AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Leaving the car parked in the garage for my brothers, I strapped on my helmet and roared out. When the door closed behind me almost immediately, I knew my brothers were watching. Holding up my arm, middle finger out, I sped down the street.
Being on the bike was freeing. Like I was riding toward my future. One I couldn’t imagine without Ariel and Lenny in it.
25
ARIEL
A soft touchon my cheek woke me from a nap I didn’t intend to take. But breaking my wrist, getting shot, and then enduring a beating had taken a toll on my body. And all the medication I’d been on had made sure I’d been mostly asleep for the past twenty-four hours.
Althea had happily stepped into the role of grandma, watching Lenny while making sure she stuffed him full of enough sugar and carbs that he’d be bouncing off the walls for the next week.
But since he’d never had this, I didn’t say a word or stop her. He deserved to eat all the candy he could.
The first thing I saw after peeling my eyes open was Jude, his head on my pillow, facing me. I was still drowsy, returning his smile with a sleepy one of my own.
I would never get tired of looking at him.
“Hey, sugar. How are you feeling?”
His question reminded me why I was currently in his bed, feeling like I could sleep another twenty-four hours. “Okay.”
His brows drew together, and he brushed a wayward strand of hair out of my face. “Mom said you haven’t eaten since yesterday.” His hand trailed a soft path down the side of my face, stopping at my neck and moving into my hair. “Nim made pumpkin soup. I brought some up with me.”
“I’ll have some once I wake up.”
All the medication was making my brain foggy. Which was the only reason why I didn’t freak out at his next words.
“I moved all your stuff from the motel into my room. Is there anything you need from the apartment while you’re staying here?”
I blinked at him. My heart slowed, my thoughts sluggish, as if wading through mud. Sitting up so I was on my elbow, I studied him.
He got up with me with a frown. “Don’t sit up too fast or you’ll pull your stitches again.”
“You moved all my stuff?”
Deep lines now marred his forehead. “I figured you’d want all your things here. We’ll be staying until Gladius is taken care of. I don’t think it’ll take more than a few weeks, but having your things means you’ll be more comfortable.”
Confused, I took in his open expression. Not understanding what was going on, I sat up all the way with a groan. Jude was right there, helping me into a comfortable position against a mountain of pillows.
Taking in the beautiful slope of his full lips, I gathered my courage. “I can stay at the motel.”
It wasn’t what I wanted, since the motel was disgusting and cost me money I didn’t have. But it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t continue to stay here, taking advantage of Jude and his family after I nearly assassinated their dad.
Leaning in so our faces were close enough that I could make out the gold specks in his eyes, he framed my face with his hands. “You’re not staying at the motel. I don’t want to spend a night away from you. And there’s no way I’ll stay at the motel. So for now, you’re living here.”
Watching his face for any hints of a joke, I clutched the blanket. “What do you mean, I’m living here now?”
“I’m not letting you go anywhere without me. And this is the safest place for all of us for now. Besides, Lenny loves it here. And Mom loves finally having a grandchild to spoil. Vanna doesn’t seem in any rush to pop out her baby, even though she looks like she’s having triplets. So Lenny being here is the perfect distraction for her.”
Blinking at him, I cleared my dry throat. “Grandchild?”
“Mom told him to call her Yaya. And Dad isn’t far behind before he tells him to call him Pappouli.”
“I don’t understand.”
He looked at me with an intensity I’d never experienced from him before. “I love you. And I want you with me. Lenny is yours, so now he’s mine as well.”
“But how can you just forgive me for what I’ve done? How can they?”
