Page 57 of Home Free

“Within the week,” Alexa said.

“That’s good at least,” Kate said. “You won’t have to wait for long.”

“True, and we still have our names in with a couple of other birth mothers just in case this doesn’t work out.”

Silence settled among them and Julia poured herself a little more wine before looking at Alexa and Kate. “Thanks again for helping us clean up. I know you’re both super busy.”

“Of course. I’m only two streets over,” Alexa said. “I can be here in under five minutes if you need me.”

“Thanks. I have to admit I feel better with Hawk here,” Julia said.

As if on cue the door to the house opened, and Hawk McGregor stepped out onto the patio, aviators shielding his eyes, five o’clock shadow shading his defined jaw.

He nodded their way. “Ladies.”

Elise could almost feel the hormonal ripple through their group.

She’d been shocked when she’d returned to Boston to find the imposing man standing watch on the patio. She didn’t know what she’d expected when Ronan said he’d hired someone to guard the house, but it wasn’t Hawk McGregor.

Their eyes were glued on his retreating figure until he disappeared through the locked gate.

“Holy pregnancy hormones,” Kate said, fanning herself. “I hope Dec gets back soon. I’ve been so ridiculously horny and that man isn’t helping.”

Julia laughed. “Can we all stop ogling my bodyguard?”

“Listen, I only have eyes for Nick, but can we just acknowledge that that man is as hot as a five-alarm fire?”

Elise laughed and shook her head. She hardly noticed other men anymore, not since Finn, but even she had to admit there was something compelling about the man named Hawk, although she would argue it had as much to do with his demeanor as his towering height, wide shoulders, and muscled physique, not to mention eyes that were so dark it was like looking into Nietzsche’s figurative abyss.

“I mean, if Ronan had to install a stranger in the house, he could have done worse,” Julia acknowledged with a grin.

“Don’t tell him that,” Kate said. “Hawk’ll be replaced by a geriatric mall cop by the end of the day.”

They all laughed.

Elise looked around the table at the women who had become her friends, her family. They’d been there for her through thick and thin, had had her back when she’d needed it most, had closed ranks around her when she’d needed to feel safe.

She would miss them when she left with Finn.

The thought of him caused worry to flutter in her stomach. Scotland was a few hours ahead, which meant they might be on their way to Castle Blackridge at that very minute.

She thought of him — maybe in the boat that would take them to the Isle of Skye, maybe already entering Achilles’ fortress — and sent a prayer out onto the wind.

Not just that he would be safe, but that he would be whole. He’d been waiting to make Achilles pay since that day he’d hidden in the bushes with Petro, but after what had happened with Eudorus, Elise wasn’t entirely sure it would bring the closure he so desperately needed.

She remembered the way he’d cried in her arms after killing Eudorus, the torment in his eyes. Once Achilles was dead, it was done. There would be no do-over if Finn had regrets.

No going back.

However he came home, she wanted him, wanted to be with him.

She just hoped he could live with himself.

33

Finn clung to the side of the motorboat as they soared over the tops of the waves, then slammed down into the wells created on the other side. There was no moon, the night so dark it was like flying through a vacuum in time and space.

They’d opted not to put on their comms gear until they reached land, not wanting to risk having it end up in the water, and they were silent as Ronan steered the boat via some mysterious navigational sense none of them shared.

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