepherd’s guy had arrived. Seems he was on the run from them.
But they’d find him. They had to.
He needs to pay.
Spencer nodded slowly, letting him know he was onboard. Spencer wasn’t usually a violent guy.
But everyone had their limit.
Why would he do this? Spencer signed. He’d put Hope down in her cot.
I don’t know. I don’t get it. I thought he was a friend. Slade’s fingers moved smoothly as he signed back. There was clear frustration and anger on his face. But I agree he has to pay. We just need to find him.
Shepherd will find him. But what do you want to do with him when he does? Quaid asked.
I want him dead. They all stared at Spencer and he shrugged. His gaze was dark. What? We’re all thinking it. That’s what has to happen.
That was the truth.
I don’t want him dead. This came from Indie. I don’t want you guys doing anything that might get you into trouble. Please. I can’t stand the idea of anything happening to any of you .
They all looked at each other and nodded.
What Indie wanted, Indie got. Besides killing him might be too quick and easy.
Alaistair needed to suffer.
Slade could feel his anger building as he stepped out of their private suite.
Where the fuck was Alaistair?
No one had been able to find him. Quaid was out helping Shepherd search right now. Alaistair couldn’t hide forever and when they found him . . . they were going to ruin him.
Destroy his life.
They’d already started. Shepherd had dug into his financials, and it appeared that things weren’t going well for him. To their surprise, they’d discovered that he’d had money tied up with Roger St. Clare. And those investments were tanking since St. Clare attacked Lemon and Indie.
Slade’s phone buzzed and he checked it.
Quaid: Nothing. Fucker. I’m leaving Shepherd to it. I’ll be back soon.
Quaid didn’t like to spend too long away from Indie. Their relationship was still mending.
They’d be leaving the hospital soon. It had been close to ten weeks since baby Hope was born and she was thriving.
But he really wanted this fucking mess cleared up and Alaistair taken care of before they took her home.
Anger rose inside him again as he walked into Hope’s room. He came to a stop as he saw them. Indie was sitting in the recliner, feeding Hope with a bottle. She was still trying to breastfeed her, but she’d stopped putting so much pressure on herself .
A sense of calm came over him. Of rightness.
And he let the anger drain away. He was done with being reactive and mad. This right here was what was important. The two of them.
And he had to be the best version of himself for them both.
Which is why he hadn’t smoked since Indie had caught him on the penthouse porch. It wasn’t like he’d smoked much, so it hadn’t been as hard as he had thought to give up.
Indie saw him and smiled as she burped Hope. “Everything okay?”
“Better now that I’m with the two of you.” He walked over and picked up Hope, placing her against his chest. Then he cupped the side of Indie’s face. “Can you believe we get to take her home soon?”
“No! I’m so excited. But at the same time it will feel weird to be out of this place.”
“I know, Boo. But we have this. We’re going to take our girl home and we’re going to live happily ever after.”
Because he wouldn’t allow anything else.
Did they have this?
Somehow, he wasn’t so sure as he glanced down at a sleeping Hope.
“Can you believe she’s coming home today?” Quaid said.
Indie was having a shower back in their private suite while the four of them were with Hope.
“I don’t think we’re ready,” Spencer said worriedly. “Are we ready?”
We’re ready.
That came from Rock.
“Rock’s right,” Slade said firmly. “We have this. We have the baby seat for the car. She’s got warm clothes, blankets, and the nursery has everything that was suggested in those books that Rock read. We can do this.”
“So who is going to put her in the car seat?” Quaid asked.
They all looked at each other.
Damn.
Slade knew that he needed to do this. “I’ll do it. Rock, go check on Indie. Is everything packed?”
“Yep,” Spencer said.
“I’ll grab it all,” Quaid told them, slipping out of the room with Rock.
“We’re supposed to sign some paperwork, I think,” Spencer said. “We should do all that before putting her in the seat. I don’t think that babies are supposed to spend too much time in car seats.”
“They aren’t?” Slade glanced over at him. “Actually, I think I read that too. Let’s wait.”
Indie and Rock returned, followed by one of the nurses.
Shit.
They were really doing this. They were taking Hope home.
As they stepped into the penthouse, Indie felt a sense of relief come over her. They were finally home.
There were fresh flowers in a vase on a table in the foyer and she stared at them.
“Shit,” Spencer said. “Who are these from?” He walked over and checked the card. “Margo. I didn’t think to tell her not to bring flowers over. She dropped off some other things for Hope. I’ll get rid of them.”
“No, don’t!” she said. “I need to take back the things that Billy took from me. Like accepting and loving gorgeous bunches of flowers from friends.”
“Sure, Princess?” Spencer asked.
“Yes, please. They’re gorgeous. Leave them. ”
“Proud of you,” Slade told her, making her feel warm inside.
“Liliana said she left some food in the fridge for dinner,” Spencer said.
“That was so nice of them all.” She was so grateful to have friends now. She had Maggie, of course. Her best friend was planning to visit soon.
Spencer wrapped an arm around her and led her into the living room. Quaid held the baby seat with Hope still in it and the others were holding all of their things. They’d accumulated quite a lot in the hospital. Of course, they wouldn’t let her carry a thing.
As they entered the living room, she stilled as she saw two men in the living room. One was tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth and looked worse for wear with a shaggy beard and greasy hair. Not to mention a black eye.
The other guy was handsome if a bit . . . terrifying looking? Scary? Crazy? He was smiling but it looked almost manic. She had a vague sense of recollection.
She couldn’t stop her cry of fear. She hurried over to Hope, taking her out of the car seat to cradle her against her chest.
“Damn it, Shepherd,” Slade said with exasperation as they all dropped their bags.
Spencer stuck close to her side, although he didn’t seem too worried. Just annoyed.
Wait. Shepherd? Their friend who was trying to track Alaistair? Who had helped find Billy?
“What? I’ve got a welcome home gift for you all. I thought you’d be pleased.”
“Don’t pull that with us,” Quaid snarled. “You know this isn’t normal behavior. You just like to test us. Why the hell would you bring him here? Where Hope and Indie are?”
“And how did you get in?” Slade demanded.
I say we kill them both.
She gaped at Rock. “Rock! We can’t.”
Shepherd narrowed his gaze at Rock and signed back at him.
I bring you this dickhead and this is how you repay me ?
Spencer sighed. “Let’s get past the fact that Shepherd is a dick. We all know that.”
“I’m right here,” Shepherd said. “And I’m insulted. I found him. Two weeks of searching and here he is like you wanted.”
“Take off the gag,” Slade ordered. “I want to hear what he has to say for himself. But this conversation isn’t over. You don’t bring guys like this into our home where our girl and baby are.”
Shepherd actually looked serious as he nodded. “Got it.” Then he drew off the gag.
Alaistair looked straight at her and she tensed.
“It’s her!” Alaistair accused. “She made me do it! She's been playing you all along. She’s betrayed you all!”