Page 215 of Daddy's Trust
“What? You never told me that,” Ink said.
“I only discovered it was bugging him last night. I think he thought he could let it go, but can’t. He’s worried he’s developing a conscience. And I better shut up.” Brody stood and held out his arms to Monroe who hugged him tight. “Be safe, Monroe. Message me if you need anything.”
“You too, Brody.”
Brody slid out of the room.
“Do you guys need to borrow a vehicle?” Ink asked.
Ralen nodded. “I’d appreciate it. I’ll probably have to drive it straight to the private airport, though. Have you got someone that can pick it up from there later?”
“I’m going to take you to the airport,” Cash said.
Ralen shook his head no. “It will be safer if you stay with Addie. Besides, I don’t like airport goodbyes.”
“Does it mean we have to say goodbye now?” Addie asked.
“Probably best if we leave separately,” Ralen said to her, holding out his arms. She slid into his embrace.
“Take care of my brother, okay? He’s my best friend, and we haven’t been separated for a long, long time. I’m worried about how he might not cope without me. Don’t know who is going to clean up his messes now.”
Cash snorted. “Whatever. I’m always the one cleaning up your messes.”
Addie moved back and gave Ralen a fierce look. “I’ll take care of him, if you take care of my sister.”
“Deal.”
Next she moved on to Monroe, hugging her tight. “I don’t want you to go. I’m scared.”
“You have Cash to look after you,” Monroe said.
“I’m not scared for me but for you.”
“Don’t be scared for me,” Monroe told her. “I’m going to think of this as an adventure and I’ll have Ralen with me. I’ll be fine. I’ll be home before you know it and by then maybe The Team won’t be an issue anymore.”
“I really hope so,” Addie said. “Just keep in contact. If you don’t like it there, we’ll find another way, okay? And don’t be too scared of Dante. Apparently, his bark is worse than his bite.”
“Okay, that warning isn’t slightly terrifying or anything,” Monroe said after a final hug.
As they left, Cash drew her against him. Tears dripped down her face, and she buried herself into his chest.
“It’s all right, baby. Ralen will take good care of her. I promise.” Cash lifted her up into his arms and held her close, rocking her back and forth. “Everything will be okay.”
58
Addie woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon. Her stomach actually gave a grumble, and she pulled herself up until her back was resting against the headboard.
She closed her eyes for a moment and just breathed in deep. So much had happened that it felt almost anticlimactic to just wake up and sit here.
It felt like she should be somewhere or doing something. For so long, her life had been nothing. Just work, eat and sleep, then repeat.
She hadn’t had a social life. She hadn’t had friends. She certainly hadn’t had a boyfriend or sex. She’d never had sex before now. And she had to say, it was pretty magnificent.
But now her life had completely changed. She was going to be living in a new city with a new man without her support system, and that was kind of terrifying when she had a moment to think about it.
Monroe was now in Mexico. Addie kept waiting for something to go wrong, but she’d gotten there safely.
Dotty was boxing up some stuff to send to her. Cash thought it was better that she didn’t send anything to Monroe, so there was no way to trace where she was. It was good to be cautious, she guessed.
