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
Keegan POV:I watched as the asshole got into the car and drove away. Everything inside me screamed for me to take him out, destroy him in one fatal blow with my bare hands."He's mine, baby," I heard Vianne say in the safety of the town car she was in, knowing that I was listening. "Let's go home."I sighed and allowed myself to breathe for the first time in hours. She had survived her first encounter with Brant and walked away without a scratch. The first step had been initiated and only time would prove if it was successful."Keegan, your bags are in the car waiting. Your flight will be leaving in a few hours, Vianne's in about an hour." Jarred gave more instructions as Ricki and Claire walked over. She took a healthy drink of her juice and smiled up at me."What's up?" she asked."You ready to head home?"Her eyes widened as she nodded several times. She climbed into my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. I held her close, ne
[Warning: Explicit sexual content towards the end of the chapter. You have been forewarned.] Keegan POV: "Anything hit the news, yet?" I smirked and nodded. "Just like we planned." "Tell me." I held out my phone to show her the video on the news. "Leading our local news, Congressman Moore's son, Brant Moore, also a future political hopeful, has been seen with his estranged wife. In a video uploaded to our website a little after twelve pm today, it appears that the couple is arguing while Vianne Moore is under the much-needed protection of two bodyguards. This is the first appearance of the couple since Mrs. Moore filed for legal separation approximately eight months earlier, followed by Mr. Moore's file for divorce a few months earlier this year. A warning, the video is graphic in nature." Vianne watched the video; a lot of the conversation was covered up with beeps. The meanings behind the sounds were clear in his expression and words. Her jaw snapped shut as he threatened to
Keegan POV:"I love you," I growled, wanting and seeking more. Her eyes snapped open to look into mine, nodding at the need she read within them. I growled again, tucking her beneath me in a fast move. My hands slipped under her ass, lifting her over my knees, slipping back inside slowly. She moaned, tossing her head back and arching to meet the next thrust of my hips.I reached out with my right hand for her left, slipping her new engagement ring that I had hidden beneath her pillow. She cried out when she realized what it was, tears leaking from her eyes. I pulled back but kept our hands linked, hovering over her abdomen, as I continued to move inside her."I love you," she moaned again. "I'm here. I always come back." Unable to find the words, I only responded by pounding into her harder, wanting to feel her clench around her, needing it. Fear cloaked my words, choking them in my twisted emotions of the moment and forming a lump in my throat. My breath escape
Vianne POV:I lifted my hand, my fingers moving to wave goodbye out the window of the car. Beneath the porch of the house, I had come to know as home, stood the man I truly loved and our beautiful daughter. I tried so hard to keep the tears at bay as Claire lifted her hand to wave at me.Tiny, pink polished fingernails moved in a silent goodbye. Her pretty bow, pink mouth quivered as a tear slipped down her pale cheek. For a second she looked up at her daddy, whispering something not meant for me to hear. He watched her with such care and adoration, loving her seemed so easy for him from the beginning.With a small, hesitant smile, Keegan lifted his eyes back to meet mine. The fear on his face was damn clear as Ronan started the car. I could see as he swallowed deeply, one hand on Claire's shoulder, the other running through his hair in a nervous gesture. He'd been trying so hard to hold himself together for the past few days, waking every night in terror.
Vianne POV:“Jarred said your dad kinda stumbled on it himself," he said softly, tipping his head down so that we couldn't be overheard. "Just like Keegan had. But then Clement found your mother in a life she didn't want, he at least helped her leave it, even for a short time."Two decades that she had no longer looked over her shoulder, was much more than a short time. And she was grateful for it."She told me.""It's not easy to find out your grandfather sold her to those bastards to pay for his gambling debts."I shook my head. "It wasn't, and I'm happy that I never met the asshole. We finally told Keegan the whole story after she told me everything when we saw each other again at his house. My life would've been so different if I was some other person’s daughter, instead of Clement's." I shuddered at the thought, scratching at the wig on my head. The thing itched."You ready for this?"I faced forward, watching as Rona
Vianne POV:Pratt looked at me in question, before I answered, "This will jam any signals and frequencies in the area, including any recording devices."He sat back and absorbed what I said, watching the little device as it did its job. The lights and digital display indicated that it was working, and had jammed several signals within a two hundred fifty feet radius."What you're about to tell me must be important and will have consequences," Pratt finally said."Very." I handed him the list, watching his eyes move over it and widen. "Before I came here today, I had everybody that worked in this precinct, other local agencies, and on the task force you formed, thoroughly investigated."Though his face appeared impassive, his white-knuckled hold on his chair showed me his simmering rage. "And this list?" his voice was cool, but his disgust was evident before he finished his question.I gave him a wary smile, showing my remorse. "Are those tha
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