Page 96 of Wicked Revenge

“I taught you everything you know, Red. You know this is the right call,” Dax’s gruff voice breaks me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“I know it is,” I say quietly, spinning in a circle to face them all. “I’ll stay behind, but I want you to call me as soon as you have an update. I’m going to continue to spiral until I hear from you. Don’t make me wait until you get back here.”

“Actually, I think I have a better idea,” Royal says. “Ella, can you take the girls to Twisted? They can stay downstairs or in your office. That way you're closer to us, and I’ll send some of our men just in case anything happens.”

“Of course. Whatever you need. Should I close today?”

“No, we don’t want to raise any suspicions. Business as usual. Raena and Snow can just stay out of sight,” Royal tells her, pulling me into his arms and kissing my forehead. “I will keep you updated. I promise. We will get all the information and make a decision together.”

“I trust you, Royal. I trust all of you. With my life and my daughters’. Just promise me one thing. If you see a safe opening, get her out of there.”

Royal picks me up, cradling me to his rock-hard body before whispering into my hair.

“I promise, Angel.”

***

“Oh my God! Raena LeRoux. I thought I’d never see you again,” Ella’s mom says as she closes the office door behind her, tears filling her crystal-blue eyes that match her daughters.

“Mrs. Stone! It’s so good to see you,” I tell her, letting her pull me into a crushing hug that rivals both Ella and Snow in intensity.

“Ella just told me you were back. I’m so sorry about your Grams. She was a beautiful soul,” she says when she pulls back to smooth my hair down like she has done many times in my childhood.

Mrs. Stone was more of a mother figure than mine ever was. Growing up, I had both her and my Grams to give me the motherly guidance I was lacking from my own mom.

“She definitely was. Thank you. Ella told me about Mr. Stone, I’m so sorry. He was an amazing man,” I tell her, hoping my eyes show how sincerely I mean that. Ella has been telling me how much of a hard time her mom has had grieving the past year.

“He was,” she says, a look of guilt flashing across her face so quickly I could have imagined it before she shakes her head. “Two amazing people, gone before their time. It’s heartbreaking…” Her voice trails off as she gathers herself. “But enough with the sadness for now. Let me make you two some food. Is the special still your favorite?”

“Thank you. The special is perfect,” I tell her, my voice breaking a bit. Snow nods, smiling at Mrs. Stone as she leaves the office.

Blowing out a breath, I take a seat on the couch once again, gripping the phone with my life and willing it to ring. The guys dropped us off here about an hour ago.

The GPS coordinates said the location was about 20 minutes outside of town. My leg bounces with anxious energy while my mind races with every possible bad outcome that could happen.

“Red,” Snow says, sitting next to me, her hand stills my furious bouncing. “You’re going to make yourself sick with worry. You know the guys will update us as soon as they have something. Why don’t you tell me about those gorgeous Shadow men you’ve been hiding out with?”

I’m thankful for the distraction, even if this subject is a hard one, also. Blowing out a nervous breath, I tell her everything.

“I don’t even know where to begin, Snow. I’ve never felt like this for anyone. I’ve never even been in a relationship with one man, let alone three at the same time. But it’s like I have this pull to each of them. Picking one of them isn’t even an option. The connection I feel with them, it feels like… like fate. Like our souls are tethered to each other. I know it sounds crazy. I sound crazy. We haven’t even known each other very long…” I trail off, unable to explain this weird connection I have with them. “I know I sound batshit crazy.”

“Actually,” she says, giving me a warm smile, “it sounds like how I feel about my Huntsmen. I could never choose between them. What I share with each of them, the connections we have individually and as a family, it transcends love. It’s special– not everyone will get it or even understand it, but I do. I am happy for you, Red. After everything you’ve suffered, everything you survived, you deserve a love that sets your soul on fire. A love that consumes you. And if you’ve found that, don’t question it. Embrace it. Even if it scares you.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I listen to her. If anyone could relate, it’s Snow.

“Thank you. I thought I would be alone for the rest of my life. Now I have a family I never knew I needed. I just want to get my daughter back and start our lives together. I want King to die for what he has done, and then I never want to look back. He has stolen so much from me. I won’t allow him to steal another minute of my future with my family.”

“Then, that’s what we’ll make happen, Red. You’re not alone in this anymore. You have people to lean on, to fight this fight with you,” she tells me, patting my leg as she stands to her feet.

“We aren’t nearly done talking about this, I want all the juicy details of what you’ve been up to, but first, I really need to find the bathroom,” she says, holding her stomach.

“Are you okay?” I ask, concerned.

“Well, this isn’t how I wanted to tell you, but I’m pregnant. And this little one is not being very kind to my bladder,” she says, pointing to her stomach.

“Oh my God. Snow! I’m so happy for you. You’re going to be a wonderful mother,” I tell her as I stand up and pull her into a hug. She is really going to be an amazing mom. She just has this nurturing aura about her. “Are the guys excited? Wait, which one is the father?”

“Thank you. Yes, they are all over the moon. And overprotective. And overbearing. This is one of the main reasons Ro was so concerned about me staying behind with you.”

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