Page 16 of Seen By Larabe

“I did.” She says nothing before breaking out in laughter and hitting me on the back.

“Well shit, LB. I knew you were the man I thought you were.” Quan and I both have the look of surprise on our faces. Me because I have not seen her laugh before. I am sure she does with her husband and children, but not with us. Quan Looks at her like she has lost her mind.

“Am I missing something?” he asks, clearly pissed.

“No. It's just any man worth his salt who disobeys orders even though that could get him killed, wouldn’t dishonor the woman he loves by not bringing her to her family without making her an honest woman.” On the inside I sag with relief that she understands. “You know what you did was fucked up, right?”

“I do boss. But I could not take the chance that she would be taken from me.”

“I get it. Well, it’s done. They are married. In the eyes of this family, that makes the rest squashed. Are we clear?” She looks to Quan who nods his head still peeved and shooting warnings at me. “It also makes you both family. Now, where is the bride in question?”

My fucking hand shakes when I put it on the knob to walk out of the room Once the door is closed and I am alone, I take a moment, put my hands against the wall and my head down before taking a deep breath. I don’t want to go to her all jacked up and shit. I don’t want her to be alarmed.

“Scary not knowing if the life you just got to hold will be taken from you, huh?’ I turn to look at Rocca.

“Yeah. Tell me about it.”

“You have something to live for now, LB. It fucks with you.” I nod my head because that is just it. I have faced many men with all sorts of weapons pointed at me, but nothing has ever made me rethink my life, but I would be a liar if I didn’t admit that knowing I just got her, had my heart beating like a workout junkie. “Want some advice?”

“Please.” I need all the advice I can get.

“Remind yourself that if your head is not in it, you won’t come home to your family. To the love of your life. Make smarter, less reckless choices. The end game is to get home, LB.” Truer words have never been spoken.

“Thanks man.” He pats me on the back before walking away. Damn. Now, I am going to get my woman.

Fourteen

Satine

Iam a nervous wreck. Larabee has been away from me for ten minutes and already I can feel the panic building. “Sweetie, you really should calm down. I promise he is going to be okay,” Aurora says, passing me some tea. I try to smile at her and nod my head, but I know I fail. The only thing keeping me from breaking down, is the fact that Star is in my arms, playing with my hair, babbling on and on like a cute little chatterbox.

Looking at Aurora, knowing what I know about her and the organization, I am so impressed by how calm she is. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” she says, leaning against the counter, rubbing her belly.

“How do you do it?” Star is starting to get fussy, so I bounce her on my hip.

“Do what? Take care of a busy toddler while pregnant? Kill people while pregnant? Or all of the above?” She is giggling which makes me giggle too.

“Well, both. How do you not lose your mind?” She looks at me and cocks her head like she is really thinking before she answers me.

“Well, I don’t try to do it alone. I fully admit I would be crazy to try to do it by myself, so I rely on those I love. When I can't be where my husband is and vice versa. On the flip side, when I am so emotional and don’t want to leave her, I delegate and trust my people to do the right thing. It really does take a village.” Wow. She is like a superhero.

“Do you want one of these?” She asks, taking a now nodding off Star out of my hands. By the amount of emptiness that my arms feel now, I nod my head.

“I do. I just, I just don’t want to do it alone, you know?” She looks at me confused and before I can clarify, I hear the one voice who can take away all doubt.

“Do what alone, Piccola?” Spinning around like a spin top, I jump off the stool and launch myself into his arms, bursting into tears.

“Oh man. I was so scared.” I tell him, falling apart in his arms. Shushing me, he lifts me so my legs can wrap around his waist. I bury my face in his neck and take a deep breath hoping his scent calms me.

“Baby, please stop crying. I can’t take it. You are making me want to pull my hair out because I can’t fix it. Please angel, have mercy on me,” he begs, kissing me all over my face. Lifting my head, I chase his mouth, needing him with an urgency we can do nothing about right now, but a kiss would tune me back in.

“I’m s-sorry. I just…I’m just so happy to see you,” I say, hiccupping in his ear.

“I said it would be okay, angel. It would take Satan himself to take me from you now that I have had you. Do you trust me?” I nod my head and look into his anguished eyes. It is touching how much pain my pain is causing him and it makes me calm down faster because I don’t want him to be concerned. I kiss him once more, before putting my feet down.

“Can we go now?” I ask, putting my head on his chest.

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