Chapter 18 #2
I do the introductions for those they don’t know. Mickey’s eyes are flat and judging. He’s like Suzy. They are going to have to prove their worth. If I can have them rescue Dad and Carla, then I bet he would forgive them quickly. Maeve is friendly and welcoming.
The five of us mount the steps, but I look around the veranda. “It’s pretty crowded out here. Maybe we should go inside,” I suggest, but Sam stands, pulling Lacey to her feet, and Dean follows.
“We’re going to head out. We have a few things to take care of.”
“Nico and Francis are going to the safe houses and organizing the strike teams. They are going to do some reconnaissance and work out how many people need to be taken down at the various locations.”
“If you let us in on the plan, I can help with that,” Xavier offers.
Sam gives him a nod of appreciation. “Leave the information with Mickey, and he will get it to us. Thanks.”
They don’t hang around, and with a wave from Lacey, they disappear around the other side of the cabin where the cars are parked.
“Come on, let’s go say hi to Dan.” Ben puts his arms around his pretty wife and drags her down the steps, even though it looks like she would rather stay where she is.
“Fine. Tori, our other guests are waiting for you to invite them outside,” she tells me, and I roll my eyes. Of course she couldn’t just keep quiet.
Just as the four of them seem to be relaxing, they become tense and more alert at Suzy’s words. Xavier, Colton, and Tristan reach for weapons and shuffle Vienna so they can circle her for protection.
Mickey scoffs with amusement. “Nice reflexes, and I approve of you protecting your woman, but if we wanted you dead, I would have taken you out when you came over the hill. Put your guns away, I think you’ll like our other guests.
You can come out now, poppet,” he calls, and the screen door flings open, and Addi jumps out.
“Surprise!” she shouts before throwing herself at the four of them. Vienna slaps a hand over her mouth, but a sob escapes as she bends down and picks her daughter up, hugging her close and pressing kisses all over her face.
“Oh my god! You’re here,” Vienna says tearfully. “How?”
Tristan throws his arms around them, and I see tears shining in his eyes. “Oh God. I’m so sorry, Tori, can you forgive us?” he begs.
“Papa, you’re squishing me,” Addi says, her voice muffled.
“Just go with it for a moment, sweetie,” he tells her, and she giggles.
I wave a hand. “It’s okay. I would have been just as upset if I didn’t have all the information.”
“This is what you were doing last night?” Xavier asks as he reaches for Addi.
She pushes Tristan out of the way and leaps at Xavier. “Daddy!” she cries, and I feel a lump develop in my throat as she throws her little arms around his neck, and they rub their noses together. There’s a smile on his face that’s so brilliant, it makes my heart skip a beat.
“My turn.” Colton has been patient, but he’s done now.
Xavier gives Addi a kiss on the cheek before handing her over.
Colton takes her, and I’m astounded to see tears streaming down his face.
He’s held his shit together so well, I had no clue he was so upset.
I think he also knew I had something to do with this, but to know for sure must be a huge relief.
“Don’t cry, Da.” Addi puts her little hands on his cheeks and pushes them together, puckering his lips before she smacks a loud kiss on them.
“I made new friends. Mickey made me a hot chocolate for breakfast, and it had itty bitty marshmallows in it,” she tells him, showing him with her fingers how small the marshmallows were.
“And Maeve brushed my hair so it was pretty when you arrived.”
She points to the headband holding her curls back from her face.
“And Sagey is taking me shopping for things later. He said we can play the game with the animals crossing the road or something.” She sounds delightfully confused but enthusiastic.
The four of them freeze, and I wince. I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. The screen door opens again, and Sage steps out looking sheepish. Colton just about drops Addi but manages to lower her gently to her feet as he stares at our boyfriend like he saw a ghost.
“Hmm, I knew you smelled familiar when you got home last night,” Xavier says, looking unsurprised to see Sage, unlike the other three.
“Sage?” Tristan asks breathlessly. I guess these shocks are all a bit much. I wonder if he will survive any more.
Vienna pushes everyone out of her way and throws herself at Sage, cupping his face and kissing him with so much passion, I can’t help but wish we didn’t have company.
“Tori, why is Mommy kissing Sagey?” Addi asks with wide-eyed wonder.
“She’s just really happy to see him,” I tell her, not sure what else to say.
Then it gets worse. Colton joins them and also kisses Sage like he never thought he would again.
“And Da? Did he really miss him too?” she asks, giggling. “Are Daddy and Papa going to kiss him too?”
I shrug helplessly, because I really don’t know the answer to that.
“You bet, but maybe we will wait until later.” Tristan winks at his daughter, and she claps her hands with delight before cocking her head to the side.
“But you were kissing him last night too, Tori. I saw over Uncle Mickey’s shoulder.” She narrows her eyes, and I wince.
Mickey chuckles and pulls her onto his lap. “Sometimes people have enough love for lots of people, like your mommy and daddies. Sage is the same. He loves lots of people too.”
Her brow wrinkles in a frown. “Does he love me too?” she asks quietly, and he pulls away from Vienna and Colton, looking ruffled with pink cheeks.
“Of course I do. You’re my best girl. We’re besties now, we pinky swore.” He holds up his hand and waggles his little finger.
She claps with delight and holds her hand up and tries to do the same thing, but she just ends up waving her hand around.
Suddenly, Vienna pulls back and slaps Sage hard. His head swings to the side, and the hand he was waving comes up to cup his injured cheek. He looks at her like she stabbed him.
“What was that for?” he asks, sounding hurt.
“We thought you were dead.” She turns her glare on me and snarls, “How could you keep this a secret from us?”
“Well, if you remember correctly at the time, I thought you had all betrayed me. I knew Mario would use Sage against me, so we needed to take him out of the equation. I just didn’t factor in other things.
” I lift my eyebrows and look at Mickey in hopes she understands that I need to keep the information about my dad and Carla quiet.
She frowns but flattens her lips.
“Well played, angel of death, well played.” Tristan sounds sarcastic, but there isn’t much I can do about any of it now.
It played out how I wanted it to. Tristan pushes the other two to the side and pulls Sage in for a hug, whispering something in his ear that I can’t hear, but Xavier rubs his chin like he’s thinking, his eyes shooting to mine.
“Is anyone else going to be coming back from the dead today, Tori?” I hear suspicion in his voice, and I groan.
“Where are they?” I ask Mickey, and he grins, enjoying the drama.
“Upstairs. We told them to stay out of sight. We weren’t sure if you wanted Addi to know they were here or not. We need them to stay dead if they want a clean escape.”
“Once Mario is dealt with, they aren’t going to need to disappear, and they can decide for themselves what they want to do, but I won’t hide anything from anyone anymore,” I reply firmly, and Mickey gives me an approving nod.
“No!” Vienna gasps and grabs the screen door, storming inside, and the other three follow them. I’ve come to learn hell hath no fury like an angry Vienna. I almost want to feel sorry for them, but I can’t. I snicker, thinking about what my brother and his girlfriend are about to encounter.