Daniella watches me and despite not knowing exactly what my birthday means, she can tell that whatever it is, it’s heavy. “You know what?” she says, reaching out to me. “You’re in a new home now with people who love and adore you. From now on, your eighteenth is something to celebrate, never to be feared.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. “Maybe I can somehow find a way to make that happen.”
“Good, because I intend to give Shaylee a call so we can throw you a party.”
“Mom,” Slade groans. “What if she doesn’t want a party?”
“Are you insane?” Daniella scoffs at her son. “Every girl wants a big party.”
Rain pipes up from her room. “I want to go to a party.”
I smile, grateful that she’s even bothered to go to the effort for me like that. “Thanks, but can we maybe just see how things go with Blake? I don’t want to be having a party if he’s suffering. That hardly seems fair.”
“Of course, honey. But who knows, maybe a party would be exactly what he needs.”
Daniella gives me a beaming smile before something starts beeping in the kitchen and she gasps. “Oh, no. I forgot about my pie.”
She gets up and runs while Slade grabs my hand and starts to lead me down the hallway. We get to his room and crash down onto his bed. He pulls me in and holds me tight while pressing a kiss to my forehead. “What do you want to do?”
I shrug. “I just want to chill.”
“Movie? Netflix?”
I shake my head. “You can watch something if you want. I think I’m about three seconds away from falling asleep. I’m exhausted. My head literally hasn’t stopped since last night and to think that Lucien was here again…so close.”
A shudder runs down my spine at the knowledge of that monster being in my new town again. He’s able to get to everyone so easily. Who’s next? Is he coming for me again now that he knows I’m alive? Is it Daniella to punish her for speaking up? Slade for not following through? Where does this bullshit end?
“Okay, Virago,” Slade says, pulling me down to his chest. “You don’t need to think about it anymore. The worst is over. Lucien has hopefully gone back home and now all we need to focus on is getting Blake better.”
I nod against him and let out a deep breath. “I think you’re underestimating just how hard Blake is going to make that for us. He’s not a good patient.”
Slade scoffs. “I wonder where he got that from.”
“Hey, I was a great patient.”
“You screamed at your doctor, scared the nurses, and broke out every chance you got.”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t scare the nurses, they just couldn’t handle me and honestly, if they can’t handle a seventeen-year-old girl who physically couldn’t move, then maybe nursing isn’t the right career for them.”
“Geez, I’d hate to be the poor midwives who are looking after you in labor.”
My brow shoots into my hairline as I push up and look down at Slade. “Labor? Where’s your head at?”
“Chill out,” he laughs. “I’m not thinking about babies. Not even close, but just know, one day, I’ll be filling your guts with mine.”
“Jesus Christ,” I grumble, dropping back down onto his chest. This guy. Seriously? Can’t we just get through one disaster before we start thinking about the next? Though, I’m not going to lie, growing old with Slade Cruz, becoming his wife and having his babies does have a certain thrill to it. You know, in the future…way, way in the future.
We hear a phone ringing in the kitchen and then Daniella’s frustrated grumble before the muffled murmurs of her conversation. Slade reaches for his remote and within seconds, her chatter is drowned out by the latest NBA game.
With Slade’s hand on my back, rubbing up and down, my eyes start growing heavy and I welcome sleep, hoping that being in Slade’s arms is what it takes to keep the nightmares away.
The bedroom door flies open and my eyes spring wide.
Damn it. I was so freaking close.
Daniella stands before us, mouth hanging wide with her phone still in her hand. “They got him,” she says, looking as though she can’t believe what’s coming out of her own mouth. “They’re finally going to arrest Lucien.”
I shoot up on Slade’s bed, staring across the room at his mother. “What?” I demand, wide-eyed. “Are you sure?”
She nods. “I guess what happened to Blake last night was enough to force their hands. They’re not waiting anymore. He’s being charged with your kidnapping, the attempted murder, Blake’s assault, and whatever else they have on him.”
“Even the accident?” I clarify.
“Yeah,” she says with a slight laugh. “They pulled Slade’s truck out of the water a few days ago and were able to match the paint scratches on the back of the Dodge to the SUV Lucien had hired. I guess that’s why it’s taken so long, but they’ve got him. He’s backed into a corner with no way out.”