It’s a little after six when Phoenix and I make it downstairs.
My eyes lock on to Edge who is sitting on the long U-shaped couch with Hazard, Slade, Mathias, and Tucker. They're all dressed in suits looking very handsome. They've gone to a lot of effort. Those with beards look like they have neatened them up, and Hazard has some of his hair tied back. It seems like Tucker and Hazard took a trip to the barber this afternoon while I was sleeping.
They all stand when we walk into the room, and I'm sure I hear them all muttering something different all at once. I caught ‘hot' and ‘holy shit.'
Edge takes a few steps toward me and looks me up and down in appreciation. Everything a girl wants to see on her man’s face when she walks into a room is displayed on his.
He mouths the words ‘I love you,' and I make the little heart sign with my fingers in response. It's a little corny, but it also feels kind of nice being able to be this way with him. I didn't get to date boys in school. Edge is my first everything. Being able to walk into a room and see that look on his face and know he loves me, is something I never want to lose.
I let out a little squeal when my right foot doesn't quite land correctly. There goes my graceful entrance as my arms flail, and I see out my peripheral vision four men diving for me on surprised shouts.
I trip/fall into Edge’s arms.
“Phew that was close.” I try to be humorous. “I’m not used to wearing heels,” I explain, turning my head to smile at four guys who are all rolling their eyes except for Mathias who gives me a lopsided smile and holds his hand over his heart. I think he’s telling me I nearly gave him a heart attack. Edge grips my arms as though I could still go down. “Sorry about that, I thought I had practiced enough upstairs.”
“Please don’t do that again.” Edge lets out a heavy sigh of relief his forehead resting on mine. “Two babies on board and I don’t need you hurting yourself when you’ve only got back on your feet.” I’ve stressed him, but he’s holding on to it well.
I nuzzle his neck with my lips. "I'll be more careful." He smells of cologne, and his beard smells a little of me.
“Babe… I have no words… fuck you’re beautiful,” he murmurs into my ear while one hand cups my baby bump and the other is wrapped around my back, cocooning me.
At this moment, my life feels perfect.
I feel cherished.
“Love what you’ve done with the wig,” he compliments my hairstyle for the evening.
I move out of his arms but keep a hold of his hand, which grips mine a little tighter. "Phoenix is a whiz." I move my head back and forth so he can see the full effect from the back. Phoenix gathered hair from both sides and made what looks like two roses with the blonde hair. They sit neatly at the back of my long wig, one under the other. She added a pretty rhinestone hair comb above the top rose.
"You look stunning yourself," I compliment him back. "I like you in a suit. You'll have to do it more often."
“Anything for you; told you that, but I like you naked and just wearing that necklace the most,” he whispers in my ear.
"And I like everything about what we did earlier," I breathe into his ear. Edge curses softly under his breath and discreetly adjusts his crotch. My nipples tighten, and I'm afraid everybody will notice. I think a change of conversation is in order. "Do we need to get going?"
Edge checks his watch. “In about ten minutes and I want you to hold my hand at all times until you’re seated because those sexy heels are way too high, but they do make your legs even more incredible than they already are. You’re beautiful without makeup, but with makeup… How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one.”
"Yeah, yeah. You're both lucky, and she's gorgeous and—"
“Tuuucker!” Edge cuts him off on a predatory growl.
"Just sayin', both ladies look absolutely smashing this evening, and I'm gonna be proud to be sitting at the same table as them," Tucker says with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Slade’s moved over to Phoenix and whispered something to her which has her turning a shade darker. She clears her throat and excuses herself to get a glass of water. Slade knows he’s so close to getting what he wants, but he keeps waiting it out for her to meet him halfway.
She returns just as Slade's cell phone rings. He checks the caller and responds. "Annie, everything all right?" He listens, replies and then he holds the phone out to me. "Whisper, Annie wants to talk to you."
I take the phone from Slade, curious as to what she has to say. “Hi, Annie.”
“Whisper, happy birthday!” she exclaims, her voice a little pitchy.
“Everything okay, Annie?”
"Of course, I just wanted to see if you didn't mind coming over straight away so Theodore and I can wish you a happy birthday and I can give you my gift. You can even meet my son, Teddy Jr. He's visiting from Chicago." Without waiting for my answer, she hurries on. "I know you're going out for your birthday celebrations so I won't hold you up, it will only take ten minutes and bring that handsome man of yours over." How did she know Edge was here and I thought she didn't have a son? "Okay, see you in a few minutes, I'll just grab a jacket—" She disconnects without saying goodbye.
“What is it, Whisper?” Slade is by my side. I hand the phone slowly back to him.
“That was really odd,” I tell him. I know I’m frowning.
“What?” Slade and Edge say at the same time.
"Annie wished me a happy birthday and then she asked me to come over to receive the gift she has for me and to bring Edge. The perplexing part is she told me her son, Teddy Jr. was visiting and I could meet him. I'm positive she doesn't have a son… does she?" Something feels very wrong.
“Jesus! Something’s wrong over at their house. She doesn’t have any children, and they're too old to fight anybody off. She's sending us a message they're in trouble, and there's a man with them. Filip could be next door," Slade says keeping his voice low. "Phoenix, you need to get that wig on and swap dresses with Whisper and throw a cushion under your dress." Slade starts issuing orders.
Phoenix and I walk around the corner where we can strip privately, but we can still hear what’s going on. She helps me out of my dress, but there’s no way I’m going to fit into hers with my baby-belly.
"Edge, you gotta take Phoenix next door. I want her back without any bullet holes in her; you got me?" Slade's in control, but he's going to stress until Filip is dealt with.
"Yeah," he says grimly. "I got Phoenix covered."
"Mathias, you stay here with Whisper and guard her, while Tucker, Hazard and I get inside Annie's house while Edge and Phoenix do their thing. It will all be over soon." Slade sounds so sure of himself.
Phoenix hands me her dress which I throw over my shoulder so I can help her get the cushion Tucker has tossed around the corner at us into place.
“You do your best with the wig while I get you something to hide your gun.” She nods. I’ve already kicked my shoes off so I can run up the stairs.
I find a denim jacket for her to wear with the dress. She can hide her gun in the pocket. It's the best I can do in the few seconds I allow to grab it and my silk robe to cover my body with and then I'm racing back downstairs, where Edge is waiting for me.
I can’t lose him to this madman.