Page 99 of Dismantle & Prevail
Not wanting to make Rayne wait long, I pull back.
“Thank you, Butterfly,” Ari says, allowing his mask to slip for just a moment to allow me to see the pain and heartache coursing through his body.
“No need to thank me.”
“Oh, but I do. I couldn’t have done this without you.” Pulling me back to his chest, he mutters. “I love you so fucking much, Taylor Sloane Morgan. One day soon, I’m going to make you a beautiful bride so my girls can all share the same name.”
Not wanting to break into a ball of tears again, I push away from him. A wave of dizziness overtaking me the second I do. And like always, Ari is there to catch me.
Aries Clark. The keeper of my heart. The man that dismantled every one of my walls, brick by brick, and prevailed through all the sadness and heartache that came with every stone.
Now, he has given me a chance to have a life I never thought I could imagine.
Peeking over his shoulder, I see Rayne playing paper, rock, scissors with Tombstone. I feel the smile stretch across my face.
This is what happiness looks like, and I know it’s just the beginning.
Taking a step back, Ari opens the passenger door, cradles me to his chest, and sets me in the seat.
I roll my eyes as he reaches around me to buckle me in, just like he did Rayne.
“Ready Hellhound?” he asks, a devious smirk on his face.
“Always. Let's get our girl home.”
Ari places a bruising kiss to my lips. “As you wish, Butterfly.”
Glancing in the rearview mirror, my gaze catches on Rayne. A big grin spreads across her rosy face and I return the gesture.
This moment. This man. This precious little girl. This life.
It’s all I have wished for, but never thought I would have.
If this is what I feel after seconds of having Rayne in my life, I know it’s only going to get better from here.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Aries
Iwatchinsilenceas Tana sits across from Taylor, who is glaring daggers at her.
No one says a word and judging by the look on Tana’s face, I can tell she is anxious as hell to get out of here.
Too bad the only way she is getting out of here is from the backseat of a cop car to spend the rest of her pathetic life in prison.
I tear my gaze away from them for a brief second to check on Rayne, who is passed out in my bed. Despite Zoro and Indy sitting on opposite sides of her, I still had Taylor set up a camera, so I could keep an eye on her.
I just got my baby girl back and I refuse to let her out of my sight for even a second.
After spending hours playing games and watching Rayne and Taylor consume their weight in ice cream, Rayne passed out on the game room couch.
I didn’t want to leave her, but knowing Tana and Clay were both under my roof forced my hand.
The second I got my hands on Clay, I refused to let go. Thankfully, I had my team behind me to help us get out of the burning building. I have no clue how the fire started, but if I was a betting man, I suspect Clay started it as a diversion.
The moment the explosion blew the roof off, my heart sank. The only thing running through my head as I beat Clay within an inch of his life was Rayne. Had I messed up? Did she get out? Was she even there to begin with?
Boone must have seen something on my face and the second Clay passed out, he tied him up and sent me looking for Rayne.
