Chapter 27
Amelia
The drive home is filled with celebration, and the air is much lighter than it had been on our way to the place. However, there's a certain feeling in the air I can’t pinpoint, a feeling that says this isn’t the end.
“Will they be coming after us?” I ask, wanting to confirm what I fear.
Although I didn’t have much experience with gangs prior to all of this, I’ve done enough research on them to know that they never let things go. At least, not without a fight.
Looks pass between them, and I’m suddenly uncomfortable. What does this mean for us?
Flames of Hell is the most feared gang around, and there’s a reason why. With more members than any of the others put together and no moral compass whatsoever, they have dominated the others using fear and terror.
“You can tell me. I just want to know what to expect,” I say when they remain silent.
Tanner sighs and looks at Rueben, who nods. “There is a fight coming, and it’s unavoidable. We have to finish what we started if we ever plan to live peacefully.”
“It’s the only way to make sure that we aren’t completely flushed out one after the other. They won’t stop until they destroy us, or at least make sure that those who are left are placed in even worse oppression than before with no means of fighting back. We can’t let them recover before launching another attack,” Rueben says. His face shows that he fully intends to ensure that Flames of Hell never recovers, even if it means putting his life at risk.
I bite back my gasp. I can't picture life without all three of them in it. They have come to mean much more to me than anyone has in many years, and I can’t bear losing them.
Rueben reaches out to me from his seat in front and taps my hand consolingly.
“You have nothing to worry about. We intend to be in your life and the life of our child for as long as you’ll have us. Nothing will stop that from happening. You can bank on that.”
His words offer me very little comfort. I can't be fully comforted until all is done and they return to me.
“Don’t worry. We won’t leave you all alone. Josiah will stay here with you to keep you company, and we will return to you as soon as we’re done.”
Rueben kisses me goodbye and steps out the door. Tanner follows suit with a lingering kiss.
“When I return, there’s something I want to talk to you about. I have so much to apologize for and so much to confess.”
My heart beats quickly at his words as he leaves, throwing me a wink over his shoulder.
What else would he have to confess other than his love for me?
The possibility of a love confession fills me with hope as I stare at the door. I press my hand to my heart in hope.
They will return to me.
Josiah plops down on the sofa beside me. “How do you feel?”
I shrug. “There are so many emotions flowing through me, I don’t know which one to focus on.”
“I understand,” he groans as he spreads his legs, moving lower in the seat. “You’ve been through a lot today, and even now, you can’t rest until you know that they're safe.”
I nod. “That’s exactly it.”
We sit in silence for a moment before he turns to me, staring into my eyes. “Listen. About earlier. I should have spoken up and gotten him to stop. It just felt like the only way to keep you safe, and with the news of the baby, we were more desperate and quite honestly shocked.”
I laugh. “Imagine how I felt when I used the test strip and it turned positive.”
“Speaking of the test strip, how did you manage to get one?”
I blush in guilt. “I bought it when I went out with Tanner to get tacos.”
So, he didn’t tell them after all.
“I see.”
I move to get up. “I’m exhausted. I think I should take a shower and get some rest.”
His hand shoots out and he grabs me. “Wait, before you go, there’s something I want to tell you.”
I frown and sit back. “What is it?”
He scratches the back of his neck and clears his throat before speaking.
“I don’t know how to say this, since it’s not an area I have ever been good at, so I’m just going to spit it out,” he rambles nervously.
“I, erm…” he chokes on his words as he stares into my eyes.
I feel like I know exactly what he wants to say to me, and I suddenly have butterflies in my stomach. He'd said it back in the van, Tanner too, but I guess that was said out of sheer excitement. This time, he's a lot more serious.
“I love you, Amelia,” he says sharply, and my heart skips for a second.
“I can’t say exactly when it began, but I know what I felt the first time I saw you, and every day since then.”
He takes my hand, and I swallow loudly as he combs his fingers through my fiery red hair.
“I know what I feel now, and although I’m not an expert in feelings, I can say that I love you wholeheartedly. I love you, and I promise to protect you every day of my life until the day I take my last breath.” He grins widely, and I find myself blushing.
“That includes the baby, if you’ll both have me in your life. I never want what happened today to ever happen again. I never want to feel so devastated that it feels like I can’t breathe or function properly ever again.”
I gasp. Those were words I never thought I would be hearing from him. I smile a watery smile, fighting back the tears that threaten to ruin the moment. I’ve never felt more love than I do now, and it’s a relief to know that our babies will have such wonderful fathers.
“I love you too, Josiah. Of course, we’ll be honored to have you in our lives.”
I jump into his arms, sighing when he wraps his arms around me and pulls me even closer to himself.
“Oh, and one more thing. All of this we have done and are doing, it’s not only a way to punish Flames of Hell for their crimes, but we’re also doing it to avenge your father. He was a wonderful man and he treated us well. It’d be a shame if his death was in vain.
“Thank you,” I say, hugging him once more. My dad had been right to take them under his wing.