Page 36

Taylor

Flames burst from the top of the warehouse like a fire-breathing dragon, heating my face as I hop out of the truck.

“Easy Taylor!” Tucker yells from somewhere behind me.

I pay him no attention as Braveheart members come running from every direction around the warehouse.

Firefighters and police officers try to control the chaos, but it’s pointless with the crowd outnumbering them by dozens.

With Tombstone and Tucker flanking my side, we walk towards the burning building.

Suddenly, a sea of black and red swarm us and I breathe a small sigh of relief.

“Tuck. I’ve got A Team. You take B. Tay, you take C,” Tombstone instructs as members run straight to us.

One by one, they all check in as they lead innocent victims of Clay’s drug ring away from the carnage.

As the sea begins to thin, it's obvious who is missing.

Indy, Boone, Zoro, and him .

Tucker brushes his hand against my back, and I glance over my shoulder. Tucker’s eyes are wide and frantically searching. And I can tell by the look on his face he isn’t just looking for Braveheart members, he’s looking for someone in particular.

How do I know? Because he wears the same face I do.

“There!” Tombstone points at the pathway leading to the back of the building. Despite my better judgment, I take off running, but only make it a few feet before Tucker is stopping me.

“Easy Tay. You are no good to him if you kill yourself getting there.”

Glaring at him, I slow down. He’s right, but I’ll be damned if I admit it.

Tombstone steers us away from the flames, and just as we round the back of the warehouse, I freeze.

Indy is holding a little girl in his arms as she cries into his chest. His gaze lifts to mine and instantly, he makes his way to me, his long legs eating up the space in seconds.

Tucker touches my arm and I glance up at him. Wordlessly, he points towards the back of the warehouse and I wave him off. He briefly whispers something in Boone’s ear before taking off in a sprint, but my attention quickly falls away from them.

The moment he is standing inches from me, my heart breaks. Staring wide eyed at me is a gaze I recognize all too well.

I would recognize Rayne Mackenzie Clark anywhere. She is Aries' twin all the way down to her toes.

The rest of the world fades away as I step closer, my good hand moving to her back. Rayne jumps, but after Indy whispers words of reassurance in her ear, she gives me a small smile.

Slowly, I move my hand to brush the soot off her cheek and, to my surprise, she leans into my touch.

Do not cry, Taylor. Hold it in.

Smiling, I keep my hand in place and use my body to shield her from the crowd of people running around us. “Hi Rayne. My name is Taylor.”

Lifting her tiny hand, she waves. “Hi. How do you know my name?”

“I’m a friend of someone that loves you very much.”

“Oh. My mommy?”

Shaking my head, I fight the urge to cringe at the thought of Tana. “No. Someone very special.” My gaze shifts to Indy and I give him a questioning look.

Indy shrugs his shoulders and I feel a rock settle in the pit of my stomach.

No. Don’t go there. He is here. He is okay. Get Rayne to safety. That’s what he would want. He will find us when he can.

“Hey. Would it be okay if we get you away from this craziness? I promise you will be safe.”

Rayne looks around her, then back to me, nodding frantically.

Not allowing myself to look around, Indy, Tombstone, Rayne and I quickly make our way back to the truck.

“Tomb. Stay with them. I need to chat with the men in blue,” Indy says, sitting Rayne in the passenger seat of the truck. Leaning down, he brushes a lock of dirty blonde hair out of Rayne’s eyes. “Little one, are you going to be okay if I leave you with my friends?”

Rayne looks to me, and I flash her a reassuring smile. She’s hesitant, but nods. Indy places a quick kiss to the top of her head, then does the same to me before taking off somewhere behind the truck.

With Tombstone at my back, I crouch down a little. My shoulder screams in pain, but I ignore it. “Are you hurt anywhere, sweetheart?”

“No. Indy was really fast, and we were outside when the big boom happened. What was that?”

“It—”

“Rayne?”

My spine steels and I spin around.

Ari stands behind me, his eyes wide in shock and his face covered in soot and…blood.

His gaze shifts to mine and his chest deflates as he gently tugs me into his chest, his eyes never leaving Rayne’s.

Rising on my tiptoes, “Wipe the blood off your face. She’s okay.”

Ari nods, lost somewhere in his head. Using the bottom of his ripped shirt, his abs flex as he wipes his face. I let out a sigh of relief when his nearly clean face reveals only a small gash on his forehead.

Ari looks at me for reassurance and I pat my hand against his heart. His dark eyes turn glassy as I step aside.

Moving as slow as a snail, Ari crouches down so that he is eye to eye with the girl who is an exact copy of himself.

“Hi.”

“Hi?”

Both of their voices are shy and filled with uncertainty. I know I should walk away and give them privacy, but I can’t. The need to protect them in any way I can, outweighs everything.

Tombstone taps me against the arm and I look over my shoulder to see him holding Raynie’s bunny.

Mouthing “thank you”, I slip the stuffed animal into Ari’s arms. Rayne’s eyes go wide and her spine straightens.

“I know you may not remember me. You were very young the last time I saw you. My name is Aries.”

Rayne tilts her head, her gaze shifting between the bunny and Ari. “Umm. I think I’ve heard that name before.”

Ari’s shoulders shake and he looks up to the sky for a second before returning his attention to Rayne. Gently, he sets the bunny in Rayne’s lap, lifting the foot with the initials for her to see.

“Hey! Those are the letters of my name!” Rayne exclaims, hugging the bunny to her chest.

“They are. You know why?”

Rayne excitedly shakes her head no.

“It’s because that bunny was yours when you were little.” Pointing to each letter, he continues, “Rayne Mackenzie Clark.”

“That’s my name! I–I” Her eyes cast downward, a sad expression on her face.

Ari’s hands go to her knee. “What’s wrong Raynie? Did I say something?”

Rayne’s head pops up. “Raynie?”

Ari looks to me and I shrug, confusion written on both of our faces.

“Sorry. Do you not want me to call you that? I don’t have to.”

“Um. My mommy said that name is a bad name. She said that my daddy used to call me that and she didn’t like him, so I couldn’t be called that anymore.”

My fingers ball into a fist and I fight every urge to not hunt Tana down. Speaking of, where the hell is that bitch? She better not have slipped away. I have a few things I need to “discuss” with her.

Ari cracks his neck from side to side before forcing himself to smile. “I’m sorry she said that. If you don’t want me to call you that name, I won’t.”

Rayne shrugs, her grip still tight on the bunny. “I really like that name, but mommy will be mad.”

“I really don’t want to scare you, sweetheart, but I have to tell you something.”

Rayne’s gaze shifts to mine, and I give her a reassuring nod.

“I know it's really hard to understand, but I am your daddy.” Pinching the bunny’s ears between his soot covered fingers, he wiggles it back and forth. “I gave you this bunny for your first birthday. And that nickname you love, my best friend, who you used to call Uncle Bo, gave it to you.”

“Uncle Bo.” Rayne tests the name on her tongue and suddenly her head snaps up. Her dark chocolate eyes turning glassy.

“I think I remember. Nana used to tell me about my daddy and uncle all the time. She said they were really good men, but we couldn’t see them again or mommy would be upset. And if mommy was upset, Clay would be really mean to Nana.”

My teeth bite the inside of my cheek so hard, I taste blood.

I’m going to kill both of them.

Once again, Aries cracks his neck. I close the distance between us, his back brushing against me. And he lets out a sigh.

That's it, Ace. We can kill him later. Focus on your little girl.

“I’m so sorry. I can promise you that you are safe and never have to worry about Clay hurting anyone you love again. Okay?”

Rayne nods shyly.

Ari looks to me, helplessness evident on his exhausted face.

“Hey Raynie. Would it be okay if we took you back to a really cool and safe place? There is a playground and an entire room full of games. Somewhere without all this noise and smoke?”

Rayne glances between the both of us, then at the scene surrounding her.

Firefighters, police officers, total strangers, and members of Braveheart are scattered across the lot.

Rayne’s chest begins to rise and fall rapidly as she finally realizes just how chaotic everything around her truly is.

“Y-yes, please. But—” Her words trail off, but with a soft swipe of Ari’s hand against her knee, she perks up slightly. “Will my mommy be there?”

I have to look away for a moment, so she doesn’t see the disgust written clearly on my face.

Ari, being the more controlled of the two of us, nods. “She can be.”

Tears start to fall rapidly down Rayne’s face, catching Ari and I off guard. “Rayne. What happened? Did we say something to upset you, sweetheart?” I ask, leaning over Ari to brush away her tears. My shoulder screams in pain and I feel a wave of nausea wash over me, but I ignore it.

Rayne shakes her head. “I don’t like my mommy. She is really mean, but n-no one ever believed me. I know hate is a bad word, but I hate my mommy. She is the meanest person I’ve ever met and so is Clay.”

The taste of blood fills my mouth, and I have to press my body into Ari.

Taking a deep breath, he stands to his full height, snaking his arm behind my back to hold me steady.

I reach around him to tap his heart, letting him know I’m okay.

Rayne looks up to Ari, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks.

“Raynie, can I pick you up?”

“Y-Yes.” The words are barely out of her mouth before Ari is lifting her into his arms.

Ari holds her tight against his chest and Rayne buries her face in his neck as sobs overtake her.

The flood gates let loose, and Ari’s cries overtake him.

Blindly, Ari reaches out for me, pulling me into his chest.

Together, all three of us stand wrapped in Ari’s arms.

My control snaps and I let the tears flow.

The weight of the world falls away and all that’s left in its wake is seeing my best friend finally reuniting with his first love.

A kiss is placed atop my head and I rest my head on Ari’s chest. “I love you, Butterfly.”

“I love you too, Ace,” I say, staring glassy eyed at the man I love most in this entire world.

Lifting my good arm, I brush a comforting touch against Rayne’s back, causing her to look down at me, then up at Ari.

The second their like eyes meet, Ari’s head falls to rest against hers. “I’m so sorry I failed you, sweetheart. I promise it will never happen again. I promise from this moment on, you will see that life is supposed to be happy. You will never have to worry about someone being mean to you ever again. You are safe with me and Taylor. I am so, so sorry.”

Rayne nods and I know she may not entirely understand the gravity of the situation, but I can tell by her change in breathing, she knows she is finally safe.

Leaning back, Ari places a kiss on Raynie’s forehead. “I have an idea.”

“What?” Rayne and I ask simultaneously.

“How about we go get something to eat? Maybe some ice cream? Then go back to my house where you can see that game room Taylor was talking about. Would that make you feel a little better?”

Rayne swipes the back of her hand against her face, glances around at the chaos, then down to me. I know she is scared and everything in me wishes I could make all the fear and hurt fade away. Plastering on my best smile, I give her a reassuring nod.

Just like her father when faced with adversity, she swipes away another tear, steels her spine and nods. “Yes, please.”

I wait patiently while Ari buckles Rayne into her seat and when he shuts her door; I collapse into his chest.

Ari buries his face into my neck and together we stand in silence.

Not wanting to make Rayne wait long, I pull back.

“Thank you, Butterfly,” Ari says, allowing his mask to slip for just a moment to allow me to see the pain and heartache coursing through his body.

“No need to thank me.”

“Oh, but I do. I couldn’t have done this without you.” Pulling me back to his chest, he mutters. “I love you so fucking much, Taylor Sloane Morgan. One day soon, I’m going to make you a beautiful bride so my girls can all share the same name.”

Not wanting to break into a ball of tears again, I push away from him. A wave of dizziness overtaking me the second I do. And like always, Ari is there to catch me.

Aries Clark. The keeper of my heart. The man that dismantled every one of my walls, brick by brick, and prevailed through all the sadness and heartache that came with every stone.

Now, he has given me a chance to have a life I never thought I could imagine.

Peeking over his shoulder, I see Rayne playing paper, rock, scissors with Tombstone. I feel the smile stretch across my face.

This is what happiness looks like, and I know it’s just the beginning.

Taking a step back, Ari opens the passenger door, cradles me to his chest, and sets me in the seat.

I roll my eyes as he reaches around me to buckle me in, just like he did Rayne.

“Ready Hellhound?” he asks, a devious smirk on his face.

“Always. Let's get our girl home.”

Ari places a bruising kiss to my lips. “As you wish, Butterfly.”

Glancing in the rearview mirror, my gaze catches on Rayne. A big grin spreads across her rosy face and I return the gesture.

This moment. This man. This precious little girl. This life.

It’s all I have wished for, but never thought I would have.

If this is what I feel after seconds of having Rayne in my life, I know it’s only going to get better from here.