Into the Storm (61 page)

She smiled up at me tenderly, reaching up to caress my cheek. “So brave, Joshua. I knew you could do this.”

Leaning down, I kissed her. “Because you’re beside me, Rabbit. That’s the reason. We will both accomplish another goal.” I pulled back. “So, we ready to do this?”

Rabbit smiled and nodded.

Grinning, I wrapped my arm around her and we turned to Adam and Heather. “You have a shopping partner, Heather. Do me a favor, though?”

Heather smiled. “What’s that, Joshua?”

“
Make sure she spends a ton of money, okay? And not just on the babies. I want her to buy anything she wants.”

Heather clapped her hands in delight as Adam shook his head in disbelief. “You have no idea what you just unleashed, Joshua.”

Rabbit chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do, Joshua. And, Adam? Tell Frank he doesn’t have to skulk in the shadows, I am quite okay with him joining us.”

Adam threw his head back in laughter. “Can’t fool you for a minute can we, Lizzy?”

She shook her head. I smiled as I leaned forward, kissing her cheek, my words quiet. “It’s for your safety and my peace of mind, Rabbit. Don’t be upset.”

She shook her head. “I’m not.”

Then she smiled widely at me. “Besides, Frank can carry all the bags for us.” She waggled her eyebrow. “I plan on there being many of them.”

I chuckled, thrilled at how well this seemed to be going. “Good to know, Rabbit.”

We all laughed as Adam picked up his phone and began typing. “I’ll fill him in on his new assignment.”

I sat back quietly, knowing that, thanks to good friends and their support, I could do this.

“
That was very interesting, Joshua. Thanks for letting me sit in.” Adam slapped me on the shoulder as I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to gauge if he was being sarcastic. But his returning gaze was steady and honest. He smiled at me. “Really. I had no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes of putting a book together. Fascinating, actually.”

I nodded. “It’s quite the process, especially with the illustration aspect. That’s a first for me, as well. My other books, I just sort of discussed the covers and someone else put it together.”

“
You are very talented. Lizzy is gonna love her surprise.”

I grinned as I looked at the package in my hand—the advance copies of the first three books. Today, we had finalized the next three, and I would see those soon. I hadn’t known these were ready yet and I knew she would be thrilled to see them. I could hardly wait to see her reaction to my inscription, which was, of course, dedicated to her and my own little bunnies.

Adam paused. “Walk or cab?”

I hesitated. Our lunch had run so long after I had seen Rabbit safely off with Frank that we had grabbed a cab over to the office. Watching her leave had been very difficult and I wasn’t able to face walking down the street at that point. Drawing in a deep breath, I made a decision. “Walk.”

“
Directly to the hotel?”

I shook my head. I needed to do this. “Let’s go the long way, Adam.”

“
Pushing all your limits today, Joshua?”

I nodded.

Adam turned in the opposite direction of the hotel. “Let’s go.”

I was surprisingly relaxed as Adam and I walked along, discussing some of the changes I saw in the buildings and skyline. Having his large presence beside me, as well as the fact that the sun was still out, no doubt helped me stay focused. It wasn’t until we stopped at a light and I looked down the street, realizing where I was, that I stopped and stiffened.

“
Joshua?”

I shook my head wordlessly, my chest tight as I stared down the block. I glanced at Adam who was watching me warily and, before my determination could falter, I began walking. I knew Adam was behind me. I knew daylight lingered. I knew I was safe. Yet my heart beat rapidly and my stomach clenched as I stopped at the entrance to an alley and stood silently, my muscles coiled and tense, my breathing rapid.

“
Is this where you were attacked, Joshua?” Adam’s voice was low and calm.

I nodded.

“
You lived around here?”

I swallowed deeply. “The complex is two blocks farther down.” My voice was shaky. “I was so close to home. Five minutes either way and they probably would have been in another alley.”

“
Attacking someone else.”

My head snapped in his direction. “I never thought of that.”

He shrugged. “Makes sense. They were so high; they were going to attack someone until they got what they wanted.”

“
I always wondered if they would have beaten me so badly if I had more money on me. If they had gotten what they wanted.”

“
From the reports I read, Joshua, they were half out of their minds. I think you were in for a world of pain no matter what.”

I was silent. I took in a deep breath and took a few steps forward. The alley itself was the same as any other alley I had seen. A few garbage bins against the walls, some graffiti spray painted on the concrete, a car parked farther down by the back entrance of some business. Nothing that screamed danger or warned you to be frightened. Every step forward had my breath coming out in sharper gasps and my stomach clenching, but I kept moving forward until I was there. The spot I remember being dragged to before my world exploded in a haze of pain and blood.

I stood there, utterly still as I looked around. I could feel my hands clenching in the effort to stay there. Every part of me wanted to run back out of the alley and not stop until I reached the safety of Rabbit’s arms. The sudden longing to be home with the babies and her filled me and I felt a shudder run through me. This had been a bad idea. Adam’s voice startled me.

“
I’m amazed you’re able to do this, Joshua.”

I shook my head sadly. “I’m fucking terrified right now, Adam.”

“
Doesn’t matter. You’re still fucking doing it.”

I looked at him wearily.

“
You are. What happened here changed your life irrevocably. Not everyone would be able to stand where you are right now, Joshua. And you are. You’re standing. You’re living. You fucking overcame what happened and you’re here. You’re okay. That, in my books, is fucking amazing. You should be so proud of yourself.” He shook his head. “Lizzy is going to be. At least, she will be once she finishes kicking my ass for letting you do this without her knowing.”

I had to chuckle at his last statement.

“
You have a great life, Joshua. Success, friends. Children. And your Rabbit.”

I looked at him and nodded.

“
Especially Rabbit.”

He smiled. “Are you ready to go and see her now?”

I looked around the alley and sighed shakily in relief. Adam was right. I had overcome what happened here. Now I could put it in the past and move forward.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m ready to go. I need her now.”

He clapped me on the shoulder. “No doubt she is ready for you as well. Big afternoon for both of you, I’d say.” He smiled. “Tonight is a night to celebrate, my friend.”

I nodded and followed him out of the alley.

I didn’t look back.

I walked into the hotel suite, calling Rabbit’s name. I heard her muffled voice and followed it, smiling as I saw a large pile of bags in the bedroom and finding her up to her neck in bubbles in the deep bathtub in the en-suite. Greedily, my eyes drank her in as she smiled gently at me from the tub.

“
I missed you,” she murmured. She held out her dripping hand and I moved forward to take it, leaning down to drop a kiss on her forehead. The feeling of home flooded through me the instant I touched her and I felt immense relief at being back with her.

“
It’s not the hot tub, but it’s pretty big. Want to join me?”

I grinned as I hastily removed my clothes. I didn’t want big right now; I wanted to be as close to her as I could be. She moved forward and I slipped in behind her, pulling her tight against my chest and wrapping my arms around her. I sighed deeply and rested my chin on her shoulder; breathing in her warm scent, I felt myself relax with her closeness. The room as quiet for a few minutes as we both just rejoiced in the sweetness of being together.

“
Were you okay this afternoon, Rabbit?”

“
I was nervous at times, but having Frank there helped. I even managed to wander into a few stores on my own and I was okay.”

I held her tighter. “That’s my brave girl.”

“
I actually enjoyed myself. It felt good.”

“
Shopping was a success, I see?”

She nodded, tilting her head up to look at me. “I got so many things for the babies, Joshua. I forgot how huge a selection there can be.”

I nuzzled her neck, my tongue swirling over her damp skin. “Tell me you bought some things for yourself, Lizzy.”

“
I did,” she gasped softly as I bit down gently on her earlobe.

“
Good.”