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“I’m going with fate, too,” he looked at his father. “I trust you’re still going to help me adopt him?”
“We are,” Russ said and looked at Naomie. “Seems like our girl has more contacts than we realized. She has a team of people working on it right now. With a heartfelt recommendation from the President and First Lady, along with I don’t know how many people from the Navy, all the way to the top.”
Riggs looked at Naomie in surprise. “How did you manage that?”
“Did I neglect to tell you I’m good friends with wonderful vets like Wiley, Deacon Johns, and Lincoln Shaw? And Grady, of course, along with...”
Riggs laughed and cut her off. “You truly are one of a kind, and I love you.”
“And I love you,” she replied and looked at the baby who’d drained the bottle. “And you, too, little Robby. I love you.”
Robby squealed, laughed, and waved his arms with his hands reaching for her. She pulled him up against her chest to burp him.
“I have another favor,” Riggs announced. “And it’s another big one.”
“Oh?” Russell asked.
Just then, the door to his room opened. “Oh my god,” Naomie breathed as she saw Georgie.
“Who did that?” Riggs demanded.
“I’m okay.” Her gaze sought Naomie’s and prompted Naomie to rise, give the baby back to Riggs, and hurry to Georgie. “Come on, let’s step outside.”
She turned Georgie around and then cut a look back at the men. “We’ll be back.”
Naomie stepped through the doorway and let the door close behind her. “Josh?” she asked.
Georgie nodded, trying to keep a tight lid on her emotions. “We’re done.”
“How done?”
“Forever.” If there was a God, she’d just received a blessing. Anger. It washed away the feelings of fear, violation, and betrayal, leaving only a burning coal of rage that could easily burst into a violent flame. “If he ever touches me again, I’ll kill him.”
“Whoa,” Naomie took Georgie’s arm and steered her away from the door. “Those are strong words. What exactly did he do to deserve that?”
“You want the full version or the nutshell?” Georgie heard the ire in her voice and regretted directing it at Naomie, but Naomie seemed to ignore it.
“Considering our location, let’s go with a nutshell,” Naomie held up one hand with her index finger pointing up. “For now. I will want the full version when we have the chance.”
“Fine.” Georgie wasn’t ready to recite the entire thing right now. Everything was too raw. Having something like this happen so quickly after the bridge incident had her emotions stretched way too tight.
She tried to clear her mind and treat what she was about to say like giving someone a quick explanation of their treatment needs. “In a nutshell, he burst into my home when I wouldn’t invite him in, beat and raped me.”
One of Naomie’s hands went to her mouth, and the other reached for Georgie’s hand. “Oh, Georgie. Oh, God.” Her eyes welled with tears, then suddenly dried, and her face seemed to transform.
Color her teetering on an emotional collapse, but right then, Georgie thought Naomie looked just like some mythological warrior goddess, ready to deliver punishment.
“We are going to destroy him,” Naomie’s voice sounded almost like a frightening hiss. “I promise you that.”
It was the perfect promise because Naomie was the only person Georgie had ever known who always kept her word. She wasn’t over what Josh did to her and might not be for a long time, but knowing she had Naomie by her side made all the difference.
“I love you,” she said and hugged Naomie. “Now, what’s going on with Riggs?”
“That’s what we’re about to find out.”
They reentered the room to find Russell sitting in a chair with the baby in his arms. Robby was making cute cooing sounds and waving his arms as if trying to make his hand reach Russell’s face.
“You’re back,” Riggs said and stared at Georgie. “Is everything okay?”