Chapter 27 #2
Knox approached, and he couldn’t help but smile. “It’s been firmly removed, sir.”
His dad slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Thank God,” he said when they entered the main room. “Your mom was worried you’d never give us grandchildren.”
Before Knox could respond, the governor approached. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk, so he made a quick exit in search of Adriana.
She stood off to the side of the main stage, which was draped in bright lights. Rodriguez and Calloway were talking to her, but she must’ve felt Knox’s eyes on her because she pivoted to find him in the crowd.
He navigated the throng of people drinking and talking to get to her, once again dodging questions and comments on his way.
After arriving at her side, he took her elbow and whispered into her ear, “Did I tell you how incredible you look tonight?”
“I believe you got tongue-tied earlier and forgot.”
“Bennett,” Calloway said, redirecting his focus.
“Calloway,” he returned in an equally firm voice then nodded hello to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez brought the mic tucked in his sleeve to his mouth. “Hawk and Hummingbird will be heading to the stage in three minutes.”
Calloway and Rodriguez were in tuxedos, probably to blend in with the guests, but the coil wires spiraling up the sides of their necks to their earpieces gave them away.
“How’s your dad doing?” she asked softly once the men had left, and her gaze traveled across the room to where his parents stood in conversation with the governor. “And your mom?”
Knox took them in for a moment. He could tell his dad was working hard to maintain a brave face. His mom, on the other hand, remained stoic.
A spy. It’d take a lot more than a day to absorb that bit of truth. A couple lifetimes maybe.
“They’re good, I guess. He’s going to forgive her.” He found Adriana’s eyes, wishing he could tell her the truth now, too. “You ready to go up there?”
“A bit shaky.” She held out a hand between them, and damn, there was a tremble. “And I know when I go up there my heart will pound so fast it’ll make talking difficult.”
He leaned in. “You’ve got this. Picture everyone naked.”
“Your dad? Calloway?” she teased.
“Scratch that.” He smiled, flashing her his teeth. “Only me.”
“Well.” She brought her finger over her lips and tapped a short nail there. “I’ll be rendered speechless then.”
“Oh, trust me, when I have my way with you, you’ll be a lot more than at a loss for words.”
Her emerald green eyes greeted his, and all he could think about was how close he was to taking her that morning in her room. The way she’d responded to his kiss—the feel of her in his arms.
“And what will I be?” she rasped in a sensual voice.
“Mine,” he responded without hesitation.
Her gaze wandered south of his belt buckle and to his crotch, and it was as if she’d known he was ready for her despite being surrounded by a crowd. “It’s been twenty long, long years.”
“You don’t think I know that?” She arched a brow and pointed to the stage. “Your dad is about to make introductions.”
He hooked an arm around her back, and they advanced toward the stage. He didn’t bother hiding his erection since the place was so crowded. But at the sight of his father and mother on the stage—yeah, that was a boner-killer for sure.
His dad said a couple more words to the crowd, his eyes catching Knox in the audience for a brief moment.
“This room is filled with many brave and special men and women,” he continued.
“Men and women who’ve helped this city in different ways.
Whether you’ve served in combat abroad, or on the streets at home .
. . or in the classrooms to educate our youth, so many of you have made great sacrifices for this city.
” He pivoted to face the man who’d been Adriana’s mother’s partner.
“It’s an honor to be here with you all. I know we’ve had problems in the country.
This city, too. Division. But I truly believe we can all come together and be united as one.
And I’d like to highlight some exceptional men and women here tonight who have fought to create a strong sense of community here. ”
His father continued to speak for a few more minutes and then turned the mic over to Mike, Adriana’s mother’s old partner. And now it was Adriana’s cue to join the stage. Knox forcefully shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing he were at her side as she climbed the steps to get to the stage.
“Patricia Foster never wanted to be a detective. She wanted to remain on patrol,” Mike began.
“She said she didn’t want to solve crimes, she wanted to prevent them.
” He smiled. “Patricia was optimistic. Compassionate. A woman who cared about her community. She believed in equality for all, and she fought tooth and nail to make sure everyone in the city was treated fair. She used to say that the badge is only as good as the trust people have in it. And trust was something she had from the people.” He turned to view Adriana.
“She’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.
” His eyes met the crowd briefly. “I’d like to introduce you all to Adriana Foster. ”
Adriana took the mic, and when she stepped closer to the podium, the lights overhead basked her in soft tones, as if the lights were her mother embracing her.
“Thank you, Mike.” Adriana hugged him and directed her attention toward the audience.
“I’m humbled to be here. I’m grateful for all that you do.
” Her eyes connected with Knox. “Whenever I’ve thanked officers or veterans for their service, so often they say to me, ‘don’t thank me, just be the kind of person worth protecting.
’ I believe my mom felt the same way, too. ”
Her words reached inside and touched his soul, and a tightness stretched across his chest.
“A little over seven years ago, I learned my mother had considered joining the Secret Service when she was younger. She chose to stay with the precinct, and I’d thought that choice had been because she’d had me, but standing here now, I think I was wrong.
” She took a breath as if fighting to keep her voice from faltering.
She turned to Knox’s dad off to the side of the stage.
“As important as it is to protect people in your position,” she began, directing her words toward Isaiah Bennett, “I think my mom was where she belonged. Her home was Atlanta.” She held her free hand open.
“When she died, I was a heartbroken fifteen-year-old kid. I wanted to blame myself. Blame the world. The shooter. Absolutely everyone for her loss.”
He couldn’t see the tears in her eyes, but he knew they were there. He could hear the emotion in her voice.
“But she wouldn’t have wanted that,” she said, a tremble in her tone.
“She’d want me to focus on something—more like someone else.
You see, my mom died so another could live.
Actually, so two people could live.” She sniffled.
A tear slipped. “The woman my mom saved was pregnant. She’d gone to the convenience store in the middle of the night because an ice cream craving had hit her.
” She forced a tiny smile on her face. “My mom was on her way to pick me up from a party, but she’d promised to pick up my favorite kind of candy bars on her way. ”
She took a shaky breath that reverberated over the speakers. Her eyes met Knox’s as if searching for the strength to continue. He put a hand over his heart and tipped his head.
“My mom was there that night, so Naomi and her daughter could be here today.” She motioned toward the two women next to Knox’s dad on the stage.
A woman in her late forties with her daughter.
“Naomi’s daughter was born because my mom jumped in front of a gunman who’d gone there not to rob the store, but merely to kill innocent people.
My mom shouldn’t have died because of him, but a lot of things in life shouldn’t happen. ”
His eyes remained locked with hers, never breaking the connection as she spoke. But his heart . . . damn, it hurt so much.
“But my mom didn’t hesitate to save Naomi and her unborn child. She used her body as a shield, drew her weapon, and took down the man that night—but he also took her down, too.”
More tears fell, but she didn’t brush them away. She let them show. Wore them proudly.
And God, did he love her so much.
Naomi moved toward the stage and hugged Adriana, tears on her face as well.
Not a dry eye in the ballroom.
Knox blinked back his own tears and maneuvered through the crowd in preparation for her exit off stage.
Once she said a few parting words and headed his way, he didn’t hesitate. He gathered her in his arms and held her against him, never wanting to let go.
“Addy,” he whispered into her hair, ignoring the click of cameras off in the distance.
“I’m okay,” she said, pulling back, her cheeks damp with tears. “I promise.”
“Can we get out of here then?” he asked, nearly choking on his words. “There’s something I need to tell you.”