Chapter 17

17

W aking up to laughter and her mouth so dry she could only croak, Nat was shocked to find not only her Nona and Rafe, but also Max and four of the biggest, handsomest men she’d ever seen in her entire life. Reaching for the small plastic cup of water sitting on the table that stretched over her bed, she couldn’t help but smile as Rafe was right there to help.

Holding the cup to her lips, the love in his eyes was something she’d never expected to see in any man’s eyes, let alone one of the Universe’s chosen warriors. Taking tiny sips of water until her throat felt like it was no longer on fire, she waited until he’d set down the cup before reaching for his hand and holding it up to her lips.

“Thank you,” she whispered directly into his mind. “I just knew you’d come.”

“Nothing and no one will ever stop me from coming when you call.”

“Alright, enough of that crap.” The room erupted in laughter as a slightly shorter version of her mate with a high and tight haircut stepped up to the other side of her bed and held out his hand.

With no doubt that he was Rafe’s brother, she slid her hand into his and chuckled as he teased, “I guess I should introduce myself since we’re about to become family. Gil O’Rhordan.” He motioned at Rafe with his head as he added, “The lunkhead over here’s brother.”

“Nice to meet you,” she croaked, her voice still sounding more like a bullfrog than a person.

Stepping back, Gil went on, “And the guy with no hair on his head but more than enough on his face is Abe. Beside him is Ben and the last one who looks like a refugee from Hell’s Angels is Oz.”

“Nice to meet y’all.”

“Great to meet you,” the bald Dragon whose voice was deep and rumbly, Abe, she was sure Gil had said grinned. “I can’t tell ya’ how long we’ve been waitin’ for somebody who can jerk a knot in Rafe’s tail.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Her mate pretended to be offended, but she could see the brotherly love and comradery he shared with the very special group of men.

Looking to her Nona as the older woman cleared her throat, Nat started to speak but instead had a fit of coughing that had Rafe scooping her out of the bed and holding her in his arms. Once she could once again speak, she batted at his chest and half-heartedly chastised, “Put me down, you beast. You can’t just pick me up whenever you please.”

Narrowing his eyes and leaning so close she could see the silver flecks in their icy blue surface, her growled, “I can and I will. You are my mate, Donatella Hale, now and forever.” Giving her a quick kiss on the lips, he pulled back and added, “And I love you with all my heart.”

“But not more than I love you, Rafe O’Rhordan,” she whispered, lifting her head just enough to lay her lips to his.

“Okay, okay, okay, enough of that,” Nona’s voice broke the spell being in Rafe’s arms created. Going on, she added, “Let’s give the couple some privacy.” Rising to her feet, Angelique crossed the room and stopped right next to where Rafe stood still holding Nat and while patting her granddaughter’s arm smiled brightly, “Get better, Dearheart. We have a mating ceremony to plan.”

Hiding her shock until she was alone with her mate, Nat let herself be laid back in the hospital bed before she asked, “What happened to Norman? Did you get him?”

“He died in the fire.” Rafe’s answer was quick and clipped, anger springing to life in his eyes.

“That’s it? He died in the fire? That’s all you’re going to tell me?” Each word louder than the last, her voice raspy and her throat burning, she demanded, “Tell me what happened or get the hell out.”

Returning Rafe’s glare, refusing to back down, she watched a myriad of emotions cross his face until finally he sighed. “Alright, if you insist. Max caught him coming out of the tunnel, running like the coward he was, and leaving you to die.”

Pulling a chair up to the side of her bed, he took a seat, and wrapped his hands around hers before continuing, “Once I knew you were okay, I killed him and Max threw the body into the burning fallout shelter. It’s as simple as that.”

“So, the girls’ murders go unsolved.” She knew she was sulking but couldn’t help it. All she could think of was six families, six sets of parents who would never know peace.

“Not exactly.”

Sitting up, gripping his hands as tight as she could, she hopefully asked, “What do you mean ‘not exactly’?”

“I mean, that after an anonymous tip, the Tarrant County Sherriff’s Office found a storage unit full of incriminating evidence proving that one Dr. Norman Batterfield was indeed the Yellow Ribbon Ripper.”

“Really? We closed the case?”

“Yes, ma’am, you closed the case, and according to Captain Rogers, when you return to work – after our honeymoon – you will be receiving a commendation for your tireless pursuit of justice.”

“But, I…I mean, I was…well, I was unconscious. How…?”

Opening her mouth, she threatened to bite his finger when he dared to shut her up by laying his index finger to her lips then quick as a whip, she was laughing out loud when he pretended to be scared. Swatting his arm with her free hand, she begged, “Tell me, please .”

“Alright, since you asked nicely,” he chuckled. “According to my report and that of Special Consultant Maximillian Prentice, you only collapsed after you received the anonymous tip and sent us to check out the storage unit.”

Never in her entire life had she felt more loved and most importantly, more understood and respected. That old book of Nona’s was right, the Universe makes no mistakes. Yes, she still wondered why Norman had done what he’d done, but that would wait, right now her happily ever after was staring her in the face and there was no way she was letting it get away.

Happy, thrilled, and overjoyed, unused to feeling so much because of one special person, she batted her eyes and teased, “So, what was that Nona said about a mating ceremony?”