“Go get some rest. See your kid,” Drago tells me as he cuts the engine. “I’ll go with your brothers and get to work.”
“Thank you, Drago.”
He gives me a curt nod. “No problem.”
I head inside and close the door quietly. It’s late. The house is dark except for the blue glow of the television flickering from the living room.
I round the corner and stop. Wyatt is curled up with Lola on the couch, Rex by their feet. My son’s head is on her chest, and her arm is draped around him, cheek resting against the top of his head. Both are sound asleep, while Gary chews on a pillow. I won’t ask why the goat is in the house. He stops his chewing for a second to look at me, then is back at it within seconds. I don’t have the energy to fight him.
The TV is playing some cartoon that neither of them is watching. A blanket has been pulled up to Wyatt’s chin.
This is my life. My whole damn purpose for being on this earth.
I take off my boots and set them by the door, crossing the room silently. I slide my arms under Wyatt and lift him. He stirs but doesn’t wake, just turns his face into my chest and makes a small sound, his fist curling into my shirt.
“I love you, son,” I whisper as I carry him upstairs, Rex and Gary following behind.
I tuck him in and press a kiss to his forehead. Rex jumps on the bed, circles until he finds his spot, and thumps his tail once. There is no way Rex is leaving Wyatt’s side. As I turn to the door, there is Gary, having a face-off with me.
“Fine. You can stay here. But under no circumstances do you eat anything in this fucking bedroom,” I say, to the damn goat.
He bleats in response, and all I can do is blink at him as he trots past me and settles on the floor beside Wyatt’s bed.
Fuck it.
As I go back downstairs, Lola is awake now. Sitting upright on the couch, staring at me like she can’t work out if I’m real or if she’s dreaming. “Hunter?” she breathes.
“Yes, firefly.”
It happens all at once.
She launches off the couch and sprints toward me. I’m already moving. We collide in the middle of the living room, and the impact almost takes us both off our feet. Her arms lock around my neck.
I lift her off the ground, her legs wrapping around my waist, and I press her back against the wall and kiss her. The kind of kiss that’s trying to confirm that the person in your arms is real and solid and not going anywhere.
“I love you, Hunter. I love you so damn much,” she pants against my mouth.
I frame her face with my hands. Look into her eyes. Let her see everything. “I love you too. I love you with everything that I am, baby.”
I kiss her again. Softer this time. Proving it. Her legs tighten around me as I push her harder against the wall.
“What happens now?” she asks.
“Now? We fuck. We sleep. We forget the last twenty-four hours happened.”
Her brow creases. “So, have you cleared your name?”
I shake my head. “Not quite. But we have a plan. It’s going to be over soon.”
“So… you’re not going to jail?” she asks, her hands dragging down my chest, that fire reigniting behind her eyes.
I chuckle. “Why? Did you have some sort of felon fantasy, Mrs. Sterling?”
She chews on her lip. “Maybe a handcuff one?”
I raise an eyebrow. “What about some rope?”
“Tie me up, cowboy.”