Joshua

I’m buried deep in Molly’s warm body. We’re sitting in the middle of a king-sized bed, in a corner room overlooking the lights of New Orleans, and she’s on her knees, straddling my lap.

We’re sweaty and breathing hard, coming down from a mind-erasing orgasm, and she rises slightly, holding my cheeks and devouring my mouth. My hands tighten on her ass, and I follow her lead, hungry for all of her kisses.

It’s hot and so fucking perfect. She’s in my arms, and I only want to hold her and keep her safe here by my side. Our lips capture and pull, our tongues curl and taste. Her fingers slide into the sides of my hair, threading and grasping.

We kiss each other as if we’ve been separated for years instead of days. Our heads tilt, a whimper escapes in her breath, and it’s like an electric shock through my pelvis. My cock pulses again, and she starts to laugh against my mouth.

“You feel so good,” she says as her teeth bump against mine.

Her breasts are flat against my chest, and I wrap my arms tight around her waist. “You are the most amazing woman.”

Our eyes meet, and it’s like another little strike of lightning.

She smiles, and her voice is quiet. “You were willing to shoot someone for me.”

My eyebrows rise, and I frown. “I did shoot someone—”

“Shh…” Slim fingers cover my mouth, stopping me. “You saved me. That’s enough.”

Pushing out my lips, I kiss those fingers. “I’d do anything for you. For the first time I felt like I understood how you must feel.”

Her head tilts to the side. “You kept me from being hurt. You’re my hero.”

“You’re having my baby.”

Just saying the words fills my chest with the most incredible surge of joy. Molly’s arms are around my shoulders, and she buries her face against my neck. “We’re going to have a baby.”

Her bare skin is smooth and warm under my palms. “It wouldn’t have mattered. I’d do it again, baby or not. I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

After carrying her out of that house, we went back to Mark and Lara’s where Mark did as he said he would—he called police dispatch and reported shots fired and gave the address. As soon as he did it, he left us to return to the scene of the crime.

Molly left my arms to go straight into Lara’s. She cried and apologized, which I didn’t understand. Lara cried and hugged her and told her to stop apologizing. I gave them their time and Stas filled me in on what must’ve happened at Reese Landry’s home that night.

Landry had been taunting the old man, hitting him up for millions of dollars in exchange for information on his missing family, until finally Stas went there to demand answers in person. Landry gave him a fake address, and between the time Stas followed up and the time he returned to Landry’s home, Mark must’ve been there.

“When I went back, I knocked on the door, and he started shooting. I returned fire, and when I went inside, he was on the floor, dead.” He shook his head. “I didn’t waste time counting bullet holes. I simply wrapped his head and dragged him out to the river. I figured the wild animals would take care of the rest.”

“Sounds like they tried.” I looked up and saw exhaustion in his old eyes.

“It’s time to face the truth,” he said with a heavy sigh. “My family is lost. No one knows what happened to them.”

“It was your wife and child?”

He nodded. “A daughter.”

I was turning it over in my mind when Mark returned and told us the matter was being treated as an internal hit. Evidence of Renee’s involvement in criminal activities was left all over the house. On the computer screen were links to foreign bank accounts, and ties to money laundering schemes in the city.

“Whoever that girl was, she gave the police everything they needed for an airtight case.” He held up a thumb drive. “She left this for me. She said it’s the only copy. I guess we just have to trust her.”

“What is it?” Stas asked.

“His files.” The old man’s eyes lit, and Mark nodded. “I’ll keep searching, but it stays with me.”

Lara led Molly into the room, and I smiled when I saw my girl holding Jillian. The baby was threading her fingers in Molly’s hair and saying happy words like pretty, baby, and Molly…

It all made me want to take her somewhere private, make up for lost time, and make new plans for our future.

Now she’s in my arms, and the world feels right.

I kiss the top of her shoulder, her collarbone. “You have to marry me now.”

She laughs and pulls away. “Tickles.”

“Say you will.”

Our eyes meet, and she cups my cheeks. “You want to marry me? With all my baggage and checkered past?”

“I can’t think of anything I want more.”

Her brow relaxes, and when she smiles, she glows. “I want to be your wife.”

“So that’s a yes?”

She nods rapidly, adorably. “A very emphatic yes.”

Catching her face in my hands, I kiss her again. I press my mouth to that line in her chin, I pull the skin along her jaw between my teeth. I kiss her ear and groan because I love her so much.

She moans and starts to move against me. I rock us back on the mattress so she’s lying under me. I cover her body with mine. I cover her mouth with mine, and we kiss, long and full of love.

Then we start on round two.

The Ruby Slipper is packed at breakfast, and I’m texting with the pilot to get the jet ready for us to return to Seattle. The four of us are at a table with Jillian in a high chair. Lara is on one side of her and Molly is on the other, watching as Lara gives her goldfish crackers and sets up toys to keep her occupied.

“How do you know how to do all this?” Molly asks, wonder clear in her tone.

“Babies are actually very simple,” Roland cuts in, and I look up to see Dean right behind him, hands shoved in his jean pockets. “It’s the easiest time of a person’s life.”

The little girl squeals at him, and Molly sits back in her chair watching. “Right, because the man who will never have one knows everything about babies.”

“Nice to see you too, Shortcake.”

I’m ready to get annoyed when I see Molly’s thoughtful expression. “I think we can declare a truce now.” Roland glances down at her from where he’s standing holding the baby. “Or not,” Molly continues. “But the past is, well, past. And I’m ready for a better future. I’m starting a new life.”

The wooden chair squeaks across the floor as he pulls it out, taking a seat across from her, still holding Jillian. “Well, look who’s feeling optimistic. What happened to you? Find Jesus?”

“Oh, I hate that expression,” Dean says, taking the seat across from me. “Was Jesus lost? Was he just waiting for you to find him?”

“I’m going to have a baby.” She looks down at the table, waiting.

I’m ready to scoop her into my arms and tell her she has every reason to be optimistic. I intend to make her life unbelievably happy starting now…

“Oh my Goooood!” Dean cries, bouncing in his chair. “This is so exciting! Can I be the uncle? I know it’s not technically right, but I’ve always wanted to be an uncle.”

“Sure,” Molly says, giving him a bright smile.

We’re interrupted by the television overhead reporting the murder of Renee Landry, along with her shocking criminal ties… Roland’s eyes meet Mark’s, and Mark shifts in his seat.

“Was Renee Landry related to—”

“Yes,” Lara says, taking Jillian. “It was all related. We found out she was his daughter.”

“Did they ever say what became of… her father?”

“His body was recovered near the river,” Molly says, glancing at Mark. “She told me they had to use dental records to identify him.”

Dean shivers. “How gruesome! What happened?”

“Just some old local history,” Roland answers quickly and signals the waitress.

We all place our orders, from apple-braised pork debris on buttermilk biscuits to cinnamon swirl pancakes. The table is loaded with food, and when we’re done, my stomach aches from how full it is.

Dean hangs back with Lara, playing with the baby and discussing burlesque as an art form. Mark strolls ahead with Molly, Roland, and me.

“I’ve played it right up to the line many times,” Mark’s voice is quiet, thoughtful. “Still… I’d do it all again. I’d do whatever it took to keep Lara and Jillian safe.”

We take a few more steps, and Molly speaks. “I think sometimes justice can’t be so clean and neat, because the world is so messed up.”

“Still,” Mark continues. “I want a world of law and order for myself, for my daughter.”

Molly’s voice is quiet, but she takes his hand. “I agree.”

“Okay,” Roland finally says, watching them. “We’ll start this over. Turn over a new leaf and hope for the best.”

Relief shines from Molly’s eyes. “Thank you.”