“Okay, Rocco. I won’t push you anymore.”
Her voice was haunting, but she was better off without him.
He’d never been good for her. He’d never be able to scrub out his past and she deserved someone who was kind but strong, like she was.
Chapter 17
Rocco slept like he hadn’t in years. Two things made everything great. He was free, and Mica loved him.
Sun streamed into the hotel room when he woke. Mica had already placed jeans and a gray t-shirt for him out with new white socks.
No one had ever unpacked for him before.
Her jeans and a white-flowered cotton shirt was folded beside his. Jacob’s onesie was another suit and jacket like he was the future CEO though he wasn’t able to stand on his own yet.
Mica caught his gaze. Her long legs made his hands itch to touch them in her green sleep shorts. With her hair down and no makeup, she seemed younger, and even more breathtaking, which was quite stunning.
Of course he loved her. If only he could tell her.
She smoothed her son’s mostly bald head with a soft-bristled brush. Jacob cooed and glanced up at Rocco, making him feel like he was important as she said, “I’m going to take a fast shower. Can you get room service? I need coffee before I start my day, and something with carbs. I’ll need the energy for the long drive. And get something for yourself too.”
He'd enjoyed cooking for them at the chalet. Rocco saluted. “I’m on it. Jacob and I will keep each other company.”
A huge smile grew on her face like she was happy so she must have slept well too.
Good. She deserved to be. “Sounds perfect.”
She half-closed the door when he picked up the phone in the room. He pressed the button for room service and spoke loud enough for her to hear as she turned on the water. “I’d like two orders of coffee, two waffles, and one bowl of oatmeal.”
“Ten to fifteen minutes,” the lady on the phone said and hung up.
Mica gave him a thumbs-up and closed the bathroom door.
A moment later he heard the water turn on and he picked up the baby.
Jacob’s smile was just as hypnotic as his mother’s.
This baby would grow up to be one of the most important men in the world and he’d love to see Jacob in a real suit and tie on his first day at Mica’s office. This was the closest he’d ever have to fatherhood and he’d be proud of Jacob as he stayed with Mica for as long as she wanted him too.
Rocco headed to the counter and picked up the outfit Mica had left out for Jacob. He read the label, Gucci, Egyptian cotton, and shook his head. Most of his former Marine friends who’d married talked about how cotton was important, but Jacob had the best of the best. His diaper felt heavy, so Rocco searched for a diaper and wipes...when he opened the suitcase she’d packed the diapers in, he froze at the familiar black weapon--he hadn't seen one since he'd left the Marines.
Mica had packed a gun.
Was it illegal to drive and bring one into a hotel room? He wasn’t sure, but since he'd been in jail, he had no desire to be near a gun.
He closed the suitcase with the diapers and juggled the baby. “Jacob, let’s get you dressed. We both know your mom is a stickler for getting things done…” He successfully cleaned the boy and tossed the diaper in the trash can, then figured out the buttons and pulled the outfit over Jacob’s head. He straightened up when someone knocked.
Room service.
So why was his adrenaline firing a warning? He stared at the door. Mica’s shower was still running in the background, but Rocco’s hair stood on end. He picked Jacob up off the bed. “Waffles and coffee. Let me put you down.”
Jacob cooed but didn’t cry as Rocco left him in the crib, between the two beds, where he’d be out of the line of any fire—just in case. His instincts had been good as a soldier so he trusted them now. He tried to grab the lamp but it was bolted down.
The phone was a piece of plastic and not good in a fight.
His knuckles would have to do. They were still sore from yesterday.
Rocco went to the door and glanced out the peephole to be sure.
The man outside was in an actual suit that matched Jacob’s outfit.
He wasn’t a waiter. He carried no food. Rocco had been right to take caution.
Rocco called through the door, “Who is it?”
“Room service.” The man stared at the door as if willing it to open.
No. Rocco stood back and puffed out his chest like he might block the room from an intruder.
A second later, the doorframe rattled like someone kicked the door repeatedly. Would it hold?
He braced to ensure no one passed him in the small nook near the door, scanning the room once more for a possible weapon but coming up empty.
A split second later, the door splintered and the man in the nice suit fixed his tie and said, “That one’s in my way.”
And he’s stay in the way, until his last breath.
Another man followed on his heels, someone he hadn't expected to see again.
Bear.
Out of all the people to betray him, it was the one he'd helped free from prison because he’d been his roommate.
Bear charged at him like this was a football game and he had the ball, throwing himself toward Rocco. Rocco knocked him back and swung, getting in a solid punch.
Jacob cried as the other man tried to get to the crib. Rocco stood in front of Jacob and blocked both men. “Get out of here.”
Bear barreled into his stomach and the man in the suit hit his face right where he’d been punched yesterday.
His face stung but he refused to move. Jacob wasn’t going anywhere. He said to his former cellmate, “Bear?”
Bear pummeled a large fist into Rocco’s gut as he said, “These people pay too much to turn down.”
The other man in the nice clothes tried to reach Jacob again but Rocco used his muscles as a human shield. “I won’t let you touch that baby, Bear.”
Bear knocked him back and they scuffled in place. “You don’t get a choice, Rock.”
Bear hit him so hard that Rocco’s ribs cracked and he fell back against the wall, staying upright. “I freed you and I’ll end you.”
The other man passed by as Bear tackled Rocco, who struggled and managed to evade falling down. “Rock, this is Mo.”
The other man, Mo, took a step toward Jacob.
Rocco lunged to get him away from the baby and blocked the path to the crib, knocking a lamp out of the way as Mo said, “And this little one is my nephew.”
Jacob screamed and Rocco grabbed the baby to him so the men would have to go through him--he turned his back, protecting Jacob with his body.
A shot rang out in the air.
For a second he didn’t move. Jacob hugged his neck and then Bear, who was closer to the door, rushed out of the room.
He glanced behind him and saw Mo on the ground and Mica collapsed near her suitcase with the gun still in her hand. He stepped over the man who had blood pooling at his back and reached for Mica.
She grabbed his hand to stand and then instantly reached for her son. Rocco searched Mica, still in her towel, for signs of nerves or an oncoming attack, to see if she needed her medicine.
She cooed to her baby, her face pale but determined, her body strong. “Jacob, it’s okay.”
Rocco handed her the clothes she'd laid out for herself. “Mica, the cops will be here soon. Get dressed. Tell them I shot the guy. I don’t want you in trouble.”
“I’m licensed and this was self-defense. Relax. I won’t let you take the rap for me.” She kissed Jacob’s head. “Mo wanted to kill my son.”
He nodded and stood near the door so she had a moment to dress as he said, “So are you free now?”
She patted him on the back and he turned. Mica had her shirt and pants on as she smiled and said, “I guess. Thanks to you.”
This morning was the end of her needing him, but somehow he didn’t want it to be
.
If she truly loved him and wanted him to stay now that the threat was gone, he’d stay. It was selfish, perhaps, but he loved her. He squeezed her hand. “I want to talk to you once we give our statements and get out of here.”
She pulled him close, with Jacob between them. “You’re still coming with us to see your mother?”
Rocco hugged them both though he heard the police in the distance.
The sound of hard boot heels was a familiar noise that he’d lived with for a decade. He took a deep breath and promised, “I won’t leave you and Jacob alone. After Florida, we can go wherever you want.”
“He’s alive thanks to you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
There was no way he’d let those men touch the baby. Jacob was a part of Mica and he deserved a full life. He kissed her forehead as officers walked into the room. “No, because his mother saved him.”
“I wouldn’t have had that chance without you.” He nodded at her words and looked out to the hall, where Bear was being handcuffed.
Caught because of his own greed, and being sent back to jail where he belonged.
The officer took their statements. Mica spoke with authority and no one questioned her on using the gun as she had the correct permit.
When one was talking, they shared who held Jacob, like they were family.
During the questioning, Rocco’s heart beat too fast. He kept waiting for someone to cuff him again, though holding Jacob kept him steady.
At the end the officers patted their backs like they were heroes or something and said, “You two are free to go now.”
Right. Okay. Mica kissed Jacob’s forehead and zipped her suitcase like this was all normal.
He followed her, holding Jacob tight as they walked out of the hall and left the police to deal with the room.
Mica signaled for him to stay when they went to the lobby and she spoke to the front desk for her receipt as they checked out. If they stayed together this would be their normal, her taking charge, not that it mattered. Mica was alive and he’d love her for as long as she let him.
Once she finished, they headed outside to the shiny Jaguar.
The way she walked it seemed like nothing bothered her, but as he switched the baby for the bag near the car for her to strap Jacob inside, he asked, “Do you want to drive?”
“I need to, yeah.” She buckled her son into his seat. “And you need to see your mom.”
As they'd only driven a few hours last night, they’d be staying another night, in a different hotel.
A half an hour into the drive, his skin remained electric, amplified from simply sitting in silence. He pointed to an exit. “Can we pull over?”
“Sure. I could probably use a latte. I never had breakfast—neither did you.” Fair. Okay. She pulled into the drive through and ordered coffees and pastries.
At the window she paid and his shoulders tightened. She had more money than he’d ever earn.
There was nothing he might do to be her financial equal. As she pulled out of the drive through he pointed to the small park next door. “That’s a pretty patch of grass near that tree. Can we go see the butterflies?”
She laughed. “Absolutely. They’re beautiful--I can see the yellow of their wings from here.”
He took the coffees and pastries while she unstrapped Jacob.
Together was good--he wanted her to want him in her life. He waited and they took a seat on a bench as a yellow butterfly flew past her head. Mica set her latte on the table and handed him his coffee with milk. Once he held the hot beverage in his hand, he said, “You don’t have to take me to Florida. We can go wherever you want now.”
Her eyes had a bit of a sparkle as she clasped her paper cup in both hands and asked, “Do you mean that?”
Adrenaline coursed through him as he nodded. “Yeah.”
She elbowed his arm playfully. “Good, because I want to fly you to Florida. It will be much faster to head back to the hotel and grab my plane logs so we can go to the airport.”
She’d mentioned that before. He cringed as he should have thought about her wants. “You’re able to fly?”
Mica sipped her coffee. “I didn't need my medication this morning, which was pretty stressful, and I’m eager to soar again. It will be great, with you there, just in case.”
The butterflies weren’t just near the tree or bench where they sat. They were inside his gut. He put the paper cup down so he wouldn't crush it and held his hands between his knees. “Why do you think you love me?”
She shrugged, finished her sip and gave him a small smile. “No one else makes me stop to see the beautiful butterflies. You make me appreciate the small things. You make me see that there are good men in the world.”
And he loved her too. Perhaps it was wrong not to tell her. He’d never be able to offer her cash, but he could be himself with her, forever, if she wanted that.
His heart expanded as he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want some man with more money than you?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I want someone who sees the real me and thinks of me and Jacob as family.”
Until he’d met both of them, he'd never had a real family to compare them to. His father beat him and his mother, and then Roger took over once their father left and Harry did whatever Roger wanted.
Mica was strong, beautiful and unafraid of anything.
She had his heart. He picked up his coffee. “Then let’s head back to the ski resort.”
She stood and hugged Jacob, holding Rocco’s gaze. “We’ll fly tomorrow. Tonight, we’ll drink in celebration of survival.”
“Sounds perfect.” His heart lifted.
Once they were alone and Jacob was asleep, he’d offer her his heart. It was all he had but maybe it was enough.
Chapter 18
Mica parked her car in the same place she’d peeled off from two days ago.
The police sirens replayed in her mind as she recalled Rocco being taken from her. Since then, he’d had his record expunged and they’d stopped Ali’s brother from taking Jacob.
Now they were each truly free.
Mica needed to find a way to live without Rocco—she was sure that when they’d stopped to see the butterflies he was going to tell her to go on without him, but then he’d changed his mind, probably deciding that it would be kinder/safer to break it off here at the chalet.
She had no argument that might work.
If he didn’t want to stay and didn’t love her, then she’d have to move past her broken heart. But how?
Love was supposed to be a two-way street and when she pushed she usually lost out on love. She needed to learn to not demand love like she ordered everything else in her life.
But giving up was hard.
Rocco grabbed the bag and she took her son out of his car seat. As they headed toward the chalet, she took out her keys and her phone that she’d turned off after they’d left the police station, to hide her location.
She hadn’t bothered to turn it on so she pressed the button and immediately saw multiple messages.
She handed Rocco the key for him to open the door. “My phone apparently was ringing off the hook. Can you put Jacob down? I’ll be right behind you. If he falls asleep, get the wine and the glasses?”
“Of course.” He reached for Jacob.
Part of her wanted to go on her tiptoes and kiss him, but he didn’t love her. She'd opened herself up to him and been rebuffed multiple times.
She ignored that impulse and massaged her temple as she headed up the stairs to her suite.
Her secretary could handle most of the business messages she’d heard, but she needed to be alone and her heart craved peace.
The huge bay windows and spacious suite made her feel small, and she shivered.
Not from cold…maybe she was just lonely, imagining a future without Rocco.
She sighed and her phone rang again. Mica headed into her office area and sat like nothing was wrong as she answered and flipped open h
er laptop. “Julie, what’s going on?”
Her secretary let out a squeal of relief as she asked, “You and Jacob are both okay?”
Mica tugged her ear. They were both okay because Rocco had come through for her big time, protecting Jacob with his life. So now she needed to respect his choices, even if it meant he didn’t love her back. “Yes. And Mo, Ali’s brother, is gone now.”
Julie’s laugh startled Mica, whose skin was prickly. “I read the police report and Cardona’s legal brief on how he’d defend you if charges come up later. So you and Jacob are free and in good spirits?”
No. Good meant happy and she wasn’t that. Mica hugged her waist and tried to shake off a sense of unease. “We are.”
“That Rocco Hellsworth of yours is cute. I get why you had legal digging up that information on him.”
Pictures of them must have circulated around somewhere. Mica typed in her name and her picture next to Rocco her new hotel came up.
The world knew now.
And Rocco’s mug shot was way sexier than it should be.
Which was of course just him because he was perfect. She traced the screen with her finger and made a heart around his face, then pulled back. She wasn’t a fool—she straightened her spine. “He’s not mine, not really.”
Julie typed something, but stopped to say, “Well, he’s way hotter than that prince you almost married. Trading up if I can say so, but either way I’ll inform your mother and father that you’re fine.”
Perfect. Mica clicked open her email and saw tons of "must read now" messages as she said, “Thank you.”
But not now. The "pressing" didn’t seem important. Most just wanted her signature on deals already made. She closed her laptop as Julie said, “Your brothers both want you to call them.”
She was just thankful to be alive. “Tell them I’ll call later. I need a shower and to make sure Jacob is napping, but I will call today.”
“Okay,” Julie said.
They said their goodbyes and Mica went to her bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.
Hidden Rocco (Hidden Alphas Book 5) Page 14