Yesterday, 04:18 AM
Connor felt her against his body, firm and solid. Real. More than real. His wife. She wasn't showing, not yet. Soon, though, he wouldn't be able to hold her this way, at least not without the baby bump between them.
A new life they had made together. Not in-between them. [I]Of]/i] both of them. From them. A daughter or son. A brother or sister to Hayden.
His boy. His son, gone. But still alive, somewhere. He knew it. He couldn't explain it. Just knew. Those dreams came to him often, the certainty that Hayden watched over him.
Over them, now.
His heart ached. It felt like tearing. He was supposed to protect his family. But could he do this? Her sharp eyes peered into him and he realized she had said something. Asked him a question. It was their call. Together.
There had to be a way. He was furious. Rage at those who threaten them, blazed.
His jaw clenched, deciding. She was right. It was their choice. "I will meet with him, he said. His voice was quiet but firm. He looked at her for a moment more, the rage forming into an idea.
His wife was strong. She would try to kill Nox. But they'd be fools not to think Nox didn't think something was funny. Connor calling him out of the blue wasn't exactly normal.
Risk on both sides. But one threatened him. The other hadn't done anything. In the end, Nox wasn't his family. Connor had felt a bit of fatherly affection for the kid. But not enough to risk her life, his child"s life. If it was either or, he'd not balk at the choice.
But a niggling feeling refused to go away. If they- whoever they was- had found them once, they'd do it again. At least in America. They wouldn't leave them alone. Their would be one more job. Then another. And another.
That wasn't the life they were going to live.
His breathing firmed as he solidified. It was their choice. Hers and his. He looked at her searchingly. "This won't end, Ayden. They will keep finding us. They will use you until the dice finally go against us. Ayden was a hard woman. And she had no love for Nox.
But this wasn't about Nox. "If i believed this was one and done, if I knew you would be completely safe, I'd say Fuck it and do it. But it isnt and I don't. Nox isn't stupid. I can't lose you." Finally, he said it. "So let's decide together. I say we both meet with Nox and tell him exactly what's up. What we've been ordered to do. He seems to be able to come and go despite being what he is. The group he belongs to have been outted. So let's see if Nox will help us. Avoid the people who want him dead. If he has pull, maybe he can help us find a permanent home.
He pressed his lips together, smilling, worry still in his eyes. "I don't care where we live. Wherever you and the baby are, that is home to me. The Russia, China, Africa, Australia, wherever. Fuck whoever these people are. If Nox scares them, then let's use that.
He searched her eyes with hope. It was a way.
A new life they had made together. Not in-between them. [I]Of]/i] both of them. From them. A daughter or son. A brother or sister to Hayden.
His boy. His son, gone. But still alive, somewhere. He knew it. He couldn't explain it. Just knew. Those dreams came to him often, the certainty that Hayden watched over him.
Over them, now.
His heart ached. It felt like tearing. He was supposed to protect his family. But could he do this? Her sharp eyes peered into him and he realized she had said something. Asked him a question. It was their call. Together.
There had to be a way. He was furious. Rage at those who threaten them, blazed.
His jaw clenched, deciding. She was right. It was their choice. "I will meet with him, he said. His voice was quiet but firm. He looked at her for a moment more, the rage forming into an idea.
His wife was strong. She would try to kill Nox. But they'd be fools not to think Nox didn't think something was funny. Connor calling him out of the blue wasn't exactly normal.
Risk on both sides. But one threatened him. The other hadn't done anything. In the end, Nox wasn't his family. Connor had felt a bit of fatherly affection for the kid. But not enough to risk her life, his child"s life. If it was either or, he'd not balk at the choice.
But a niggling feeling refused to go away. If they- whoever they was- had found them once, they'd do it again. At least in America. They wouldn't leave them alone. Their would be one more job. Then another. And another.
That wasn't the life they were going to live.
His breathing firmed as he solidified. It was their choice. Hers and his. He looked at her searchingly. "This won't end, Ayden. They will keep finding us. They will use you until the dice finally go against us. Ayden was a hard woman. And she had no love for Nox.
But this wasn't about Nox. "If i believed this was one and done, if I knew you would be completely safe, I'd say Fuck it and do it. But it isnt and I don't. Nox isn't stupid. I can't lose you." Finally, he said it. "So let's decide together. I say we both meet with Nox and tell him exactly what's up. What we've been ordered to do. He seems to be able to come and go despite being what he is. The group he belongs to have been outted. So let's see if Nox will help us. Avoid the people who want him dead. If he has pull, maybe he can help us find a permanent home.
He pressed his lips together, smilling, worry still in his eyes. "I don't care where we live. Wherever you and the baby are, that is home to me. The Russia, China, Africa, Australia, wherever. Fuck whoever these people are. If Nox scares them, then let's use that.
He searched her eyes with hope. It was a way.