Electrified(116)

Lila was still getting used to having one family member back in her life, but he could tell she liked it. Her parents kept their distance, just as Lila asked. Unfortunately, making it right with their daughter was less important than being excommunicated from their community.

Although Lila was an innocent victim in all of Elon’s actions, her parents associated her with him and refused to absolve her, which trickled out to the rest of the neighborhood. Their motives in hiring Carson and finding her were never sincere. They just wanted to be related to the Finder family.

Then when everything went south, they changed their tune and didn’t want anything to do with the Finders. Ironically, that included their own daughter, who had been a Finder in name.

Lila never talked about her ex-husband. Never, and Carson was fine with that. It was over for Lila and Elon before it really started. Lila went to therapy for the first year after the kidnapping, and made peace with the idea that none of it was her fault.

She also resolved and strengthened her belief her work as a stripper was decent. It kept her safe for many years, and now she used the knowledge she gained from that experience to help other women make money in an industry that often stripped them of their pride. She showed them how to avoid that at all costs.

Personally, for Carson, all he cared about was keeping Lila safe. After Elon gave her the civil divorce from prison, she was granted a religious divorce. Elon was tied up for a very long time in the system. He wasn’t coming back, but just in case, Carson had someone keep a constant eye on him.

He and Lila went back to the Bahamas a year after their first trip there and were married in a small ceremony on the beach. It was an anniversary and a birth all in one—the one-year mark of when Lila had stopped living in fear, and the beginning of a new life with a husband who adored her. Since her entire Tunnel family was in attendance, it was also a going-away party for Lila and Carson right before they moved to California.

They all would be back together soon with a number of upcoming arrivals, his and Lila’s baby being only one of them.

He knew Lila was making the most of every second until their baby arrived. Last week, she and Asher broke ground on the birth of their next club, the Electric Wave in Miami. Lila had gone to scout locations, but now that she wasn’t traveling, Asher took over for the time being.

Big Mike and Lila talked on the phone daily, and Carson was pretty sure he was the one she missed the most. He wasn’t the least bit surprised when Lila told him she was sending Big Mike to Florida to take over the club. Giving back to the people who had helped her was important to her, and she wanted to do everything she could to be sure they all succeeded.

As much as she was making the most of every last minute before becoming a mom, Lila was also determined to deliver on her due date, so she’d make the club opening set for two months after the day their baby was due to arrive.

There was nothing Carson could do to stop her from going. The Tunnel franchise was her first baby.

Carson went in and out of LA almost weekly on cases, always rushing back to Lila. He loved the weeks where he had nothing but preliminary research and he could spend the whole week at home. Recently, he was back to a lot of cross-country travel, which would come to an end for a while after the baby came. Although he knew Lila wouldn’t let him keep that up for long.

Lila…she wanted the best for everyone. Wanted each and every person in her life to have success. She loved so big after allowing her walls to come down completely. He tried not to think about rescuing her anymore or how they began. He was proud of her, though.

Christ, she was amazing, and he knew it would only get better with the birth of their baby.

He didn’t know what kind of dad he would be. He hoped he’d be pretty decent with Lila’s help. He did know for certain she was the kind of mom he never had but always wished for, and was thrilled that his son would have that.

Looking out the window, Carson took note of Lila talking, no doubt sharing all her love with their soon-to-be-born son. His heart swelling with love, he made a decision.

I’m getting a fucking tank, one of those big SUVs with enough steel to protect my family.

Sliding the glass door open, he peeked out, trying to hear what Lila was saying to their son.

“You’re going to grow up to be big and strong like your daddy, but you’re going to use all that strength for good just like him. I know you’ll really be gentle and kind and never mean.”

Lila turned her gaze up, her glowing green eyes meeting Carson’s as a huge smile played on her face. From the pleased look on her face, he knew his dimple must be showing again. He was constantly electrified with life by his wife.