[Warning: Mild sexual content in the first part of the chapter. You have been forewarned!] Keegan POV: I groaned as I kissed her neck and shoulder. She turned in my arms, taking the small bottle of shampoo from the floating tray. "You're gonna have to help me out here." Even in the water, she barely reached my shoulder. Grinning I let my chin fall to my chest. From under my lashes, I could see her concentrate on her task, gathering a thick lather, her nails gently scratching at my scalp and every touch sent my blood rushing down my spine. My hands gripped her hips, my thumbs rubbing the same path of skin along her stomach. I felt her muscles clench beneath my hands and decided that we had to get out soon because I desperately needed her. I allowed her to soap up the rest of my body, but she had avoided the place where I wanted her hands the most. The coy little smile on her face told me she knew exactly what she was doing. I growled and quickly dunked underwater, and rinsed off. Und
Keegan POV:"She's alive," Vianne whispered, her eyes brimming with tears. She blinked them away."Where are they? How did Dennis find out?""I sent him to retrieve the gun with your fingerprints from Brant, but not before he looked at all of your husband's coming and goings. Brant’s sidekick had been hiding in plain sight. I'm not sure what he planned to do, but Dennis cornered him. Thanks to the password you shared with them, as you had with your mom and Tory, he told Dennis everything. They're worried about you."Her relief was palpable, before she asked, "And the gun?""It's in our hands, Vianne." She slumped in his arms, her face burrowing against his chest. He looked alarmed for a few moments before he held her tightly against him. "Baby, now with the gun missing, Brant knows we're closing in on him."She sighed, nodding and pulling away from him. "I know. We knew it might happen."This doesn't change much for retrieving t
Keegan POV:Vianne kept her emotions from her face, but I knew her enough to see it in her eyes. The idea of Brant even touching her affected her. She nodded and removed the wig and sat down in a chair so Tess could show her the rest of her items."You've been out of the house only a handful of times, right?" Tess asked. "It has to stay that way for a while. You can't go out with your face, because once you make the news in Darwin, you run the risk of someone recognizing you here.""Yeah, Keegan already warned me about that," Vianne said, shrugging. "It sucks, but what can we do?""You can go out with another face," she said with a smile. Pulling out a few pieces, she went to work on Vianne's face. In a little over thirty minutes, Vianne had a new nose, more pronounced cheekbones, and even the shape of her chin changed. It was enough that even I wouldn't have recognized her without looking very closely."You know what this means after, right?" Edwi
Keegan POV:Her chin trembled and waited a long time before she answered. "I thought if I was good he wouldn't yell at Mommy when we got home.""Oh sweetie," I whispered, removing her seatbelt. "Come here." She crawled into my lap and snuggled up against me. "Nothing you did was the reason why he did what he did.""Are you sure?""Yeah, baby," I said softly, kissing the top of her head. I shared another look with Ricki, who smiled sadly at me. When this was over, Vianne and I would find a way somehow to heal the little girl in my arms and we'd do it together..Ricki checked out the hotel suite as a precaution while I waited with Claire in the hall. From the corner of my eyes, I kept watch on the elevator and the stairway exit down the hall. I had been on alert since we arrived. Though Wilson hadn't confirmed anything on Mike’s family, Clement had determined that some of his men were on business on the other side of the country.
Keegan POV:That told me he was there for Brant. I hoped for Vianne's sake that it was only a message because if it wasn't, Wilson was dead. The men knew that the policy to protect Vianne and Claire was to shoot now and ask questions later.I relayed a message through Faron and he bent down to whisper to Vianne. "Act surprised, as if you have no idea who he is."Vianne's features slowly turned to confusion as I listened in using Faron's device. "Do I know you?"The asshole nearly giggled with some twisted pleasure. Fuck. "No, Mrs. Moore," Wilson said."You don't, but I know you.""Then you have me at a disadvantage."Wilson merely smiled, his hands rubbing against each other. "I'm here to deliver a message from your dear husband." Her eyes widened at his words. "You do remember your husband Brant, sweetie?"Vianne kept her face as blank as possible but a shudder moved through her body. "He's the re
Keegan POV:My hands nearly destroyed them when I saw them. "Fuck," I said in a hiss. I swallowed and looked at each of them. They were of my beautiful mate, asleep after being badly beaten. It was the other part of Wilson's message from Brant. I turned one of them around to see neatly printed words on the back.‘You weren't the only one that loved to take pretty, pretty pictures and videos.’I shuddered at the thought of the bastard standing over her, watching her and taking pictures of her as she slept. Handing them back to Ricki, I checked the time."Is she still in the bathroom?"Ricki nodded. "I'll loop video while you go down there." He handed me a key. "Here's access to the service elevator. It allows for instant floor access without stops. Make sure no one sees you."I nodded and grabbed a baseball cap and hooded jacket. "Text Faron to tell me if Claire wakes up."Ricki nodded and chec
Keegan POV:"Ricki," I hissed into his room, as Claire dressed in the other. "Tell me you at least have eyes on that fucker."Ricki shook his head as he continued to bark orders into a phone. Jarred was already in place at the bank as was Zayne. The second he was off the phone, I insisted on details."He's landing in about twenty minutes. Jarred and Zayne have already spotted someone scoping the bank and we're keeping an eye on him."I clenched my teeth at the thought of anyone working for that asshole being anywhere near Vianne. "Has she been warned?""Yes, but since she's en route and almost there," Ricki started when his cell phone rang again."Stupid mutt," he answered. "I told you from now on you can't call me directly." He sighed and grimaced. Even from where I stood, a good ten feet away, I could hear Vianne growl on the other end. "I understand, Vianne, but you can't risk Ronan or Faron's phones falling into a
Keegan POV:By the time the pizzas arrived, Vianne was in the bank and waiting for someone to show her to the safe deposit box. I ate and conversed with Claire and Ricki. I felt distracted by what I watched and listened to, but Claire and Ricki never commented. I knew that Ricki was doing the same, listening through an earpiece."We have the Hunter coming in from the south," Zayne stated from a nearby perch that I couldn't see from where we sat."Dad," Claire said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Is it okay if we go play video games now?" I smiled at her, ruffling her hair and nodding. "Don't go too far and don't leave his side." She grinned and rolled her eyes because it was the tenth time I had said that to her all day."I know," she grumbled as Ricki took her hand.Ricki tapped his ear and gestured toward the window. I kept my smile in place as they walked away before I looked out at the asshole in the car that watc
Claire POV:College was not as fascinating as I had thought it would be. My classmates seemed to be just as rash and childlike as those in the high school. But it was the behavior of the professors that kept me going. I enjoyed listening to their lecture. I enjoyed reading the extra material they asked us to read but no one else did.If a professor said it was optional reading, I definitely read it. I asked questions after class, often getting disgruntled looks from my classmates. Sometimes I received irritation from the professors and teaching assistants too. But all of it was overshadowed by the simple fact that I felt watched.It had been a long time since I had felt like something was chasing me at all times of the day.At first, I had ignored it, thinking that Dad was correct, that I was just nervous and missing them. But then the feeling persisted. I knew what nervousness felt like. I knew how much I missed my family. But there was nausea that overtook me at certain times of the
Keegan POV:I heard the baby monitor beep and squinted into the darkness, hoping it was nothing. The clock read three in the morning and this was a usual time for Vianne and me to wake up every morning. One of many. I sniffed and looked over at Vianne, who was curled on her side, still facing me. Her eyes were screwed shut and she was definitely awake, but she didn’t want to get off the bed. Understandable. She had a little shifter for a baby and it was safe to say nothing fun came from breastfeeding our son Kyle. He was still small, needing to wake up every few hours to be fed and bathed. Vianne, who despised breast pumps ended up sobbing in relief when I bought one this time around.I looked at the monitor again and saw that our son was wide awake, blinking and cooing at the camera with a gummy smile. He was a jolly child but he still needed to be fed and changed. I slipped out of bed and turned the alarm on the monitor off. I found Vianne smiling groggily at me and chuckled. “Go b
[Warning: The chapter contains explicit sexual content. Please read at your own risk.]Keegan POV:I heard the chime from Vianne's cell phone and knew it was Claire. She checked it, laughing."She asked if we were at the cabin yet.""Well damn, she gave me away." "A cabin?" "I said it was only a couple of hours by car. And it's pretty secluded and we'll have it all to ourselves." She laughed and kissed my cheek. "You don't have to convince me. It sounds perfect and that explains why you only brought us one bag for a three-night stay." I growled and pulled her hand to my mouth. "We won't be leaving the cabin for much. And being naked all weekend is mandatory." "Yes, alpha," she purred.Fuck. Did she have any idea what her saying things like that, in that fucking hot voice of hers did to me? I groaned when I felt her free hand rub between my thighs. "Oh fuck," I hissed and released her other hand. Both of my own gripped the steering wheel, desperately trying not to fucking kill us
Keegan POV:Minutes later, Vianne stood on a chair as I stood in front of her, holding onto her hips so she wouldn't fall. Behind her were Claire, Tory, and several other single women, all looking up as Vianne waved the small bunch of flowers overhead. Twice Vianne faked it, making them laugh and scream at her.Finally, at the end of the next countdown, Vianne threw it over her shoulder. I looked to see who caught it, finding a wide-eyed Tory holding the bouquet in her hands. However, seconds after, Clement passed her, grabbing the prize and handing the flowers back to my wife.There were several laughs and Tory groaned, chasing him toward Vivian who was too busy trying not to laugh. Then he went back for Claire. Good, I knew he was on my side."I can't believe your dad," Vianne said from her perch. She looked down at me as she waited for everyone to settle again. "You're enjoying yourself aren't you?" I shrugged, not apologizing for my wandering hands. My fingers were barely grazing
Keegan POV:Sensing my eyes on her, my daughter offered me a smile and wave. She blew me a kiss, which I caught mid-air, making her giggle. I winked and turned to Vianne who was watching me."You've been an amazing father," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "I want to see you with a baby in your arms, sleeping on your chest."I leaned in, brushing her hair aside to whisper in her ear. "I want to see your belly grow with our son or daughter, watch you sit in a rocker as you breastfeed, and listen to you sing a lullaby-like you still do with Claire. I hope you never stop singing like that, sweetheart.""As long as I have someone willing to listen, I won't." She kissed me then, prolonging it with a sweep of her tongue along my lips. "I love you, so much, Keegan."I smiled as I went back for another kiss. "I know." She laughed, smacking my gut with her hand. "I love you, too. It's a good thing you do though. I would hate to be the only one."Something caught her attention over my sho
Keegan POV:"I'll get you!" I handed Claire to Vianne and followed the asshole. Why was it that Claire always asked the most uncomfortable questions when he was around?I heard my mother ask what was wrong from behind me. "He's still struggling with how smart our daughter is." "Did I hear something about baby sister or brother?" I heard several people laugh as I chased Ricki around a table. "It's not my fault she figured out what happens during a honeymoon!" "She didn't even know we were going to one!""Sorry," he said, laughing as he twisted away from my reach. "It didn't take much for her to work it out when I told her she couldn't join you." I growled and tried to grab him. "All you had to say was to ask me or Vianne." "Sorry!" I laughed and shook my head, knowing it wasn't really his fault. I just wanted to give him a hard time. I would smash some cake into his face later anyway. "Alright," I said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "I'll let this go, but not before I tell th
Keegan POV:My baby girl looked like a mini beauty queen. Dressed in a white dress, she was eating up the attention, the gown covered in lace and tiny crystals. Her dark curls held small flowers and sparkled as she threw petals every few steps. She gave me a wink that had me rethinking strategies of keeping her locked up the moment she became a teenager.She was going to break so many hearts.As Mom and Dad made their way down the aisle, both smiling widely, I knew we made the right choice for me to come home for this.The music changed as my parents took their seats, both giving me a small hug before they sat. I looked up toward the entrance where I knew Vianne would appear, anticipation sizzling through me. As the music took on a softer quality, I saw a hint of white.My eyes ran the length of her; she was gorgeous, perfection and mine.The dress highlighted her beautiful body, making her look like a dream come true.Beside her Clement looked nervous as he stared at his feet, to mak
Keegan POV:Tess. She winked over my aunt's shoulder. Somehow, I knew my friends would find a way to be with me on my wedding day. My aunt, oblivious to me, went inside the wedding tent and Tess made her way to me."Don't you look handsome," she said, lifting her hands to fix my bow tie. "I'm glad you're here," I said softly, not wanting to be overheard. She smiled and shrugged. "We wouldn't miss it for the world." "Please tell me Edwin is in disguise.She knew why I asked. Though he wasn't widely known as the man that took over Clement's organization, he had made the news a few times already.“He let his beard grow out and changed his eyebrows. Even I had a hard time recognizing him,” she whispered, still smiling. "Where is he?"She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm the boss today, so he's somewhere around here following my orders."I laughed and wished I could hug her. "Thanks for coming," I said. "Who else is here?" She tried to play it off, but I could see right through her. Some of the
Keegan POV:I should have known. It hurt to know that she didn't seem to feel the bond I felt toward Claire."You feel it acutely because she is your mate’s daughter. It is an unbreakable bond. That's not to say I don't love her already," she added in a soft whisper."You do?""Irrevocably," she said with a smile. "How could anyone not love a pup like her? She's so beautiful and we share a hobby!" She laughed at that and I realized I had nothing to worry about with her and Claire. I couldn't tell her the whole truth, but I had to say something to ease her curiosity."She was running from an abusive boyfriend when we met," I said, coming up with a different cover story as I sat beside her. I hated the lie falling from my lips, but it was a price I paid to keep my family safe. "It was one of the reasons why Troy told you to wait a few months ago. He came looking for them after all this time."She nodded. "And that situation is resolved?""Yes," I said, kissing her temple. "I can't tell