Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(64)

“What did you do?”

“I gave my son to Mandy, then I took a gun out to the field to kill myself…and her horse.”

“Oh, God. Rocco, I’m so sorry.”

“For real.”

“What happened?”

“Mandy’s horse had been through traumatic times too. I felt sorry for him. He was just like me. I think he knew why I’d come out to the field. The horse screamed at me. Then I screamed. And it felt so good that I kept screaming. I fired those bullets I’d brought up into the air. Then something broke loose in me. I cried. The horse kept everyone away for a while. We both mourned. That night, I decided to live the rest of my life. I’ll tell you it’s not without sorrow. But I’ve learned to appreciate the fact that my sorrow shows I have a soul, shows I’m human and alive. I thank God every morning for the new day I have and the chance to know good things that balance out the bad. I’m a miracle, Addy.”

Addy tried to blink away her tears.

“I think you could be one too, if you choose to be. Owen sure could use one.”

She nodded. “He wrote me letters. All the years he thought I was dead, he wrote to me.”

“That what he was doing?” Rocco smiled. “We all saw him writing his mysterious notes. I’m glad he was writing to you. So you’re out here trying to figure out how you’re going to leave the past behind and move on?”

She nodded. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Haven’t you given Edwards enough?” Rocco asked.

“I haven’t given him anything,” Addy said.

“That’s right. He took from you. He took everything.”

“I didn’t even give him hell.”

“Continuing to punish yourself means you’re still letting him steal your power. End it. Cut off the feed.”

“How?”

“By being present,” he said. “Right here, right now…it’s not a bad place to be. Don’t live in the past. Don’t live in the future. Live this very moment. Here, where people love you. Where you and your son are safe. Owen is going to find Augie.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Lion’s pride and the other groups he’s been in taught Augie to be resourceful. Don’t underestimate your son’s strength—or Owen’s determination.” Rocco straightened. He squeezed her shoulder and smiled at her. “Let a little hope in. I learned that one, too.”





20





Addy heard the commotion in the foyer later that afternoon. Her heart jumped, hammering out a beat that was too big to hold inside her chest. She pulled a deep breath as she stepped out into the sitting room connecting the suite of rooms near hers. Had Owen come back with the group? Or, at the very least, was there news from him?

She started down the long hall, afraid but hopeful. Her son and Zavi joined the group, followed by Zavi’s tutor.

Oh, God. Owen was there. With his friends, but alone. He saw her. She stopped. He went still.

The others turned to see what he was looking at. Seeing her, they parted, leaving her a direct path to him. He didn’t turn from her. No. He faced her, leaving himself open and vulnerable. She saw in his face everything she was feeling. Everything.

She’d read his letters, listened to his heart, learned he’d suffered every bit as much as she had. Her heart had died early on in her hell, but his had died again and again.

A tear slipped down her cheek. So much time had passed. So very much time. She wasn’t going to waste another second of it. Her pace quickened. She ran the last few steps before throwing herself at him. He caught her up in the tightest hug she’d ever known, tight enough that it warmed her heart.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck. She lost all awareness of the world around them. She didn’t know where she ended and he began. She filled her lungs with his scent.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

He bent and lifted her legs, draping them over his arm. He tightened his hold until she was face to face with him. “Not as much as I am.”

She caught his head in her hands, looking into his eyes as she said, “I love you.”

“I love you.” His mouth came down on hers.

She lost herself in his kiss, only becoming aware that they were moving when the light dimmed in the hallway.



Angel looked around at the group clustered in the foyer, and slowly grinned. “About freaking time.” Troy was frowning as the two went down the hall. Angel tousled his hair. “Don’t worry about your mom. She’s in good hands.”

Rocco called down the hall, “Troy’s with us, so have a good…talk.”

Zavi snorted. “My parents always have a talk after my mom kisses Papa.”

Rocco laughed and tightened his hold on Mandy, whose cheeks had turned pink.

“Want to go see the puppies?” Zavi asked Troy, who nodded, giving the long hallway a last look.

“We’ll go with you,” Blade said, holding his hand out for Eddie.

Angel checked Selena’s reaction to what had just happened. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be? Why do you guys keep asking me that?”

Angel shrugged. “Greer was taking bets on which cousin you’d hook up with.”