The crack comes first, followed by the sharp boom, and Vanessa jumps.
She keeps her hand up, but she was close enough that she has to be covered in blood splatter.
“Thank you.” She rolls her shoulders back, but she still keeps her hand in place, blocking her from seeing the ugliness that is Julian’s caved-in skull. “I want to go home now.”
“Christ,” Magnum says from the doorway.
“Let me find someone to clean this up.” Moretti shoves his gun away and leans down, pecking a kiss on her lips. “I love you, darling.”
“I know.” Vanessa nods. “I love you too, but I’m not sticking around with Julian’s body. Hawk and Magnum are going to take me to your office.”
I finally get my shit together.
Striding over, I make sure to turn her away from her father as I guide her into the spacious room that leads to the secret passage.
I pull her to my chest.
Vanessa wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my T-shirt.
Magnum watches with wide eyes. His concern spills through the link, and I’m a little concerned too. She’s pretty numb in the bond.
The little omega tilts her face up and squeezes me tight. “You know how much I love you. Right, Hawk?”
“Yeah, sweet girl. I love you too. How can I make you feel better?”
“I’m totally fine,” she says, and her nose scrunches. “I’m pretty sure I have blood on my dress, and that kinda sucks, but I’m happy he’s dead.”
“If that changes, you let me know.”
“I will.” She nods. “Will you carry me up the stairs?” She doesn’t wait for me to agree, jumping and trusting I’ll catch her.
I laugh, wrapping her around my front.
I wasn’t even the least bit prepared for how much life was going to change when Moretti brought her home, but I thank God every damn day that he did.
Vanessa’s brothers don’t retaliate for the disappearance of their father. He’s dead, which they don’t technically know, but I’m sure they get the idea.
Any time she’s forced to see them for syndicate events, they attempt to talk to her. She’s not interested, and I don’t blame her.
Several months pass, and Vanessa finally has her first real heat. She’s miserable when the post-heat cramps hit, but it gives me the perfect opportunity to take care of her.
Though I’d never want her to suffer needlessly, they’re part of life as an omega, so I take the opportunity to pamper her.
I’m intending to bring her breakfast in bed, but she comes into the kitchen as I’m making her plate.
She leans against the wall, smiling when she spots me.
Vanessa is so damn pretty all the time, and I often wonder how I tricked her into loving me.
“Sometimes, I really miss having Angel and Kassie here.” She shoves off the wall and comes over to stand by me at the island. “I’m still not sure I’m ready to take on having a bunch of kids running around, but I miss the baby snuggles and cheesy smiles.”
Ziggy and Anson finally found a house in the neighborhood last month. There’s no way they could have afforded it without a bonus from Moretti, but it was time for them to branch out on their own. Kassie was starting to scoot around on her stomach, and crawling wasn’t far off. This place isn’t babyproofed at all, but it will be by the time we have our own children.
“I miss those chubby little hands opening and closing when she wanted to be picked up,” I admit, dropping the spatula and pulling Vanessa into my chest. “There’s no rush, but I am getting old. We should have a couple of kids before my knees and back give out. I want to be able to chase them around the yard without throwing a hip out.”
She snorts, running her fingers through my beard. “You’re ridiculous. Thirty-five isn’t old.”
Ehh, my aching bones say otherwise, but I’m not going to push her into being ready for kids.
