Page 112 of Wedlock

“I haven’t seen my parents or anyone other than Adam and Marianne since…”

“Since you entered The Games,” I murmur into her hair, “I know.”

“I thought it would be too dangerous to see them,” she whispers. “That you’d find me or someone would hurt them…”

“I would never have allowed anyone to harm your family, Angie,” I murmur. “Even at my most deranged, my most angry, that would not have occurred to me.”

“Jag said it wasn’t safe,” she whispers.

“Jag knows me better than that,” I grunt. “I contacted them a few weeks ago and arranged everything. As far as I’m concerned, your family should be part of your life again. Whether youchoose to return to me or not, there’s nothing stopping you, or our son, from being with them.”

She shakes her head infinitesimally.

“Falcon, you can’t know how much this means to me. You’ve saved the best for last.”

I pull her slightly away and look into her eyes.

‘Last? Is she telling me she’s not going to date me after this? Is that why she kissed me earlier? Is she telling me goodbye? Is she going to fucking run AGAIN?’

I don’t have time to ask anything, though, as her eyes flick behind me and I turn to see her extended family making their way outdoors and heading for the aircraft, along with someone else I definitely don’t want to see.

89

I can’t stop crying from the moment we land.

It’s been so many years since I’ve seen my parents, so many years of heartbreak and pain and fear, that when he tells me that my family can once again be part of my life I can barely speak for fear I’m dreaming.

Stumbling out of the helicopter, oblivious to the slowly winding down rotors, to Falcon’s steadying hand on my arm, to the soft rain starting to fall around us, I literally fall into Mom’s arms.

As she stands squeezing me, my dad, my brothers and their wives, surround me with their arms too, forming a giant net of love. And I don’t think I’lleverstop crying.

Swept up in their embrace, Mom’s arm around my waist, Dad’s around my shoulders, we somehow manage to get inside, and as their questions bombard me from all sides, I slowly control my tears and regain the power of speech.

“I’m good, I’m good,” I smile, trying to discern who and what to answer first. “Yes, he’s good too. No, I’m not a prisoner. Yes, I’m happy. That’s right, I was never suicidal. Yes, I’m living with Yin. No, I can’t come home, but I’ll visit often now. The questions and answers go on and on, until, catching Falcon’s eye where he stands in the doorway, his body language indicating he’s not enjoying the low conversation he’s having with the man standing with him, I finally wind down.

“So, are we going to eat?” I ask huskily, looking around at all my family members and smiling. “I’ve waited a long time for this Sunday roast.”

“Darling,” Mom kisses my cheek, “of course.”

Making our way to the dining table I fall in beside Adam and whisper the question that’s been on my mind since we’d landed.

“What’s Jag doing here?”

“He’s been living with us for the past few years,” he murmurs, “on and off.”

“Living as an Amish?” I raise my eyebrows.

“Protecting us,” Adam says quietly, “and you.”

I frown. I’ve only had bad thoughts about Jag since Falcon told me he knew about the twins. And since Falcon had found us it hadn’t occurred to me that Jag would still be working behind the scenes to do anything for me.

I take my place at the table, noting space has been left for the other two guests, still talking in low, serious tones in the living room, and knowing no one will start the meal until everyone’sseated. As my brothers and their wives fuss over their children and get them organised, I take the opportunity to find out what’s going on in the next room.

“Ah,” I rise again, smiling at Mom and Dad, “I’ll just be a minute.”

Making my way to the two vampires, I frown.

“We’re about to eat. Are you two going to join us?”