I admit this to Cole. I’m not sure if it’s the wine or the last few days or the hope that’s been planted deep inside me, but for some reason, nothing feels more right than baring my soul at this moment. “It’s always been him. He challenges me, he believes in me, and he unnerves me. But he deserves more than only part of me. I love him too much to allow him to settle for anything less. It doesn’t help that I’m greedy, Red. I want my life back so I can live it to my fullest with him and with Abbott.”
He stares me down—thinking, pondering. I wish he could fix me and my problems the way he does old mixers or weed whackers. His beer keeps spinning around the bottle like a mini tornado. Not a word. I’m positive if I were a pile of rubble, he’d dump me.
“I’m done apologizing,” I tell him the truth. “I can’t tell you exactly what the future looks like but I plan to be in Cole’s life. I can’t imagine it any other way. He’s mine and I’m finally claiming him—”
“Loved Cole’s mama,” he interrupts. “Only woman in the world for me. A father wants a lot of things for his child but nothin’ more than that—for him to have what I had.”
“I’m sorry you’re not happy with me—”
“Didn’t say that, Bella.”
I frown.
“Do me a favor, love him the way his mama loved me. Because I already know how he feels about you and that’ll guarantee you the best life a woman can have. When you think he’s happy, up your game. Then do it again. Never stop trying to love him more. Because he’s doing it for you.”
Something comes over me, something I’m not accustomed to, but it seems to be happening too often lately. My eyes well and my throat thickens. I nod and reach over to give his forearm a squeeze. It’s all I can manage.
“Always wanted a daughter,” he mutters and stands, but before he leaves me to my frayed emotions, Red Carson does something sweet I never thought possible. He leans down and presses his lips to the top of my head. It feels reminiscent of my father or even my grandfather, but even more, it’s a seal of approval. It happens so quick I wonder if I imagined the whole thing because he clears his throat right before the patio door bangs shut.
I swipe the tear before it rolls off my chin and feel some tension ease.
Red has accepted me. For some reason, all our other problems seem to pale in comparison.
I’ll cherish this moment forever.
Chapter 25
Open Season
Cole
“Raji, if you fall off the face of the earth again, I’m gonna come over there and hunt you down myself. Pick up your fucking phone and call me back. I need a location on our world-traveling friends.”
I toss the phone on the dining table and rub my temples. I really need a new personal phone. I’m using Bella’s and she’s going to need it when I go back to work. Tomorrow should be interesting. Ozzy is going to follow me in. Once I get inside Langley, I’ll be fine.
I look back up to the monitors covering Crew’s dining room and punch a few keys on the laptop, watching my house light up. Crew had the forethought to wire them so we could make it look like someone was home. Aside from eating dinner at Crew and Addy’s and then going back to tuck Abbott in and read her a book, I’ve been here, listening to the wires and watching the monitors. My house is quiet, thank fuck, but the church is not. There’s been plenty of activity and my boss’s boss returned for another meeting. Most of it happened near the southwest corner of the complex. From the electromagnetic waves and multiple trips made to that area of the building, I’m betting it’s a storage room. And my guess, it’s not filled with bibles.
Raji hasn’t returned my calls since before we went to the Caribbean. Peterson is going to be the least of his problems if he doesn’t get his act together. Paid informants cannot be flakey.
At least not that flakey.
It appears my boss is not the only one unhappy their hit wasn’t carried out. I caught up on Randolph’s wire transcripts tonight. He’s downright pissed his former lover and Channel Five News reporter still has a heartbeat, even if it is being supported by medical equipment.