33. Spartan

We were havinglunch with everyone when a package was delivered. Ghost opened it and grimaced, then showed something to Allison, who nodded. Ghost glanced at all of us.

"The man in the plane wreck was Robert Knight, so I guess that means you don't have to guard Benni and Amy anymore," Ghost said, looking at me.

"I will always guard Benni and Amy. Just because that bastard is dead doesn't mean I will stop guarding them," I said, daring Benni to say something.

"Wait, hold up there," Benni said. "If he's dead, you won't be guarding us. I can take care of us myself. You can get your things and move back home. I can't believe I'm free. I can go anywhere I want to with only Amy and myself," Benni actually clapped her hands, smiling.

"I'll get my things when I'm ready. I have a daughter and will never live apart from her while she is a child. If you don't want me to stay at your home, then you and Amy will remain here at my home," I held my hand up when she started to speak. "I'm not going to argue about it. Now, can we enjoy the company of our friends?"

I could swear there was smoke coming from Benni's head. She was so angry. Good. I wanted some kind of reaction from her. I was tired of all this sweet talk I'd been getting from her. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. If I have my way, we will be together within a week. Now that I know the danger is out of the way.

"Who do you think you are talking to me like that? You know what, Liam Bellmont? You have always had a big mouth. No, I won't live here, and you will not live at my house," Benni demanded as she walked away and kept walking. Then she came back. "Liam, you have always been able to hurt me. I won't let you ever hurt me again," I wonder if she realized she was crying. Tears fell from her eyes. I knew when she called me Liam, she was hurt and angry.

I stood up and gazed into her eyes. "I'm sorry. I have no excuse; I know I hurt you. I didn't mean to. When I found out you were a virgin, I was angry, not because I didn't want you but because I wanted you more than anything in this world. I have always wanted you, but then you had to go and get rich."

"What does that have to do with anything?" She whispered.

"Everything. I didn't want you or my friends to think I wanted you for your money. When I told you to leave, I didn't mean for you to leave the mountain. I meant for you to leave the hotel and go home, where I would see you after we saved Carrie. I love you, Benni. I have loved you all my life, and I will keep loving you," I said, waiting for her to say something.

"What do you mean you have always loved me? You put me through hell, and you have the nerve to say you love me. You never came to find me, so forgive me for doubting you, but I don't think you know what love is," she said, going to the other room and coming back with Amy, then she left.

I looked at Rebel. "What do I do now?"

"Why are you asking him? He doesn't even like women," Allison said.

"I do, too. I love women. I just don't want a serious relationship with one. That doesn't mean I don't know what my brother should do," he turned to me. "I think you should run after her. Right now," he said, pushing me out the door.

CHAPTER 34 BENNI "Amy, is Daddy following us yet?"

"No. Mommy, can we go back and get Daddy."

"No, he'll follow us," I was not going to wait outside for him if he didn't follow me after that speech. Then he didn't mean a word he said in front of all our family and friends. I wiped another tear off my face. My eyes were blurry. It was so hard to see anything with these tears falling. I stopped and wiped my eyes.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's go home," Spartan said, picking Amy up and putting his arm around me. "We will be together for the rest of our lives, so you need to start liking me."

"I still couldn't speak. I nodded instead. "I love you, Spartan," I said, leaning against him.

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love both of you so much. Can you please forgive me for everything?"

"First, I have to make a list of everything, and then I'll see if I can forgive you for everything," I said, putting my arm around him. "It's Amy's naptime; we'll discuss this when she sleeps," Spartan said, kissing my temple.

"Oh, we'll do a lot of talking when Amy's sleeping. We'll talk again tonight because you will be in my bed from now on."

"Yes, from now on, it's the three of us. And maybe a few more of us," He laughed and pulled me closer.