Shade(195)

“When you were located, the Porters were the closest. That’s how they got there first. They’re never going to let us live it down. They want Dustin’s record expunged for their cooperation. I’ll see they get what they want. They deserve it.” Lucky stood up straight, looking at Lily.#p#分页标题#e#

Lily took a shuddering breath, stepping forward. She reached up, kissing Lucky on his cheek. “Thank you.”

Shade stood hastily. No matter how hard he tried and what he owed for Lucky’s help, he couldn’t stand to see her touch him.

“Don’t you dare,” Lily said, pointing a finger at him.

Shade managed to control himself, taking a seat back in the vacant chair.

“I think you just returned the favor,” Dean said, smiling at Lily.

When Beth would have gotten up, Razer pressed her back down in her chair with a hand on her shoulder.

“I have to go. I still have a lot of reports to finish today. I also have to find a new minister for the church.” Lucky smiled wryly.

“You never know … You missed the military when you left it; you may miss the church,” Lily said hopefully.

Dean looked at both sisters briefly before going to the door and opening it. “Perhaps. I was blessed to meet two angels, so miracles can happen. We’ll have to wait and see,” he said, closing the door behind him.

“Show-off,” Shade said, standing up. “I called you an angel first, remember that.”

Lily laughed, breaking the tension. “Can we go home now?”

“Yes,” Shade said, still irritated

“Can I make a stop on the way and see my dad?” Lily asked.

“Yes.” Shade personally thought the man who had kidnapped Lily deserved to be behind bars. He didn’t give a fuck if he had only done it to keep Lily safe from his enemy. Lily’s father King had been the one the ambulance had been called for, having been shot before the Porters had arrived.

Lily laughed at his short responses, reaching up to kiss him on his cheek. “Does that make it better?”

He smiled down at her as he put his arm around her shoulders. Fuck no, he thought to himself, but it will do until we get home.

Lily turned to her sister. “Would you like to go, Beth?”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to meeting him. When I first saw him, when he brought you, Dad said he was from the adoption agency.”

“That reminds me, Lily. That strongbox you found contained your fake birth certificate. Cash sent it off to a buddy of his, and they tracked down your real one. It came in the afternoon mail.” Knox handed it to her.

Lily took the envelope and stared down at it. Shade placed his arm around her shoulder, leading her out of the office. She didn’t need the paper. Lily was Beth’s sister, his wife, friends with a group which had sacrificed millions of dollars to keep her safe. No, she didn’t need it any longer. Shade had already known that when he had told Knox to send for a copy of it for her. Lily would have it for when she needed it, but other than that, it was just a piece of paper.

Neither parent listed on that certificate deserved the child they had created. One was dead, and the other deserved to be for the childhood Lily had suffered.

She wanted to give King a chance, and because Lily wanted it, Shade would try to bury his feelings. If the fucker screwed up again, however, then he would be the one buried.

* * *

Shade lay on his side in the bed, watching Lily brush her hair.

“What’s going to happen to him?” she asked.

“Not much, since you’ve already told Knox you weren’t kidnapped, and it was just a family reunion  . Several government agencies aren’t very happy with you right now.”

Lily shrugged, not concerned. “How about that man who was after him?”

“He’s a different matter. Since he believes in letting everyone do his dirty work for him, he wasn’t hurt. He’s in Knox’s jail, waiting for the Texas Rangers to come and get him. I imagine he’s planning more song and dance, holding the whereabouts of those women to himself.”#p#分页标题#e#

Digger, the man responsible for the attempts on Lily’s life, was a piece of shit who had mistakenly assumed he was capable of outsmarting everyone.

“I hope not. I’m going to pray for him to let those women go tonight.”

“You do that, Lily. I have a feeling he’s going to need your prayers tonight,” Shade said, stroking her back.

Digger was going to need more than prayers; he was going to need a miracle.

Lily set her hairbrush on the table then stood up, her violet eyes staring down into his. “It’s my turn.”