Roman-1(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(28)

“And after? I can’t just live here indefinitely when we’re not a couple anymore. That would be too difficult.”

Mama bites her lips and considers the dilemma for several minutes before a bright smile spreads over her face and she beams back at me.

“The cottage. You can live in the cottage and still have boh independence and safety while Roman recovers and you figure out how to navigate things. It’s great and there’s enough room for the baby and it’s close enough that I can visit you. Not every day! I swear I will control myself.”

I’m laughing and hugging her. Then I pull away with a chuckle that she echoes.

“You can visit whenever you want. Now come on. I need a shower and then you’re taking me to that hospital.”





Chapter Nine


Roman

I’ve been awake for the last half hour and it’s great to be alive, even with all the pain. I guess Jerry was right. Pain is better than no pain at all.

“Look, he’s finally stopped playing possum,” someone grumbles when I crack my eye and see my brothers, Jerry, and Jim standing beside me, all grinning down at me.

Miah still looks pissed off, but he wouldn’t be Miah if that permanent scowl I’ve seen lately isn’t plastered on his mug.

“I was taking inventory, asshole, that’s all,” I croak, lifting a hand to my left eye.

“Leave it. The doc said it would be okay, but you have to wear the patch for a week before we’re in the clear with your vision.”

That’s Wyatt, always handing out orders, no matter what the situation. It feels so good to see them all again that I feel my eye tear up and soon I’m bawling like a freaking wimp as my brothers all surreptitiously swipe at their own eyes.

Jerry is crying like the baby he is, of course, and I even see Jim’s eyes moisten a tad before he clears his throat and starts getting official.

“We’ve apprehended almost all parties involved from the evidence you supplied to us, Lane. The only people missing are Lynn, Dyson, and one very low-level flunky that the agency will get to in due course.”

“Cleo?” I ask.

I see Jared grin like a fool and I have my answer right there. The weight that leaves me just knowing that crazy witch is in custody and facing some serious charges makes me giddy. I smile at them all before I remember something.

“Something was up with Dyson.”

“Yeah, he beat you half to death and made it out before we could return the favor,” Jace snarls, getting a high five from Jared.

“No, I mean…” I stop and shift with a hiss before continuing. “He said some stuff last night that made me rethink his involvement in this thing. He said I almost cost him his position and that he couldn’t die before he fond ‘her.’ I thought he was talking about Cleo since they were cohorts, but after the second time, I think…I think he was there looking for someone.”

No matter what his motivations, I can’t let myself forget some of the atrocities I saw him commit. But I know that the person he portrayed himself as was a front and that he was there for a bigger reason than wanting money and death.

Dyson, if that’s even really his name, had his own mission. I want to know what it is.

“Isn’t Case still on Lynn?”

“Nah, man. He lost her yesterday and is still looking.”

“Miah…there’s still another person I never discovered. Whoever it is, he’s the mastermind behind the weapons smuggling. He’s not behind the terrorism, but I heard enough from Cleo that I know there’s a man who supplies military-grade weapons. We need to find him before Lynn does or this could all just start again.”

They all look to Jerry and I grin when he takes a step back and starts muttering about ungrateful wretches.

“I have no clue who he is. Lynn and Cleo were the only ones who spoke to their contact, but I do know one thing. The guy is military and still active.”

“That could be the SEAL mole,” Wyatt points out and I shake my head.

“No, we’ve questioned him already and the idiot has no idea about the weapons,” Jim says with a sigh. “It would have been great if they gave you a little more time.”

“To what? Get himself killed, Jim? Jesus, would you just listen to yourself. My brother almost died last night and you’re still not satisfied. Do me a favor and get the fuck out if you can’t be grateful for everything he’s done here,” Miah snarls, taking a menacing step towards the senator.

“No—”

“He’s right, Uncle Dobs. Be grateful for what you got and go do your job. Maybe earn the money you rake in?”

We all turn and I feel my heart explode in joy when Mel walks in with Ma, her sweet face pale but just as beautiful as I remember. I’ll take the memory of this moment to my grave with a smile.