“We married a month later.” The smile that graced his face sent chills running down her spine. It was pure contentment and love. “When she gave me Nick, I thought I would die from happiness. That woman was the epitome of what a wife and mother should be. She never complained unless I tracked mud through the house—then she took the broom to me. She took everything in stride.”
“She sounds incredible.” Bowing her head, Pepper wondered if she could ever be that for Nick and Ace. Would they praise her that way in forty years?
“Nick and Ace,” he sighed, “they look at you the way I did Addy.” His voice held pride. “And you, Miss Pepper, you watch them with an intensity that any man should be so lucky to feel.”
Was that good or bad?
“How did you know everything would work out? Being so far apart, her in school, and you working so hard. How did you know?” Her voice sounded desperate even to her own ears.
“Faith and love, girl. A little faith in her, and a lot of love.” So simple. “Everything else will fall into place.” With that, he got up to leave.
She had a lot to think about. Mostly in regards to her old life. What she would do with it when she remembered. Also about Nick and Ace.
The answer seemed so easy: Stay. Be with them. But first, she had to figure out who she was without them. Could she be strong enough? Was she strong enough to be theirs?
Sitting back on the bench, she realized the moose had gone for good. It must have left when Jake had come out. Learning about his wife sparked something in Pepper. From a simple story, she got such a feeling of kinship with Addy. Almost as if she had known the woman at some time.
Reflecting on how strong and resilient she had to have been to go to school, defy her father, and marry the man she loved gave Pepper hope that once her mind was straight again, she could have what she wanted most in the world as well.
Nick and Ace.
“I feel like I’ve been here before,” Ace mumbled as James told them some hair-brained plan he’d thought of,making Ace think of Dom and Dee’s struggle back in Maryland.
“We can’t use her as bait,” Nick insisted again.
“It’s our only option at this point,” James growled.
“She’s your fucking sister!” he bellowed. “We are not using her as bait. It’s not a fucking option.”
“Just hear me out. She wouldn’t be in any danger. You say Roxie is protective. We’d leave her with Pep. We would each be at a vantage point to see her at all times. Ace, aren’t you some sharpshooter?”
“Yes,” he grumbled. Hating where the man was going, but they were running out of time and ideas.
“We can do this,” James proclaimed again.
Ace watched as his cousin swept an aggravated hand down his face. They were both struggling with the idea and how they felt about it.
Now you know how Dom felt.
“Shit,” Nick cursed then looked at him. His eyes showed he was at war with wanting to keep Pepper safe and catch the man who’d hurt her.
“You have no more information on this guy?” Ace asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Ray’s been looking into him more. Tore through his locker and personal belongings at the station. Alex is obsessed, guys. Dangerously so. This will be our only chance.” Ace could see the other man was struggling just as much as they were to put her in the line of fire.
“Fuck!” His hands ran through his hair, pulling on the ends.
“I don’t think we have a choice, Ace,” Nick told him, anger in his voice.
Anger that they had no other way.
Anger that she was in danger.
“Fine,” he snapped, knowing that if Nick thought it was their only way, then it likely was.
Sitting on the couch, plans began to form, and all Ace could think of was the first time they’d taken her. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back.
Her skin was like spun silk, so soft it nearly melted beneath his warm hands. Her hair as delicate as a feather spilled around her glowing face like a halo as they’d made her come apart repeatedly. When she’d greedily asked for more of them, he’d been stunned. She was so responsive towards them, they couldn’t help giving her everything she asked for. The light in her eyes as she’d let go of every worry, and all her pain…