Page 59 of Vow to Protect
“I know. You saved her from brutality. In your head that justifies this whole heartbreaking situation.”
“Raen isn’t dead,” he repeats.
“Is this some fucking counselling bullshit where you tell me she lives in my heart.”
“I shot her in the arm.”
“Say that again.”
“Blaine had to believe I was dead, and the only way to save her was to make sure everyone saw her die too, otherwise the entire plan would have fallen apart. Raen Cartier is dead. However, her new identity is healing in the sun.”
“Are you serious?” I stutter. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me this before? Did she know you were going to shoot her?”
“Yeah, she knew. She wanted the chance to inflict a little pain on Casey before he ran off. And you know what, all she cared about was freeing you and Tilly from the mess. It wasn’t ever Natalie’s fault, Brett. It was her fathers. Henri Cartier. None of us knew those girls were related to a scumbag transporter. She risked her life to get away from him. Once we get all the intel we need from Blaine, he’ll be arrested and officially taken care of in jail. He won’t be a threat to anyone soon.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“What the hell, Malakai?”
“Calvin’s men got her out of Scrios. They brought me here after I crashed my damn car in the getaway. I’ve been hiding out here with Bunny, recovering from a bullet to the spleen.”
“She didn’t say goodbye.”
“There was too much at stake for a goodbye, Brett.”
The storm stills. Memories exist. Lost love crushes. Yet for my daughter, I rise to the challenge of living. Breeding hope for a better future. After all, hope is all we have for a happy ending...
After a flightto Montpellier in the south of France, I hire a Maserati GranTurismo sports car and blast the stereo system to drown out my demons. Kaleb drove Tilly from St. Tropez to meet me in the historic city of Arles for the big birthday surprise. Alex emailed me the hotel address and said everything else was taken care of. I phoned ahead and asked the concierge to organise a kid’s chocolate birthday cake with hundreds of glittery stars.
“Daddy!” Tilly charges at me. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Little arms strangle my neck when I bow down to sweep her into the air. The smell of her ponytail, so sweet and light, the sensation of her skin, so soft and warm, the song of her laughter, so heartwarming and soothing. This child is my everything.
“Well, Shortie, have you enjoyed your holiday with Kaleb and Freya?”
She nods her head wildly. “Don’t forget cousin, Syrus.” Tilly adds.
Freya leans in and kisses my cheek, her amber eyes glowing with concern. “We went to the spa together while Kaleb visited a few auction houses with Syrus.”
It’s a powerful thing to name your kid after a loved one, let alone a remarkable woman who no longer walks the earth. Syrah would be honored to know they named their first born after her. It both pleases and saddens me. However, the little guy reminds me of Tilly. I’ll teach him the ropes and treat him like my own. He’s family after all.
“I got my toenails painted, Daddy. Do you want to see?” Tilly wiggles her open toe sandals. I lower her to the cobbles in the courtyard within the hotel. Her small hand latches on Freya’s elbow and she grins up at her. “We did girly stuff,” she adds. “Kaleb and Syrus did smelly boy stuff.”
“That’s wonderful.” I feign excitement. These are the things I can’t give her. The feminine shit. The puberty chats. A fucking mother. “Right, let’s get settled in for the evening because tomorrow is a big day!”
Tilly squeals. “I’m so happy you’re here.” Her cheek nuzzles into my arm.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than with you, Shortie.” A lump locks in my throat. Freya tucks a curl behind Tilly’s ear, a motherly instinct, a loving touch.
“You’ve had a long journey, Brett.” Freya smiles, her choice of words purposefully significant. “How about I take Tilly shopping in Arles while you grab a shower?”
“Yes!” Tilly bounces on the balls of her feet. “Can I, Daddy?”
I lean into Freya’s ear. “Thank you.” With a chaste kiss, I wink and swipe Tilly’s curls for myself. “You’re staying in my suite tonight, Shortie. I’ll make sure they bring all your luggage over.”
“Can we watch a movie together?”
