Page 75 of Hunted
He closed his eyes. They burned. “I don’t want to see anyone but you.”
She frowned down at him. One hand came up to cup his cheek, and she plumbed his eyes, his soul. “Don’t you remember what Stryker told you?”
His heart skipped. “I … I dreamed that he told me …”
She smiled gently, tears brimming in her eyes. “It wasn’t a dream.” She stepped backward, reached behind her for the door, pushed it open. And then she turned her head and waved her hand at someone outside.
And a miracle happened.
His two little boys bounded through the door. Justin jumped right up onto the bed and hugged his neck and Jackson stood by the bedside, hopping and reaching for him until Lexi helped him to get on, too. “Careful, your dad’s sore. Be gentle.”
They were laughing and talking so loudly and excitedly he doubted they even heard her. And the pain of their enthusiastic hugs was the best thing he’d ever felt. For a moment he was stunned, looking down at the little boys who wrapped themselves in his arms.
He lifted his head to look up at Lexi, unashamed of the tears streaming over his face.
He felt them. Their soft, warm skin, and their dark curls. Alive! His little boys were alive! It hadn’t been a dream?—
“I missed you, Daddy!” Jackson said.
“I missed you too. Both of you.”
“I’m glad you’re better now, Daddy.” Justin searched his face. “We can be together again, now, can’t we?”
“We’ll never be apart again.”
Connor “Molotov” Romano’s stony heart melted into a puddle of sheer joy, and tears burned fiery paths down his cheeks. “I love you, boys. I love you so much.”
The hugs gentled, but the boys didn’t seem willing to move out of his arms. And it was a good thing, because he didn’t think he could let go of them if he tried.
Lexi moved to the foot of the bed and cranked it up until he could remain sitting and still lean back against the mattress. She was crying almost as much as he was.
She moved toward the door. “You guys spend some time. I’ll check back in later.”
“Don’t go, Lexi.”
She met his gaze, and he saw the love in her eyes.
“You need to be alone?—”
“No, we don’t,” said Jackson. “I want you to stay, Lexi.” Then he turned his big dark eyes to Connor, and said, “Lexi’s been taking care of us every day since Grandpa Stryker brought us to the hopsickle, Daddy.”
“Grandpa Stryker?” he repeated.
Lexi nodded. “The boys have been staying with your friend Monroe Stryker’s parents while you’ve been … recuperating.”
“I see.”
“It wasn’t so bad,” Justin said. “They have a pool and a trampoline, and Grandma Stryker makes the best homemade ice cream. When Uncle Monroe brought us here, I was so scared at first! I thought you might go to heaven, like Mommy did.” He lowered her eyes. “But then Lexi told me you would be okay, and that she would take care of me until you were, and I wasn’t scared anymore.” He smiled adoringly at Lexi.
Connor figured his expression probably matched that. “You can’t go, Lexi. Look at us. We need you.”
Her smile was tremulous. But she nodded and came to join them. She sat on the only available bit of the bed, and Connor wrapped his hand around hers.
“Then I’ll stay.”
“For always?” he asked her, then he paused, suddenly uncertain. “I know it’s a lot to ask …”
She pressed a finger to his lips, looking at the boys as if she was looking at her very own miracle. Meeting his eyes again, she nodded. “For always, Connor. For absolutely always.”