36. Lila

36

LILA

T he silence in the warehouse was so suffocating, I almost wished Whitney and her shady criminal boyfriend would start arguing again. I wasn't sure how long I'd been here, but I was still truly alone, chained to a pipe, starting to fear I'd be stuck here forever. The only light came from a small, grimy window high on the wall, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move with my every breath. My wrist ached from the tight handcuffs, and I could feel my skin rubbing raw beneath the metal. Each passing minute felt like an eternity, and hope was beginning to slip through my fingers.

My mind wandered to my men often enough that it hurt. Felipe's passionate kisses and his smooth, comforting voice. Aaron's steadfast strength and strong hands. Miles' gentle touch and practical, unpretentious way of showing he cared. A sad, pitiful part of me feared I'd never see them again, would never get to share the future I'd glimpsed, the future I needed to come true. I was sure they were all panicked right now, too, trying their best to stay strong.

And Jamie. Sweet baby Jamie. Even though he was with his mother, I knew he must be scared and confused. He was too young to understand what was happening, but old enough to feel the fear in the air. I hoped Whitney was taking care of him despite the chaos she had caused and her clear inability to be what he needed long-term.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to ease the pain in my wrist and the growing despair in my heart. I listened to the faint sounds outside, hoping for something—anything—that would signal a change. Then, just when I was about to give in to hopelessness, I heard it. The distant wail of sirens and the muffled shouts of men. My heart leapt in my chest.

Was it a rescue? Were they coming for me and Jamie? I strained to hear more, my senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The sounds grew louder, more distinct. Doors being kicked in, authoritative voices shouting commands. My pulse quickened, the hope in my chest growing from a flicker to a full flame.

Then it happened. A light in the darkness, and a group of officers stormed in, weapons at the ready. "In here!" one of them shouted, and soon, they were surrounding me as they worked to free me from the cuffs.

"Are you alright, miss?" one of the officers asked as the metal finally released its grip on my wrist.

I nodded, my voice weak. "Jamie... the baby. Where is he?"

"Don't worry, we'll find him."

The minutes that followed were a blur of frantic searching and tense anticipation. I was led out of the warehouse, my legs unsteady from being confined for so long. The fresh air hit my face as we stepped outside, a stark contrast to the mustiness I'd been confined within. I scanned the chaos around me, searching for any sign of Jamie.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Whitney. She was clutching Jamie tightly to her chest, her face pale and tear-streaked as he wriggled in her grip, fussy and confused. She stepped forward, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and remorse. "I want to turn myself in," she said quietly, her voice breaking.

The officers gently took Jamie from her, and as they shifted their focus to getting Whitney in cuffs, I ran to him, scooping him into my arms. He clung to me, his tiny hands gripping my shirt, and I kissed his soft, chubby cheeks, tears streaming down my face.

That was how they found me. Felipe, Aaron, and Miles all rushed toward me, surrounding me in the safety of their bodies. They looked disheveled and exhausted, but relief washed over their faces as they saw I was safe. Felipe reached me first, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Thank God," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Miles and Aaron joined in, and we stood there, a tangled mess of arms and tears, little Jamie at the center of it. I couldn't stop crying, the overwhelming relief and joy of being with them again almost too much to bear.

Aaron was the first to pull away, his eyes scanning the scene. "I need to talk to the police. About Whitney," he told us gruffly. He walked over to an older officer who looked like he was in charge, his posture determined and professional, the powerful man I'd been intimidated by when we first met. He was out of earshot, but I understood that he must be convincing them to go easy on his sister. He had the influence and power to make it happen, and I was grateful that she wouldn't face the same fate as shady Mark. Across the way, he was swearing up a storm as an officer guided him into the back seat of a squad car.

Felipe took my hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "Lila, mi amor , I know you must be exhausted, but before it's too late, I need you to know how I feel," he said softly. "You're better than any fairy tale dream. You've made reality more enticing than any romantic fantasy I ever got lost in before. You are everything to me. I love you. Te amo, mi corazón ."

Tears filled my eyes again, and I squeezed his hand back. "Felipe, I..."

Before I could catch my breath, Miles stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Life is too short," he said gruffly. "That's all I've been thinking this whole time we were looking for you. I… you know what I've been through. After losing my wife, I never thought I could love again. But then you showed up, and everything changed. You make the world seem right again, Lila. I love you."

It was overwhelming, and beautiful, and everything I'd ever wanted—more. I turned to see Aaron on his way back over to us, finished with his conversation with the police. He smiled at me, his eyes soft and full of warmth.

"They're going to take it easy on Whitney. Rehab and community service."

"That's great," I said, genuinely relieved for her and Jamie. "She was so desperate, but she's nothing like that man. She's a victim, too."

Aaron nodded, reaching to scoop up Jamie before he met my eyes, dark and serious and full of softness at the same time. "I won't claim to be some kind of romantic. But it's always been my job to protect my family, the people I love, and I'm going to do a better job from now on. For Whitney, for Jamie, and for you." He smiled, a little self-deprecating, and his voice was low when he spoke again. "Words aren't my strong suit, and you and I weren't great at talking from the start. But you deserve to know that I love you, Lila Dawson, more than I can say."

Overwhelmed with emotion, I looked at each of them in turn, my heart overflowing. "I love you," I whispered, my voice shaking. "All of you. I love you so much, it hurts."

We embraced again, and as the adrenaline of the rescue began to fade, I felt a deep sense of peace. The only thing that could have completed the scene was the other child who had gotten us here, the little girl I'd grown to love like she was my own. I looked up at Miles, wondering where Olivia was, and then he smiled and pointed.

A crowd of bystanders had gathered around the rescue scene, and there at the edge of the barrier were two familiar faces. The kindly older woman who had shown me the ropes on my first day as Olivia's nanny, Mrs. Nguyen, and the child herself at her side. At the sight of me, Olivia grinned, waving her little hand, and then she was running to me, and I was scooping her up into my arms, laughing and hugging her tightly.

"Lila! I missed you!" she said in her sweet voice, her little arms around my neck, her full curls tickling the side of my face. "Miss Win came from Washington."

I laughed, a little breathless, and leaned into it when Miles wrapped his arms around us both. "I missed you, too, little one. I'm glad Mrs. Nguyen could watch you when I couldn't."

This was the reunion of my dreams. The three incredible men I'd been blessed enough to call my own, the little ones I loved caring for, and a new, open sense of love and peace that no amount of societal disapproval could penetrate. We were a family in every way that mattered, and nothing could ever take that away from us.