Page 42 of Rugged Fox

"I did laugh at you but it turns out you were right like usual. No need to relish in your need to be overprepared."

Lyla and I laughed, but hers turned into a coughing fit.

"Do you need to go to the hospital to get checked out?"

Lyla waved me off. "I already signed my refusal. Lucien, on the other hand, had to wait for you to arrive. The EMT said we’re fine. It's from the extinguisher but we didn't inhale that much. Water and rest is all we need."

I wasn't so sure about that, but I knew Lyla would never put Lucien in harm’s way. She loved him just as fiercely as I did.

The blare of a ringing phone caught my attention. Nolen mumbled his apology before stepping away to answer it.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you." I pushed my son's hair out of his eyes. I could still feel Easton's presence behind me, but I was doing my best to ignore it. The closer we got to my house, the guiltier I felt. “I should've been home to protect you, not out enjoying myself.”

"Mom, stop!" Lucien grabbed my hand and cradled it in his own. "This wasn't your fault and don't you dare apologize for going out for one night to have a life. You deserve it and this better not stop you from doing it again."

"You mean you didn't miss me?” I whined. “We used to spend every moment together. What happened to my little boy?"

Lucien rolled his eyes and I had to chuckle. It was such a teenage response. "You're my mother, so sure, I'm going to miss you, but not as much as I miss you having a life. You've waited long enough. Don't you think it's time you did things for yourself? You're not getting any younger, ya know. Did you or did you not have fun tonight before Nolen called?"

I chewed on the side of my lip. It was one of the best nights of my life. Easton was everything I didn't know I was looking for in a partner. I had been happy to live out the rest of my life without finding someone. Slowly, Easton had changed that for me.

"I had a lot of fun," I finally whispered.

Easton stepped closer and placed one hand on my side. It was just enough to tell me he was there for support but not overwhelming me. I was glad he had waited to step forward. This man was so damn in tune with my feelings it was a little scary.

Lucien's lips tipped up into a boyish smile. "I'm so happy for you, Mom." He looked over my shoulder at Easton. "Thank you for keeping your word."

"I'll always keep my word when it comes to the two of you."

A throat clearing kept me from the sappy response that was on the tip of my tongue. Damn this man. He was turning me into a lovesick fool.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I thought you would want to hear this." Nolen stepped closer and first locked eyes with Easton. They seemed to share some kind of silent conversation before turning to me. "I just got word that Alejandro didn't make it. He died from complications of the stabbing."

Did I really just hear that right? Did one of my dreams finally come true? I glanced at my son first. Relief was written all over his face. Next, I found my best friend. Her excitement matched mine. But when I looked at Easton, the reality finally sank in.

What did Alejandro's death mean for Lucien? Would people stop coming after him now that the man who contributed to his existence no longer lived?

I sure as hell hoped so.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Easton

Maverick and I secured our guns, phones, and keys into the provided lockbox. After being notified of Alejandro's death, Maverick called in a few favors and got us a private visit with Alejandro's former cellmate. We were hoping that we could get some answers to several of our questions.

"Is Diego aware we’re meeting him?" I waited as one of the guards checked us over with a wand. Once they were convinced we didn't carry anything that could be used to harm an individual or pass on anything illegal, we were escorted to a private room often used by lawyers to meet with their clients.

"He's aware we want to discuss Alejandro with him. But no, he doesn't know who we are."

It wouldn't matter either way. I was here for one reason and I didn't plan on leaving until I got what I came for.

Diego was being escorted in just as we strolled up. He was a weasel of a man. The guy couldn't be more than five and a half feet tall on a good day. His hundred and fifty pounds looked to be held mostly in the middle area and his shaggy hair covered half of his face. I couldn't imagine how the guy managed to survive prison life so far.

"Hello, Diego." I let Maverick take the lead as we pulled out the chairs across the table from where Diego was just shackled.

"You're not federal agents." Diego's dirty-brown eyes shifted back and forth, first between the two of us and then to the door. The guard who escorted him in was now stationed on the outside with his back facing us. If Diego expected help from him, he was sadly mistaken.

"We never said we were."

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