Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(24)

“He’s strong. He’s going to find that asshole harassing you and make it stop. And don’t get mad—Blake only told me the basics. Ryder is the kind of man who would happily stand between you and the world. Give him a chance, and he’ll change your life in so many wonderful ways. He knows what he’s doing. I don’t know his history, but Blake told me the other night that he’s truly one of the best in the security field. And that means a lot coming from him—Ryder isn’t exactly his favorite person. So if he says he’s good, he’s good.”

Felicity turned to Alexis. “I want to, but—”

“No buts,” Alexis whispered. “Help him do his job, Felicity.”

“How?”

“Talk to him. Tell him everything you can about whoever is after you. Why he’s after you. Everything.”

“But if I tell him everything, he won’t like me anymore.”

Alexis shifted baby Ace in her arms and scooted closer to Felicity. “Bullshit.”

“Alexis. Language!” Felicity admonished again.

The other woman chuckled. “When I first met you, I was so intimidated by you. I thought you were some sort of motorcycle chick who ate those weaker than you for breakfast. But you hardly ever swear, and sometimes I think you’re nicer than Grace is . . . and that’s saying something. Seriously, Felicity. That man doesn’t give a shit what’s in your past. All he sees is you, and he likes what he sees.”

Her words were so close to what Ryder had said earlier that day that Felicity flinched.

Alexis continued. “I’m so in love with Blake, I don’t know what I’d do without him and can’t remember my life before him. When I was in trouble and the Inca Boyz had me, the only thing I could think about was holding on for Blake. I knew he’d move heaven and earth to get to me. You can’t be afraid to live life, Felicity. Yeah, you’ve got more troubles right now than the average person, but life isn’t guaranteed. You could die in a car crash tomorrow. Or Ryder could. You only have one life to live.”

Felicity stared at Alexis. “How’d you get so smart?” She whispered.

“Experience.”



Ryder couldn’t stop himself from glancing up at Felicity every couple of minutes. He couldn’t get their earlier kiss out of his mind, and it seemed that she couldn’t either. He’d catch her looking at him every now and then, and every time he did, she’d blush.

He wasn’t sure it was the best idea for him to bring her to his brother’s house when he knew Blake wasn’t exactly fond of him, but Ryder wasn’t going to leave her side, not if he could help it. And he thought Felicity spending some time with Alexis and her godbabies might be good for her.

And it seemed it was.

She was visibly more relaxed.

And he couldn’t believe how amazing she looked with little Nate in her arms. He hadn’t really thought about having children, but seeing Felicity holding a baby did something to him. Made him want what his brother had. He wanted a family . . . with Felicity. Ached to see her round with his child. She’d make an amazing mother, and he wanted to experience every second of it with her. Morning sickness, hormones out of control, even the birth. He wanted to be right at her side the first time they heard their child take his or her first breath.

“I think I found it!” Blake said enthusiastically.

Ryder almost dropped the stack of papers he’d been holding at Blake’s loud exclamation. Shaking his head to try to get his head back into what they were doing, he went to stand behind Blake.

His brother was holding an envelope as if it contained anthrax instead of a simple piece of paper.

“That’s my mom’s handwriting,” Ryder confirmed. When Blake didn’t move to open the letter, he asked, “Want me to do it?”

Blake shook his head. Alexis came up next to him and awkwardly put her arm around him since she was still holding baby Ace. “Blake?”

“It’s just that . . . he was married. He shouldn’t have done it,” Blake said softly.

“Your dad was miserable,” Alexis consoled. “With three babies at home. I’m sure your mom was making his life hell. You can’t blame him for looking elsewhere for affection.”

Blake looked up at Alexis. “I’d never cheat on you, Lex. I don’t care how many crying babies we had at home.”

Alexis put her hand on Blake’s face. “I know you wouldn’t. But then again, I would never hit you. Scream at you and throw a cast-iron pot at your head.” Her words were affectionate and soft, but laced with steel. “You can’t judge people until you’ve stood in their shoes. I know you loved your dad, and experienced some of the same abuse he did, but you aren’t him. You can’t judge him based on our marriage.”

Blake sighed and looked back down at the letter in his hand. Then up at Ryder. “You seen this?”

Ryder shook his head. “No. My mom only told me she wrote him, not exactly what she said.” He felt more than saw Felicity come up beside him. She stood next to him, supporting him, without saying a word.

Blake hesitated for a beat, then opened the flap of the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded it and laid it flat on the desk in front of him.

All four adults gasped at what they saw.