“Coinneoidh mé sibh sábháilte. Is tú mo stór… agus is é Ollie mo stóirín. Ní ligfidh mé duit imeacht go deo. Cosnóidh mé sibh go dtí mo anáil dheireanach.” I whisper against his skin.
“Dear God,” Colton lets out a shaky breath. “What did you just say?”
“I guess you will have to learn the language to find out. I’ll teach you.” I kiss him again. I’m forced to pull back when Ollie wakes and pushes against my chest.
His bright blue eyes, which perfectly match Colton’s, look up at him. His bottom lip pokes out. “Da,” he says, his voice tiny and wobbly. I think he is going to start crying any second, but instead, he turns his chubby face to me.
“Ro,” he reaches for me, his chubby arms wrapping tightly around my neck when I take him from Colton. “Ro-Ro,” he says again.
“Good afternoon, Ollie. You are safe.” I repeat the words that Siri said a baby needs to hear when they wake up. “We need to change his diaper. Just be careful.”
Colton looks at me, wide-eyed, mouth hanging open. A small laugh bubbles from him, and it’s soon followed by full-on hysterical laughter. I’m not sure why he is laughing, but I’m just glad that he is. I study his face. The emotions that have been pulsing through me since the alarm are calmed by the sight of his dimples.
“I needed that,” he says when he finally calms down. “I was so scared, Ronan. Afraid for Ollie, your mom, and Xavier. Kenji was shot protecting us.” His eyes go wide. “Fuck, Kenji. Is he okay?”
“Our family doctor was with him when I came in.”
“What’s going to happen to Kenneth?”
“He pays for his actions with his life. But not before Dad finds out where the others are.” I watch for a reaction.
“He was going to take Ollie and was willing to kill us. I hope your dad makes him suffer before sending him to hell.” Colton kisses the top of Ollie’s head.
“He will.”
We make our way back to the den. Most of the chaos has died down. Taylor is talking to two security guards, and Mom is talking to Gloria about disposing of the rug.
“Is Kenji going to be okay?” Colton asks Mom.
“Yes, sweetheart. The bullet went straight through. Dr. Wright is going to make sure, but he said it doesn’t look like anything major was hit.”
“I want answers, Taylor,” Dad interrupts whatever Colton was about to say to Mom. There’s blood on his clothes and hands, no doubt from Kenneth.
“Sir, there were two small explosive devices set off on the south perimeter of the property. They were placed just outside of camera view. We found the remote detonator, so we do not believe anyone else was on the property. The cameras show him slipping in through the rear entrance while the other guards were taking their positions. He knew the routine and used it.”
“He got to my family, Taylor,” Dad says between gritted teeth.
“Understood, Sir. Protocols will be changed and reevaluated. This will not happen again.” With a slight nod, Dad turns his attention to us.
“How is the baby?” he asks.
“He wasn’t hurt, just scared,” Colton answers.
“And you?”
“Same. Alessia protected us. She shot a man.” Colton lets out a breath. “I don’t think I could ever repay her for doing that. I’m sorry she and Xavier were in danger because of me.”
Dad places his hand on Colton’s shoulder. “Never apologize for that. Alessia would be upset. I don’t like it when she gets upset. You’re part of the family.” He brushes his hand over Ollie’s head. “Both of you. Now, I need to go see to our guest.”
“Are you taking him back to the compound?” I ask. I want to be there, but I’m not leaving them again.
“No, he came to my house, so my house is where he will die. He’s in the basement.”
My gaze sweeps over to Colton. He gives me a small smile, just enough for the dimples to show. “Give me Ollie, and you go with your dad. We will be fine.”
After handing him Ollie, I kiss both of their foreheads. It’s time to get some answers that will end this.
Chapter 32-