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I heard others shouting behind me, but their words didn’t register.I’d waited my whole life for this kiss, and I refused to pull away before Z did.
He didn’t until we heard Wren’s voice shout, “Daddy!”
I stepped back, giving them space to embrace.Quint was right behind her, and as the two men hugged, Decker approached.He tore his helmet from his head and tossed it on the ground, then entered Z’s open arms.
While I’d heard both Wren and Quint tell their father how much they loved him, it wasn’t until I heard Decker say, “I love you, Dad,” that I broke down.
I bent at the waist as sobs of relief racked my body.When I felt a hand on my back, I stood up and looked into Z’s eyes.“I love you,” I whispered.“And I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
He smiled and caressed my face with his fingertips.“Nor I, you.”
Z looked over at Puck, and his brow furrowed.He turned toward Decker.“Release him.”
Decker’s eyes scrunched.“But?—”
“I said to release him.”
“Don’t, Z,” I heard Puck tell him.“Let them take me in.”
What I saw next nearly leveled me.Z walked over to where Puck stood, handcuffed, with his head down.The man who’d captured my heart the very moment our eyes first met put his arms around the person who I’d feared had taken him from my life, and embraced him.He continued to hold him as Puck wept on his shoulder.
“Uncuff him.Now!”I heard Z shout at Pinch several seconds later.Unlike Decker, he immediately followed Z’s orders.
After he had, Puck raised his head.I held my breath, not having any idea what would happen next.
“Sir, you need to let them?—”
He leveled his gaze at Puck, rendering him silent.“We’ll brief Pinch on our discussions upon our return to London.”
Wren approached him.“Dad?What are you doing?”
Ignoring her, he put his hand on Puck’s shoulder.“Am I making myself clear?”
Decker took a couple of steps toward them.“Z, we should have a medic check you out.”
“Absolutely not.We’re going home,” he responded, walking toward the open warehouse door.“Now!”he added when no one else moved.
Once outside, I offered to ride in one of the other SUVs to give Wren, Quint, and Decker time with their father, but Z wouldn’t hear of it.“Not letting you out of my sight, remember?”
He sat between Wren and me on the second-row bench seat and held each of our hands but didn’t speak.No one did until Decker pulled up in front of his townhouse and parked.
“Please understand I know what I’m doing.Do not question it or go against me.”He looked first at Decker, then at Quint, who was in the front passenger seat, then at Wren.“Do I have your agreement?”
It took a few seconds before any of them spoke.“You’ve got it, Dad,” said Quint.
“I’m not in favor of this, but okay, Dad,” said Wren.
The four of us waited for Decker’s response.I couldn’t speak for anyone else, but I was holding my breath.
“I need an explanation,” he said.
“And you’ll get it.For now, give me your word.”
Decker shook his head and peered into Z’s eyes.“You have my word, but like Wren, I’m not in favor of it.”
As we walked to the door, Z took my hand in his.“While we wait for the others, I’m going to shower and change.”
“I should probably head to my flat and do the same.Wait…”
