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A single guy would stick out like a sore thumb, so I’m dressed as one of the security guards. Lydia came through with the uniform. I move around the zoo, acting like I’m supposed to be here. Time flies by as I stay in the general area watching families as they interact with each other. I spot Sydney as she moves into the African exhibit. She’s just come through the entrance when she’s grabbed. A man pulls her in close and I watch as she looks down in horror. I can make out the gun under the jacket he’s holding in his other arm. She doesn’t know where I am. He starts to pull her away and I move out of my hiding spot. She looks over at me but then drops her eyes.
CHAPTER14
SYDNEY
Ilook up as the gun digs deeper into my side. Tucker is moving toward us but there is a group of school kids between us. I can’t risk his or their lives.
“Move,” Miles grits out. He pulls me around. “Act like we are supposed to be together. I know you and your little friend Lydia think you can pull the wool over my eyes. Colton said his bitch went into hiding last night, so I know she’s involved. That means you saw the footage.”
“I have the card right here.” I lift the SD card up to show him. “But if something happens to me, the pictures will be posted online as well as go to all the major news networks.”
“How? If you’re dead, you can’t send it. Colton is containing Lydia now.”
I look around, trying to find someone to tell them that Lydia is in danger, but I don’t know where everyone is hiding.
“I sent them to some friends who will send them if I don’t check in with them in an hour,” I lie.
He laughs but it stops short as he’s grabbed from behind. I turn to see Tucker squeezing his throat, his thick fingers digging into his skin.
“Stop, Tucker, don’t kill him. Colton has Lydia.”
“I’m on it.” I look over to see Maverick rushing off.
“Let him go, son,” Nico says to Tucker as Miles starts to turn purple. The gun has been removed from his hand, and I’m pulled away. Tucker releases him and I watch as he’s arrested.
“I’ll kill her,” Miles croaks.
“Come after her again and no one will stop me next time,” Tucker says as he folds me in his arms.
* * *
We are lying in bed at my mom’s house hours later. Tucker is holding me with Mari between us. Colton got away, but Lydia is safe. An arrest warrant hangs over his head, so he won’t come after Lydia again, or so they say. Miles is being held without bail. The two Brigade members who firebombed my house are also being held without bail.
“Will you marry me?” Tucker asks softly, and I lean up to look at him.
“Are you serious?” I smile at him.
“Yeah, spitfire, I’m serious.” He reaches into the pocket of his jeans, trying not to disturb Mari as she clings to him. He pulls out a ring and holds it out toward me. “Been holding on to this for a few months now. I have a house being built for us on my property. I want to adopt Mari, and I want you pregnant with another child of mine. I want everything with you.” Tears spring to my eyes.
“Yes,” I say, and he reaches for my hand to slip the ring on my finger. I look at the rose gold teardrop diamond ring, a big grin coming to my face. “I love it, and I love you so much.” I lean over our daughter to kiss him softly.
“I can’t do what I want right now because she’s fussy, so lie down and be a good girl.” He orders me and I chuckle as I lie back down.
* * *
Tucker
My cell starts going off before the sun has even risen. I roll away from my girls and grab it off the nightstand before it wakes them. I step out of the room and make my way downstairs to the kitchen. Sharon’s five-bedroom house is huge with a master suite on the main floor. My dad is standing in the kitchen with a cup of coffee when I enter. I dial Carter back.
“Yeah?”
“Kant and the two Brigade members were murdered during the night,” he says, and I pause, not sure how to take this.
“The orders came out of Zimbabwe. There is a price on Colton’s head too. With orders that Lydia and Sydney are not to be touched.”
“How the hell did you find that all out?”
“I told you my team was good. I’m heading out, I got a line on my sister.”
