Chapter 28
28
Grant
***One month later***
“Hi, my sweet, sweet girl,” I say to my daughter.
Gracie éowyn Carter blinks up at me, yawning. I can’t believe my sweet girl is a month old today. Time needs to slow the fuck down because I’m not ready for her to grow up.
Greer comes up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“How’s our girl this morning?”
“Excited to meet her playmates,” I answer as I gently sway Gracie.
“Have you spoken to Alessandro since they arrived in town?”
My gaze goes to my wife’s. “I have.”
“Did he tell you he’s bringing his own security detail? Isa said he won’t let her and Luca out of the house unless they’re with them.”
“Can’t say that I blame him.”
Greer shakes her head. “I should have known you’d side with him.” She reaches for Gracie. “I’m going to see if she’ll eat a bit before everyone arrives.”
She carries our daughter to the rocking chair in the corner of the room. It was a gift from Somya and Corbin and has become Greer’s favorite spot to feed our daughter. Once seated, she lifts her shirt and unbuttons her bra. A moment later, our daughter is happily eating.
It’s a sight I’ll never tire of seeing.
By the time they’re finished, and Gracie has been burped and changed, Somya knocks at the door to our residence within the White House.
“Sir, your guests are here.”
“Show them in.”
Alessandro and Isa enter first. Alessandro carries his son, who holds on to the lapel of his jacket. Brooks and Hannah are next. Brooks carries two infant carriers, one in each hand. Last is Charles and Aimée. I peer around Charles.
“Jim and Buffy didn’t make it?”
Charles hesitates, but says, “They were in Thailand and didn’t want to cut their trip short.”
My jaw tics, but Greer touches my arm.
“They can meet Gracie later.”
Her message is loud and clear. Now is not the time to get angry over this.
Isa moves forward. “Let me see my sweet goddaughter.”
“Hey!” Hannah says. “I thought I was her godmother!”
Greer goes to the bassinet in the corner of the living room, lifting baby Gracie.
“Ladies, a girl can never have too many godmothers.”
She hands Gracie to Isa, who immediately tears up.
“Oh, you are precious. Look at those eyes. Just like your Mommy!” She turns her gaze to Alessandro. “I demand a daughter.”
Alessandro’s lips twitch. “Anything you desire, Dolcezza .”
Greer turns to Hannah. “What about you?”
Hannah hands over little Katie to my wife. Well, I think it’s Katie. Since Katie and Samantha are identical twins, it’s still hard to tell them apart, though Brooks swears Samantha has a little mole on her arm that Katie doesn’t.
Hannah laughs. “Ask me again when they’re sleeping through the night.” She holds out her arms and Alessandro hands off his son. “And how is the heir to the Moretti Mafia?”
Isa answers, “He’s much like his father.”
Everyone laughs except for Alessandro, who says, “I take that as a compliment.”
“Oh, it’s a compliment,” Isa teases. “As for babies, well, we have news.”
“No!” Both Hannah and Greer exclaim.
“Not that kind of news. Jeez! No, Alessandro and I are buying a house in Dallas. We want our children to grow up knowing each other.”
The women move closer, talking about all the things our families will do when we’re in town and once my presidency is over. Even Aimée seems excited. Meanwhile, I get the men’s attention. We discreetly exit the living room, going to a more secure room within my residence.
Alessandro loosens his tie as he sits. “Damn unnerving seeing the snipers on top of the White House.”
“Just a precaution,” I answer, pouring each of the men a drink. I turn to Charles. “Where is Jim? And don’t give me some bullshit line. We all know he’s not in Thailand with Buffy.”
Charles says, “I haven’t heard from him in a week, but I received this today.”
He pulls a letter from his pocket and we all still, because, fucking hell, we’ve all gotten similar letters from the man who killed DeLeon.
“What does it say?”
Charles reads, “Head Elite Member Blanc, it is with great sadness that I must inform you that Jim Jones’ life will end soon. Enclosed, you will see why.”
He pulls out some photos, passing them around.
Brooks exhales. “My god.”
“That’s what I said, too.” He shakes his head when Alessandro tries to hand the photos back. “No. I don’t want them in my possession. It’s too damning.”
He’s not wrong…
He continues, “I have a feeling we’ll be reaching out to Santos, and soon.”
Since everything that happened with Walt Ryans, Charles has been more…open with his dealings. Greer thinks it’s because he knows he has no choice but to trust the Elite Members. At this point, he’s outnumbered, and he knows it.
Alessandro says, “You’re likely right.”
Charles puts the letter away and says, “It’s unnerving that we still have no leads on who this masked person is. I fear it may be someone within the Brotherhood.”
“What makes you think that?” I ask.
“The knowledge that this person has is too…personal. If Zhāng wasn’t already dead, I’d bet my life that he was the one behind it.”
Alessandro rubs his beard. “We’ve focused our search outside of the Brotherhood. Are you saying you want me to look at members?”
We all turn to Charles, who nods.
“Yes.”
Alessandro dips his head. “This will change everything. More secrets may come out.”
Charles lets out a bitter laugh. “At this point, that may not be a bad thing. As my cousin and her annoying husband like to remind me, change is happening.”
I smile. “It’s the slogan that won me the White House.”
“Indeed.”
Brooks says, “I’ll hold off on recruiting for a bit and help Ace with his search.”
“Sounds like we have a plan.” There’s nothing else we can do for now, so I say, “Now, let’s get back to our wives and children.”
Brooks and Alessandro leave, but Charles stays behind.
“A word, Grant?”
“Of course.”
Brooks gives me a long look before closing the door behind him.
Charles says, “I’m worried that someone is coming after me.”
“Not to be a dick, but it’s pretty obvious someone is out to get you.”
I mean, this all started because the Elite Members weren’t behaving like they should. It would stand to reason that Charles is still on the list of the killer.
His face pales. “I’m worried how Aimée and the girls will carry on when I’m gone.”
“You’re a smart man, Blanc. I’m sure you know what to do to make sure they’re taken care of.”
“I do. Which is why I’m here.” He hands me an envelope. “If anything ever happens to me, open this. Understand?”
I eye the envelope. “What’s in here?”
“Nothing illegal. Just something that will need to be taken care of. Please…”
His voice cracks. Holy fuck. He really is scared.
I take it, putting it in my pocket.
“Thank you, Carter. Truly.” He clears his throat. “Now, let’s go. I’m sure my cousin is looking for you.”
We make our way to the living room, where I go to Greer’s side.
“Everything okay?”
I answer in a low tone, “We don’t know where Jones is, and Charles got a letter from the killer.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, no.”
“And you were afraid life would be boring once we got to the White House.”
She smacks my chest. “I would never say that. Want to know why?”
“Why?”
“Because, my dear husband, life with you has never been dull.”
“I take that as a compliment, Little Fae.” I lean in, brushing my lips against hers. “And I’m not a bit sorry about it.”
She smiles. “Me either.”
The first time I met this wonderful woman, I saw someone who reminded me of myself. A poor child who had been beaten at the hand of someone who was supposed to protect her. The second time I saw her, I had to hold her hand while she lost two of the most important people in her life. The third time I knew I was a goner because this woman had the power to bring me to my knees. Somehow, fate kept bringing us together, and I knew that this woman would change my life. And I’m so fucking thankful for it.
I say, “I love you, wife.”
“I love you, too.”
Fuck. Four words I will never tire of hearing.