Teague (The Family Simon 4)

She kicked. And clawed. And kicked some more. She managed to get her hand above the surface. You can do this. The words screamed inside her mind and anger rolled through her. She wouldn’t end like this. She had too much to live for.

But the water was cold. Bone-chilling cold. And her lungs were on fire. And for one heart wrenching moment, she thought of her kids. And of Teague. And of what they could have had.

But then strong arms wrapped themselves around her and hauled her up to the surface. Sputtering, she gasped for air, eyes focused on the one face she needed to see. She didn’t take her eyes off him as he pulled them both in and hit the shore.

“I love you,” she managed to say, voice hoarse from screaming, teeth chattering so badly she barely got the words out.

“I know,” he said, voice full of emotion. “What the hell, Bree? How did you…If I hadn’t heard you scream…” He caught himself and shook his head. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.”

Teague kissed her forehead. “I’ve got you,” he said, holding her close and jogging up to his house. “I’ve got you.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Teague closed the door to his bedroom and headed for the stairs. Sabrina was still out cold, but that wasn’t surprising considering her tumble into the lake. He paused at the top of the landing and had to take a moment, because never in his life had he been more terrified than when he’d heard her voice and seen that small white hand break the surface of the water.

Heart still pounding, he took the stairs, smiling when he heard the excited babble of the twins. Allie had dropped them off earlier and they were jumping all over their “Uncle Jack”. Donovan watched from the sofa, feeding her daughter, while his parents were snuggled up together in the oversized chair near the fire.

The rest of his family had left earlier in the morning, missing the dreary fall day by hours.

A little dark head popped up from behind Jack. “Tigger! You didn’t tell me that you had a mommy!”

“Well where did you think I came from?” he asked with a smile.

“I don’t know,” she replied with a giggle. “But you have the same mommy as Uncle Jack.”

“I do.” He glanced at his brother who had Harry in a headlock. “He’s the old guy though.”

“He’s not old,” Morgan said. “He’s a prince”

Jack grinned at that and tickled her until she fell at his feet in hysterics.

“How is Sabrina?” his mother asked.

“She’s still sleeping, but I think she’ll be fine. I’ll suggest a visit to her doctor tomorrow just to be safe.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Eden said. His mother paused and he saw the wheels turning. “So what did your friend Richard Bowen want?”

Donovan was done feeding the baby and she got up, smiling down at the twins. “Who wants to help me bake some cookies?”

Jack glanced at his wife as if she’d lost her mind. “You don’t bake.”

Donovan’s eyebrow shot up. “That’s not the point, darlin’.” She held her free hand out. “Come on. Chocolate chip or peanut butter?”

The kids dashed after her and she got them busy in the kitchen, looking for ingredients and such.

“Teague,” his mother prodded.

“He wants me to go to the Ukraine with him.”

Silence met his confession and he saw his mother glance warily at his father. Noah wasn’t a man of words—he usually left that up to his wife—but the older Simon got to his feet and walked over to Teague and Jack.

“What did you decide son?”

“I’m not going.”

Noah Simon didn’t even bother to hide his relief. He enfolded his son into a hug and kept him there for several moments, his touch fierce.

“I’m glad,” his dad said simply when he pulled away.