Page 44 of Unloaded
Leaving as soon as possible would be the right thing to do to protect the Robertson family, but I know that the boys are safer with them. They have the skills to handle any threat so much better than I ever could. I’m so conflicted I can’t decide the right course of action.
“I’ve made a bodyguard schedule for next week,” Luke announces, pulling me from my thoughts. “I have someone on all of the women and children every hour of the day.”
“Thanks,” Rosco replies then turns to me. “Someone will be with you and the twins twenty-four hours a day. I will drive you to and fromBaby Girl’s, no exceptions.”
“What?” I ask, turning on his lap to face him. “You can’t be with us every moment. You have a job. All of them have jobs.” I wave my hand toward the other men in the room.
“Youare my job, angel,” Rosco declares, surprising the hell out of me that he’d say that in front of everyone. “Besides we’ll all be taking turns watching over you. It won’t be a problem.” I huff and roll my eyes. He makes it sound so simple, but it isn’t.
In any other situation, I’d feel like they’re being too protective, and strongly protest, but I know this is necessaryifwe were staying. But should we?
“I have no doubt all of you will do whatever is in your power to keep Reginald from getting to us,” I state, turning to look at everyone in the room. “But at what cost? Your lives? The safety of Marley? Shelby? The babies?” I look each man in the eye, avoiding Marley’s and Shelby’s tear-filled eyes. Stunned silence is the only answer I receive.
“That is an unacceptable risk. One that I’m not willing to take, even if you are,” I continue. “You have become our family, and I speak for the boys and I when I say this. We love each and every one of you. We will be forever grateful for having known you all, but we could never live with ourselves if one of you were to be hurt because of us.”
“Rachel?” Kelvin speaks up, drawing everyone’s attention. “I might be able to relieve some your concerns, even if it doesn’t eliminate the threat.” Hope wants to rise up, so I nod.
“I’ve been monitoring the Winthrop’s communications,” Kelvin continues even while his eyes flit from one computer to another that he’s had spread out in front of him on the coffee table. “They’re frustrated that they’d been unable to find you atthe restaurant. They’d decided it would be easier to follow you from there so as to not alert us to their intentions.
They’ve made it clear they want to avoid drawing Invictus Securities’ attention. They’ve made mention of the fact they we have friends in high places who would be very interested in taking down their organization,” Kelvin concludes. “We are good for now. I’ll stay on top of this and alert the team the second there are any indications things have changed.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling comforted by his words. Rosco gives me a squeeze, and I manage to give him a smile. We may have to leave eventually if we can’t find some way to neutralize my stepfather, but, for now, we don’t have to run.
It's still surreal that we were found by my stepfather’s half-brother this far from Chicago. How shitty is my luck? I don’t know what evil deed I did in my past life to warrant such bad karma now, but I’d really like to kick my former self’s ass. I know, I know. Karma, fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it, isn’t real, but damn it sure feels like it when my world is coming down around me.
Enos’s phone suddenly pings several times in a row, causing me to grow concerned. After checking his phone, he suddenly closes up his laptop.
“I need to get going,” he says as he places his laptop into his case, rising to his feet. Rosco’s body tenses under me. “I’ll check in later,” Enos calls over his shoulder as he heads toward the front door.
“You okay?” Rosco asks as he eases me out of his lap and into the recliner.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I say with a smile. He drops a kiss to my forehead as he stands.
“I’ll be right back.”
Rosco follows Enos out the front door. He isn’t gone more than a minute, but when he returns, he looks thunderous. Angeris radiating off him in waves. I can’t stand seeing him this upset. I get up from the recliner and meet him halfway across the room. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I just know that I need to calm him down. Taking his hand, I lead him into the kitchen.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask once we are alone. He shakes his head, but I’m determined to get him to talk to me.
“Don’t lie to me. I can tell you’re seriously pissed off about something. Something to do with Enos leaving. Please…talk to me.”
Rosco stares down at me, indecision warring in his gorgeous chocolate eyes. I see the moment he gives up and decides to confide in me.
“It’s Enos,” he sighs heavily and runs his hand through his hair. “He’s being an idiot, and he refuses to listen to reason.” I frown at him, not understanding why he is so upset with his brother. They all seem to be so close. Sure, they bicker and pull pranks on one another, but I’ve never really seen them be truly angry with each other.
“What’s he being an idiot about?” I question, hoping I’m not crossing a line. I lay my hand on Rosco’s arm. Instantly the electric connection we seem to have flares to life. His gaze drops to where my hand is resting on his arm. He sucks in a breath and leans into my touch. I feel his body relaxing as I stroke his arm.
“He’s obsessed with that bitch, Kristen Jones,” Rosco growls, angrily. “She betrayed us. She helped the Brotherhood abduct Marley and Shelby. They’d had suicide vests strapped to them, for fuck’s sakes!
“If we hadn’t gotten extremely lucky, they both could’ve died, and she’d have been to blame, at least in part. How can he even look at her, much less be all worried about her?”
I’ve heard the story from both Marley and Shelby. Shelby is still wary of her, but doesn’t hate her like I would’ve expected. Marley feels sorry for Kristen and believes, like Enos, thatKristen is redeemable. I don’t know the woman, having only seen her a couple of times when Enos brought her to events, but I know Marley. If she believes in Kristen, then the woman must have some good qualities.
It’s been hard not to notice how Enos acts around Kristen. He watches her with such an intensity you can feel it. Honestly it has made me a little jealous. I want Rosco to watch me that way. It is the same way Luke looks at Marley, and Bo looks at Shelby, like they are the only woman in the world.
“He loves her,” I answer. “Right or wrong, he sees good in her. Perhaps he’s blind because of his love for her, or maybe he sees more than we do.” Rosco glares at me not at all liking what I have to say. “Perhaps Enos can lead her to the light?”
Rosco’s face transforms from anger to shock followed closely by dismay. Suddenly his lips are on mine, stealing my breath in a heated kiss that turns soft and sweet much too soon. He slowly, reluctantly pulls away.
