Chapter Forty-Five - Rachel #2
My eyes flutter open, seeing no signs that Ryder was ever lying beside me.
Did he not come to bed?
Now that I’m awake, my throat burns with the need for water, and I take my time inching from the bed to maneuver myself into the wheelchair.
Ryder will be mad that I didn’t call for help, but if my hunch is correct, I don’t want to interrupt him.
As quietly as I can manage, I roll the chair to the kitchen and take a bottle of water from the fridge, downing almost the entire thing in one gulp.
My eyes trail to the living room and the makeshift tent that takes up half of it—or rather, the two kids soundly sleeping inside it.
I soaked in the time I spent putting them to sleep tonight, watching them make a fort, giggling, picking out a movie, sharing a bowl of popcorn, and finally giving in to their need to sleep.
I don’t know how exactly things will change once Dominic knows about his mother, but I figure I can give him one more night of normalcy before that happens.
Dominic and Lyla enjoyed their sleepover, barely caring to ask why three men were sleeping in the pool house and why Uncle Moreno and Aunt Elli took over Lyla’s room for the night.
Tomorrow, the capos of the Consoli and Moreno families will meet at the Sacramento base to review all the evidence of embezzlement and tie up any loose ends. I wasn’t invited to that meeting, but that’s fine by me.
Once everyone returns to their designated bases, Ryder and I will sit Dominic down and tell him that his mother has passed away.
It’s a conversation that I’m dreading but can’t avoid.
It’s almost three in the morning, and though I opted for an early night due to my exhaustion, the others stayed up late. Elli seemed to enjoy spending time with her brothers—despite the deadly glares her fiancé was shooting them the whole time.
Just when I wonder who all is still awake, hearty laughter comes from the back porch. I hadn’t heard the voices before, but their laughter is so loud it’s a miracle the kids sleep through it. With slow movements, I maneuver the chair to where I can see through the window to the back deck.
The only two sitting out there are Moreno and Ryder, both reclining in porch chairs, cradling a whiskey glass with the half-empty bottle on the table between them.
“Sounds like he did exactly what you told him to do,” Ryder says around another sip.
“He should’ve known that I was bluffing, and I wanted him to do the opposite,” Moreno huffs.
“How would he have known that?”
“You would’ve.”
“Only because I have the misfortune of knowing how your screw-up head works.”
They share another laugh, and Moreno sets his glass down.
“It’s not as easy as I thought it’d be. Donovan is good, but he isn’t you.”
Ryder smirks. “According to Elli, you don’t help your own situation. I’d start by avoiding reverse psychology when asking him to complete simple tasks.”
“Or you could come back.”
My stomach drops, and goosebumps rise across my arms as I wrap them around myself.
I just got him back.
Ryder’s laughter fades as he studies his friend. After a long moment, he seems to realize Moreno is being serious. “I thought you needed time.”
“I thought so, too. Turns out I just needed you to get abducted,” Moreno says with a half-hearted shrug.
I study Ryder’s unreadable face like my life depends on it, waiting for the confirmation that he’s bound to give. After all, this is what he’s been hoping for since he moved here.
I just thought we had more time.
“As for Rachel and the kids, bring them,” Moreno adds.
Ryder’s lips part in a smile, and it’s so beautifully effortless, lighting his handsome face. “Thank you, Joshua, but I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
My mouth falls open.
“What do you mean?” Moreno asks, echoing my thoughts.
“I mean, Lyla is still recovering from the factory night, and Dominic’s world is about to fall apart. I don’t think I can be the parent they need and the underboss you need.”
Moreno eyes him speculatively. “And?”
“And the man that Rachel needs,” he says with a ghost of a smile. “I won’t ask her to leave everything behind. Maybe once things settle down, we can revisit the idea.”
He nods. “I miss having you around. This has been nice.”
“Yeah,” Ryder says, looking more at peace than I’ve seen in a long time. “It has been.”
Moreno pushes to his feet. “I should get inside. Elise doesn’t sleep well without me.”
Ryder follows, and I roll the chair toward where the kids sleep in the living room. This far away, he shouldn’t suspect I heard anything.
“Rachel, what the hell are you doing awake and out of bed?” Ryder whisper-hisses, shoving his glass into Moreno’s hand and rushing to my side. “You shouldn’t be getting up without help. Do you want me to take you back to the hospital?”
I wave him off. “I just got restless, is all. I’m fine.”
Moreno sets the glasses and bottle gently on the counter, giving Ryder a good luck with this look before heading up the steps.
Ryder gives me a chastising look. “If you wanted to get up, you should’ve called me. If you were to fall—”
“I’m fine, Ryder. Really. I was just…” I drift off, mood turning somber when my eyes land on the peacefully sleeping boy.
He sighs, nodding at my unspoken dread. “It won’t be easy, but he’s a good kid, and we’ll support him every step of the way.” Ryder takes both my hands in his, lowering himself to place kisses on each one. “Telling him is going to be rough, but we’ll do it together.”
Together.
He lowers to his knees in front of me, taking my face between his warm hands and leaning in to place the slowest, sweetest kiss on my lips, and the message is loud and clear.
We have all the time in the world.