Page 136 of Stone

I blinked again.

His little face broke out in a toothy, yet gummy smile.

And my insides melted.

“He’s incredible,” I breathed.

The sound of a chair scraping assaulted my ears. “He is,” Adele agreed, her husky voice filled with humor. “He also doesn’t sleep, chews on my titty like it’s made of rubber, and throws fits when he can’t get his own way.”

I looked at her and blinked again.

Then, I did something I hadn’t done for two years.

I laughed.

Adele beamed at me. “Everyone told me you were beautiful, and you are. But when you laugh like that, you’re a goddess.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I see why John loves you so much.”

My heart stopped.

“See,” she continued thoughtfully. “People look at love like it’s a pie. They think there are only so many pieces, and onceyou’ve served a slice, it’s gone forever. So, they protect their slices and only give out small parts because they believe there’s not enough to feed everybody. I see it differently. I see love as a flow chart. All the different colored lines meander, cross, meet, and pass each other. They curve up and dip down. There are no limits, no bounds. You can add as many lines as you like, and you can love as many people as you want, all at the same time, and in different colors and different ways.”

“That’s beautiful,” I breathed.

She smiled, and it lit her entire face up. “You’re still a line on John’s flowchart, as am I,” she nodded to her son, still in my arms, “and Xander.” She sat back in her chair. “The club, Abe, Iris, and the baby in my stomach, but, Elise, you have to understand, there’s always enough to go around.”

My eyes flicked to her rounded belly, and my heart wept. Not because Adele was pregnant again, but because I yearned for my Constance. Leaning down, I inhaled Xander’s clean, baby scent, and you know what? It eased my pain just a little because, suddenly, I was so fucking happy that my John had this sweet boy and an incredible, kind woman in his life.

I couldn’t wish Xander or Adele’s new baby away. It would be like wishing my Constance away, too.

My stomach filled with a newfound sense of determination.

Somehow, I’d find my daughter, and I’d get her safe. Then, I’d bury Robert Henderson, even if I died doing it.

Adele checked her watch and bit her lip worriedly.

My eyebrows snapped together. “Are you okay?”

Her forehead furrowed. “Iris was supposed to meet me here for coffee, then take Xan and me back to the clubhouse. She’s late, and it’s not like her.”

“Do you want to call John?” I asked, going to my bag for my cell phone just as Xander let out a loud wail.

“John’s in Church,” she replied, leaning over to stroke her son’s head. “They won’t disturb him in there, or Abe. I need to get back. I’m starting to get worried.”

Carefully, I stood, before gently placing Xander back in his stroller.

Robert was at a meeting and wouldn’t be back for hours or even tonight. Maybe I could get away with what I was about to do, though I didn’t care if he beat me. It was a way of life for me now.

“Come on,” I murmured, clicking the straps of the stroller together to secure baby Xander. “I’ll take you home.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Stone

A thunderous crack sounded through the room as Dad smashed the gavel down onto the thick oak table, scarcely missing the outline of the massive etching of the Speed Demons’ patch that had been burned into it the year before.

“Church in session,” he declared, turning to Abe. “Update?”

The SAA sat forward, studying each man individually. “It’s been confirmed. The Sinners threw their own brand of a Molotov at the old building off Barrington Street. We had product stashed there. If it had gone up, the entire town would’ve been stoned off their heads and looking in their cupboards for munchies. Everybody knows we rent that place. We would’ve copped for it. Already got the sheriff breathin’ so far down our necks that we’re gettin’ damned hickeys, and Slash is goin’ around Mapletree, boasting about how he’s takin’ us down. It’s not good for business, boys.”

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