Submerged(Bound Together Book 1)(64)
“I’m not boosting. I’ll be at the facility to receive the cars and start stripping.” I give my brother a pointed look. “I met him, Luke.” The meaning is evident by the look he gives me back.
“He’s here?” he asks, wide eyed.
“Yeah, he’s going to be with me, Roman, and Mattias at the facility watching the whole thing go down. He brought three of his own men to assist with the boosts. If all goes as planned, he’ll be on the first flight back to Italy before sun-up.”
“Not gonna happen. We’ll be there to make sure of it. He’ll never get on that flight,” Luke confirms.
“Just be ready for gun shed, man. They were all packing more heat than a gun show,” I warn him.
“We’ll be ready. Just try to relax and keep out of the line of fire,” he says with that cocky smile before getting up. “You gonna be with Carly?” he asks, surprising me.
“Yeah, why?”
“Just make sure that when this all goes down, she’s nowhere near this. It’s gonna get ugly and she’s going to look for someone to blame, Blake. That someone is probably gonna be you.” He doesn’t have to tell me this. I already fucking know.
“I know, Luke.”
“Things may get harder before they get better. Just remember that,” he says before sliding his sunglasses on his face and walking out. I watch him go, taking in the crowd around us.
His words aren’t any that I haven’t already thought myself. She’s going to blame me when she finds out about my involvement in the takedown of her father. But it can’t be helped. It must happen.
I just pray we’re strong enough to get past the betrayal she no doubt will feel when it’s over.
And I pray I’m strong enough to convince her not to walk away, taking my daughter with her.
Chapter Twenty-One – I’d Take This
Forever
Carly
I’m just pulling the baked chicken out of the oven when Blake lets himself into my apartment using the key I had made for him. He’s wearing a black leather jacket over a tight black t-shirt. Paired with his worn jeans, he looks simply edible. The smile he offers me warms my heart, sending those little butterflies that live in my stomach into flight. I melt all over again every time he walks into the room and throws me that smile.
Natalia is already in her highchair, waiting to be served dinner. After Blake goes over and kisses his daughter, he wraps his big arms around me, pulling me tight into his embrace. His front is pressed firmly against my back as he places kisses along the column of my neck. I feel his erection loud and proud against my rear, and it makes me wish it were suddenly bedtime.
“Hello,” he whispers, placing one more kiss on the back of my neck.
“Hi,” I reply. My eyes are closed as I sway a little in his arms, reveling in the feel of his lips against my neck.
“Something smells good.”
“It’s chicken.”
“No, I was referring to you,” he says before turning me and placing his lips against mine. They’re soft, yet firm, and filled with a hint of urgency. My body fires to life instantly as warmth starts to pool between my legs.
I have no idea how we make it through dinner. Blake won’t keep his hands off of me. There are little touches to my legs and my hands. Then there’s the looks he gives me like he’s ready to abandon dinner and devour me in a single bite instead. And it’s not just me he’s showering with loving attention tonight. He’s doting on Natalia, giving her as much of his devotion as he possibly can, and she’s eating it up like a chocolate chip cookie.
Blake takes the lead and gives Nat her bath, while I fold clothes in the living room and listen to him talk to her. Her giggles fill the entire apartment as she laughs at his silly antics.
“You are the most beautiful girl in the entire world, munchkin. Besides your mom, that is. Someday, I’m going to have my hands full with you. I’m going to need to buy more guns because as soon as the boys start coming around, I’m going to be in trouble.” His words make me smile. I smile even more with the realization that Blake doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon. And that would be okay. I would be happy staying just like this for awhile.
Maybe even forever.
After her bath, Natalia plays for a bit on the living room floor. Blake and I are on the couch, watching her, and enjoying a glass of wine. My legs are curled up at his side, his hand absently stroking my outer thigh. Eventually, Natalia starts to slow down. Slowly, she walks over to Blake and extends her hands upward. Without even a second thought, Blake sets his glass of wine down on the end table and picks up our daughter. She snuggles into his chest as her eyelids start to droop. He strokes her back, resting his chin on the top of her head as she starts to drift off to sleep. It’s so picturesque and serene, and those dang butterflies take flight, again, in my stomach.