Page 91 of Chasing Savannah
“You only have to say the word,amor.” He rested his head on the glass of the window.
Derrick growled low, his cat flashing in his eyes. “Your mates are waiting, and ready.”
She sighed. “Jamie and I are packed. I’ll be over shortly then.”
“For how long, Savi? I swear I’m trying to be patient, but sweetheart...” Derrick grabbed the phone.
“I don’t…I can’t upend my son, but we can try a few nights, move in slowly.”
Carlos released the breath he was holding. He turned and stepped closer to Derrick, speaking into the phone. “So you’re ready to mate with us?”
“I don’t want to be without either of you.” That wasn’t quite an answer, but he didn’t want to push her for fear she would change her mind.
“Then we’ll be waiting.” He ended the call and turned to look at Derrick.
His Beta was once again facing the window, his hands clenched at his side.
“She’s coming to us, it will be enough for now.” Derrick’s voice was hoarse, his anticipation running up and down the mating bond.
Carlos looked around the large condo. There was no furniture yet. It had four bedrooms upstairs and a guest bedroom downstairs, along with two separate office spaces. The contractor they’d hired had done an amazing job. The walls were white, and not a single piece of furniture or even light fixture had been put in place. He wanted the place blank for their mate.
“Do you think she’ll like the place?”
“It has more square footage than the house she’s in.” Derrick answered.
“That’s not what I meant, and I’m almost positive our mate cares nothing about that kind of stuff.”
Derrick chuckled. “So you’re saying she’s not going to be impressed by our money.”
He snorted. He knew their mate made a great living at what she did, and money wouldn’t sway her. Derrick’s phone beeped and he looked down.
“She’s in the garage. Let’s go down and get our family.”
They headed to the elevator.
Derrick was anxious. His cat moved through his body in a restless manner. He’d gone to the penthouse to think, to daydream about the day his family would be in it. Funny that his mate would come to them on this night. She waved as she got out of the car. Jamie stepped out, groggy, half sleep. Derrick happily lifted him and the cub gave a sleepy sigh, settling his head on Derrick’s shoulder.
“Hi, Beta,” he murmured.
His heart melted. He knew he would be a softy where their kids were concerned. Jamie wrapped his arms around his neck and legs around his stomach. He adjusted the cub to carry him easier and leaned down to kiss his mate, his heart full to overflow. He was going to get his family. Yes he’d seen the visions of it, but to have it come true, to be fully realized… He took a shuddering breath. Jamie’s small hands rubbed his shoulder. That the kid was reassuring him choked him up.
Carlos grabbed their bags and they headed to Carlos’ apartment. By the time they’d taken the elevator to the fourth floor, Jamie was sleep again. He took him and dropped him off into the top bunk in Marcella’s room. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, happy he was finally keeping his promise to the little girl. He’d promised her, as she clutched him, devastated at the loss of her prowl, that he’d give her a family.
He understood that feeling of loss too well. He’d come back from basic training to find his family’s prowl land littered with the dead bodies of his small prowl. All of them in panther form indicating that they’d more than likely been on a run when they were hunted and murdered.
He didn’t bother calling the police, knowing that in their small town, nothing would be done. By himself, he buried each and every one of them, finding a few missing, knowing they probably adorned the mantle of some supremacist’s fireplace as a trophy. Even now, more than a decade later it made him sick to his stomach. He shook away the haunting thoughts, gave one last look to the cubs and left the room.
When he reached the living room, Savi was standing in the middle, wringing her hands. “How will this work?”
Derrick pushed down on his cat. “Tonight, we sleep here, and in the morning, we’ll show you our home.”
“We won’t live here?” She turned her gaze to Carlos.
The Felix shook his head. “The contractors are finished with the penthouse so it’s ready for you to go through and make it ours.”
“Ours?” She whispered.
Derrick walked up to her, pulling her into his chest. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You can’t go into this with doubts, love.” He told her softly, reminding himself of that as well.
She nodded, burrowing her head into his shirt. Carlos came up behind her and encircled his arms around them both. They stood like that for long moments, letting the bond between them soothe them all.
