Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Serenity
Iwake up to Rage’s mouth making its way up my thigh. “If you’re trying to convince me to stay in bed with you all day, consider your mission complete …”
The tip of his tongue activates every cell in my body, making my thoughts glitch for a moment. He gives me a few long, slow licks before pulling his head away.
“Oh god, don’t stop … mission incomplete … mission incomplete,” I repeat.
He chuckles deeply, pressing his wet lips to my stomach just above my pelvic bone.
Every second we’re alone we quickly find ourselves wrapped around the other. We can’t seem to keep our hands, or our mouths, to ourselves.
It’s been a blissful couple of weeks. I don’t know how Rage has managed to hold everyone off, but I know I can’t have him to myself forever. Today, he is going back to work.
“Mommmmyyyy!” Mila yells from her room.
I let out a clipped laugh. “I’m going to need a raincheck for this,” I say, raising to my elbows to look at him.
His smile widens. “I’ll see you back here at naptime. You can cash it in then,” he says, winking at me as he backs off the bed.
I slip my arms into his robe and hurry to Mila’s room. She’s sitting at her vanity, brushing her hair while still wearing her pajamas.
“Good morning, sweetie,” I say, kissing her on the head.
“I want to see dinos,” Mila demands, setting her brush on the table.
We took her to the children’s museum a few days ago, and she fell in love with their dinosaur exhibit. It’s her current obsession. “How about we get dressed and eat first?” I ask.
“Okay.”
When we get to the kitchen, the twins already have breakfast made. Both of them turn and smile at Mila and me at the same time.
“What are you guys doing here so early?” I ask.
The two of them shrug in unison, turning their backs to me.
I set Mila in her chair. “Let me guess. Rage has you on babysitting detail today, doesn’t he?”
“I not a baby,” Mila tells them, crossing her little arms over her chest.
“You’re right. Neither of us are babies.” I glare at Rage as he walks into the room.
“What?”
“Really? You put the twins up to watching us today?”
He drops into a chair, staring at me. His forehead creases into a scowl that’s deeper than both Mila’s and mine put together. “You’ll indulge me in this,” he says steadily, and I know there will be no budging with him.
“Oh, will I?”
His hand wraps around my knee, and he squeezes it lightly in warning. “Please,” he adds quickly, but only after Carson clears his throat. He looks back at the twins before continuing. “It would give me peace of mind.”
I sigh because that’s what I want too. I don’t want him worrying all day. “Mila, should we let Carson and Cole come to the museum with us today?”
She nods, dipping her head shyly. The twins are two of her favorite people.
When we get to the children’s museum, I’m glad I let the guys tag along. Like I had a choice. The museum is packed, and I’ll admit having extra sets of eyes on her is comforting.
We spend a few hours there, and then we head to the park for lunch. Rage is meeting us. Mila drags the twins over to the playground while I whip up some sandwiches.
“Lunch time?” an older man asks from a nearby table. He has a coffee in front of him.
“It is,” I say, shielding my eyes to watch Carson try to fit into the swing next to Mila. I laugh, and the old man follows my gaze to see what’s amused me.
He chuckles. “She must be a real-life princess. I’ve never seen a little girl with bodyguards,” he jokes.
I smile at him. “Of course she’s a princess. She deserves nothing but the best, and you can never be too careful.”
“You’re right there.” He stands, tossing the cup into the trash. “Have a good afternoon.”
“You too.”
Several minutes later, Rage pulls into the parking lot on his bike. I catch myself drooling as he swings his leg over the seat, getting off. He waves to the twins and Mila as he heads in my direction.
“Stop looking at me like I’m a snack,” he says as soon as he reaches me.
I shift on the seat and wipe my mouth. “Is it naptime yet?”
“Why wait until then?” His gaze scans the area, pretending to look for a place we can sneak off to.
“Stop. I know you’re teasing.”
“Am I?”
Well, now that he says it, I can’t really tell. He winks at me, and my stomach flips.
He leans forward. “No, but seriously, if you manage to get her down for a nap, shoot me a text. I’ve missed you.” He takes my hand and places his lips over my wrist. His dark eyes dance in amusement as he detects my racing pulse.
“It’s only been a few hours,” I say, pretending he can’t feel the excitement running through my veins.
His teeth nibble at my skin. “Don’t pretend you haven’t missed me too.”
“I have,” I agree, leaning in to give him a kiss.
“Daddy, I went so high!” Mila squeals, running up to him and holding her hands out.
He gives me another quick peck before turning and lifting her onto his lap. “Have you been a good girl today?”
Her wild curls bounce around her face as she nods her head.
“What did you see at the museum?” he asks.
“I saw a dinosaur.” She holds her hands in front of her, making little claws as she snarls at him.
He laughs, setting her on her feet so he can pretend to be one too.
The twins exchange a look. I’m sure there have been some big changes in their friend since Mila came to live with him.
She manages to keep us entertained all the way through lunch by not breaking character. Her little roars are the cutest things I’ve ever heard.
I walk Rage over to his bike as the twins give Mila one last round on the playground equipment.
“Look, she’s rubbing her eyes. Today has really pooped her out,” I hint, hoping I don’t sound desperate.
He wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me close when he hears the hesitation in my voice. “Never doubt I want to be with you. Just give me a heads up once she’s asleep, and I’ll come home.”
He gives me a swat on the butt and then a kiss before getting on his bike. I’m not sure which of those things I like more. It’s a good thing I don’t have to choose.
When the twins pull into the driveway and park, they both turn in their seats.
“Rage is coming home for a booty call, isn’t he?” Cole teases.
My mouth falls open.
They chuckle quietly because Mila is asleep in her seat beside me.
“If you move her, you might wake her up,” Carson jokes. “Then it will be no booty for youty.”
I sigh. He’s right.
“Maybe you guys could circle the block with her?” I twirl my finger in the air shyly.
They look at each other pretending to think about it.
I put my hands up in prayer. “Please. I’ll owe you.”
“A pan of brownies?” Carson asks.
I hold my hand out to shake on it.
“Each. A pan of brownies each,” Cole clarifies.
“Deal.”
“Not so fast.” Carson pulls his hand back, bringing his phone to his ear. “I have to clear this with the boss first.”
He smiles at me in the mirror as he talks to Rage. “Alright. Will do,” he says, finishing the call. “You’re good to go.” He jumps out to open my door for me. “We’ll be back after a bit.”
“No need to rush,” I say, backing away from the truck.
They both laugh, shaking their heads. “Have fun!” Carson yells as he turns around in the driveway.
I do a happy dance as I watch them drive away. Peanut looks up at me and snorts. He’s not happy I let his Mila drive away.
“She’ll be home soon,” I say, scratching him under the chin.
I glance up at the house feeling a bit guilty, but my libido quickly takes over. Rage has been waiting for me to wear some of the lingerie we bought a few weeks ago. Mila’s been a bit clingy lately, and I haven’t had a chance.
The thought has me jogging to the house. Peanut follows but stops on the porch, refusing to go in.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to stay outside. It’s a beautiful day.” I run my hand over his head, glancing around the yard. I’ll never be tired of this view.
I leave Peanut to his guarding duties and head inside to change. The guilt of leaving Mila returns, but I know she’s asleep and I trust the twins will bring her back as soon as she wakes.
My fingers run over the black satin lingerie that was Rage’s favorite. He’ll be so excited to finally see me in it.
I hurry to shower because spending the day at the children’s museum and then the park has me feeling less than fresh. It will take Rage at least twenty minutes to get here from town, so I have plenty of time.
As I’m rinsing my hair, I hear a loud bang. I don’t think too much about it, but when it happens again, I swear it sounds like a gunshot.
I slowly reach out and shut the water off, stepping out of the shower. I grab Rage’s robe off the hook and slip it on.
My hands tremble as I crack the door, listening. When it remains quiet, I slowly make my way down the hallway.
Maybe I was hearing things, or maybe Mila woke up and the twins are back already.
My heart falls fast when I peek out the window and see Peanut lying in the driveway covered in blood. Without thinking, I swing the door open and rush out to him.
“Peanut!” I cry, falling to my knees. He’s breathing so hard. “Oh god.” My hands scramble over his fur, looking for a wound.
A long shadow falls over us, and my heart completely stops.
“Where’s my fucking daughter?”
I recognize the voice. It’s the man I met in the park today.
In the span of a breath, I realize he’s Mila’s … my brain slowly registers his question.
I jump to my feet and spin on the man. “Your daughter?” I ask, storming toward him.
He’s bent over, nursing his bloody leg. It looks like Peanut got a few bites out of him before he went down.
“Mila is my daughter!” I roar, barreling into him and knocking us both to the ground.
The gun that was in his hand slides a few feet away from us. He’s desperately trying to reach for it as I scream in his face. I’m not really sure what I’m even saying at this point. I’m blind in my rage. This man will never be Mila’s father.
I may have caught him off guard, but he’s twice my size. He sits up just enough to rear his fist back and clock me in the face. I fall backward, giving him time to reach his weapon.
I shove to my feet and run toward the house. I’ve got to get to the safe room.
A shot rings out as I reach the front door, and something stings the back of my thigh. Whatever it was, it drops me like a bad habit. I fall flat on my face into the house. Fuck, I’ve been shot. That bastard shot me!
A sob erupts through my chest as pain begins to radiate throughout my leg, but I need to keep moving. I reach up and lock the screen door, but I don’t have time to do much else because he’s on his feet again. I begin to drag myself through the house, talking to the cameras.
“Rage, I love you!” I yell, scooting as quickly as I can across the living room floor. “I hope you kill this fucker!” I pause, taking a deep breath. “Tell Mila I love her.”
Somehow I manage to make it to the kitchen, but Frank is already kicking at the screen door. I know it will only hold him for so long.
As I reach for the button under the counter, a blackness slowly begins to tease at the edges of my vision. I tumble forward as it opens, falling roughly down the stairs. When my head hits the wall at the bottom, the darkness completely engulfs me. It feels so nice. Like a warm hug.
A glitch of light pulls me back to the surface, and I see Frank at the top of the stairs, his gun pointed at my head. “Last chance. Where is my daughter?”
“It’s okay,” someone whispers from the empty space around me. “It’s time to rest.”
It’s my mother’s voice.
I’m so confused. Is she here too?
“Come with me,” she says, materializing in front of me and holding out her hand.
I reach for it as a loud sound rings through the ether. I wait for the pain, but it doesn’t come.
My mother finally saved me.