Kenna cooed and giggled at the two grown men vying for her attention.
Jacks just walked right up and took her, gently of course, and said, “It’s okay, and Uncle Jacks has you. Those fuckers don’t hold a candle to me, isn't’ that right, princess?”
And he walked out of the room with Cash and Bas following behind, arguing that they get their baby time because Jacks was going to get her while they were gone. Jacks just completely ignored them, going into his office and shutting the door in their faces.
Knowing her daughter was in good hands. Emma rushed down the hall to catch up with Mia. Mia and Ryleigh were joking around and laughing.
“Can you imagine what it's going to be like when Kenna starts dating. She already has those burly bears wrapped around her tiny baby finger. I hate to tell you this, Emma, but I don’t think your daughter is going to be able to date until she is about thirty,” Mia laughed.
Ryleigh was still laughing, “Yeah, last night, after we got back to the room, Jacks kept on asking me if we should go back. Wanting to make sure his little princess was all right. Don’t be surprised if you and Dalton need to veto visual monitoring in your bedroom. Then, when I was just starting to get comfortable, Jacks jumps out of bed, going right for his laptop. I thought something else was wrong, so I got up to see what he was doing, and he was on a website that sold fabric. He was looking at cotton batting. When I asked him what he was doing, he said, ‘Kenna’s going to be crawling soon and I think we need to baby proof the house.’”
“I was like, okay, but what are you looking at the batting for? He said, ‘I’m thinking we should wrap it around all the furniture and maybe even put it on the walls and corners. How much do you think I should order?’ I swear all I could do is stare at him. You’re just lucky he hasn’t gotten the idea to wrap Kenna in padding yet.”
Emma shook her head, “Oh, I can actually do better than that. This morning I was lying in bed with Dalton, feeling all warm and cozy. When Kenna made a little squeak, he almost knocked me onto the ground, trying to get to her.”
All three of them kept laughing.
“Damn you, I don’t know if I am going to come here anymore. You guys are going to break me,” Mia said, handing Ryleigh a hundred-dollar bill.
Kind of puzzled, Emma asked, “Why do you keep on giving people money, Mia?”
Mia responded, “Well, the first one was for the bet I lost about you and Ryleigh’s coffee habits. Cash bet me he could have proved that you two were sisters even without a DNA test, so I accepted. The second one was because I bet Ryleigh that it would take you at least six months to start sleeping with Dalton.”
Flustered, Emma said, “We're not, we haven’t…”
“It's okay, this is only between us girls here. If you want my opinion, you two are perfect for each other. Has Dalton told you that you’re his mate yet?” Ryleigh asked.
“Yes, but that’s why I wanted to talk to you, Mia. Dalton said we couldn’t do anything, well, you know…” Emma said, indicating her lower region, “-until you released me medically.”
Emma felt her face heat. If she was a betting girl like Mia, she would bet that right about now she could give a stop sign a run for its money.
“Well, your last exam was good and you have been steadily healing. Why don’t we go down to the exam room and we will thoroughly check things out so you will know before the men head out. That way you can give Dalton a goodbye to remember.” Mia said, wiggling her eyebrows in a comical way.
Emma wanted to die. She craved Dalton, badly, but she didn’t want to advertise the fact to the rest of the team.
“Sounds good to me,” Emma mumbled and followed Mia down to the exam room.
“I’ll see you two in a bit,” Ryleigh said, parting from the group. She headed in the opposite direction, giving a little wave as she left.
After some uncomfortable moments, Mia finished up the exam and said, “Well, you are safe to resume normal sexual activity. I wouldn’t do anything too crazy for a couple of weeks, but if you feel any discomfort, just try a different position.”
Emma wanted to turn away from the women; she was so blunt. Emma wasn’t a prude, but she also wasn’t a hooker. Some things were meant to be private. At least it was just her and Mia in the room.
“Physically, you are doing great. I would like to see you gaining more weight and we need to work on that, but with Cash’s cooking, you have gained 5 pounds. Which is a good start. The PT has also helped with your muscle tone. With you doing more around the lodge, I can see a good improvement in your strength. I’m going to recommend you take the guys up on their offer and do some more self-defense training. It will help you both physically and mentally. Ava said your sessions are also going really well, and has said that you two agreed to cut them down to once a week. Which is awesome because it means you are improving.”
“Thanks, Mia. For this and everything else you have done for me. I wouldn’t be in the shape I am today without all of your help.”
“It is what any doctor would do, but Emma, I want you to know I consider you a friend and I hope you feel the same way. By the way, Ava feels the same. She is actually going to come out here when they get a break in the case that she is working. With her line of work, she stays pretty close to home, but you have her wanting to visit. She even has a picture of Kenna on her phone. She is definitely a proud Auntie, just like Ryleigh and me. I hope you’re okay with that. We have adopted you, little sister. You’re definitely a part of our little mismatched family. Like it or not.”
“I have always wanted a family of my own and you guys make it so easy,” Emma admitted. “I love the thought of Kenna growing up with all of you as her crazy family. It's even better knowing that if something happened to me, she would have people that actually loved her and would take care of her. I never had that and my daughter does; I feel truly blessed,”
Emma couldn’t help getting a little emotional. Ryleigh came in shortly after and handed her a folder.
“What’s this?” Emma asked.
“Oh, that is just your portfolio and Kenna’s trust fund information,” Ryleigh responded.
Dumbfounded, Emma could only say, “Huh?”
When she opened up the folder, Emma had to sit down. She had never seen so many zeros in her life.
“Ryleigh, what’s going on? You don’t have to give me money.”
Mia laughed, “Didn't anyone tell you about Ryleigh’s unique talents?”
“Ah no,” Emma said.
“She is a financial whiz kid; has been since she was two,” Mia quipped.
“Yeah, I can make a million dollars out of a thousand in about a week,” Ryleigh said, like it was no big deal. “You and Kenna have been here about two months now. I’m sorry, but I have been kind of slacking. As for Kenna’s trust, that wasn’t all me, although, I will keep on adding funds to it. All the guys wanted to chip in too.”
“This is just too much. I mean…I can’t take this,” Emma said, floored by the events taking place.
“Well, you don’t have much choice,” Ryleigh said. “We already did it. I have portfolios for all my family. Since Kenna is my niece and you are my sister, you're going to have one too. As for the guys chipping in on Kenna’s trust, let them do it. It is part of their pack mentality to provide for their own. They are all financially well off; it fulfills an instinct and makes them happy to do it. They all love you and that little girl. I actually had to limit how much they could contribute.”
And the tears were off once again. Emma couldn’t remember ever crying as much as she has since meeting these people. She never thought people like this existed.
All she could say was, “Thank you all so much.”
“You will find debit cards, credit cards, and a checkbook in the back,” Ryleigh continued. “I thought that if you wanted, you could do some online shopping while the guys are gone. You haven’t been able to pick out anything for yourself or McKenna since you got here. It might be a good dist
raction.”
“Don’t worry about using them. The accounts are all valid and completely untraceable to your name or social security number. I had Bas and his sister make sure. They are also monitoring them for anyone trying to access information about you, just in case. Peyton has had a couple of hits but wasn’t able to track them back fast enough. When Wyatt gets back, they will be able to set a trap and piggyback each other to find out who is looking for you. Maybe sooner since Bas just sent Wyatt her way.”
“Damn, I had kind of hoped they wouldn’t be looking for me,” Emma admitted. “Wishful thinking, right? Why would they go to the trouble of capturing, containing, and impregnating me if they didn’t want to find me? But I have really been enjoying my happy bubble. I wasn’t quite ready to let reality creep in. I knew that was going to happen when I woke up this morning with the mission, but damn, I just kind of hoped. One question though. I thought you said that Kenna was the first Shifter female. If Bas has a sister, how can she be the first?”
“No way is anyone going to get near you or McKenna again,” Ryleigh said. “Please trust me on that. But just to be safe, I want to talk to you about something. Wyatt and Tory have developed a tracker that is implanted under the skin. You can choose the location and it only takes a second to insert. We usually go for between the toes or in the armpit. I have one and so does every member of the Holly Group. I would like you to have one implanted also. Maybe even Kenna, if you’re okay with it. Please know, it’s just a precaution. You’re both safe here, like I said.”
Ryleigh continued without a beat, “Mine saved my life not too long ago. Only Wyatt and Tory have the ability to activate the trackers. I know you haven’t met them yet, but they are very good people. I have put my life in their hands. I don’t think you will necessarily need it, but better safe than sorry, right.”
“Okay, if you think I should have it,” Emma decided. “I agree, but I think I should talk to Dalton before we do anything with Kenna. I like the idea of you guys being able to find me, just in case something goes wrong. So, pick the place and stick me, sis.”
Even though Emma made light, the decision was not an easy one. She knew the risks now and she was more than happy to let the Alpha Team know her every location. Picking between her toes for the injection, it was the oddest sensation; like having a splinter that you couldn’t pick out.
After talking with Ryleigh, she discovered the sensation would fade. The security in knowing she could be found if she was ever taken, more than alleviated the discomfort. After they were all done, Emma went off to see her daughter. She was going to be leaving her in an hour for the first time and it was killing her.
Chapter 41
She found the two loves of her life in the bedroom. Dalton was rocking Kenna while humming her a soft tune. Emma just stood and stared for a moment, taking in the contentment she felt every time she saw them together. Dalton looked at her daughter with such love, it almost hurt watch, but it hurt even more not to. Not wanting to disturb the happy moment, Emma stayed in the doorway. It was beyond Kenna’s naptime, but Emma knew how Dalton was feeling; just wanting to hold on for a little longer until the inevitable came and they had to leave.
Daltons voice surprised her out of her thoughts, “Hey honey, how did everything go with Ryleigh and Mia?”
“Oh, everything went fine. Mia gave me a clean bill of health, but told me to gain more weight. Ryleigh implanted a tracker that she said some people named Wyatt and Tory created. Kind of freaked me out, but not as much as this folder did,” Emma said, placing the folder on the dresser. “How did you manage to wrestle Kenna away from the guys?”
“Didn’t have to. She is my little girl; they don’t have a choice. If I want her, they just have to deal,” Dalton said, grinning wide. “What’s that you have in your hand?”
“It's my portfolio and Kenna’s trust fund. I can’t even wrap my head around it. Six months ago, I was eating Ramen and worried about paying the rent in my crappy apartment. Now I can literally buy anything I want. Kenna could pick an Ivy League college to attend, and it would hardly make a dent. What’s truly messed up is that Ryleigh had the nerve to apologize because she said she was slacking.”
“Dang Dalton, I don’t even know what to think. My life has changed so much in such a short time,” Emma said, walking over and falling to her knees next to Dalton in the chair, placing her head on his thigh. She needed his reassurance the safety he provided. “For the first time in my life I feel loved and accepted. To be financially secure, especially now that I have a child, means the world to me. I have a family of my own, thanks to you, my baby. It’s overwhelming; this feeling I have. I feel am truly blessed.”
Dalton laughed and ran his free hand down her hair, “Yeah, the first time Rye handed us all our portfolios, you could have heard a pin drop in the room. We were all doing pretty good with government contracts and other things, but Ryleigh shot even that to the moon. Just wait until you get one next month and the amount has doubled. The woman is a miracle worker with money.”
Emma didn’t even want to think about it. No way could she spend that much money. She loved the changes in her life, but they were still overwhelming. Deciding to talk with Ava once the mission was complete, she just let the moment with Dalton sooth her. She never realized how much she liked someone playing with her hair.
“Baby, I am glad you agreed to the tracker. You haven’t met Wyatt yet, but he is a good man. I have known him since we were kids. I would trust him with your life or Kenna’s if I had to, but it's not going to come to that. This mission is going to go off like clockwork and we are going to get all the answers we need.”
Dalton gripped some of her hair in his fist, lifting her face from his thigh. Moving forwarded he placed a kiss on her lips and the moment was heaven for Emma. The man had a way of making her feel safe with a simple touch, but his kisses made her feel loved. Emma never wanted to let that feeling go.
“Baby, I know you're trying to be brave and not letting it show how much this is all affecting you, but you’re safe here, with or without me. Let me carry some of the burden. I know you don’t like the idea of the team going to Ohio, but you need to trust me; it will be okay. This is what we are trained for. We have done it many times, not to mention the fact that we are the best in the world at what we do. Every precaution has been taken. Nothing is going to happen.”
Emma stopped him. She knew he was right; she needed answers and so did the Alpha Team and the rest of the Shifters. If that meant putting on her big girl panties and ripping her heart out by watching the man she loved leave, then she had to do it. It was that important. The knowledge just didn’t make it suck any less! This would be the first time since they met that she and Dalton would be apart. Emma placed her hand on his cheek and looked into her man’s eyes. She knew, in her soul, that he would be the only man she would ever love. Without words, she let him know that she would deal with him leaving, no matter how much it hurt.
Kissing the end of her nose and looking into her eyes, he said, “After you have positively identified the facility, we will set up surveillance to determine the best time to gain entry. Then the guys and I will go in and get whatever intel we can grab; easy in and out”. He sensed her concern and in an attempt to sooth her, he said, “Why don’t you, Kenna, and myself have a little family cuddle time? Jacks is supposed to call a meeting in a couple hours to go over all the intel we have already collected. We aren’t heading out until tonight, so we can be there bright and early.”
Emma couldn’t think of anything better. Dalton led her to the bed, urging her to lay down. He then placed Kenna in her arms and walked around the bed, climbing in behind them. Spooning her from behind, he pulled her close. For a few minutes, everything was right in the world. Emma felt safe within the cocoon Dalton had created with his arms. Best of all, he was safe too. They lay there, neither of them sleeping.
Jacks knocked on the door a short time later. It was all happening too fast. Emma just w
anted more time; more time with Dalton, more time not thinking about what was about to happen, just more time in her happy bubble before it completely busted. Reality had a way of creeping in.
Dalton went off to his meeting and Emma decided she didn’t want to wait any longer. He worked an extremely dangerous job and she had a fanatical group or groups gunning for her and her daughter. Would there ever be a time when she and Dalton could just concentrate on themselves or their future? She didn’t think so and she knew just what to do to convince Dalton they needed to move their relationship forward. Dalton would be leaving in a couple of hours and she wanted to make each moment count before he had to leave. Running down the hall, she asked Ryleigh if she would take Kenna for a while. Thankfully she agreed without asking any questions. No way was she telling her sister or the rest of the lodge what her plans were.
Dalton was finally making his way down to the bedroom. He was dog tired and ready for just a little time alone with Emma and Kenna. The coming days were going to be tough because he would be away from them for the first time. Neither he nor his bear liked the idea of leaving their mate and cub. His protective instinct was going crazy.
When he opened the door to the bedroom, to say he was in shock from what greeted him, was an understatement. Emma was kneeling on the floor at the end of the bed, completely naked. Her eyes downcast and her hands clasped behind her back. It was the most gorgeous sight he had ever seen. He had dreamed of her many times, just like this.
Snapping back to reality, Dalton questioned her, “Baby, you look gorgeous and just made one of my fantasies come true, but what are you doing?” He kneeled down next to her, placing his finger under her chin so she could look into his eyes.
“Dalton, it is time to take our relationship further. I want to give you all your fantasies,” Emma assured him. “All the reasons you had for stopping last night no longer apply. I have been given a clean bill of health; there is no reason to wait anymore. I love you, Dalton, and I want you to make love to me. Baby, I need you to make love to me. I’m not scared … please Dalton, I need you,” Emma said with a blush.
Dalton: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 2) Page 28
