Page 60 of Hidden Rocco
She patted him on the back and he turned. Mica had her shirt and pants on as she smiled and said, “I guess. Thanks to you.”
This morning was the end of her needing him, but somehow he didn’t want it to be.
If she truly loved him and wanted him to stay now that the threat was gone, he’d stay. It was selfish, perhaps, but he loved her. He squeezed her hand. “I want to talk to you once we give our statements and get out of here.”
She pulled him close, with Jacob between them. “You’re still coming with us to see your mother?”
Rocco hugged them both though he heard the police in the distance.
The sound of hard boot heels was a familiar noise that he’d lived with for a decade. He took a deep breath and promised, “I won’t leave you and Jacob alone. After Florida, we can go wherever you want.”
“He’s alive thanks to you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
There was no way he’d let those men touch the baby. Jacob was a part of Mica and he deserved a full life. He kissed her forehead as officers walked into the room. “No, because his mother saved him.”
“I wouldn’t have had that chance without you.” He nodded at her words and looked out to the hall, where Bear was being handcuffed.
Caught because of his own greed, and being sent back to jail where he belonged.
The officer took their statements. Mica spoke with authority and no one questioned her on using the gun as she had the correct permit.
When one was talking, they shared who held Jacob, like they were family.
During the questioning, Rocco’s heart beat too fast. He kept waiting for someone to cuff him again, though holding Jacob kept him steady.
At the end the officers patted their backs like they were heroes or something and said, “You two are free to go now.”
Right. Okay. Mica kissed Jacob’s forehead and zipped her suitcase like this was all normal.
He followed her, holding Jacob tight as they walked out of the hall and left the police to deal with the room.
Mica signaled for him to stay when they went to the lobby and she spoke to the front desk for her receipt as they checked out. If they stayed together this would be their normal, her taking charge, not that it mattered. Mica was alive and he’d love her for as long as she let him.
Once she finished, they headed outside to the shiny Jaguar.
The way she walked it seemed like nothing bothered her, but as he switched the baby for the bag near the car for her to strap Jacob inside, he asked, “Do you want to drive?”
“I need to, yeah.” She buckled her son into his seat. “And you need to see your mom.”
As they'd only driven a few hours last night, they’d be staying another night, in a different hotel.
A half an hour into the drive, his skin remained electric, amplified from simply sitting in silence. He pointed to an exit. “Can we pull over?”
“Sure. I could probably use a latte. I never had breakfast—neither did you.” Fair. Okay. She pulled into the drive through and ordered coffees and pastries.
At the window she paid and his shoulders tightened. She had more money than he’d ever earn.
There was nothing he might do to be her financial equal. As she pulled out of the drive through he pointed to the small park next door. “That’s a pretty patch of grass near that tree. Can we go see the butterflies?”
She laughed. “Absolutely. They’re beautiful--I can see the yellow of their wings from here.”
He took the coffees and pastries while she unstrapped Jacob.
Together was good--he wanted her to want him in her life. He waited and they took a seat on a bench as a yellow butterfly flew past her head. Mica set her latte on the table and handed him his coffee with milk. Once he held the hot beverage in his hand, he said, “You don’t have to take me to Florida. We can go wherever you want now.”
Her eyes had a bit of a sparkle as she clasped her paper cup in both hands and asked, “Do you mean that?”
Adrenaline coursed through him as he nodded. “Yeah.”
