Page 55 of Rectify

Someone stepped into the room and she glanced up to find Aedan standing behind her.

“How is he?” Concern showed on his tired face.

She stood. “Scared. Exhausted. He wouldn’t let me turn any of the lights off. I had to swear that I wouldn’t leave him. God knows what he’s been through.”

He didn’t have any bruises. She’d checked him over thoroughly. He was hungry, scared, and tired, but he didn’t appear to be hurt. Physically, anyway.

“Poor little guy.” Aedan walked over and placed his arm around her. He kissed the top of her head.

“I’m so glad to have him back. I can’t even describe how relieved I am.” She was terrified this was just a dream she’d suddenly wake up from.

“I understand.”

She leaned over and kissed Mateo’s forehead. She stretched, barely holding in her groan. Now that the adrenaline had stopped pumping through her, she felt as though she’d aged twenty years.

Once they got Mateo back safely, they quickly made their way over the border and back to San Antonio, not wanting to stick around in Mexico any longer than they had to.

“Thank God Rogan found him,” she said as Aedan led her to the corner of the room. Sitting on an armchair, he drew her onto his lap. “I wasn’t sure that Diego would come through with a location for us. Especially after he said he wouldn’t help.”

“He came through in the end. That’s what counts.”

“What about Rogan? Has he come home yet?” Natalya asked.

“No, he’ll stay back in Nuevo Laredo to make sure all the loose ends are tied up.”

Cillian, one of Rogan’s men, had delivered Mateo to them while Rogan and the rest of his men went after the rest of the kidnappers. Somehow, they’d gotten some information on their whereabouts from the men who had been watching Mateo. She didn’t know how and she didn’t care. They deserved whatever happened to them.

“And the money?” she asked.

“He’s recovered it all.”

“Thank God.”

“I don’t care about the money. Mateo is safe. That’s all that matters.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you. I can never repay you.”

Placing his fingers under her chin, he tipped her face up and kissed her.

She pulled back reluctantly. “I can’t. If Mateo wakes up, if he needs me . . . ”

“Of course,” Aedan said immediately. “I understand.”

She wondered if he truly did. Mateo wasn’t his son. Suddenly, she felt unsure of everything. What did they actually have between them? Whatever they had built, it had a shaky foundation. Would Aedan still want to be with her now that Mateo was a reality in her life? Not everyone would want totake on another man’s child. And these certainly weren’t the best circumstances in which to start a relationship.

He’d told her to wait, to think about all of this once they’d found Mateo. Natalya now wondered if he’d said that because he was unsure about how far he wanted to take things between them.

She shook off that thought. No, Aedan wanted her. This was more than sex. It wasn’t just a leftover from their past. Aedan had been there for her throughout all this. He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t honestly care about her.

“Mama!” The scream shook her out of her musings, and she jumped off Aedan’s lap with a gasp.

Heart pounding, she raced over to the bed where Mateo was sitting up, tears streaming down his face.

“Mateo! Oh, Mateo, I’m here.” She gathered him close against her, holding his shaking body.

“Woke up! You gone! Mama!”

“Sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.” Guilt raced through her.

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