Chapter 29 #2
“A few years?” She sounds faraway, like she’s about to check out.
Max is moving slowly behind her.
“Yes. You’ll be able to start fresh. It’ll be from scratch, but it’ll be better than nothing,” Vincent says, distracting her from what’s happening behind her.
“Will you wait for me?” she asks quietly, desperately.
For a moment, he hesitates. “I’ll wait for you.”
That’s a lie. We all know it. I think Deanna knows it, too, deep down.
“Put the gun down, Deanna. Don’t make this worse,” Vincent says. “Come on. It’s done. You’re not getting any money out of this. You’re not getting out of here either. But you can at least get out of here alive.”
For a moment, she’s tempted to agree. Her gun slowly descends. “But then she gets to have you. It’s not fair.”
The gun goes back up.
Max tackles her.
“No!” she screams as he smacks the weapon from her hand and pins her against the wooden floor. “No, let me go!”
“It’s over,” Max snarls.
A police officer step in and immobilizes her while they slap a pair of cuffs on her wrists. The whole time, she wails and flails and cries out in raw agony. Alex, Vincent, and Max rush to my side.
“We were supposed to be together!” Deanna screams. “You were mine, Vinnie!”
“I was never yours, you crazy bitch,” he mutters and shifts his focus to me, his gaze softening as it searches my face. “Are you okay, baby?”
“This isn’t fair!” Deanna screams, her body taut with the effort.
The cops hoist her off the floor and take her outside, while the others fan out and check every inch of the house for any usable evidence. In the meantime, I let my men untie me and lift me from the chair.
I let them hold me. I melt in their arms for the longest moment, relief finally washing over me. I burst into tears, soft as butter, as I welcome their strength and the safety of their embrace, the scent of their cologne, the security of their presence.
“Are you okay?” Alex asks me.
“I think so, yes. She didn’t hurt me or anything. Not physically, anyway,” I reply, catching a glimpse of Deanna as she’s shoved into the back seat of a police car. “She just ran her mouth. A lot.”
Max chuckles softly. “Well, I’m glad that’s all that happened, especially given your condition,” he says, gently touching my belly.
My skin burns hot as I realize they know. Vivian must’ve told them, or Kaleb. I assume it happened in the heat of the moment, considering the gravity of the situation, what with the ransom video and all.
“I thought we’d never see you again,” Vincent whispers and presses his lips against my cheek. His kiss is warm and soft and reassuring, a quiet promise that they’re never letting me out of their sight again.
“I’m lucky you found me,” I reply with a weak smile.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Alex asks with a slightly furrowed brow. “About the baby?”
“Honestly? It came unexpectedly. The news, I mean. I didn’t even realize what I was dealing with until the blood work came through. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to tell you since I found out.”
“How long ago was that?” Alex replies.
“A couple of days. I wasn’t sure you’d want to be—”
“Involved?” He sighs deeply and pulls me into another hug. “Raina, you’re carrying our baby. It changes everything.”
“That’s what I was scared of, especially with what’s going on with Kaleb.”
Vincent shakes his head. “Kaleb isn’t a fool. He’s stubborn as hell, but I know he’ll come around. The fact that a baby changes everything doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”
“Change is good,” Max admits, “especially this kind of change. I never thought… I never thought we’d get the chance to be fathers.”
I offer a weak, shy smile. “Well, it happened. I know we didn’t plan for it. You’ve got your careers, your businesses, your lives—”
“Raina, you became a part of our lives the minute you walked into Haus of Sin,” Alex interjects, then drops to his knees and places a hand on my belly. “And this little guy… or gal… that’s our baby. This is the foundation of our family. And you will never be alone again.”
“I don’t want to be,” I say softly.
“Good, because I mean it. You’re not getting away from us again,” Alex insists. “We will burn the whole world down if that’s what it takes to keep us together, to keep you and the kid safe and happy.”
Shuddering, I let them take me in their arms once more. This time, the safety of their embrace hits differently. It wraps me in a peculiar yet comforting warmth. The promise of a better future ahead.
“I don’t know which one of you did the deed, though,” I say.
“The baby is ours. That’s all that matters. Unless it’s needed for medical reasons, there isn’t even a point in a paternity test,” Max replies. “We’re all in this together.”
“Good. It’s going to be a lot of hard work,” I jokingly warn them. “Or so I’ve heard.”
Alex kisses my temple. “Baby, there’s three of us. You’re set.”
“There’s an ambulance outside,” Vincent says. “They’re going to give you a thorough check-up. And we’re going to the hospital with you.”
“Honestly, I think I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.”
“No, you’re the victim of a kidnapping. You were held at gunpoint.” He shakes his head. “You’re anything but fine. Lord knows, we’re sticking to you like white on rice from now on!”
“Come on, Vincent, you couldn’t have known they’d go this far.”
“But if we’d been there—”
A sudden gasp escapes my throat. “Oh, God. Kaleb must be out of his mind. Does he know?”
“I just texted him. Told him to go straight to the hospital. He’ll meet us there,” Max replies, holding up his phone.
My brows furrow. “You’re back on speaking terms then?”
“Almost,” Alex answers. “Like I said, your brother is stubborn, but he’s coming around slowly but surely. It’ll be alright. Right now, all that matters is that you’re safe and on your way to the hospital.”
“I was so sorry when he quit the bike shop. It was his dream gig. His anger got the better of him, but I’m pretty sure he regrets his decision,” I explain.
Alex smiles broadly. “When all this blows over, the bike shop will still be there, waiting for Kaleb. He’ll always have his job with us, just so you know.”
“Kaleb just confirmed,” Max says, checking his phone. “He’ll be at the hospital, waiting for us. For you, Raina. He’s a good brother.”
Finally, I breathe a sigh of true relief.
I’m safe.