by Nia Arthurs
I nod at him and everyone else I recognize.
Brogan walks over to me. “I’m so sorry, Heath. The girls wanted to play outside, and we thought it was safe since no one was around…”
“It’s okay.”
“So where do we start first?” Brenna asks.
“We get a location,” Kayla says, staring at her phone. “And then we take the jet.”
“Mine?” Brendon asks.
“Of course, Humes. Do you see anyone else making the fiscally irresponsible decision to purchase their own flying gas guzzler?” Venus flips her hair.
He smirks.
A stunned breath blows past my lips. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Kayla turns to the Make It Marriage crew and claps her hands. “Alright, folks. The police are starting to look at us funny so we should probably clear out of here.”
Venus nods. “Wheels up in an hour.”
Brenna looks at me with love in her eyes. “Let’s bring Glory home.”
Thirty-Five
Brenna
I look through the window and admire the puffy clouds that roll past.
Luxury surrounds me. In the gold encrusted panels of the wall. In the spacious lounge. In the plush seats that can recline all the way back without hitting anyone.
I should be soaking up this moment and snapping pictures of my first—and probably last—time on a private jet.
But I don’t.
I can’t.
My stomach is in knots because this isn’t a flight to some exotic vacation.
This is a mission.
To save Glory.
Venus sits in the chairs across from us. She’s wearing a pair of skin-tight leather pants and a tank top with a lavish, complicated strap design. It’s all in black and, with her hair tied up in a knot like that, she looks like a spy.
“Why do you think they didn’t check if she had a phone?” Troy mumbles, a hand on Venus’s back and a thoughtful frown on his lips. “It’s almost like your dad wanted you to find her.”
Kastle shakes his head. “Why would he want that? He knows he’ll be in serious trouble after this.”
Heath’s brother stands to the right of us, a hand on the mini-bar. No one’s actually had a drink, but I’m pretty sure we’re all thinking about it right now.
None of us really know what we’re getting into or what we’re up against. The simple plan of ‘saving Glory’ had very little meat on its bones. And, by now, Heath’s dad might have already been tipped off.
“It doesn’t matter. All I care about is that she’s safe.” Heath blows out a breath and scrapes his beard with the heel of his hand.
I’ve noticed that he does that when he’s nervous.
And right now, he’s shaking with anxiety. He hasn’t stop scraping his beard since we boarded.
“She has to be.” Kayla pats his hand. “She had time to text us back and forth and she listened when you told her to turn on the location of her phone so we could trace her.”
“Still… maybe it’s a trap,” Venus says.
Solemn silence falls on the group again.
My heart beats so fast I can barely hear my own thoughts. I dig my fingernails into the arm of the chair and continue to stare out at the clouds, hoping it’ll bring me some peace.
A rustling sound draws my attention away.
Heath stands, his jaw firm and his eyes flinty. He looks ready for war. All that’s missing is the stripes on his cheeks and the camouflage. I expect him to stomp away and take a minute on his own, but he scoops my hand up instead.
My eyes flit to his. “You need me?”
“Come here.” He tugs me out of my seat.
I can just imagine what Venus is thinking right now, so I avoid looking in her direction as Heath leads me in the direction of the bathroom.
When we’re far enough away, he steps close to me. So close I can see the honey-brown flecks in his green eyes. The wrinkles in his shirt. The hints of red in his thick beard.
My breath gets heavy. “Here?” I glance around, noticing that we’re in the open. “Maybe we should go to another part of the plane—”
“Bren,” he rubs his thumb along the back of my hand, “what’s going on?”
I blink in shock. “What?”
“You’re more nervous than I am.” His thumb slows down to a gentle caress.
“I—you’re… worried about me?”
“Of course.” His eyebrows scrunch together as if the question is a stupid one.
“I’m fine.” I shake my head, suddenly feeling more exposed and vulnerable than ever.
I thought Heath dragged me back here so he could release some of his frustration and anxiety on my body. I thought he’d push my jeans down to my ankles and pin me against the wall.
I thought…
That he wouldn’t be thinking so deeply about how this is affecting me.
“I know what that little wrinkle between your eyebrows means.” He presses a finger there. “You’re the only thing keeping me sane right now, princess. And if you go crazy first, where will that leave me?”
I sigh softly. “Okay. I’m worried.”
“That it’s dangerous?”
“No.” I shake my head and jut a finger at the others. “Are you kidding? These people don’t lose. I’m sure we’re going to get Glory back today.”
“Then?”
“I’m worried… about what happens after. We take Glory back and what?”
“My dad goes to jail.”
“What if that’s not the best option?”
“That’s the only option.” Heath’s jaw clenches. “This is kidnapping. This is illegal and he’s going to pay for it.”
“Maybe he was desperate. He knew things weren’t going in his favor.”
Heath steps back, his eyebrows pinched. “What are you saying?”
“Let’s discuss this later.” I clutch his arm. “After Glory’s back with us.”
“Fine.”
I expect him to stalk off angrily, but Heath swoops in and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing myself flat against him and hungrily accepting his kiss. A moan whispers out of me. I twist my head so he can push a little deeper, a little firmer.
By the time Heath’s done loving on my lips, I can barely stand. My knees buckle like jello and my breath no longer feels like mine.
It’s his.
His heart.
His oxygen.
His warmth.
I keep my eyes closed, but Heath nuzzles my cheek with his nose until I peer at him.
“What was that for?” I whisper.
“For being here. Thank you.”
“Where else would I be?”
Just then, Brendon hollers for us. “Guys, we’re about to land!”
My stomach in knots again, I follow Heath back to my seat. We touch down in a small airport in the Bahamas.
Frothy palm trees wave to us as we disembark. Moonlight peers over the black ocean that looks frighteningly still in the distance. The private landing strip is empty except for us and another, tinier plane.
“The island can only be reached by a light aircraft,” Troy explains, pointing to the other carrier. “It can barely hold three people, but we’re fitting in four since there’s no luggage. Are you sure about this?” He glances at me and then at Heath and Kastle. “Reinforcements won’t be coming right away.”
“Of course.” Kastle nods.
“We’ll get out there as soon as we can procure another airplane,” Brendon says. “But until then, you’re on your own.”
Heath dips his chin. “Thanks.”
We climb into the airplane and, what feels like minutes later, we land on the sandy shores of a private beach. A huge mansion rises in the distance.
I exchange a glance with Heath.
He nods once.
Together, we begin our climb up the hill.
Thirty-Six
Heath
The front door of the lavish beach villa is open. It creaks when we push it further.
Darkness swallows the foyer. I clutch the stick I picked up outside, my steps light and cautious.
Brenna remains close behind me. A part of me wishes she didn’t come. It’s too dangerous. I don’t know what kind of state dad will be in.
But telling this woman to not do something is like dropping down on my knees and begging her to go ahead and do it twice.
My eyes sweep the living room. Evidence of Glory’s existence is scattered on the ground. Dolls. Miniature pots and pans. Stuffed teddy bears.
He was preparing a home for him and Glory.
A door slams shut, and a figure rises at the top of the stairs.
Dad.
He’s wearing a white button-down shirt, hems folded up to his elbows. His black trousers are wrinkled and his hair curls messily around his forehead.
“Daddy!” A voice squeals. Glory comes dashing down the stairs, speeds past my dad and flings herself into my arms.
I drop to my knees and embrace her tightly. “Pumpkin, are you okay? Is anywhere hurt?” I check her little body over.
Brenna hovers close by. “Are you alright, Glory?”
She nods. “Did you get my text?”
“Yes. You told us you were with Grampa.” I kiss her forehead. “Smart girl for turning the location on.”
She grins. Her eyes are sparkling. She doesn’t look harmed or unnerved at all, but that doesn’t make my fury any lighter.
Dad leans against the banister and sighs. “That explains how you found us. I guess I should have known she’d have a phone.”
Kastle glares at our father. “What the hell were you thinking, Dad?”
“I wanted to start over,” dad says, walking down the steps. “I figured it was all worth it for one chance.” He stares lovingly at Glory. “I wanted one chance to talk to her.”
“I hope it was worth giving up your freedom for,” I say with a hard voice, rising and pushing Glory behind me.
“Daddy, no.” Glory tugs on my shirt.
I grip her hand tighter. “You’re going away for a long time, dad.”
“You’re my sons.” A tear spills from his eyes. Green eyes. My eyes. “My sons. I failed you. I didn’t want to fail her.”
“You want to make things right, you don’t start off with kidnapping,” I hiss. “You can’t become a father by force.”
“Dad,” Glory tugs harder on my shirt, “listen to him, please.”
I stare at my little girl. “Listen? To what?”
“Grampa wants to apologize.”
I turn slowly and stare at dad.
He wrings his hands together and takes the remainder of the stairs. “I…” His eyes flit to Glory who gives him an encouraging little nod. “I went about things the wrong way. It was wrong of me to take her without your permission. I’m… I’m sorry.”
“You expect that to make everything okay?” I growl.
“Daddy…” Glory squeezes my fingers.
I blink rapidly. “Baby, you don’t understand—”
“If someone says they’re sorry and they really mean it,” she lifts her sharp chin, “shouldn’t we at least give them a chance?”
I glance up and meet Brenna’s eyes.
She arches an eyebrow. It’s up to you.
“Grampa did some bad things,” I explain as calmly as I can. “Sometimes, people pretend to be good when they’re really not.”
“And sometimes, people are trying to be good, but no one will give them the chance to prove it. I learned that from my favorite show.”
I grit my teeth. “Glory, life isn’t like a cartoon.”
Sirens blare in the distance.
Red lights flash on the water.
Kastle glances outside. “It looks like the coast guards are here.”
Dad calmly drops to his knees and puts his hands behind his head.
Glory rushes around me. “Please, daddy. Grampa isn’t a bad man anymore.”
“Glory,” I bite out, exasperated by her behavior.
Before I can scold her, dad reaches out and grips her hand. “It’s okay, Glory.”
“But…” Her bottom lip trembles.
“Every action has consequences. If you make a bad decision, there are bad consequences. All I wanted was a chance to talk to you and I got that so… I’ll be okay.”
Tears roll down her face. “I’ve always… wanted… a grampa.”
“Well, you have one.” He looks at me. “If that’s okay with your father.”
My arms fall limply at my sides.
“Dad?” Glory looks at me with her big, tear-filled brown eyes.
I sigh loudly. “We can talk about it.”
At that moment, the police charge into the mansion. Their dark eyes peer at all of us before they lock on dad and march toward him. Picking him up from the floor, they slap handcuffs on his wrist.
I push Glory’s face into my chest to hide her from the sight of dad getting arrested.
Kastle puts his hands on her head.
Brenna hugs us both, her eyes glistening with tears.
Kastle releases us and steps away. “I should go with them. Make sure dad gets back to the states with those handcuffs on.”
I squeeze Kastle’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
“That’s nothing.” He sighs as he pats Glory’s head. “That’s family.”
It’s family.
My brother is family, even if mom didn’t give birth to him.
My daughter is family even if I didn’t give birth to her.
And Brenna…
I take her hand and squeeze it.
Brenna is family.
I don’t own them.
I chose them.
They chose me too.
And that makes them mine.
Thirty-Seven
Brenna
One month Later
My phone chirps with notifications. I barely peep through one eye before I decide it’s not worth it and close my eyes again. A strong pair of brawny arms surround my waist and pull me close.
“Mm.” I moan as Heath starts kissing on my neck. “Five more minutes.”
His side of the mattress dips a little as he pushes himself up. I can feel him looking at my face. His gaze is always heavy. As heavy as his fingers which he’s stroking down my leg. “I love you.”
“It’s too early.”
“It’s never too early to say that,” he rumbles, making a line of kisses down my stomach.
I open my legs automatically. “Do you always have to be right?”
He chuckles.
Words aren’t necessary for what comes next. Even if they were, I wouldn’t be able to find them.
Sentences? Cohesive thoughts?
What are those?
I’ve become a cavewoman.
I communicate with grunts and moans.
Panting and beating on the chest.
Nails scraping down naked backs and muscles quivering. Mouths opening. Eyes closing. Bodies aligning. Stroking. Unravelling.
I’ve become light and heat and desire.
Love is long, golden hair. Love is pale fingers clamping around my ankles and keeping my thighs spread. Love laps and suckles. It shows no mercy.
None.
It doesn’t stop until I’m melting in a pool of my own sweat. Until I smell like him. Like me. Like filth and passion and lust.
Heath smirks when I open my eyes and I’m too busy writhing to scold him for it.
He licks his lips slowly and I avert my gaze before I combust again.
He’s too dang handsome. I can’t deal with it.
“What are you doing today?” he asks.
My eyes find his. “Besides this?”
“Besides this.” He laughs as he cleans himself up and then returns to the bed with a damp towel.
“It’s girl’s day.”
“With the Make It Marriage women?” He gently runs the towel down my thigh.<
br />
I sigh contentedly, lingering in the hazy place of satisfaction. That place where women who are treasured and protected find rest.
“Bren.”
“Huh?”
There’s laughter in his voice. “What are you doing today? You busy?”
“Yes.”
He taps me until I look at him. “With whom?”
“With Glory.”
“Alone?”
“That’s the definition of girl’s day. No boys allowed.”
“That’s sexist.”
I chuckle. “We’re going to celebrate the fact that the farmhouse is being preserved as a historical landmark.”
The city council, after hearing the reason why I fled like a maniac that day, generously postponed the hearing. I was able to resubmit the case and they approved it a few days ago.
“We’ll meet up with the Make It Marriage women later too,” I add.
“I’m starting to feel left out,” Heath grumbles, bringing my attention back to him.
“Well, tonight…” I tiptoe my fingers over his chest.
“Yes?” He grins wickedly.
“You can take me and Glory to the arcade.”
He sighs, but the smile remains on his face. “I thought you were going to suggest something else.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Jameson.” I push him.
He laughs loudly. I’m glad to see that light again. When we came back from the island, Heath was still so furious about Glory’s kidnapping. He refused to let her out of his sight, especially when his father was released after paying bail. He’s only just starting to relax.
It helps that business is picking up. Though he hasn’t gotten a project as big as the Langley Corp building yet, he’s steadily building a reputation for fixing houses while preserving their original architectural design.
It’s not the skyscrapers he’s always wanted to build, but I think he’s falling in love with the history of those houses just as much as he’s fallen in love with me. And another opportunity will come along. Heath’s too amazing of a man for it not too.
We kiss and caress some more before I drag myself out of bed to get ready for the day. He joins me in the shower later, which makes me late to pick up Glory.
