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I cough, gasping for breath.
“Momma!” Seth cries.
Confused, I look up and see legs clothed in black. I blink, trying to focus.
“Momma! Momma! Momma!” Seth shouts.
The haze lifts, and I see Seth cradled in Cole’s arms, excitedly pointing down at me.
The sight is breathtaking, because it’s all I want in this world, although Cole clothed in black stealth gear isn’t exactly how I’d picture this endearing moment.
Cole squats, placing Seth next to me. Then he pulls off a glove and shows me the slice mark he made on his hand.
“I promised that if anyone ever tried to harm you or your son, it was game over for them. Those weren’t just words.”
Hot tears stream down my face as I pull myself up and circle one arm around Seth, the other around Cole. I try to speak, but all that comes out is strangled sobs.
“It’s okay,” Cole assures me. “Everything is going to be fine. Now, let’s get you home.”
18
GONE
COLE
“The hallway is clear, for the most part,” Dane says, his chest rising and falling in heavy pants. “We found four women, but one handcuffed herself to a pipe and I’m not sure she’s worth the effort.”
I pull away from Amber to focus on the mission.
“Georgia?”
Blake drags Irma into the room and throws her next to Gunter.
Her eyes are pure devastation when she sees him. “No, no, no! This can’t be happening.”
“Where’s Georgia?” I say, leveling my gun at her. “I don’t want to shoot you, but you know I will.”
For a moment, she says nothing, and I think she wants me to pull the trigger. Then she looks away and says, “In the lower shaft. They had to put her in isolation.”
“Jesus Christ,” I snap. “What the hell is wrong with you? Russ took care—”
“He’s weak. Russ’s ways are weak.”
Dane interrupts with, “I’ll get the prego, boss. The cage seems operable, and now that the threat up here is abated, it should be easy enough.”
I nod to Irma. “Take her with you. Shoot her if she gives you any hassle.”
He smirks, “Sure thing,” and hauls her out of the room.
I bring my attention to Amber, who is whispering affectionate words to her son. She’s a mess of dirt and tears, but her beauty shines through, and I can’t help but feel I’m in the presence of greatness.
“He’s perfect, isn’t he?”
I force a smile as I take in the sight of Carolyn holding her firstborn son. Her firstborn son, because he’s clearly not mine.
But I don’t have the heart to mention it. I’m the one that took care of her during her pregnancy, marrying her and getting her the care she needed. Perhaps this is the family I was meant to have.
“He’s beautiful.”
