Cal (The Ride Series Book 5)

by O'Brien,Megan

  “Anytime, honey. We had fun,” Sophie replied sincerely. “We’ll get out of your hair. But we’re just a phone call away,” she assured me.

  I nodded, accepting her one-armed hug as I continued to hold Mason. He giggled at being squished between us. Cole and Scarlet offered quick hugs as well.

  When the door shut behind them, I looked to Max. “Give it to me straight, Max—are those brownies edible?”

  He shook his head with comical solemnity.

  Cal’s deep chuckle reverberated through the room as I nodded. “I didn’t think so.”

  Cal put the kids to bed that night, forcing me to remain off my feet. I relished the routine of piling into Max’s twin-size bed and reading to all three of them. It was something we’d started a few weeks back and I loved every second. But it would have to wait. My wound was red and angry with me for not staying horizontal enough as it was.

  Cal appeared in the doorway.

  “Kids okay?” I asked quietly as he sat carefully by my side, propping my legs on his lap.

  He nodded. “You’re not resting enough,” he chastised me, his big strong hands gripping my feet and rubbing gently.

  “I know,” I murmured. “I’ll try to stay off my feet more tomorrow.”

  “You will. I’ll make sure of it,” he grumbled. “You feelin’ all right?”

  “Yeah.” I sighed blissfully as he continued to rub my feet. “I’m really upset about missing Pipe and Ry’s wedding,” I admitted. “But also so glad to be home and to have us all under the same roof. The girls have been sending me pictures all night, so at least I sort of feel a part of things.”

  Cal nodded. “I think the kids need you close right now. I know I do.”

  As if on cue, out of the corner of my eye I could see Max inching down the hallway. I turned my head in that direction, calling to him softly, “Max? What is it, buddy? Come here.”

  I sat up more fully against the headboard as he walked hesitantly in the room, looking so sweet in his Star Wars PJs. When his face crumpled unexpectedly, I opened my arms for him, relieved when he stepped right into them. I pulled him into my lap, his long legs spilling over as I shot a worried look to Cal.

  “I thought you weren’t going to come back!” he wailed as I held him close.

  “Oh, baby. I’ll always come back,” I murmured into his hair.

  “Mommy didn’t.” He sniffed.

  I struggled with the lump in my throat, looking at Cal for rescue, knowing I couldn’t speak. He placed a reassuring hand on Max’s back. “Bud, your mom loves you and your sister,” he explained. “But she needs help with some things. She’s going to get that help and your aunt and I are going to take care of you.”

  “We love you and Emmie so much,” I put in as I kissed his head.

  He pulled away to look at me with teary eyes. “Are we going to stay with you forever?”

  I shot a quick look at Cal, who offered an infinitesimal nod. “We hope so,” I murmured, stroking his hair back from his face. He looked at me with huge, teary eyes. I could see guilt and confusion on his face that no boy his age should face. “It’s okay to miss her, bud,” I assured him, guessing at the source of his expression. “No matter what, she’ll always be your mom.”

  “I do miss her sometimes, but I don’t think she loved us like you do.” He sniffled, sounding confused.

  “Why would you think that?” I pressed gently.

  “B-because you always feed us. You read us stories. You pick us up from school. You don’t forget us.” He rattled off the list. “You don’t sleep all the time.”

  I blinked hard against the tears in my eyes.

  “Your aunt does love you a lot, Max. So do I,” Cal murmured as he rubbed a hand over Max’s head. “It’s okay to miss your mom and be happy here at the same time. Does that make sense?”

  Cal had zeroed in on the guilt I’d picked up in Max as well.

  After a moment, Max nodded. “Are you going to be my new mom and dad?”

  I hugged him close. “I can never replace your mom, honey,” I murmured. “But Cal and I want to be a family. And families come in all kinds of different ways,” I explained, hoping like hell that made sense.

  “Okay,” he replied as he yawned huge. I knew that wouldn’t be the last of his questions, but there was only so much I wanted to lay on him at once.

  “What do you say we get you to bed so you have lots of energy for tomorrow?” I suggested with a smile.

  He nodded sleepily as Cal stood up. “Come on, bud. I’ll take you.” He hoisted Max up into his arms. Max was nearly too big to carry, but at times like this he seemed to want the comfort.

  I watched as the two of them disappeared down the hall, Cal murmuring assurances to Max as they went.

  Every time I thought it impossible to fall more in love with him, the man proved me wrong.

  Chapter 30

  The doorbell chimed the next morning as I was refilling my coffee cup. Cal had already barked at me multiple times to lie down, but I wanted to be with the kids. It was the last week of school and for some reason packing Max’s lunch felt utterly crucial.

  Cal emerged from his office to get the door.

  “Emmie, sweetie, eat your eggs,” I coaxed as she and Max sat at the kitchen table with Mason in his high chair.

  She made a face but pointed her fork toward her plate.

  “Who was it?” I asked when I realized Cal was still standing in the doorway with no one on the other side. He turned to me and the rage in his eyes had me sucking in a breath. “No one.” He glowered as my eyes shot to the flowers in his hand.

  “Ooh, pretty flowers!” Emmie chirped happily.

  Ice slid down my spine as awareness hit me full force. “They’re not for us, sweetie,” I murmured, trying to keep my tone light, my eyes still on Cal. “Must have been the wrong address.”

  “Oh, sad.” Emmie pouted.

  Cal stalked toward the garage door, flowers in hand. When he returned without them a moment later he laid a gentle hand on Emmie’s head. “I’ll get you some flowers, baby.”

  She grinned up at him. “Okay.” She dug back into her eggs and I used the kids’ preoccupation to move in close to Cal.

  “They’re from him?” I asked quietly. I knew the answer but for some reason needed him to confirm.

  He nodded once, his jaw clenched as he glared at the coffeepot. “Gonna go check the security footage. Don’t leave the house,” he added over his shoulder as he strode off to the office.

  “Max has to get to school!” I called after him.

  “I’ll take him,” Cal clipped before the office door shut.

  My man was seriously pissed. I turned to the kids, pasting a smile on my face. “Well, what do you say we get dressed?”

  Reality hit me hard. Tim knew where we were and probably had for quite some time. Why the flowers? Why now? Did he know I’d been injured?

  “Aunt Jilly?” Max’s voice broke through my whirling thoughts. By his tone I could tell he’d called me more than once.

  “Yes, honey,” I replied with a smile, determined not to let Tim take anything more from me—even a second of time with my kids.

  “I can’t find my Darth Vader shirt.”

  “Ah.” I nodded with a grin. “It’s in your top drawer. I just put it away.”

  I watched as he strutted off to his room as Emmie whirled around in the living room in the tutu she was determined to wear every day. Mason toddled over to her and she reached out to steady him, giggling all the while.

  This was what I needed more than anything. To watch as Max and Emmie embraced our lives together, as they embraced Mason as much more than a cousin. They’d settled in and it was as though they’d been there all along.

  And I’d be damned if that ever changed.

  ****

  Cal didn’t come back after dropping Max at school. He’d taken Emmie and Mason with him rather than sending them to day care. While I was grateful for his caution, it made me
all the more concerned about what Tim may have threatened. I’d protested that I could take care of them; I was well guarded at the house. Axel and Tag had arrived as Cal was leaving. My arguments had been met with a growl that I needed to rest.

  Now, I was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling with far too many thoughts to occupy the quiet space. I felt out of control and helpless.

  When Sophie peeked her head in, I was relieved to see her. “Hi, Jilly.” She smiled gently. “Geez, feels pretty doomsday in here,” she quipped, crossing the room to open the curtains, inviting the sunlight in. She sat carefully on the edge of the bed. “How are you holding up?”

  “Well, let’s see… I was kidnapped and shot and now my insane ex-husband is rearing his ugly head again,” I replied bitterly.

  She cocked her head to the side. “Oh, is that all?”

  I had to smile a bit at that. “Well, then there’s the whole my sister going to prison thing, but we don’t need to get into that.” I grumbled. “How was the wedding? It looked beautiful from the pictures.” I sighed wistfully.

  She grinned. “It was great. And… Piper’s pregnant!” she squealed.

  “Holy shit!” I exclaimed.

  “I guess she and Ry found out a couple of days ago. It’s still early, so they’re keeping it quiet but she’s thrilled. They both are.”

  “I bet.” I grinned, excited to catch up with Piper when we had the chance.

  Her expression grew serious. “I heard about the flowers,” she murmured with a gentle squeeze of my hand.

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “I don’t know if there was a note with them or not. Cal was pretty monosyllabic afterwards. He dropped Max off and has been gone ever since. He took Bubs and Emmie with him. The fact he didn’t want them at day care today worries me. The day care’s been guarded by one of the guys when they’ve been there. I guess that wasn’t enough for him today. I assume he’s at the club.” I bit my lip, looking off to the side. “I don’t like feeling like I don’t have all the information. If Tim threatened Mason, I want to know about it. I trust Cal to take care of us but I feel like I deserve to know what I’m up against, especially when it comes to Mason.”

  “So ask him,” she replied simply. “I would feel the same way. Axel tried that with me a few times. His intentions were good, as I’m sure Cal’s are—to protect us. But I’m with you, I would want to know.”

  Resolved, I sat up with purpose. “Do you think Ax would take me to the club?” I asked. “I still don’t have a car, not that they’d let me drive anyway,” I grumbled. “I feel useless just lying here. My leg is fine.”

  “We can give it a shot.” She nodded.

  “Can’t you throw in some sort of sexual favor to persuade him?” I pleaded.

  She laughed. “I can try, but he already got some last night and again this morning, twice. He’s pretty satisfied already,” she explained with a wink. “What?” she defended when I looked at her incredulously. “These pregnancy hormones are no joke.”

  “Oh, I get it,” I replied. “I’m just impressed is all. Pregnant with a toddler and still raging in the bedroom.” I grinned.

  She raised a brow. “Have you seen my husband?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I’m vaguely familiar with him. Speaking of your sex slave, let’s go see if we can win him over.”

  “This’ll be interesting,” she muttered as she followed me out to the living room.

  “No.” Tag’s response was swift and firm the moment I asked.

  I narrowed my eyes. “I deserve to know what’s going on.”

  “Prez wants you here, you stay here.” Tag shrugged, his arms crossed over his massive chest.

  “That sounds alarmingly like I’m a prisoner in my own home,” I argued.

  “Jill,” Axel broke in, his tone placating, “Prez is taking care of some things. He needs to make sure you’re safe. You should be resting anyway.”

  “I’m fine,” I bit out. “And wouldn’t I be safest at the club?” I challenged with a raised brow.

  Tag grumbled with frustration as Axel seemed to consider my words. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of the garage door opening drifted through the air.

  Cal.

  “Sounds like you can take this up with Prez yourself,” Tag put in, his head cocked toward the sound.

  “Looks like,” I muttered with a narrowed gaze.

  The sound of the kids’ voices heralded their arrival moments before the door swung open.

  “Then Liam was the green Power Ranger and I was the red one!” Max was explaining exuberantly.

  “Yah, the red one,” Emmie chimed in.

  “You weren’t even there.” Max sighed in exasperation with an eye roll toward his sister.

  “I can play Power Rangers.” She huffed.

  “Hi guys,” I spoke up before they started to fight in earnest. “How was school, bud?” I asked Max.

  “Good. I played with Liam.”

  “Awesome.” I smiled, leaning over to pull him into a hug. It sounded like he’d made a friend. I was relieved. “How about you, baby?” I asked Emmie.

  “Good. Mason and me played wif Gracie. Tate was there too but he just cried.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

  “Babies do that.” I nodded with a smile. I scooped down to pick up Mason, kissing his neck. “Did you have fun, Bubs?”

  He made a squealing noise and wriggled to get down. Now that he was mobile he rarely wanted to stay put for long.

  “Do you guys want a snack?” I asked, knowing the answer already.

  “Yes!” Emmie and Max replied at the same time.

  I set to work cutting up an apple as the kids flew around the living room with their typical never-ending energy.

  “You should be resting,” Cal growled.

  “I’m tired of being told what I need to be doing,” I shot back, irritated.

  “Uh, Prez, if you don’t need us, we’ll head out.” Axel spoke through the tension in the air. Clearly, the guys were eager to avoid the argument they sensed coming.

  I didn’t blame them.

  Cal eyes didn’t leave mine as he nodded. “Yeah, you can take off. I want a meet later. Wait for my text.”

  Tag and Axel nodded and gathered their cuts.

  Sophie moved in for a hug. “I’ll call you later,” she murmured.

  “Yeah. Thanks for coming over,” I replied, forcing a smile.

  “Good luck,” she whispered with a wink.

  “What was that about?” Cal asked as soon as the door shut behind them.

  I plated the kids’ snack with my back turned to him. “Was there a note?” I demanded.

  I could feel him tense even though we weren’t touching.

  I turned to look up at him. “I asked if there was a note,” I repeated.

  “And I heard you,” he rumbled. “You don’t need to read that shit.” He shook his head.

  “I do, actually,” I argued firmly. “This is my life.” I cocked my head toward where the kids were playing out of earshot. “Those are our kids,” I hissed. “If he threatened them or me, I deserve to know about it.”

  “No, baby.” His nostrils flared as he took a step closer. “What you deserve is my promise that I’ll love you and protect you until the day I die. What you deserve is to fall asleep every night feeling safe and secure.”

  My heart lurched at the passion in his tone and the spark in his eye.

  “What you deserve,” he continued, “is this family, right here under this roof. You deserve a man who will never raise a hand other than to defend you. And Jill, I’m going to raise a hell of a lot more than that,” he swore. “So no, you don’t need to know what that fucking note said. What you need to know is that I love you. Those kids over there, they love you. They’re lucky to have you, and baby, Christ, I thank my lucky stars every day.” He hung his head, his arms braced on either side of me as I leaned into the counter. “I know you’re strong. You can handle it. But let me be strong for the both of us on
this one, all right?”

  It was a request, not a demand. That’s what got me. If I pushed to see the note, he’d show it to me. But this mattered to him. On this, I’d yield. After all, he’d done the same for me, more than once.

  I nodded, staring up at him, lost in his gorgeous eyes and the love that stared back at me.

  “Jilly!” Emmie cried. “Is our snack ready?”

  I swallowed hard, breaking myself from the Cal spell I’d fallen under. Hell, I lived most of my life under that spell. “Yes, baby, come and get it.” I smiled.

  “I’m starbing,” Emmie replied dramatically as the kids all filed in.

  “Well, we can’t have that.” I laughed, feeling lighter by the second.

  I placed their apple and peanut butter snack in front of them. Max started in again about his day at school as Emmie chimed in and Mason babbled.

  Cal was right. I could handle anything he shared with me. But I didn’t have to—not anymore. Instead, I could listen to my kids’ joy and let the rest wash away.

  Gone, but not forgotten.

  Chapter 31

  “Jilly.” Emmie’s whisper woke me from a deep sleep a few nights later.

  I opened my eyes to find her standing next to the bed, her large brown eyes staring at me. “What’s wrong, baby?” I asked hoarsely as Cal shifted beside me.

  “I didn’t like dos sharks,” she whispered, clambering up on to the bed and snuggling in to me.

  We’d let the kids watch Finding Nemo the night before. They’d loved it but I’d worried that a few of the scary scenes were too much for Emmie. Clearly, I’d been right.

  “What’s wrong, honey?” Cal’s deep voice asked as he reached over my body to stroke her curls.

  She sighed, nearly back asleep already. “Da sharks.”

  “Nemo didn’t go over so well I guess,” I whispered to Cal.

  He leaned over me, watching as Emmie’s eyes fluttered closed. “She looks okay to me,” he murmured with a tender smile.

  A movement in the doorway caught my eye and I turned to watch Max step into the room.

  “Honey? You okay?” I whispered.

  He shrugged, looking toward the ground.

  “You want to crawl up here with us?” I asked, patting the bed.