“Wanna take my hand?” Slim asked, extending his own.
Bud looked at it.
Then he lifted his hand closest to Mitch and Mitch felt his fingers curl into the belt on his jeans.
“I’m good,” Bud whispered to Slim.
“Right,” Slim replied quietly, reached out his extended hand and tousled Bud’s hair.
“Let’s go get Mara,” Mitch muttered and moved out of the room, Billie in his arms held close to his chest, Bud moving close to his side, his hand still latched onto Mitch’s belt.
* * * * *
Mitch’s cell phone rang.
It didn’t wake him. He had not been sleeping, not even to doze.
He opened his eyes.
Upon opening his eyes, over the shining, dark hair of Billie’s head, he saw Mara’s head on her pillow, her eyes open and alert on him.
She hadn’t slept either.
He already knew that.
He rolled away from Billie who was sleeping cradled between them and on his roll he saw Bud pop up on the other side of Mara.
She’d made them sleep all together in her bed. When they arrived at the Chaos compound, he saw she’d been holding it together. She continued to hold it together as she checked over the kids and Mitch. She lost it when they got home and demanded they all sleep together.
Billie was still out and Bud and Mitch both saw the wisdom of giving into her demand. She needed that, they gave it to her.
It was good she had a king-size bed.
Mitch twisted, grabbed his phone from the nightstand, looked at his display, flipped it open and put it to his ear.
He then threw back the covers and said, “Yeah,” into the phone as he turned back, shaking his head at Mara and Bud.
Then he walked out of the room as Eddie Chavez spoke into his ear.
“Someone wants a word. Thinkin’ you’ll wanna give it to him.”
Mitch closed the door behind him and walked into Mara’s living room. Weak light was coming from around her blinds. It was just after dawn.
“Right,” he said into the phone.
“Hang on,” Chavez muttered.
Mitch went to the back of Mara’s new couch. Then he leaned into it, his eyes to the hall.
And there she was in another one of her sweet nighties. She followed him.
“Lawson?” he heard in his ear.
Bill.
“Yeah,” he answered as he watched Mara move to him.
Fuck, that nightie was sweet.
But the look on her face was not.
He felt the burn in his chest as he stretched his toward her and he battled to lock it down.
They were home. Safe. No injuries.
Safe.
Home.
She moved directly into his space and he curled his arm around her, bringing her even closer.
She settled her weight into him.
Bill spoke.
“Detective Chavez says they’re good.”
“They are,” Mitch confirmed.
No reply.
Mitch was tired and he had his woman and children to think about. Today was most definitely a fucking donut day. He needed to make a donut run. He didn’t need to waste time on an assclown.
“We done?” he prompted.
“Tell her to send me the papers.”
Mitch’s body tightened and he felt Mara’s tighten against his as her hand settled on his tee-covered chest.
“What?”
“Mara,” Bill stated. “Tell her to send me the papers to give her permanent custody of the kids. I’ll sign ‘em.”
“You’ll relinquish all claim?” Mitch asked then heard and felt Mara’s indrawn breath.
There was a pause then a quiet, “Yeah.”
“Now and forever, Winchell,” Mitch declared.
Another pause then quieter, “Yeah.”
“Say it,” Mitch ordered.
Another pause then a whispered, “Now and forever, Lawson.”
“Right,” Mitch clipped. “Now we’re done.”
“Lawson?” Bill called quickly.
“What?”
Another pause then, “Give ‘em a good life.”
“Already am,” Mitch replied.
“Mara too.”
Mitch made no reply and closed his eyes.
“Promise me that, for them, for Mara, give them a good life.”
Mitch opened his eyes and looked down at his woman, felt her soft body against his, her hand light on his chest, trust, love and hope shining in her eyes.
Jesus, she was beautiful. Never, not in his life, had he seen anything as beautiful as she was right then.
“I promise,” he replied.
“Thanks, dude,” Bill whispered.
Mitch flipped his phone closed.
“Bill?” Mara asked instantly.
“He wants us to send the papers.”
She closed her eyes and did a face plant in his tee as her arms wound around his middle.
Mitch tossed his phone on the couch and curled his arms around her.
He again felt her pull in a soft breath.
Then she moved her head so her cheek was against his chest.