56. Charleigh

FIFTY-SIX

CHARLEIGH

Dizziness swept through me as River helped me to my feet.

I couldn't believe it. Was terrified to believe it.

But I knew it was true.

Knew all the way to my soul that that little boy belonged to me.

I'd felt it.

Sensed it.

This connection that wouldn't let me go.

A connection I knew had somehow led me here.

My heart flooded with emotion, and I swayed with the impact of it.

River curled his arm around my waist. "I've got you, Charleigh."

I nodded against him as he guided me out of his shop. He locked it behind us and led me around the corner to where his SUV was parked.

He helped me in, and I itched on the seat, so anxious to get to my son that I couldn't sit still.

My heart pounded violently in my chest, and I glanced at River as he climbed into the front seat. I immediately reached for him, this volatile, perfect man who kept me steady. "Thank you. I don't even know how to…"

I trailed off.

River swiveled and took both sides of my face in his hands. "There is no thanking me, Charleigh. I've been haunted for five fuckin' years that I failed you all. And I fucking hate that your parents and your cousin were killed in all of this, but I…" Storm-cloud eyes raged. "I can't believe it's you. That you found him."

My fingers brushed across his lips. "I found you both."

The harshest kind of love cut through his sharp features. Devotion and loyalty. This man who would truly do whatever it took.

One of his hands slipped into my hair and he dropped his forehead to mine. "Told you, Little Runner, this is where you belong."

I nodded against him, and he sat back and pulled out of the parking spot, then he started in the direction of Miss Liberty's.

"Miss Liberty knows. She's under the protection of the club," he said.

I gave him the jerkiest nod. Of course, he would make sure that Nolan was protected that way. The same as he'd been with Dr. Reynolds.

Anxiousness burned through me as we traveled through Moonlit Ridge. I was leaned forward, bouncing, antsy, desperate to get to him.

To see him anew.

Without the sorrow I'd been written in.

Without the grief and the loss.

With this pure joy that blistered through every faculty and every sense.

And still, I knew I loved him the same. That I'd already fallen wholly in love with this child, with or without my blood that ran through his veins.

River made a left into the modest neighborhood on the far side of town.

Tears of disbelief continued to track down my cheeks as he pulled to a stop at the curb in front of Liberty's house. A sob hitched in my throat as I looked out the passenger-side window. "I can't believe… "

It broke off.

River reached out and squeezed my hand. "Come on, Charleigh, let's go get your son."

River hopped out and was rounding the front of the SUV as I fumbled out. Unable to wait.

My nerves rattled and more questions poured through my brain.

The hows and the whys.

I knew some of them would never be answered. My father had taken those to his grave.

Anticipation billowed beneath the surface of my skin, and shivers lifted when River took my hand and we walked together to the door.

But it was dread that slithered through me when I felt the alarm on the other side of the door. I thought River must have sensed it too because a frown cut across his brow and he knocked on the door with the back of his fist.

One second later, Miss Liberty ripped it open, horror drenching her face.

"Oh God, River…I can't find Nolan."