Page 23 of Rekindled Heart

I sigh and call the school, explaining that there’s a family emergency. They immediately offer to get Christopher ready so that we can pick him up in ten minutes or so.

“That would be great! Thank you,” I say, hanging up.

“Who the hell is Jace and why does he know about my sister, Ricky?”

He growls under his breath and shoots me a stoic glare. “He’s the private eye I hired to find out what was going on. He followed her to Vegas.”

I stiffen and glare back at him. “You didn’t have any business getting involved in what’s going on with her.”

He meets me glare for glare, his dark eyes burning fiery gold. “Oh, I beg to differ, baby girl. You were shot and lost something very important to both of us…all because of what your sister is involved in! That makes me a part of whatever the hell all of this is. And the fact that she slipped away from her handlers and she’s on the way here, most likely with whatever the hell she was playing in following along behind her…that threatens both of you. I absolutely refuse to lose you again!”

I shiver at the anger and fear thrumming in his words. “I didn’t do any of this on purpose. I just couldn’t let her get killed.”

He nods his head. “I get that, baby. Really, I do. Family is everything to you and me. But one of these days you and Christopher will be my family and if your sister threatens that with whatever harebrained scheme she’s involved in, she needs to be reined in. For instance, she should have stayed with her handlers in Vegas and waited on the damn trial that Jace mentioned to get started. Now she’s threatening the trial and you and Christopher…again! What the hell is wrong with her?”

I know it’s a rhetorical question that he’s asking but really…I’ve asked myself the same thing. Especially after I got shot.

I know that Angel is selfish. Never more so than right now when she’s betting her boredom against my son’s safety. My mind shrinks when I think about my other lost child.

I will not let anything else threaten my baby! Not even Angel! She needs to learn that my priority is making sure that my family is safe. I love her and I always will but if she loved me…how could she come here knowing what happened last time?

We pull into the school parking lot and he steps out with me. I eye him uncertainly. He lifts a dark brow. “Until this is straightened out, you don’t go anywhere without me. Consider me your shadow, baby girl.”

I grimace but lead the way to the school. Christopher is waiting in the office and darts towards me. He throws himself atRicky and I and grins. “What’s going on? Are we going to get the tree?”

I shake my head and sign the paperwork to sign him out. The secretary studies the three of us but doesn’t say a word. She just leans over. “Does Margot know yet? I’m sure she’s thrilled!”

I grimace again. “Ummm. No, we’ve been kinda busy. It’s not what you think!”

She smirks at me and winks. “I’m sure you’re trying to keep things quiet for a while. Keep things peaceful for the holidays.”

I snort and cover it with a cough. “Yeah, sure. We’ve got to get going. Thank you so much, Cheryl, for making sure Christopher is ready. We’ve got to get going!”

Then I turn around and practically bolt out the door, Ricky picking up Christopher and following close behind me.

TWELVE

Ricky

It’sa quiet night at the ranch. All the men are bunked up except a few trusted men that I have patrolling the edges of our land. I’ve notified Sebastian and he’s keeping an eye on that side of our border. I notified the sheriff and he’s also trying to find out who the other parties are and how bad the trouble is that might be coming our way.

Christopher yawns and rubs his gray eyes and Caro smiles at him. “How about we go ahead and get you ready for bed?”

“I want to go see Harold,” he grumbles sleepily.

Caro sneaks a peek at me but says nothing. Guess this one is on me.

I kneel down in front of Christopher’s stiff little body. “Hey, buddy. We can do that tomorrow. But it’s kinda windy tonight and there are storms forecast. It’s better if we stay inside tonight and go see him tomorrow.”

Caro picks him up and he wraps an arm around her neck. Her forehead rests on his and my heart stills at that beautiful picture.

That right there is what I want more than anything. I want Caro as my wife and I want to be able to help her put Christopher to bed every night. I want to teach him how to ride on Harold when I haven’t even told Caro that I bought Haroldfor Christopher when she was here before. I knew that there was something special in the air at that time.

Sure, her disappearance was a little bump in the road and I’m still fighting the anger at that choice and what it cost us. Our family.

But I also almost lost Caro. And that thought is more terrifying than giving my heart to her. I want her. Forever.

She walks out of the room, cuddling her sleepy son and I wish more than anything that Christopher would call me Daddy and tell me good night in that sleepy little voice.

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