Chapter 31—Willow
This is the hardest moment of my life. I thought losing my parents was bad. Or when I caught Trevor cheating. Or even the call he made to me saying he had kidnapped my girls. But all that pales in comparison to this. Waiting for the man I love to bring my girls back to me.
Falling in love with Bobby was easy. So many things about him were easy to fall for. The least of which was making sure the girls had everything we could ever want. To include having people to rely on and trust.
The hard part is not being sure if he feels the same way.
He has to. I don’t know if I could survive if he doesn’t.
Why else would he help with all of this if he didn’t feel something for me and my girls? Something strong.
Trevor told me he loved me too easily. He said it as if it was what he needed to say to get me to sleep with him.
Did it help? I guess. I slept with him because I wanted to, not because of what he said.
And after that first time, he said it often enough, but it never felt real.
More like it was simply an excuse for his actions.
“I can’t come to the baby appointment, but I love you.
I have to stay at work late, but I love you.
You forgot to do something, but it’s okay because I love you.
” He said the words, but there was zero feeling behind them.
And they became three words that meant nothing during our time together.
When Bobby says it—if he does—then it will mean something. For both of us.
I’ve said it before, obviously. I thought Trevor was my everything at one point, until my girls came along.
Then I realized what love really was, and I knew what I felt for Trevor at the start was just a desire to be with someone.
To not be alone. Trevor was too self-involved to even notice that I stopped saying it. Or he just didn’t care.
“Your turn.”
“Huh?” I look up at the man who sat across from me when almost everyone else got off the plane after we landed.
He hasn’t spoken to me, or at least I don’t think he has before this.
I’ve been so lost in my own thoughts that he could have told me his entire life story, and I would never have noticed.
“We’re playing poker. How many cards do you want?” He motions to the cards in his hand and the ones on the table.
“I don’t know how to play poker.”
He tilts his head like a bird does when it hears a noise, and then his eyebrows bunch up as he grabs my cards.
“Full house. You’d have lost to me anyhow.”
“What did you have?”
“Pair of kings. That always wins.”
I nod, even if I think what he said is wrong, and look out the window. Bobby and the rest of those going left an hour ago. I might be lost in my thoughts, but I know the exact time he left. I’m counting the minutes without even trying.
“You know how to play solitaire?” The guy shuffles his cards.
“I’m not really in the mood to play.”
“It’s fine. You can be on my team.”
This has me looking back at him, confusion clear on my face. “Isn’t that a game for one person?”
He shrugs and starts placing down cards. I watch him play for a while, and when he doesn’t see something, I point it out. It isn’t a big thing, but the smile on his face makes me question if I solved the greatest mystery in his life.
“What’s your name?”
“Mason. Yours?”
“Um, Willow.” Did he really not know?
Wait, is he safe to be alone with? Something about the way he acts makes me jittery now that I’m watching him.
He isn’t very large in size or muscles, but his slender form gives me the impression that he’s a snake ready to strike.
And it has nothing to do with the countless scars I see on his hands, his upper lip, and one that seems to be slashed from the top of his pierced eyebrow to just below his eye.
And his eyes? Two different colors. One is blue, the other brown.
I may not be able to see any weapons, but I know he has something on him. Everyone on this plane does. Everyone but me. I’m not scared of weapons, just never had a need for them.
Until now. Now I can’t stop seeing all the ways they can be used.
“Don’t.”
“Huh?”
“You were about to get up. Don’t.” He doesn’t even look up from playing his game as he speaks.
“I… I wasn’t.”
He snorts. “Yeah, you were.” He looks up at me with a serious expression on his face. “I can read minds.”
I feel my eyes widen but say nothing. The way he says it, I half believe him already.
“It’s a gift. Or a curse, depending on how you look at it.” He looks back down at his cards and starts again.
“Why don’t you want me to get up?”
He shrugs. “I get lonely. Also, Liam says I’m not allowed to leave your side. Where you go, I go. And the guys outside are dicks and don’t know how to take a joke.”
“What joke?”
“I asked if they wanted to play catch.”
“How is that a joke?”
“It was with this.” He moves to the side and pulls something out of a side pocket. I move as far back in my chair as I’m allowed when he sets it on the table.
“Th-that’s a grenade.”
He shrugs. “It’s a dud.”
I unexpectedly huff out a laugh.
His eyes light up with mischief and glee. “See, you get it.”
I nod, only to appease him. I don’t get how throwing a fake grenade around is a joke, but anything to keep the guy smiling, I guess. Liam seemed friendly, and I trust Bobby well enough to know he wouldn’t leave me with someone who would hurt me.
At least I hope not.
Swallowing the fear for myself and my girls, and Bobby, I look out the window.
Bobby might know how to take care of himself.
At least I assume he does. He seemed sure enough of his skills, as did the rest when I asked that he be the one to go get my girls.
I might not know a lot about Danny, but he doesn’t seem the type to let inexperienced people on his “extraction,” as he called it.
But just because Danny trusts Bobby’s abilities doesn’t mean I won’t stop worrying about him.
Time passes slowly as Mason keeps playing game after game. Too slowly. Slow enough for something to have gone wrong. I just know it. He keeps trying to engage me, but each time, I decline. He doesn’t seem put off by me, nor does he put the fake grenade away.
His muttering about what he’s doing is oddly comforting as my heart continues to beat out of my chest with each thought that comes to mind about what a passing minute really means. Because each time no cars come back, it’s another minute that something could go wrong.
“Eyes up,” Mason says as he keeps playing his game. But this time it’s louder than the rest of his muttering, pulling my attention away from the window.
“What was that?”
He looks up at me and nods toward the window a second before I hear a vehicle pulling up.
I smash my face against the window and see only one car. That could mean anything. I look at Mason, who doesn’t seem to care, and then back at the SUV. I see a car door open, and then I hear the one sound that could make my heart start and stop all at once.
“Mommy!”
It tears me open.
I trip over myself to get out of the chair and run to the door, racing down the steps and falling to my knees on the last one as Lily and Ivy jump into my arms. I don’t want to cry, but the tears don’t listen as I grab Ivy’s face and look her over before doing the same with Lily.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“He had them sedated.” Bobby’s calm voice coming up behind them is the only reason I don’t fall apart.
“We’ll have a doctor look them over fully when we get home, but for now, Danny has a man who will check their vitals.
” He looks behind him, and one of the men who stayed behind comes up next to him with a bag in his hand.
“I’m ready when you are, ma’am.”
I sniff and nod before standing. “Yeah. That’s fine. Um, where do you want them?”
“There’s a room in the back where we can all fit,” Bobby offers, and I’m grateful he’s suggesting a place where I can have both my girls with me.
I don’t plan to let either of them out of my sight for a very long time.
Since they were taken, I’ve been contemplating homeschooling and working from home so I can watch them constantly.
I know it’s not healthy, but until I feel better about any of this, that’s my plan.
I pick up Lily and grab Ivy’s hand as we make our way back into the plane.
Mason is still playing cards and doesn’t even look up when I pass and keep heading to the back.
I didn’t know this place was here. I’ve only sat in the one seat since I boarded.
Looking around wasn’t an option for me; containing myself in one spot was the only thing I could do.
Now I can breathe. I feel my body loosening with each step with my girls in my arms.
The back isn’t overly large, but it’s bigger than what I expected, with a full-size bed, a desk, a side table, and an attached bath, as well as enough room for all four of us to move around.
I sit Lily on the bed, and Ivy sits next to her. I step back and let the doctor look them over, but I’m close. And so is Bobby.
“Tell me.” It’s all I can say. It’s all I need to say. I speak so softly that I wonder if he can even hear me.
But when I feel his arm wrap around my back and pull me in close, kissing my temple, I let out a heavy breath.
I need his touch as much as I need theirs. Maybe more than I want to admit.
“Danny’s taking care of it. We found them in a wardrobe. Ivy said he gave them something on the plane and they didn’t wake until just before we showed up,” he whispers in my ear, then holds me when I feel my knees give out.
I nod as tears run down my cheeks. I can only pray that was the worst of it. I don’t want them to fear flying or to have nightmares from this. Having your father kidnap you is enough.
“What the fuck is this?”
I turn and look out the door. It’s not a straight shot to the front, but enough that I see Marco standing next to Mason. I don’t hear what he says, but I hear Marco’s reply.
“Get it the fuck off the plane. That’s live, man! We’ve got kids here.”
I look at Bobby, who squeezes me and then heads to them. They speak quietly before Mason and Marco both exit.
“What was that about?” I ask as I watch the doctor move on from Lily to Ivy, checking her reflexes and looking at her eyes.
“Did Mason tell you a joke?” Bobby says as he comes back.
I look back at him with a head tilt. “A joke?” It takes a second, and then I nod my head. “You mean about the fake grenade?” I’m speaking in hushed tones so I don’t freak out the girls. Fake or not, they don’t need to know about it.
“Nothing fake about it.”
My eyes go wide, but before I can say anything else, the doctor pulls our attention.
“They seem to be okay. No initial signs of any problems. I’m clearing them to travel back with us once the team comes back,” he says as he puts a few things back in his bag.
“Thank you,” Bobby says, and the guy nods at me before leaving, closing the door behind him.
I walk to the girls, sitting by Ivy, and Bobby picks up a giggling Lily and sits before putting her on his lap.
“Next time we fly, I want to go somewhere fun,” Ivy mumbles.
“Me too,” Lily says softly.
I kiss their heads and nod, but it’s Bobby who speaks. “I think I can arrange that.”
I don’t know what to say to them. And for once, neither of them says anything to me.
They don’t ask a single question, nor complain about being bored or hungry.
We just sit here in silence, holding each other.
At one point, Bobby reaches out and grabs my hands, and I feel as if the circle is complete.
All of us touch one another, safe and sound.
We stay wrapped up in the silent cocoon until there’s a knock on the door, and then Danny sticks his head in.
“We’ll be taking off in five minutes.” He looks over the girls for a second longer before meeting my eyes. He holds my stare before nodding.
And I give a watery smile back. I know what that nod means without asking. It means the girls are safe. That this won’t happen again. At least not with Trevor. That he’s taken care of and is no longer a problem for us.
I won’t ask questions. I don’t care to know. Will I be upset by it? I don’t know. I don’t want to know how I’ll feel. I’m just relieved that it’s not something I have to fear in the middle of the night. Not a nightmare I’ll have to plan and prepare for it to happen again.
It’s over.
He closes the door, and Lily lifts her head off Bobby’s shoulder.
“Mommy, I’m hungry.”
“Me too, Mommy,” Ivy says with a look up at me.
“Me three,” Bobby says with a wide, innocent look that’s just enough to make us girls giggle at his antics.
“Well, I guess we should go see what they have before we have to buckle in for the flight home.”
“You guys don’t want any cookies, do you?” Tommy pokes his head in with a plate of cookies in his hand before popping one into his mouth.
“I like cookies,” Lily says, climbing off Bobby’s lap.
“Well, come on, munchkin. Help me eat them before my brothers take them from us. You, too, Ivy.”
The smile on my eldest’s face tells me this will end well. That the memories Bobby’s brothers make with my girls, today and the days after, will overtake whatever memory Trevor left with them.
The girls chase after Tommy, and I go to follow, but a hand on my wrist has me looking back at Bobby. We’re finally alone since yesterday in his office. So much has happened since then. Too much.
“Thank you. I can never repay you for this. Or your family.”
He tugs once, and I take the few steps to close the gap between us. I can hear my daughters’ happy voices behind me as the engines start up. But it’s a dim noise when I look into Bobby’s eyes.
“Always. I will always protect them. And you. In case I didn’t make it clear, I don’t plan to let any of you go. Ever.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
I lick my lips and nod. “I wouldn’t let you let us get away anyway. You’re kind of stuck with us.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me even closer as a smile spreads across his face.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?” he whispers as his lips brush mine.
I nod slowly, barely moving my face, but he sees it as he keeps his eyes locked with mine. “I love you.”
His lips seal to mine in a passion-filled kiss but pull off before I can enjoy it.
“About damn time. I fell in love with you the second you told me to wait that first day.”
I bite my lower lip as I glance at his lush lips before looking back at his eyes. “Was it because no one has ever made you wait before, or because you like it when I tell you what to do?”
He smiles at my humor before it slips from his mouth. “Definitely the second.”
His mouth finds mine once more, and I wrap my arms tight around his neck and don’t let him pull away this time. From the tight grip he has on me, I don’t think he plans to let go either.
Which is fine with me. Right now, I need him in my arms, the laughter of my girls in my ear, and the vibration of the plane taking off to make me feel the best I’ve felt on a day that I thought would never make me happy to remember again.