Page 81 of Under Their Protection

“They have. Ava has been helping the best she can to keep them happy,” Rowan says. “I’ll make a few calls for you today and update your main clients like Andrea.”

“As long as you are sitting and sleeping every now and again, you can work all you want,” he says. “I’ll have a nurse call in a few days for you to make an appointment for a post op check. I will also call in a prescription for pain medication if you need it. Come back in if you have a fever, severe swelling, or pain.”

“Okay. Thank you for not letting me die,” I smile.

“You are welcome, Anika,” he smiles.

My entire life has been let down after let down until I became an adult. I met Mia and Rowan. I started my amazing career. I met Max. Although I had to go through awful things to get where I am, I wouldn’t change anything.

I am cherished by three amazing men who would do anything for me and I would lay my life down for. I have wonderful friends who support me unconditionally. I have a real family and real love in my life.

Under their protection I have learned how to become unstoppable.

Epilogue

Six months ago myex shot me. It hurt like a bitch and healing hurt even worse. The pain was manageable until I got home, but then it wasn’t. It took me a long time to get inside once we got home. I refused everyone’s help for the first hour of being inside until I nearly collapsed trying to go to the bathroom.

It took me a while to be fully functional again. I went back to work in the office about two months after the shooting and everyone was so excited to see me. Rowan and Mia planned a surprise welcome back party and I cried in front of my entire office.

Rowan was insistent that I didn’t have to but I did explain to them what happened and what led to the situation to begin with. The least shocking part for people was Rowan and I getting married.

Although we couldn’t get married legally, I had a commitment ceremony of sorts with Max and Theo. This gave Rowan and I an opportunity to have a real ceremony where others could attend.

The guys got together and designed a ring for me. It has three simple stones to represent each of them with ‘Love without limits’ inscribed on the inside of the band. Their bands have the same inscription.

Theo and Annie’s dynamic changed dramatically when she got pregnant with Andrew’s baby. There wasn’t any question that itwas his and not Theo’s. He and Annie hadn’t had sex in over two months when she got pregnant. Theo ended up spending most of his time helping Rowan and Max with me as I healed. This allowed Annie and Andrew to become even closer and Theo and I to become closer too.

They sat down and decided that because of the change in their relationship with me and Andrew, it was best that they divorce. Ultimately, Annie wanted to be married to Andrew and not Theo. They didn’t actually tell me until after they filed in fear of me thinking I split them apart. I still did think I was the cause. Hell, I still do. If I had never been shot, Theo never would have distanced himself from his wife.

Annie and Andrew moved out to prepare for the baby. We are all still friends. Theo and Annie still talk and communicate as before, but Theo has told me that the sexual part of their relationship is over because she wants to be monogamous with Andrew. I think I will always hold guilt for this, even though I know I did not directly cause it. I did not ask to get shot, and I did not ask for Theo to distance himself from Annie. Just as no one asked Annie to get closer to Andrew.

Harper was put on hospice care last week. I was informed when they got permission from the court to allow their lawyer to contact me. Emma had already warned me that someone was going to reach out because she acted on my behalf in court. I have not decided if I want to visit yet. If I do, then I will naturally see my parents as well. I haven’t decided if I want to see her before she passes, but I know me. I know I will go see her.

What no one but Emma knows is that I vouched for her to get put back on the transplant list. Harper is a bitch, but she was taught to be that way. Unlike my parents, I do think that she has redeemablequalities. I think that if she decided to, she could be a good person. She should not die because our parents are pieces of shit.

“Alright, guys. I know we normally have our meetings in the mornings but Anika and I ended up delayed at the airport for quite some time. Anika?” Rowan says.

“Right. Andrea Davis is currently in a contract with one of her books for the production of a movie. This is the first time the company has had an author who has gotten a movie deal. Andrea has requested in her contract with them that we will be in charge of any final checks of the script. In a roundabout way, this is just Andrea’s way of having our approval I suppose? I will have an editor go through the script alongside her book to ensure that it is an accurate representation of her publication. Beyond that, Amanda Larson was placed on the bestseller list for her newest book. Mia?” Mia goes through her authors before everyone else goes through theirs. Rowan dismisses us and I gather my stuff.

When I get back to my office, I start gathering my stuff to go home. I am facing away from the door so I don’t notice Mia come in until she is right behind me. I turn around to leave my office and scream when I run into her.

“Jesus. Would you not do that? You people are going to kill me one day,” I say breathlessly.

“Ready?” she grins.

“You good?” Rowan asks with a smirk from the doorway.

“You all find way too much joy in scaring me,” I frown.

“Theo and Max are here,” Rowan says.

“Why?” I ask as I turn and grab my phone. I see a text message that makes me happier than I ever thought it would.

Emma

She got a kidney. She’s in surgery now. She knows you got her on the list and wants to see you after.

Me

---