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River
As soon as we were outside, Maverick pulled me into his arms and held me so tight it was nearly impossible to breathe for a moment. I felt him tremble and knew he was quickly losing control. Leaning back as much as I could when he was squeezing the oxygen from my lungs, I cupped both sides of his face.
“I’m really okay,” I promised him. “I was scared when I found Nova in the library, but that passed as soon as Ben showed up.”
His throat bobbed a few times as he tried to swallow, then he nodded and lowered his head to bury his face in my neck. “If anything happened to you…” he choked out.
I combed my fingers through his hair. “Shh, shh,” I soothed. “Nothing happened. I’m right here.”
We stood there for several long minutes, just holding each other. In his arms, I felt safe, loved, wanted. It was the only place I ever wanted to be.
“River,” I heard someone call my name from behind me, and I reluctantly shifted my head until I spotted Mila walking my way with Monroe at her side. Behind Monroe, two of her husband’s men followed, their eyes vigilant, their hands under jackets as if ready to pull a gun at any sign of danger.
The twins threw themselves against their brother and me, smothering me in the Masterson triplets hug that I would never get tired of. Maverick freed one of his arms to pull his sisters closer and kissed the tops of their heads before brushing his lips over mine.
“Where are you going?” Mila demanded after a minute of our group hug.
“Work,” I said with a tiny shrug.
Her eyes filled with concern. “Let me give you a ride, then. You shouldn’t be riding on a motorcycle after… Yeah.”
I glanced up at Maverick, silently asking his permission.
“Yeah, baby. Go with Mil. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Actually, could you take me over to the school so I can pick up Kingston’s car?” I asked. I doubted I could get into the school to get my backpack, but Ben had promised he would have someone drop it off for me. Still, I needed to get my cousin’s car. I didn’t like having to rely on other people to drive me around, and not having a way to or from places made me feel a little anxious for some reason. It always had.
“No problem.” She linked her arm through mine, and the twins urged me toward Mila’s huge SUV. “Mon, are you coming with us?”
As answer, she opened the back door and climbed inside. One of Gian’s men got in with her, while the other guard walked over to the car they must have driven Monroe to the hospital in. Maverick opened the front passenger door and then picked me up, placing me in the seat before leaning in to kiss me.
“Didn’t want you to have to climb in, baby,” he murmured softly as he pulled back. “I’m going to be right behind you. Mila.” He glanced across to where his sister was now seated in the driver’s seat and pulling on her seat belt. “Drive carefully.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” she grumbled, sticking out her tongue at him.
I was glad when his lips twitched up in a half smile, and I pulled him back down for another kiss. “I love you. Please don’t worry about me.”
He stroked his thumb over my jaw. “I always worry about you,” he muttered. “When I don’t have eyes on you, all I can do is wonder if you’re okay.”
“Aww,” Monroe gushed from the back seat.
“Look, Mon,” Mila said with a sappy look in her gray eyes. “We trained him so well for our River.”
“Fuck off,” he growled at her. “And make sure you go the speed limit.”
Once we were out on the road, with Maverick right behind us on his motorcycle, Monroe scooted to the middle of the back seat and leaned forward so she was practically in the front with us. “Tell the truth,” she commanded. “How are you really feeling? Mila told me what happened Monday. Are you in any pain?”
“I’m fine,” I told her honestly. “No actual pain. A little discomfort at times, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Are you…bleeding?” she asked hesitantly.
I shrugged. “A little, but the doctor said I could deal with that for up to two weeks.”
“Does this mean you can’t…you know, have more babies?”
Biting my lip, I glanced out the side window. The thought of never getting to have Maverick’s baby hurt.
Monroe touched my arm. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
