Chapter 9 #3
“What you over there thinking about?” he quizzed.
“All the nasty shit I want to do to you,” she replied cutely, eyes twinkling.
“That’s not something a father wants to hear from his baby girl.” Max’s voice was like a song she had forgotten.
When she heard it again, she froze, and her heart went crazy.
Rose went for the pistol on the counter as every hair on the back of his neck rose.
He aimed it right at the doorway, ready to pop off if necessary.
When he saw that it was Max, his hand relaxed, and his heart rapped quickly in his chest. Minx turned and almost fell off the counter at the sight of him standing there.
Rose was there to catch her, holding her up like he always did.
“Daddy,” she whispered, lunging toward him.
She hugged him with every ounce of love and strength that she carried.
Max lifted her from the ground and returned the gesture.
Minx cried into him, and he let her have it.
Lowering her to her feet, he nudged away, and she reached for his beard when they parted.
It was longer than she remembered, and he was looking more rugged than his usual clean-cut self.
It was clear by the turmoil shadowing his eyes that he hadn’t taken being away from them lightly.
“You’re really here.” Minx touched his chest an arms, making sure he wasn’t some figment of her warped imagination.
“I’m here,” he assured her.
She wrapped her arms around him again, and while he held her, he and Rose locked eyes. His protégé smiled and gave him a cool nod. He didn’t want to act like a female and get all choked up, but he was overwhelmed with emotion when he saw him.
“I can’t believe this is real.” Minx bawled.
“Shhh. It’s okay. Let it out.”
“Mama has been asking about you. She’s inside the bedroom with Mil,” Minx said, wiping her tears. “Come on. He can’t wait to see you.” Minx dragged her father from the kitchen.
When they entered the bedroom, Mila was still sleeping, but Mille leapt off the bed and rushed to his father. He had a little extra weight and knocked Max back a couple of steps while hugging him tight.
“Daddy! You’re alive! You’re real!” Submerged I happiness, Mille inhaled his father’s familiar scent.
“I’m here, kid.” He kissed the top of Mille’s head and focused on his wife stirring from her sleep.
“Max,” she muttered.
“I’m here, baby,” Max stated, moving closer to her with Mille attached to him.
Minx remained in the doorway, staring in at them with a smile.
Her heart was full. She didn’t think she would be able to see them together like this again.
With her arms crossed in front of her, she leaned her head against Rose as he stood tall behind her.
His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as he rested his chin against her shoulder.
“Get your rest.” Max swept some of her hair away from her face. “We will move out at the crack of dawn. Everybody needs to sleep. We need to be ready.”
“Ready for what?” Minx asked, confused.
“We are going back home,” Max stated.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Rose wondered from the doorway.
“It’s time. Perez assured me that the Lynch family is no longer a problem. Gannon is the only loose end that we have. He’ll turn up sooner rather than later. I got people watching his apartment and everything,” Max informed them. “We’ll get him.”
“This mothafucka could already be gone!” Rose hissed, pulling away from Minx.
“Rose—”
“They almost killed you, Max. They beat Mila almost to fucking death, and we sitting around here twiddling our fucking thumbs waiting on Gannon?” Rose’s brows dipped above his angry glare. “Fuck this shit!”
Max rose from Mila’s side. He didn’t want to go toe to toe with Rose right now. He saw how he and Mila were together after they thought he died. Rose was loyal and passionate about protecting those he loved.
“What do you suggest we do?” Max asked, calm while Rose was hyped up off adrenaline.
He knew that he could be a hothead. It was Max that aided in taming Rose all those years.
When he got to him, Rose had little respect for authority simply for the way that the adults in his life treated him.
Max had to show him that he was different, that Rose could depend on him, and that he genuinely cared for him.
Rose’s nostrils flared, and he shook his head.
He didn’t have definitive answers. He was just pissed and wanted to dead Gannon himself.
Rose exhaled and Max nodded. He’d won this battle.
“This place is surrounded. Try to get some rest. We move before the sun comes up,” Max advised, lowering himself into the bed with his wife.
Reluctant, Rose and Minx backed out of the room, but Mille remained behind.
He wasn’t leaving either of his parents’ sides at that point, and Minx didn’t blame him.
She wanted to secure them both in a bubble because the thought of being without either of them put her in an anxious, overwhelming headspace that she wasn’t ready for.