Page 56 of Assassin's Heart
The words were scratchy despite my efforts to smooth them. Remi had to realize I was scared—of this, of what came next, of the chaos my life had become. It was all jumbled up together, and like Brooke, what I really wanted to do was lose it big-time. Probably the only reason I hadn’t was those few minutes in the elevator this morning. And just like then, I reached for the man who’d become my lifeline.
A strong, solid hand closed around mine. When I looked up at Remi, understanding stared back at me. I hoped my strained smile conveyed how grateful I was before I turned to click open the seat belt strapping Brooke into her booster seat. Remi had produced the thing from thin air when we left the mansion, just another small touch in a sea of touches to be thankful for.
Brooke slid out of the booster, then crowded back against the driver’s seat. “I don’t wanna go, Mommy.”
Behind us, Eli and Abby exited the back seat, while Levi got out of the front. Abby had insisted on accompanying us, pointing out that we might have to be gone for extended periods of time, and Brooke would be more comfortable during those times with a familiar face. Another thing I was grateful for. This family had come with more surprises—and more blessings—than I’d thought possible.
I held out a hand to Brooke. “I know it’s something new, Brooke. It may seem scary.” God knows I understood that. “But it’s perfectly safe, baby. Mommy wouldn’t take you on an airplane if it wasn’t.”
Brooke glanced from the plane to me and back again, and to my horror, tears gathered in her eyes and began to run down her cheeks. “No, Mommy! I don’t wanna go. I don’t wanna fly!”
Sympathetic tears burned at the back of my eyes. “Baby—”
“No!”
The sobs came then. Brooke crumpled onto the floorboard of the truck, huddled in the corner, the sight tearing at my mama heart until my own tears fell. “Brooke, love...” Instinctively I turned to Remi—me, who’d never relied on anyone, even Lydia, in handling my child. The knowledge added to my own overwhelm. “Remi...”
He glanced from me to Brooke, no impatience, not even a hint of disapproval visible. Remi didn’t seem to care if a jet and eight people waited for us. He laid his warm hand on my back and rubbed the length of my spine. “It’s been a helluva long day for all of us, but especially you two. How about giving us a minute?”
“But—” No. This was my job; I was the mom. I glanced at Brooke, lost in her tears, then Remi, and back. What did he know about soothing a crying child? “I have to—”
I turned back to Remi...and stopped. The gleam of his amber eyes in the dark, the sympathy in his expression, the relaxed stance of his body. Remi had been raised on the streets with no mother and no father. He’d had a younger brother who’d probably needed a lot of patience and care. Levi’d had the job of providing for them; what had Remi done?
I’d trusted him to rescue my child. Why couldn’t I trust him to take care of her?
Would Brooke hate me for walking away?
I swear I almost rolled my eyes at myself. “Okay.”
Stepping out of the Expedition, I forced my feet to take me across the tarmac toward the plane. My head kept tugging me back, but my heart said this was the right thing. I didn’t allow myself to look back until I was approaching the crowd at the stairs. Remi sat in the open door of the truck, one leg casually drawn up, facing forward, his lips moving—talking to Brooke but not touching her. Waiting for her to come to him.
Emotion detonated in my chest as I watched him, so strong I stopped in my tracks. I hadn’t wanted love since Angelo, hadn’t dared risk someone knowing who I really was, opening myself up to someone. But now, with Remi... I knew this feeling. What I didn’t know was what to do about it. I was in love with a man who could take a life without blinking. A man who was voracious in his need of me and, at the same time, took care of me in a way no one had in years. He was playful and sweet, and yet incredibly patient and tender with an overwhelmed six-year-old. I didn’t understand the dichotomy in him, but I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted to. I wanted Remi in our lives.
Was that what he wanted when this was all over? And how would that work?
“Leah.”
I turned to Levi, leaving the questions behind for now. The group waiting at the stairs greeted me as I joined them. King took the lead, pointing out our pilot, who retreated inside the plane, and then turning to his team. “JCL was kind enough to take me off desk duty a week early to accompany you. Don’t worry; I don’t need to kick ass with Elliot around.”
A young blonde woman punched him in the arm, hard. I had to laugh; King Moncrief was the ultimate GQ model standing there in his crisp button-down and sport coat, and this woman was throwing punches at him. The size difference didn’t help—Elliot was tiny compared to her teammates. Dressed in fatigues and a fitted leather jacket, she looked like she could hold her own—and handle the weapon strapped to her thigh—but against men the size of Remi and his brothers, or her own teammates? The three men were as different as night and day, but all of them rivaled the Agozis in size.
“He’s not wrong,” Elliot said as if she could read my mind. “Don’t let my size fool you; I’ve taken all of these guys down on the mat.” She jerked a thumb at her teammates.
“We don’t typically start off a professional relationship comparing dick sizes, ma’am,” an older man said, extending his hand to me. “Dain Brannan. I’m the head of this motley crew.”
His handshake was firm, his gaze steady, instilling confidence. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course.” He pointed to the members of his team. “You know King, I gather. This is Elliot Smith, and the quiet one over there actually behaving himself—very unusual—is Saint Solorio.”
I shook hands with each of them, staring directly into their eyes. These were the people I was trusting with my daughter’s life. Were they worthy of that trust? Would they protect her with their lives?
“You’ll be with my daughter most of the time,” I began. Dain raised a hand to stop me.
“She comes first, ma’am. Always. We have personal experience with a variety of situations, including”—he glanced at Elliot—“protecting a young child against immediate violent threats. Your daughter will be safe, I promise you.”
I appreciated the assurances, but I didn’t know them. I’d feel better if she was with Remi or his brothers, but that was impossible. Still, I nodded. “Thank you.”
The team filed into the plane, Eli going with them. I turned to see Remi crossing the tarmac with Brooke in his arms. My daughter had her head on his shoulder, her little hands clutching his shoulders like a lifeline. I watched them approach, love surging so hard and fast it made my heart hurt.
