Page 230 of Bossy Hero

Alan and his team think they can take them down. Once and for all.

Iwantto believe him.

In truth, I have no choice but to do so, since I’m terrified of what could happen if they don’t win this war.

My plan for coping with so many of my loved ones being in danger is to spoil the heck out of my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and these precious grandbabies.

If that doesn’t work, I have a sufficient supply of bananas to become the next Jane Goodall. However, instead of befriending gorillas, I’ll be baking enough banana bread to feed the entire population of Pinellas County. If there’s any left. Unless my nerves settle, there’s a good chance I’ll eat it all myself. Aside from my macaroni and cheese, which I made for lunch today, there’s nothing more comforting than banana bread. My grandmother’s recipe.

Tomorrow, I should teach Sue and Sammy how to make it. The time has come. And it’ll be a nice thing to do to keep us distracted from what Alan is doing in Miami.

I bend down to kiss Laci’s forehead. Lingering close, I fill my lungs with her powdery scent. Before I leave, I do the same with Logan. As I straighten over him, he makes the most adorable cooing sound, cushioned by a breathy sigh.

Oh, I could eat him up.

Silently closing the nursery door, I clip the baby monitor on my waistband and creep down the hallway to check on my daughter.

When I peek my head in the door crack, she rolls over. “Are they okay?”

“Yes, sweetie. They’re perfect. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

There’s a sadness coating her tone when she responds. “You didn’t. I can’t sleep.”

I ease a few steps into the bedroom, drawn to comfort her. “What’s the matter? Do you need something?”

She flips on the reading light. “The bed is too empty without Sawyer.”

My lower lip rolls into a pout. “Oh, sweetie. He’ll be fine.”

She sniffles. “I hope so. This family doesn’t work without him. I need him—” A sob shakes her chest, cutting off the rest of her sentence.

I grab the box of tissues off the dresser, set the baby monitor on the docking station, and join her in bed. “Come here.”

Once I prop myself on a pillow with my back to the headboard, Sammy curls against me, resting her head on my lap. I dab her tears with the tissue and rub small circles on her shoulder.

Sammy rarely shows her vulnerable side. When she returned to us, she quickly evolved from a girl broken to pieces into a woman with an indomitable spirit under a coarse shell. I viewed it as her way of processing her trauma and protecting herself while she healed.

Tonight, she isn’t a battle-hardened fighter. She’s a worried wife, mother, sister, and daughter all in one.

My baby girl needs her mama.

Her hormones are probably extra wonky after having the babies, but I suspect this is more than that. She knows how dangerous tomorrow will be. Nobody is downplaying the risk they’re taking for the greater good. Least of all, my girl.

“Are you scared too, Mommy?”

A sad grin plucks at my lips. When she’s sad, I’mMommy. NotMa,Mom,Mother, orBanana Bread Betty.

“Darling, I bet you’d like me to be the voice of reason, telling you there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be happy to do it, assuming you don’t mind it all being lies.”

She expels a quiet laugh tinged with sadness. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

I run my fingers through her hair. “Samantha, I’m terrified. Not only for Alan. I’m equally scared for Leo, Sawyer, Shep, Kri, and all of them. We’ve grown so close to the men and women of Redleg over the years. How could I not be frightened for them?”

She sniffs back some of her tears. “Glad it’s not just me.”

A meek voice calls out from the doorway. “Can I come in? I’m scared too.”

Without hesitating, I wave my daughter-in-law into the room. “Of course, Susie Q.”

---