Redhead On The Run (RedHeads Book 1)

by Rebecca Royce

  He stared at me a very long time. I’d lost him. I’d told all my secrets, and they were too much. I’d known it, and I’d done it anyway because there came a time you said what you wanted and you lived your truth, or you lived to regret it. I wouldn’t compromise on some things, and I wouldn’t expect him to.

  “Okay. But does it have to be a white picket fence? I never cared for the look.”

  I sucked in a breath. “Are you listening? I just told you that we don’t match in the future. We should stop now.”

  “We do. I didn’t want babies. That’s true. But they were just some hypothetical children I didn’t know. I want your babies. Our babies. As many as you want. And I want…” He caught his own breath. “I want to be a really good dad. Someone is going to have to help me with that. I have no role model. Mine was never there ever. But maybe I could do it. If you think I could make a good father to your children, I want that, too.”

  Was this really happening? “Are you for real, Zeke?”

  “I am. One hundred percent in. I love you, Layla.” I let him kiss me because I had to. Because it was the absolute most important thing in the world right then. I had to be kissed by him, and I kissed him back until my head spun and I might faint.

  I pulled back to hold on to him. “Sorry, dizzy.”

  His gaze went from hazy and heated to concerned in a second. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have no appetite. I’m just a little lightheaded.”

  He scooped me up in his arms. “I’m going to bring you back inside. You need to get well, find your strength. And I will wait right here in the car. If you can come out once a day to see me, I will be more than happy. If you can’t, I get that too. I’ll wait for you.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I’m not losing you now. They’re going to let you in. I’m going to make them. Dad can’t control things anymore.”

  He certainly wasn’t going to put any more wedges between Zeke Scott and me. I wouldn’t allow it. I didn’t know what our future would look like, but I wanted it. With him. Starting now.

  I had to get better. That was fundamentally true. I’d been through hell, but I needed him with me to do that. His presence would help, not hinder.

  So enough of that bullshit. Dad didn’t get to say.

  In the end, they let him in because I presented the idea that Dad might not be able to pay his bill, and Zeke offered to see to it that it was taken care of. Amazing how that worked.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Here.” Zeke separated the bagel in two halves and handed me one side of it. He took a bite of his as he stared at the television. After bringing me to my room, he’d left for a few minutes and come back with the bagel.

  He’d brought some for Hope and Bridget, too. They all started eating theirs, and I stared at mine, realizing that my stomach grumbled at the smell. I did love a good bagel. I took a bite and ate all of it without thinking about it or having to stop because I just couldn’t take anymore. I’d have to talk to my therapist about my food issues and the ways that I handled it. But for now, I actually loved that half a bagel.

  “Oh, put on Doctor Who.” Hope clapped her hands. “We always loved the science fiction stuff growing up.”

  Zeke nodded and selected that program. “Me, too.”

  I sat next to him on the couch and watched with my three favorite people in the world. I was warm, somewhat full, and before I could overthink it, I put my head on Zeke’s shoulder. He ran his fingers over the fuzz on the back of my head where my hair should have been.

  “Do I look…horrendous?” I whispered my question to him low enough I hoped it gave us some privacy.

  “You look beautiful. You always do. But you also look like I want to wrap you up and never let you out of my sight again.”

  I swallowed. “I love you.”

  He kissed the top of my shaved head. “I love you, too.” He moved slightly. “Hey, Bridget. Throw me that blanket, will you?”

  She did as he asked, and he covered me in it, making sure all my extremities were well and truly under the blanket. How had he known I was cold? I squirmed a little bit, not sure why, and then he went back to stroking the back of my head again. I liked that. Before I knew it was going to happen, I closed my eyes.

  I woke up hours and hours later, my head now fully on Zeke’s lap. He caressed the back of my head and down my body, everywhere he could reach.

  “Hey.” He smiled down at me, and I grinned back. It was dark in the room. Had I slept all day?

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Hope said you hadn’t slept in a week, not since your father had you drugged up. I’m glad you rested. I never mind you sleeping near me.”

  Zeke didn’t stop the running of his hand. “Because of how I snore.”

  “Because it’s you. And you sleeping near me, making your little sounds, tells me you’re there. I really, really love when you’re there.”

  He dropped his fingers to stroke right under my eyes with his thumb. I imagined that I had dark circles there. “I might never get used to you saying those kinds of things to me.”

  “You will because I’m going to say them all the time, princess. I love you. And whatever you need, you’re going to have. Speaking of which, are you hungry?”

  My sisters were gone. I should have recognized that right away

  “I am. Really hungry.”

  He nodded. “That’s good. I didn’t like the look of the food here. So I had some delivered.” He pointed to the table. “Seemed like a night for a pasta. Really good red sauce.”

  Zeke always did know how to eat.

  The weeks passed, and I was never alone. I was either with the therapist, the doctor, Zeke, or my sisters. I couldn’t remember there ever being a time I’d been so well cared for, so wrapped in the love of people. Eventually, they released me.

  Zeke was there to take me out of the hospital and bring me to whatever came next. Truth was, I had no idea what that was. It was raining when he stepped outside, and he covered me in a red umbrella so I wouldn’t get a drop on me.

  “Where are we going?”

  He stood close, both of us standing on that same street corner again. “You have a couple of choices.”

  “Okay. What are they?” I leaned into him. I just liked to be close.

  “I could take you to an apartment I rented. It’s not very comfortable. I never got any furniture because I was staying in the car.” I looked over. It was still there.

  “What are my other choices? I don’t relish sleeping on the floor.”

  “Well, I guess you have three others. We could get a hotel room and stay in it until I furnish that apartment.”

  I didn’t know if he should do that. Were we staying in New York? I didn’t think Zeke particularly cared for New York. And I couldn’t see him here. He’d do it for me. He’d said as much. But I didn’t know if I saw us in New York.

  A hotel would be fine, temporarily. “Or?”

  “You could stay with Hope. She offered. So did Bridget, but I think Hope meant it more. Bridget strikes me as needing her space.”

  That was one hundred percent true. “Yes, is that Michael Li over there?”

  “It is. I’ve hired his new company to guard all of you. And Justin. If we can ever find him.”

  I gave Michael a little wave, and he nodded at me. “I don’t want to stay with Hope.”

  “Would you let me take you someplace else? On a plane? An idea I had. I know you just got out of the hospital. It’s probably a bad idea to put you through anything else right now, but I’d like to take you…elsewhere.”

  Funny enough, I liked that idea best. “Let’s do it.”

  “Princess, I love you so fucking much.”

  “You might not love me on an airplane. I don’t like to fly, and please don’t drug me.”

  He kissed my lips. “Always love you. Plane or not. And no one will ever drug you without your consent again. I’ll hold your hand. It’ll be fine.” />
  We’d no sooner sat down in his jet, with a security officer moving to the back, that I snuggled up against Zeke’s side and immediately fell asleep. I had no idea when we’d taken off, and only woke up when we landed because Zeke woke me by kissing me all over my face. I groggily opened my eyes.

  “Are we…there?”

  “We are. I’m so glad you’re resting. You need it. Sleep is really what will heal you right now.”

  Exiting the plane to a waiting car, I still had no idea where we were. “Going to share sometime soon where you’ve taken us?”

  “To an idea.” He winked at me. “In Washington state.”

  My mouth fell open. “We’re in Washington state?”

  “Yes.”

  I scanned through what I knew about Washington state. “Do you want to move to Seattle?”

  “No. I like that city, and it’ll be nice to have a big city within several hours of a drive, but no, where we’re going is elsewhere. Did you know that Washington has a great wine country?”

  I absolutely did not. “No. Zeke…more info please?” He couldn’t possibly want to go wine tasting.

  “I thought I might show you an option. It’s just one. And you can say no and hate it. Nothing will happen that you don’t want to. I thought I’d show you a maybe future. One we could make together. If it speaks to you.”

  I was intrigued. So much so, I stayed awake the hours we drove until we got to the place he’d wanted me to see.

  “Is this a winery?”

  He got out of the car and came around to open my door. “It is. An old one. Owners died. Their kids were bad at this. But it used to grow really great Pinot noir. One you liked very much in my house one of our first evenings together. A winemaker I have hired tells me this place is ready to grow again.”

  It looked run down, like no one had taken care of it. In the distance, as far as I could see, there were large plants growing here, there, and everywhere. The house was shuttered. Big but sad looking.

  “What would we do here? Grow wine?” I put my hand on the old wood.

  “The winemaker would grow it. I’d love to learn. Eventually maybe I can do it. If not, he can. But we’d make wine here. Our family would. Takes a lot of time to grow things that last. Wine changes as it ages. So do grapes. You have to cultivate them, get them to where they can be counted on to launch. Outside forces play a role. Weather does it what it does. People make mistakes. But we could build something solid here.” He knocked on the house. “We’d knock this down. I’d build you a house here that you could stay in, forever if you want to. It would be our house. You want to go to art school? There are several in Washington state, and two of them do virtual, distance learning.”

  I stared at him, my mouth falling open. “When did you learn about all of this? About this spot?”

  “Before you were taken from me.” He pulled me against him like saying the words required him to hold me. “About this place. The last week or so, I started to think it might work. I could still work at my other jobs. Selling finance to the very rich. But I’d do this too. Maybe eventually selling our wine could be all that I do. If it never is, that’s fine. If the vineyard doesn’t make it, we’d never have to leave the house.”

  I wrapped my arms around him. “I love this idea. Yes, this is ours, but I have some stipulations.”

  “Give them to me.”

  I swallowed. “It has to have a gym. I miss running. And when the weather is bad here, we need a gym with side-by-side treadmills.”

  “Done. What else?”

  “I have to decorate it.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Count on it. I’m going to sell the house in France and all the furniture.”

  I might let him do the bathroom. But I’d tell him that later.

  “And?” He lifted an eyebrow.

  “It might not be avoidable, but I want to be so secluded here so that no one takes my picture ever again without my permission. I’m not a commodity. I don’t owe the world my photo or evidence of my life. It gets to be ours.”

  Zeke kissed the end of my nose. “Done.”

  This was really happening. I was going to have this life with Zeke Scott. I squeezed him tighter.

  I was putting on my makeup and doing my best to get it right when the package arrived. I almost smudged my mascara.

  “Careful. We don’t want you looking like a racoon on your wedding day.” Hope kissed my cheek. “Put down the mascara before you take out your eye and open this gift.” Hope shook it. “From your fiancé.”

  I stared down at my ring like I did every time someone uttered that word. It was exactly what I wanted. Square. Mid-sized. With sapphires all around it. He’d gotten it so right.

  Sighing, I took the package. “I didn’t get him anything.”

  “Yes, you did.” Bridget smiled. “You gave him everything. This whole life. I mean…I love this house.”

  I did too. We’d spent the last year overseeing the building while professionals got the vines ready, too. There were so many details, and I loved all of them. So did Zeke. I hadn’t known I could have this kind of constant happy. Contentment was a new concept for both of us.

  And now, with my hair now officially past my chin, we were getting married.

  I pulled open the wrapping and started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. Picking up the card, I already knew what it would say.

  “Are those white sneakers?” Bridget bent over the box. Her green dress was perfectly fit to her. Strapless. Elegant. I’d picked them out and adored how my gorgeous sisters looked in them.

  Layla, wear these. I got some insider info that the dress is long enough to cover them. If you decide to run, I don’t want you to tear up your feet on the stones. Also, there is a car waiting. If you decide to run, get in that. It’ll take you anywhere. But just know, I will chase you. Because you are mine. From now until eternity. I can’t live without your heart. Please choose me today. I’ll be the one at the end of the aisle.

  Tears came to my eyes. Dang it, I was going to have to fix my makeup. But that was okay. I would be choosing him. Then and always.

  Hope quickly dried my tears, and we put the rest of me together, laughing the whole time. I slipped into my dress. One I had picked for myself. It was long. White with rose coloring. Strapless like the bridesmaid’s dresses, and I felt like a princess in it. Zeke’s princess.

  He stood at the end of the aisle as I walked alone toward him. My sisters. His oldest friends. Michael Li. Our winemaker. They all stood watching the tiny ceremony. Just what I wanted.

  I took Zeke’s hand at the end of the aisle, and he squeezed his fingers in mine. I was already his. This was making it official. And as my future laid out before me, I smiled at him, knowing that we belonged to each other. Now and always. Forever.

  Epilogue

  Zeke

  I stared at the screen. “Are you fucking kidding me?” I lowered my voice. It was doubtful that Layla could hear me across the house, but I didn’t want to wake her. It was three in the morning. Noah would be up soon, if he weren’t already, and I liked to sit with her when she did the night feedings. At three months, he was starting to space them out by a little but not much. Neither of us minded. He was ours to care for, ours to cherish. Whatever he needed, that’s what he got.

  And right now, he needed to sleep and have me not lose my temper at the news Michael Li delivered to me. “I wish I was.”

  I sighed. “He’s in Russia?”

  “Yes, and I think Justin is there, too.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “He’s made contact with another faction. Claiming to be able to raise them money. But he’s pissed off the original faction. That’s how I heard. The Russian mob? Whichever group? Bad news.”

  The sick fucking part of this was that Andrew probably could do it. On a good day, in a good year, he was a guaranteed money maker. That’s how I sold him for so long. He might be able to do it.

  “Do we tell the girls?”

  Michael
always called them that. The girls. He’d been watching them or sending others to for so long that he definitely felt a certain attachment to them. When Layla had been taken, he’d been focused like I’d never seen before. I’d known he was going to save her, even as I’d lost my mind.

  The pictures of him holding her had made me wonder if he had feelings for her. But it wasn’t Layla he loved. I wasn’t always good at telling these things, but I was pretty sure the man had been in love with Bridget for a long time. I’d never ask him, because it was one of those things.

  “I don’t keep secrets from Layla. I’ll tell her. You can tell Hope and Bridget. Are we in danger here?”

  The vineyard was a fortress, but nowhere was impenetrable.

  “No. My source says Layla is off limits. You are considered a formidable problem. Hope? Bridget? Yes.”

  I wasn’t going to count on it. Layla and Noah would be safe. I’d see to it. But she’d never be okay with her sisters not being safe, too. They had to be okay too.

  “I’ll get to Bridget,” he said. I bet he would. “She’s in Hong Kong.”

  I hadn’t known that. “Okay. Hope will know as soon as Layla knows.” Washington state to New York might have a time change, but my love and her sister hadn’t seemed to notice.

  “On it.” Michael nodded. “I’ll talk when I have more information.”

  I leaned forward. “Who’s your source, Li?”

  He scowled. Obviously, he didn’t want to tell me, but for now, I was the boss. That would change some day. I was sure of it. Michael wasn’t a guy who would ever take permanent orders from anyone else. “Justin.”

  Well…I’d be damned.