58. Chapter 58 - Cade
I want to jump up and yell out in excitement. Instead I keep the steering wheel steady while squeezing her thigh.
“Ros, talk to me baby. I’m crazy happy right now but I need to know where you’re at.” I know every time there’s a big change she can struggle.
I’m learning how to help her ride through the turmoil. Except I can’t if she doesn’t keep me in the loop.
“I’m worried.” She chews on her lip as her thumb works a hot patch into my wrist. “If Eli kicked me now…”
The thought makes my stomach roll. “That won’t happen. I can promise that.”
Her nails dig in. “I want this. I want us to be safe.” When she looks up, the blue of her eyes pop against the reddening lids. “I want to go back to Texas.”
My chest aches knowing how hard it was for her to say that.
I promised her I would. She is my priority. And now our baby.
“We’ll leave in the morning. Or did you want to go tonight? I can pack the truck as soon as we get back.” I’ll do anything to get that smile back.
I want her to be elated.
“Tomorrow is fine.” She looks down at her stomach, then takes my hand to flatten my palm over her lower belly. “Can you believe it?” Awe laces her tone. “You’re gonna be a daddy.”
Holy shit.
That realization makes my pulse pound in my ears.
“You’re going to be the best mom, baby. I know that for a fact. That’s why I’ll be glad we’re heading back to Texas.” I smile. “Because Montana isn’t a big enough state to hold that heart of yours. Hell, we might end up in Alaska before we’re done.”
She snorts with laughter, freeing the tears that were shining in her eyes. “I do love you. I’m not as scared now. I mean, I’m terrified.” She leans over to rest her head against my arm. “But I know I can depend on you to help guide me.”
I didn’t know that knowing I’ve earned her trust could feel so fucking good. “I’ll do my best, baby.”
I don’t take that honor lightly.
It really does feel like the earth has shifted. As we pull into the driveway everything has a different light to it.
Even Pete’s SUV looks off.
Oh, wait. It’s not his rig. Must be the housekeeper’s.
“You want to run these two bags in to him? I’ll grab his case of liquor.” I know he only asked for two bottles but shit, I’ve probably drank a few worth of his by now.
“Okay.” She pauses, then nearly leaps across the console between us to crash her mouth against my lips. “I really am happy too,” she says breathlessly before climbing down.
As she disappears into Pete’s house, I get the heavy box from the backseat.
Fuck, my leg is stiff from sitting all morning.
Taking a second to bend it, I start across the gravel driveway.
“Cade!” Rosalyn’s scream has me throwing the box to break into a full run towards the door.
She’s just inside, her pistol raised in the stance I taught her, with the barrel pointing at a woman with wide eyes and rubber gloved hands raising in the air.
“Ros?” I trust her but I really need to know. “What’s going on?”
“It’s her, Cade.” Panic laces her words making them come out rushed and three levels higher. “She’s the one who tried to take me.”
Pete limps in from the back and stops, his head swiveling between the two women.
“Paige? She’s the one? Are you sure?”
“I’ll never forget her face.” Rosalyn’s hands shake but she keeps her weapon trained like a pro. “Remember I said she has a ruby engagement ring?”
“She’s crazy,” Paige mutters. “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Take off your gloves,” I bark at her. “Slowly.”
“No.” Her eyes narrow. She focuses more on me than on Rosalyn. “You’re the monster here, not me.”
“Do as he says.” Pete’s gruff voice is punctuated by the wooden sound of a drawer sliding open, then he points his own gun at the woman.
“Fuck you, I know my rights.” Her arms start to drop. “I’m a cop.”
Pete snorts. “You got fired. That’s why I felt sorry for you and let you do this. Now take off your gloves. Show us your hand.”
Her jaw sets. “You can’t strip search me. You’re both LEO.”
The gunshot makes me jump before Paige cries out, crumpling to the floor.
“I’m not.” Rosalyn stands over her, the acrid tendril of smoke rising from the barrel.
I don’t miss the opportunity to leap on the fallen woman and wrench her arms behind her while pinning her with my knee. “Pete? Got cuffs handy?”
“She fucking shot me! You saw that! Bitch!” Paige’s face presses into the carpet as she continues to scream.
Pete shuffles closer, dangling a set that appeared from the same drawer. “Well, if you hadn’t attacked her, she wouldn’t have had to defend herself now, would she?”
His grin when he locks eyes with me is legendary.
Before each wrist gets locked in, I tug off the rubber gloves.
“There it is. Bright red, just like Ros said.” I roll back to avoid the blood oozing out of Paige’s thigh.
“Nice aim, Ros. Nothing vital but dropped her like a rock.” When I smile up to my wife, I see she’s as pale as a ghost.
“I get a phone call!” Paige shrieks.
I pat her pockets down and retrieve her cell. “Pete? We need to check her house. I bet she’s got them holed up and wants to warn them.” I push to my feet once Paige is secure so I can move to Rosalyn.
My palm presses her pistol down and away, then I peel it out of her trembling grasp and lead her outside. “Ros? Look at me.”
Her eyes roam for a moment before she locks onto me.
“You did it, Ros. You didn’t freeze. I’m proud of you.” I wrap her to my chest and hold her until she gives to hug my waist.
“I didn’t,” she exhales. “I just reacted. All I could think about was our baby.”
I tighten my arms and let out a low laugh. “Looks like mama bear has already found her way out.”
She sniffles. “You taught me how to be brave.”
“I wish. All I could show you was the motions. That part? That came from inside of you.” I brush her temples with my lips, then lean back to look at her. “I need to get back in. I love you. Things are going to get really hectic now. Do you want to wait upstairs or watch the chaos?”
“I—” She squeezes her eyes shut. “I want to stay near you.”
I grip her shoulders until she meets my gaze. “Okay. Come inside and sit on the couch. Don’t go anywhere near her or talk to her anymore. Deal?”
She nods and follows me back inside.
“I called Wade,” Pete grumbles. “He’s sending the ambulance out and should be here any minute.”
“Pete? I dropped your bourbon. I’ll need to make another store run for you.” I sheepishly start picking up the canned goods scattering the floor.
“Shit. After this, all I’d do is drink it anyway.” He grins from where he’s slumped into his chair.
“I’m suing you for this.” Paige rolls to her side, folding herself to look at her leg. “I’m fucking bleeding!”
“Looks like I need a new housekeeper.” Pete rolls his eyes.
“We’ll get it all cleaned up.” I grab the last of the dropped food and deposit it in the kitchen as the sirens start to get louder.
They divide into three when they turn into the driveway. Wade follows the medics, with a deputy rig behind him.
But he gets out first and storms past me directly inside.
Then he stops, towering over the woman on the floor.
“Why in the fuck am I not surprised, Paige? You’re like a bad apple rotting your way up from the bottom of the barrel.” His scowl mottles his features when he turns.
“She tried to attack Rosalyn,” Pete says calmly from his seat.
I flick my focus to Ros to make sure she stays quiet. The fewer people who need to carry the truth, the better.
“That fucking figures.” Wade sounds more like a beast than ever.
He takes over directing the EMT’s and his deputy to ride with her.
After Paige is hauled off, Wade turns to me. “I got the team gathering. We’ll be at her place within an hour.” Then he squints. “Are you coming with me?”
I don’t know the answer to that until I see Rosalyn nodding behind him. “Yep. Both of us.”
His arms cross and his scowl deepens. “Then your ass stays in the car. One look at you and those fuckers would launch a nuke as their Hail Mary to take you out.”
“I’m fine with that.” I know I can’t move fast enough to handle another fight with Eli. Time to send in the big guns.
“On another note—” Wade’s brows lift and his thumb jerks towards the door. “—do you think every one of those bottles of liquor broke?”
With a laugh, I clap him on the shoulder. “I’ll go check.”