Chapter Nine

Reynolds

“D oes she know to bring Knox with her?” I ask Taylor.

“Yeah, I called and told him to meet me at your place,” he says. “Apparently, that boy of yours gave my Pup a cuddle when he was starting to have a panic attack.”

“Is he alright?”

“He said his Eli cuddle helped,” Taylor smiles. “He’s a damn good kid, brother.”

Smiling, I nod my agreement.

“Ghost wants to recruit him,” I admit. “He wants Venom to train him for the Cage and as a Prospect. He has a few years before he can do either one, but under Venom’s wing, that kid is going to be one hell of a fighter and a damn good brother.”

“No doubt about it,” Taylor agrees. “Hell, he’s already as big as King. Give it a few years, and he’ll outgrow even Blaze and Steel.”

“That’ll be something to see,” I smile. “He already eats like a bull. I have to buy more than double the amount of groceries to keep him fed.”

“And that makes you happy as hell,” Taylor laughs.

“Damn straight. I’ll buy groceries every single day if my family needs me to.”

“It’s a good thing I pay you well,” Taylor laughs. “Don’t want you going broke before you can even get the girl.”

“Fuck you,” I laugh back. “She’s already mine. I just need to convince her of that. Stubborn ass woman.”

“Speaking of.”

“Papa,” Knox yells as he slams open the door and rushes into Taylor’s arms.

“Oh, my poor little Pup,” he soothes. “Everything is going to be alright.”

“What’s going on?” Eli asks. “Knox said something about us having to go into hiding?”

“Where’s your Ma and sister?” I ask, not bothering to correct myself. This is my fucking kid. My boy. Freckles belongs to me. I feel it down to my very soul, and I know she does, too. I shouldn’t have hired her. I should have kidnapped her instead.

“Oh, she said she’s never walking through these doors again,” he smirks. “Something about men and our audacity.”

“I don’t count as men in this scenario,” Knox chuckles from Taylor’s chest. “My audacity is fully intact.”

“She may have also mentioned how bosses can’t fire someone and then threaten to kiss them,” Eli continues. “Then repeated how said bosses are full of themselves and need to go to therapy to work on their inflated ego.”

“She said all that, huh?” I chuckle.

“And a bit more, but you get the gist of it. So, since Ma no longer works for you, how long do we have before we’re kicked out?”

I would have lost my mind if it weren’t for the smirk still at the corner of his mouth.

“Get your ass to your room and pack your shit,” I chuckle. “You’re staying with the women and children.”

“Sure thing, Pa,” he says.

Not bothering to second guess it, I walk over and pull Eli into my arms. “Fucking love you, kid,” I admit. “You’re a strong man, Elijah. You protect our girls while I’m away.”

“I will, Pa. You have my word.”

My eyes water at him calling me Pa but I don’t dare hide that emotion from him as I look into his eyes.

“Someone is going to take you someplace safe,” I tell him. “I’m not going to say more in case this place is bugged but know that I’m going to work very hard to get shit done and come back home. Until then, do what you can to keep the women and children calm. There will be Obsidian’s with you, but I don’t know how long this is going to take.”

“Don’t worry about us,” he says. “You focus on your task and let me worry about mine.”

With that, he turns and heads towards the door leading to his room.

“Wait, Pa, is there going to be food? Should I also pack food? Maybe we should place a grocery order.”

Laughing, Taylor nods for me to go get my woman before he and Knox turn to help Eli.

“I’m going to go kiss your Ma,” I call out.

“Bout time, old man,” he calls back. “But if you hurt her, I’ll beat the shit out of you.”

“If he hurts her, we’ll all beat the shit out of him,” I hear Taylor say. “Now, pack snacks. There will be plenty of meal food, but there’s never enough snacks.”

“Since chocolate-hating Mitchell will be there with us, let’s pack extra chocolate so we can force him to change his mind.”

“Pup, you can’t force chocolate down his throat.”

“Watch me.”

Shaking my head at their antics, I leave the house. It doesn’t take but a few seconds to find my woman leaning against a tree near the footpath leading to Taylor and Knox’s place.

“You really shouldn’t be out here by yourself, Freckles,” I say softly.

“It really is beautiful out here,” she says just as softly. “Even with the road nearby, it’s so quiet. It’s peaceful.”

“It’s one of the reasons we chose this land,” I admit. “We had actually planned to build our new clubhouse out here before we merged with the Obsidians.”

“Knox was telling me about that yesterday,” she says, still not looking at me. “Something about Taylor kicking the old club President’s butt.”

“Yeah,” I smile. “Something like that. It all worked out the way it was meant to, though.”

“Do you really believe that?” she asks. “That our lives are predetermined?”

I let out a slow breath, feeling her question settle over the silence like a heavy blanket.

“I don’t know if I’d call it predetermined,” I say finally, watching the way the sunlight catches the loose strands of her hair. “But I think… maybe some things are meant to happen. Or maybe we just find reasons to believe they are once they do.”

She shifts slightly, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. “Like what?”

“Like meeting the right people, being in the right place, even if it’s just for a moment,” I answer, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t think any of us are given a perfect plan. But I do think we’re given people who help us figure it out along the way.”

Finally, she turns to look at me, a faint smile playing on her lips. “So, do you think you’re figuring things out?”

“I’ve already had things figured out for a long while,” I admit. “I was just waiting on someone to figure things out on their end.”

Her smile falters, and a flicker of something unreadable crosses her face. “And what if that person never does?”

The question hangs in the air between us, unexpected, but I know she’s not looking for a simple answer.

“Then maybe that’s the risk we take,” I say softly, holding her gaze. “Putting ourselves out there. Trusting that they’ll catch up. Or… that they’re worth waiting for.”

She shifts, crossing her arms as if to guard herself from the weight of my words. “That sounds… painful.”

“Sometimes it is.” I swallow, my voice low. “But the pain’s part of it. You can’t feel the highs without a few lows along the way. And I don’t mind waiting. Not if it’s for something real.”

Her eyes soften, the hint of a question still lingering, but she doesn’t ask it. Instead, she gives me a slight, almost hesitant nod, like she’s holding something close. And for now, that’s enough. We fall back into the quiet, both of us lost in thoughts we’re not quite ready to share.

In the back of my head, I know that I need to be rushing us to the car, to King’s place, but right now, I want…no, I need this moment with her.

“I was going to leave,” she says softly, her head leaning against the tree. “I already had a couple of new nannies ready for you to choose after I left.”

“I know,” I admit.

“I wasn’t going to take Eli with me.”

“That part I didn’t know,” I say, shocked.

“Wait, what do you mean you knew?”

“Anytime my name, as well as the rest of the bodyguards, are mentioned online, we’re automatically notified,” I explain. “I knew the moment you placed the ad for a new nanny. Should have left my name out of it, baby.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she huffs, tossing her hands in the air.

I take a step closer, feeling the weight of her frustration, but I can’t stop myself from reaching out. I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, my fingers grazing her skin. Her eyes soften, and for a moment, I feel like I’m the only one in the world that matters.

“I didn’t say anything because I knew it wasn’t my place,” I tell her quietly. “You were making decisions for you and Eli, and I respect that. I didn’t want to be the guy who comes in and tells you how to live your life. Especially with everything you’ve been through.”

Her breath catches, her gaze dropping to the ground as if she’s trying to piece together my words. I take another step, keeping my voice low and steady.

“I’ve known from the moment I laid eyes on you, Delphi Mae… that you were it. I didn’t want to scare you off. I saw how hard things have been for you, and I couldn’t bring myself to push you into anything before you were ready. But I can’t stand by anymore.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “I want to fight for you, for both of you. I want you to know I’m not some guy trying to complicate your life. I just... I just need you to see that I can be trusted.”

Her gaze flicks up to meet mine, the weight of her uncertainty hanging in the air. I feel the pulse of my heartbeat in my throat as I search her face, desperate to know if she can hear me.

“You think I don’t see it?” she whispers, her voice trembling, almost as if she’s afraid to acknowledge it. “You think I don’t feel what you feel?”

I swallow hard, unsure how to answer. I want to tell her everything that I’ve already promised myself. That she and Eli are mine to protect. But I know better than to rush this.

“I don’t know what you feel, Freckles,” I admit softly. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I can’t just walk away now. Not when I’ve already made up my mind about you.”

Her shoulders tense, but her eyes soften, that fragile trust beginning to form like a delicate thread between us. “And if I’m not ready for this?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I close the space between us, my hand hovering near hers, not yet touching but close enough that she knows I’m there. “I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as it takes. But I need you to know this... I’m not giving up on us.”

The words hang between us, like a promise and a plea all in one.

Freckles’ eyes flutter closed, and for a brief moment, everything goes still. The tension in the air shifts, softens, as if the world around us is holding its breath. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she leans forward, her gaze dropping to my lips. Her hesitation is a flicker, a brief moment of doubt, but it’s quickly replaced with something that feels like trust. Or maybe hope.

I can’t stop myself. My hand moves to her cheek, cupping it gently, the touch careful, reverent, like she’s something fragile, I’m afraid of breaking. She lifts her chin, her eyes meeting mine again, searching, asking without saying a word.

I lean in, and for a second, the space between us is nothing but the thundering of our hearts. I’ve never wanted anything so badly, and yet, I take my time. My lips hover just above hers, our breaths mingling into one.

Then, finally, I press my lips to hers. Soft, tender, as if this kiss is both a question and an answer. It’s a quiet connection, but it holds everything we’re both feeling, everything I want to say without words.

The kiss deepens, just slightly, as if we’re both testing the waters, trying to see if this is the beginning of something real, something that won’t break us. My hand slides around her back, pulling her closer, but not too fast. The last thing I want is to overwhelm her.

Her hands find their way to my chest, tentative at first, then firm as if she’s anchoring herself in this moment. And in that kiss, I feel it. The weight of the past, the uncertainty, the fear, and the promise of something more. It’s delicate, but it’s powerful, like we’re both giving each other a piece of ourselves.

When we finally pull apart, it’s slow, and our foreheads rest together, breaths mingling. My hands stay on her, steadying her, holding her as if I could make this moment last forever.

“I’m here, Freckles,” I whisper, my voice rough. “I’m here.”

“We have to go, brother,” Taylor says from the porch. “Change of plans.”

“Fuck. Alright, Freckles. Go pack some clothes and everything you’ll need for our daughter.”

“For how long?” she asks.

“Just a few days, baby, but pack for a week.”

I hope.

With a final squeeze, I reluctantly release her, watching her turn to head inside.

“Hey, Freckles,” I call out before she reaches the door. She stops, turning her head back to me. Her hair falls in waves, the setting sun casting a soft glow on her face. I swallow hard, making sure she knows I mean every word. “Just so you know, you’re still fired, but you’re not going anywhere. You got me?”

Her lips curl into a small smile, the playful glint back in her eyes. “You still owe me an explanation about what’s going on,” she answers instead, her tone teasing, but there’s an edge of seriousness beneath it.

“You got me?”

She hesitates, then smirks, the tension easing between us. “Yeah, I got you. You were a horrible boss anyway. I really should’ve reported you to HR ages ago.”

My eyes widen in mock outrage, and I lean in, my voice low and teasing. “Because of the one time I slapped your butt?”

She snorts, shaking her head. “And the time you accidentally grabbed a handful of boob,” she laughs.

“Whoa, whoa,” I raise my hands defensively, “That was just a rumor. I never laid a hand on that woman.”

Her laughter is pure and easy, and I can’t help but smile at the sound of it. “ I was that woman,” she says, catching her breath as she meets my gaze. “You’re nuts. I’m going to go pack.”

“Just don’t take too long,” I say, my tone dropping slightly, all business again, but the warmth between us is still there, simmering under the surface.

As she heads inside, I turn toward Taylor, my chest tightening with a mixture of frustration and urgency.

“I fucking hate pulling you away right now, brother,” Taylor says with honest regret written all over his face. “You deserve this more than anyone else I know.”

I nod, understanding the sacrifice it takes to walk away from something that feels like it’s finally falling into place. But this is bigger than me. Bigger than her. We have a family to protect, and that’s where my focus needs to be.

“What’s changed?” I ask.

“King’s place is compromised. A bug was found at the clubhouse.”

“How the hell did that happen?”

“Not sure, but Steel and Blaze reported back that Oasis was clear. King is going to take Maddy, Sophie, and the kids to Maddy’s parent's place and we’re to grab Amara and Dove from Ghost’s place and take this group to Oasis.”

“We can’t take the kids to Oasis, Taylor,” I say.

“The brothers are cleaning out the playroom,” he informs me. “They won’t see a thing they’re not supposed to.”

Considering Oasis is a BDSM club, I hope the hell not. Luckily, the Little’s playroom is in an area away from the dungeon, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Well, as long as all the adult baby stuff is put away, that is.

“Once everyone is in your car, Knox and I will head to Ghost and Amara’s to grab her and Dove. Then we’ll meet you at Oasis.”

With a plan in place, I head back inside to help pack everything in the car.

For the first time since I started working as a bodyguard, I’m questioning its worth. Then again, all I had to worry about before was Taylor, and he can take care of himself. Now, in the span of a month, I’ve acquired three precious people who mean the world to me and need my protection. And here I go, placing them in danger.