Keegan POV:
"We have two men in the third point," I said forcing myself to control the anger in my voice. "I have confirmed them as associates of Blake using the face recognition program you sent me."
"Fuck," Ricki hissed. "What do you want us to do?"
"Find out who else knows I'm here," I replied, sitting back in a chair.
"Done."
"Remember none of this is to be repeated to Clement until they're back. Remind Edwin to keep his mouth shut."
"Will do."
"And add another man on Claire's protection detail at school tomorrow."
After a few moments of silence, he stated, "We already have the men. We'll know more in a while."
"Thank you."
Ricki called me back an hour later. I learned that the men had given up information on your man, including his location and how many men he had in his organization. They could've been lying to save their asses, but Edwin later confirmed it.&nb
Vianne POV:After receiving the call from Ariana, my ex-mother-in-law, I did my best mentally to prepare for what was to come. I knew in all likelihood that what the woman had to say to me might surprise me. Earlier in the morning, she left Benedict, her husband, and Brant’s father, and that had shocked everyone.I also had to take into consideration that it was all a ploy to get me inside the house alone.Agent Pratt and Hampson had been working extra hard for the last forty-eight hours, to make a case against the Smiths based on the information I had inadvertently stumbled on while getting the dirt on my husband. They were pretty close to issuing a warrant on the head of the organization and they could probably do it all without my testimony.That was part of the plan since the beginning, but it was obvious that I had supplied the authorities with the ammunition they needed to put a case together. That was also part of Keegan's pla
Keegan POV:We reached the school in record time but parked a few blocks farther down the road and jogged the rest of the way. We spread out the second we were on school grounds and awaited the signal from our inside man, Gray. Mercifully, Blake’s men hadn't discovered him. Communication had been down for the last hour except for a few precious minutes that Ricki talked to Gray. He had indicated that two men were with Claire, and he was checking for others. Someone was jamming all radio frequencies and cellular signals. Landlines were also down, and the school scrambled to get someone out there to fix it.Since the school was unable to get a call out, Giles members and I stepped in as employees from the telephone company. Where Ricki commandeered a vehicle from the company in less than an hour, I had no idea. I didn't ask questions, I just wanted to get inside.As we walked toward the office, we kept our eyes open for any clues to where Gray wa
Vianne POV:She sighed and took another sip of her tea, setting it aside on an end table. "I know it's probably for the best that Claire remain wherever you have her, but I want her to have her things. I have her most cherished items packed up."I sighed. Claire's notebooks. I nodded, oddly grateful."I'm surprised you managed to meet me alone," she said, her brow furrowing. That was the most concern I had ever seen on her face."I find it hard to talk freely and privately with security on my ass." It had taken almost an hour to outwit the boys at the hotel. That third wig I had insisted on, in red curls, did the trick.Ariana smiled knowingly. After a brief bout of silence, she broke first. "I'll let you in on a little secret."I cocked an eyebrow in question, feeling the hair rise on the back of my neck. Brant was near. I could feel it. She seemed unaware, but then again, Ariana had hidden years of abuse from me. She could probably lie as
Keegan POV:I saw Claire run and hit me hard enough that I stumbled back a step. The force her arms exerted to hold onto me was staggering. "Claire," I whispered hoarsely. My first instinct was to grab hold of her and run. Something was stopping me. My mind was in chaos instead of the focus it needed to be in due to the fear I had kept at bay paralyzing me now.I felt the sob quake through her body, her choked rasp of, "Daddy," tore through me."Oh, baby girl.""I'm here, Keegan," Giles said from behind me, reaching over my shoulder for my weapon. I was so out of it, that I had forgotten I had that thing in my hand, near my pup. I let him take it, and instantly after, I was wrapping my hands around Claire, hauling her up into my arms.Her face pressed against my shoulder as she cried, "I want Mommy.""I know," I said in a soothing and calm voice. I wanted her with us, too.Fucking hell, I was too close to the dark edge of my emotions.
Dennis POV:Tory had beaten herself up pretty badly for messing up earlier. Vianne had gone through the cat and mouse game with Faron and Ronan, and Tory had snuck away to come see me. We were supposed to keep an eye on Brant so that we always knew where he was so that he didn't surprise Vianne.We lost him while I was making out with a fucking teenager. I felt like such a damn asshole for that colossal lapse in judgment. After taking Keegan's call, I dropped off Tory and made my way toward where I knew Vianne would be heading.I had arrived at the Moore Estate against everyone's orders. Clement, Jarred, and Keegan were rightly angry with me. They had called me off my duty after I lost Brant, but I had left immediately for the Congressman's home after I confirmed that Vianne already left her hotel. Brant would eventually show up there, I had no doubt about that.Jarred had wanted to send only Zayne in my place, but I asked Zayne to let me handle it. Zayne
Vianne POV:With my eyes on him, I widened my stance to shoulder-width apart. I wanted to kick off my heels but knew that it would look suspicious on the tapes. It didn't matter much anyway, because they'd eventually fall off in the struggle.Brant watched my every move, licking his lips. His jaw was covered in stubble, a first since I met him. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and they were bloodshot. He looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks.Good, I hadn't slept well for years until the first time I lay in Keegan's arms. The image of Keegan in my mind strengthened my resolve, my focus."That was a little harsh, baby. Don't you think? But I'm so glad I caught you before you left, Vianne," he said, taking a step toward me.Instinctively, I took one back. The glee in his eyes lifted his dry lips into a wide grin. He loved that he elicited that reaction from me. I cursed at myself internally for doing it. Some habits die hard, I guessed, but damn it, I w
Dennis POV:I shook my head as blood splattered spectacularly from his nose, dripping onto Vianne's cheek and chest. He cried out in pain, holding his nose with one hand as the other tightened into a fist. Vianne dodged the blow, but even through the video feed, I heard the unmistakable sound of bones cracking against the tiled floor.I fist-pumped, nearly toppling the laptop on my thighs off.Brant roared in pain, rolling off her. "Come on, Vianne," I urged as if she could hear me. "Get up."She scrambled on all fours, wincing likely at the cold tile beneath her knees. Why had she chosen to wear a skirt? It was a loose one, but she should be in jeans. Then again, these people expected her to dress up, and she had a part to play, for now.I watched as one of her knees slipped in his blood, slowing her down. Brant appeared to still be gasping for breath, but his hand suddenly shot out and reached for her. Fuck. His hand closed around her naked ankle
Dennis POV:He dropped his hold, forcing her hard enough away to cause her ankle to twist beneath her.She screamed in surprise and pain, but she kept her balance and remained on her feet. Was she faking it? There was no indication on her part if she was. There was pain and fear etched in her features, but something in her eyes said she was still going to do what she had come to do.She took a few steps back, limping, and telling him to get away. Damn it, I couldn't tell if she was really in trouble. She still hadn't signaled for help."Come here, Vianne."She shook her head as he closed the distance between them quickly. He backhanded her, sending her another several step back until she finally fell against a wall. He went to do it again, but her arms shot up to block the blow, forcing him to cry out in pain. It was the same hand he'd likely broken a few knuckles and other bones earlier on the tile floor.Her back was against the wall as he
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