Page 21 of Seeking Salvation

“I will.”

He closed the door feeling shaken by the revelation but there wasn’t time to wallow as his son let out a loud cry.

Chapter 6

Opening up to a room full of strangers had left her feeling raw and exposed and, as she bathed Tyrique after his poo-splosion, she relished in the time it allowed her to fortify her walls. Despite their kindness and understanding, these people were strangers and her gut was telling her there was way more to them than what she saw on the surface.

The speed with which the one they called Watchdog found that information was boggling to her and spoke of an understanding about law enforcement or, perhaps worse, a background in crime. Then there were all the crazy nicknames. Bás translated to death, so did Reaper, and it made her spine tingle.

Tyrique kicked his legs and gurgled a laugh, loving the warm water on his skin and the freedom to move without the confines of a nappy. He was such a happy baby and she felt dragged under by a wave of grief every time she thought of her sister not getting to see him grow up.

Lifting Tyrique from the tub, she wrapped him in a fluffy, navy towel and sat her ass on the closed toilet lid. This bathroom was bigger than her apartment, having been a bedroom at one time. Titan had explained the cottage had three bedrooms originally but he hadn’t needed them and wanted a bigger bathroom.

The double-wide shower called to her and she desperately wanted to spend an hour under the hot spray, letting her mind empty of all the worries she carried. Although, since meeting Ti, she’d felt like everything weighed a lot less than it had before.

Perhaps it was knowing that, if something happened to her, Tyrique would be safe and well-loved. After seeing him with his friends, she had no doubt that he’d protect and love Tyrique.

Her belly warmed as she thought about the things he had said to her and how every moment around him felt charged with electricity. It had been a long time since she’d had such a visceral reaction to a man and, boy, was there a lot of man to lust over.

Heading back into the bedroom she would share with Tyrique, she dressed him in fresh pyjamas with little lions on the feet and lifted him against her chest. He snuggled into her neck, his tiny fist flexing around her hair.

A rush of love flowed through her making her heart squeeze. She’d loved her sister but what she felt for Tyrique was different. His love was unconditional towards her, whereas Rose had been effusive with her love as long as it pleased her.

Shaking the negative thought away, she headed down the stairs to the smell of garlic and tomatoes. Her belly rumbled and she remembered she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and she wasn’t sure a granola bar counted as food.

“Here, let me take him while you eat.”

Titan swooped in, taking Tyrique from her arms and pulling out her chair with his free hand. Before her was a steaming pasta dish with grilled chicken and garlic bread on the side.

“Did you make this?”

“I wish I could lie and say yes, but Seb brought it over.”

Maya cocked her head as she sat, her belly rumbling as the delicious smell invaded her. “Seb is Snow’s husband?”

“Yeah, he’s a good guy. Although we gave him a lot of shit when they first met.”

“You guys seem pretty close, have you worked together long?” She twirled her fork around the spaghetti and tried not to slurp as she took her first bite. A groan of pleasure erupted from her throat at the delicious flavours bursting on her tongue.

“Oh my God, this is so good.”

Titan was watching her, his dark eyes hooded with desire, and she felt her own body respond to the magnitude of this man. His aura was so huge it made him difficult to ignore, especially when he cradled his son so gently in his arms, but she had to try.

“So have you?” Maya cleared the croak from her throat and pulled her eyes back to her food.

“Have I what?”

“Worked with these guys a long time?”

Titan shifted slightly, bringing Tyrique closer to his chest before he sat opposite her, seemingly quite content to hold his sleeping son, rather than place him in the travel crib set up in her room. “A while, yes, and you could say we’re like family. We’ve been through a lot together and those kinds of bonds, the ones forged in fire, are the strongest.”

Maya nodded. “Like me and Rose in some ways. Even before we lost our parents it was always us against the world.” Her words trailed off as she realised how alone she really was. Yes, she had Tyrique but for how long? Titan would probably meet someone unless… oh God, did he already have a girlfriend or wife she didn’t know about?

Her head shot up and she pinned him with a questioning gaze. “Are you married?”

His lips quirked in the sexiest smile as he shook his head. “No.”

“Girlfriend?”

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