Page 87 of Until the Day You're Mine

“I was so worried. My kids called me to ask…they wanted me to come home, they’re worried. My son wants me to quit this job. I explained to him, I can’t stop looking after Bran. I can’t leave you. I refuse to abandon you and Bran.” There is so much to unpack in her rushed speech. He can tell she is struggling to convey her thoughts, overwhelmed with emotion. He knows exactly how that feels. “I…I know I haven’t done much to help you. I am so sorry Rai, I really am. But I want you to know that I’ll be brave. I’m late to get my head out of the sand, but I swear my eyes are wide open and I am here for you. Anything you need.”

“Thank you,” Rian mutters and brings her closer for a hug.

When she pulls away after a moment, Margarita runs her hands through his hair, searching his face. He can’t help but lean into her soft, comforting touch. It’s such a motherly thing to do. Rian is suddenly aware he only knows this because he has a son now. He is a parent.

No one has done this for him in years. No one has done this for him but Cyril.

It breaks his heart a little bit to feel this heavy emptiness. There are no pre-existing memories and examples of loving kind people around him. He can’t dwell on it though. That is wasteful of his time, and it only brings him pain he no longer has the capacity to wallow in.

His son gurgles, saying hishello, reaching gimme hands to Margarita. “Babarita!”

She’s been telling him to call herbaba, the Bulgarian word for grandmother. In her version, it is supposed to be baba Rita, but Bran has his own version and mushes the words together in the insanely adorable pet name Babarita.

She laughs at the sight of him and wipes a tear away. “Look at you, Bran! I can’t kiss you like that!” She pulls away from Rian and he can see his son has made a quick job of giving himself a broccoli facial. He chuckles through his tears and gets up to help Margarita clean him up.

With every swiping move Rian makes to clean Bran’s face, this beautiful moment between them feels like he’s stalling. He is waiting for something. He should have been out the door as soon as the housekeeper had walked into the house, but something makes him hold back. Something screams in the back of his mind,wait!

The intercom buzzes a moment later and Rian hesitantly walks over to the small screen on the wall behind the kitchen counter. One of the vehicles from the magazine team has returned to the gates. Rian wonders, if perhaps they have forgotten some equipment or need to take additional shots of the house. He can’t remember if he’s been told about this unexpected second visit, but he decides to go with it rather than turn them away.

He allows access to the vehicle, by punching in his code. The tall gates open. Rian watches as the car glides through the driveway and parks straight into the garage. Something visitors are not permitted to do. The people from WESTERN ENDEAVOR have been meticulously instructed to refrain from entering private parts of the home of Harris Kelly unless accompanied by security and only after being given explicit permission.

Rian’s stomach flips as he watches the next screen. The car door opens, and a man he hasn’t seen in years steps out of the vehicle. He makes his way through the house in a rush. His silhouette is merely a blur on all the screens displaying security feed leading up to the kitchen, but Rian knows exactly who this man is.

He is here for Rian.

Ty has finally come back for him.

Rian turns to Margarita and the look on his face tells her everything she needs to know.

The woman leans in to kiss Bran on the forehead and murmurs something to him in Bulgarian. The little one grins and then returns his attention back to his food. She hurries to Rian. “Go. I keep them busy. I make sure they stay out there.”

“No. Leave right after me. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

She seems to think it over, but then agrees with a curt nod. Before they can say anything else to each other, Ty runs into the kitchen.

They stare at each other for exactly one second before they both rush and take hold of one another. Their bodies clash almost in a painful way, their arms tight around one another, their hands digging possessively into whatever flesh they make contact with. Ty is holding him impossibly tight, crushing him, stealing his breath away.

Tayida has never been this close, yet Rian needs him closer. His scent, his breath, his heat. Rian is completely encased in his being.

Tayida is talking to him, but Rian can’t hear a thing. His ears are thudding, his breathing is heavy, his throat suddenly burning, and the room is spinning impossibly fast. This can’t be real. Tayida is right there, in his arms. Like he has dreamed of for years.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Ri. I’m so fucking sorry.” Tayida is breathlessly saying it over and over again, visibly close to tears. His large hands are framing Rian’s face, his forehead pressed to Rian’s. “I should have never let you go. Back at the funeral home…I should have held on tight. Forgive me.”

“Alive. You’re alive.” Rian knows he is muttering the words repeatedly on a nonsensical loop, but he can’t help it. He can’t fucking believe it. It’s Tayida. It’s his Ty. He’s alive. He’s right fucking here!

Ty pulls away first, gaining control of his faculties faster, and glances over to Margarita. The petite housekeeper makes her way to Bran. She picks him up from his chair, and says looking at Rian, “I’ll get him ready.” she croons at Bran reassuringly, “Barbarita and Bran go for a quick bath, okay?”

The little one is fussy in her arms, perhaps on to her effort to remain calm when the situation is anything but. Rian listens to Margarita soothing his son with her gentle murmur, as they walk to his room.

Ty clears his throat, bringing Ri’s attention back to him. Rian isn’t ready to pull away from their embrace, but they can’t spare another moment and linger. Even if it kills Rian to separate them, he has no choice. They must leave immediately.

Reluctantly, Rian takes a step back. He can’t seem to let go of Ty’s hand.He’s not ready and something in Tayida’s eyes tells him, he won’t need to ever again. Their fingers lace so naturally like this isn’t only the second time they have ever held hands. Ty doesn’t make a move to let go either.

Something in his expression is much harder. This man is in full-on mission mode, his determination to bring them out of this safely is obvious. Rian feels safe, just by looking at him. Even though he’s got a million questions, the look in Ty’s eyes tells him, he will find out everything soon enough. Right now, they need to move.

He is trying to focus yet can’t help but take a moment and see how changed Tayida is.Rian’s eyes linger on Ty’s powerful frame. Tayida is as massive as ever, his formidable build is barely contained by his clothing. There is something in his expression that reminds Rian of Cy and his heart beats just a little bit faster as the thought crosses his mind.

Ty’s quiet murmur pulls him out of his untimely musings.

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