The Mercenary Next Door (Rogues and Rescuers #2) - Lucy Leroux Page 0,93

in Chicago, and Mason took me to see my mom.”

“What?” Rosamie sat up. “I didn’t know he did that.”

“It was a complete surprise,” Laila said, growing tearful all over again. “Mason blindfolded me at the airport, then we took a rental car. I thought he was taking me into the city, but when he whipped the blindfold off, we were at my stepmom’s care home.”

“Aw,” Rosamie said. “I can’t believe he did that. Were you hinting at a trip there?”

“No. I hadn’t mentioned it at all,” Laila said, recalling the emotional scene.

Laila had thrown her arms around Mason’s neck, tears streaking down her cheeks. She’d never told him that Joseph had dangled the possibility of visiting her mother to get her to move in with him.

He promised to take her, might have even been sincere at the time, but he’d put the trip off twice, not realizing he was shredding her heart each time. After that, she’d stopped reminding him of his promise.

Laila had never mentioned visiting her stepmother to Mason. But, somehow, he had known without having to be asked. He was good at that—knowing what she needed before she acknowledged it aloud. Sometimes before she realized the need herself.

The sun had begun its descent when the friends finally headed out to where Rosamie had parked Ransom’s car. Rosamie rested her head on Laila’s shoulder as they walked. “When does your flight leave?”

“Day after tomorrow.” Laila and Mason were living in a small house near Auric’s second training base. She had even met his oldest friend Ethan and the man’s gorgeous new wife. The couple lived in the apartment building Mason had invested in. After she saw how it had been refurbished, she desperately wanted to live there as well, but it was too far from the Auric base to be practical. For now, they were renting it out, putting the money away. Laila told Mason the cash was for their next European vacation. He would reply that it was for the deluxe oven he wanted to buy her.

“You’ll meet us for dinner at the hotel, right?” Laila nudged Rosamie as they climbed into the vehicle.

“As if I would ever turn down dinner at the Caislean. I hear their chef made a deal with the devil—his scallop risotto is that good.”

And the meal was divine. They ate and drank, Mason’s elite VIP card getting them special treatment from the staff.

Effervescent from the fine wine and company, she walked unsteadily in her heels toward the elevator that would take them to their room after saying goodbye to her best friend in the world.

“We’ll see her again soon,” Mason promised. “You know you can always join me when I come to L.A. for a training mission.”

“I can do that now, but I’ll be too busy with work soon.” It had taken her a little while, but Laila had landed a job in a children’s clinic that suited her, helping patients and running diagnostic tests on kids and babies, which was a bonus she hadn’t expected.

The job allowed her plenty of time to pursue her passions—spending time with her gorgeous, virile husband and baking. Though she had always enjoyed it, she found new pleasure baking for her expanded circle of loved ones.

That included all the Auric people now. Rosamie hadn’t been the only one who got chills the day of the trial. She’d almost cried when she saw them all—each merc telling her through their bearing that they would stand between her and any danger.

Even Toya had been there, sleekly dangerous in an all-black tailored suit. She’d slipped a note in her hand as Laila walked up the aisle. It said, Kick their asses.

Laila could have gotten through that terrible ordeal of the trial on her own. She knew that. But having Mason and the Auric people there had bolstered and strengthened her in ways she could never have foreseen.

She’d eaten the high-priced attorney defending Oscar for lunch.

And Laila hadn’t stopped or slowed down since. Neither had Mason.

These days, none of the Auric people left on a mission without one of her signature treats tucked into their gear bags. She even shipped them to the L.A. training facility by overnight delivery. Ian Quinn was happy to foot the bill ever since he discovered a weakness for her lemon-and-poppy seed cookies.

“You’re not worried I’m going to make your personnel fat and slow?” she’d teased when he’d told her that he’d cover the costs.

“That’s what we have your husband for—Mason knows how to whip