44. Noah #4
Julian looks down and shakes his head, elbows resting on his spread knees.
“And that is exactly what would have happened. If Marcos and Ricky had not picked up on Fisher’s strange behavior, one would have been waiting at the top of the steps to get through the fire.
And the other would have been on the closest floor, waiting by the main elevator in case the power came back, to get to her as soon as possible. ”
He lifts his head with a dejected look I’ve never seen on him.
I think it’s the most human expression he’s ever shown us.
“He would have slipped out that front door with Veronica, and we would have just missed him. Even if the cameras had seen him, by the time my men would have run back down, he would have already been gone.” His eyes fall to Veronica.
“And now knowing just how well orchestrated his plan was, we likely would have never seen you again.”
She nods, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Not until he would have wanted you to find me.”
Fuck, I hate seeing her like this. “Come here, Kitten.” I put Blubber down on the ground and open my arms for her.
She shakes her head. “No, I don’t want to hurt you…”
“Please, just fucking come here. I need to hold you right now. So, it’s either you come here on your own, or I’ll pick you up and carry you myself.”
She gets off Gabe quickly and tentatively climbs onto my lap, making sure not to press against my stomach. I palm her cheeks, forcing her to look at me. “I’m right here, Kitten, and so are you. We’re all safe now. It’s over.” I press my lips to hers. “It’s all over.”
“But there’s still one thing I don’t understand. How was he getting in and out of the building unnoticed?” Gabe asks Julian.
“Fisher uses one of the residence parking spots in the underground garage, although he should not be. Victor would wait at the end of his shift to leave the building in the back seat of his car and would not return until his next. He would show up at Fisher’s house before he would leave for work to get back into the building unnoticed,” Julian clarifies the last puzzle piece to this whole shit show.
“Well, it’s over now, and that’s all that matters.” Greyson stands. “I need a beer after all that.”
“Indeed, it is. You may all go back to living your lives as you wish.” Julian lifts from the couch, straightening his suit jacket. “We will leave you to your celebrations. Thank you for having me, and for trusting me despite the outcome.”
“It may not have gone as planned, but it could have been worse if we didn’t have your help,” I tell him, shaking his hand when he comes over and offers it to each of us.
Shane stands as well, saying goodbye with one last lingering look at Aubrey, then leaves as well.
“What do we do now?” Veronica asks now that the room is silent.
“We celebrate like he said. We celebrate life, and friendship, and family.” I kiss her cheek. “We celebrate love and all the beautiful things it brings into our lives.”
Morgan and Clay head over to the kitchen, where Greyson is pulling out a few beers as well as non-alcoholic ones. They come back carrying the lot, handing one out to everyone. Except for Morgan and Emma, who get the non-alcoholic versions, and me, who gets a damn water bottle.
“Sorry, man. Your woman said no beer or anything bubbly.” Greyson chuckles as he hands it over.
Everyone rises from their seats, standing in a circle in the center of the room. Veronica gently slips off my legs and takes my arm as I try to stand from the armchair. Fuck, I’m going to need my pain meds again.
“I’ll get you them right after,” Veronica whispers with a tender smile, reading my mind.
I nod and stand beside Aubrey, Veronica at my opposite side with Gabe at hers. Silas and Cecilia hold each other beside Gabe, followed by Clay and Morgan doing the same, as well as Greyson and Emma between them and Aubrey.
I bring my arm around Veronica’s waist, just as Gabe places his around her shoulder. Both of us holding on to our girl. We all lift our bottles toward the middle, pressing them together and looking at each and every one of us.
It’s a beautiful thing to see, this life we’ve all built together. This group that started off as strangers, then friends, and now family. People we would do anything for. People we would die for. Kill for. None of us are perfect, but we complete each other. We’re a team.
“To family.” I lift my water bottle a little higher.
They all join in, hitting their beer bottles to my plastic one. “To family.”
I take a sip of my drink then look at the beautiful goddess in my hold, just as Gabe does the same. And without needing to communicate, we’re in sync, just like we’ve always been. We both lean in simultaneously and kiss her cheek on either side.
“To loving you,” I whisper into her ear.
“To making babies,” Gabe whispers in her other. She giggles and pushes us away as we laugh.
Gabe looks at me over her head, since this is one of the rare times she’s not wearing heels and matching our height. “She didn’t say no,” he whisper-shouts.
I smirk at him, then grin down at Veronica rolling her eyes at me. “She didn’t say no.”