“Who is the smartest baby in the world? You are, that’s who!” Kim cooed as baby Auggie stared back at her. His big blue eyes, so very much like his mother’s, held wonder as he gazed about his new world.
“The smartest and the bravest,” Nate agreed, leaning over to quickly kiss his wife before taking Auggie from her arms.
He tried to avoid brushing against her cracked and swollen nipples. Breast feeding had ended up being the roller coaster of a lifetime. They now had a lactation specialist coming in every day to help out.
Kim reluctantly gave him up as she put a top back on. She was thankful that she did, because just a split second later, Mandy and Elliot walked into their apartment. It wasn’t that Kim was embarrassed about her body or that she wasn’t for breast feeders everywhere. It was only that she didn’t want her brother-in-law to see her boobs. Her feminist sensibilities di
Epilogue – One Year Later“Does this dress make me look slutty?” Alyssa asked, pulling out the ninth dress from her closet to model for her best friends, Mandy and Kim.“Absolutely!” Kim said happily over her third glass of wine.Mandy rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. She’s a lush these days now that she’s not nursing Auggie anymore. The dress is perfect, as were the last eight. Honestly, Alyssa, you could wear anything.”“I am not a drunk,” Kim replied as she leaned over to pinch her sister Mandy. “I’m merely a connoisseur of fine wine. And I’ll have you know, I’ve learned on TikTok that most moms imbibe during the day. I think a few drinks with my girls at night is nothing.”Alyssa shook her head, lips twitching. “I can’t believe you now have a million followers on the platform. Maybe Mandy’s jealous.”Kim hooted playfully
Chapter Thirty-OneKnock, knock, knock.Alyssa’s eyes flew to the front door. Fear laced with adrenaline raced through her veins. This meeting could go a myriad of ways for all of them. Alyssa counted seven men in the house with them. She had no idea how many were stationed around the property.Scott was sitting beside her. His face looked terrible; the cuts and bruises had developed into a bloody mess. Despite everything he’d been through, Scott’s concern and attention had been on her wellbeing. If she didn’t love the man already, that would have sealed the deal.But as it was, Alyssa knew she was head over heels in love with Scott Tabor.One of Frank’s men opened the door.Alyssa’s breathing hitched when she saw Nate Livingston and Elliot Brand entering Frank’s home with the horse and rider statue in Nate’s hands.She looked over to her uncle who was practically salivating.
Chapter Thirty"That's it?" Kim exclaimed when she saw the statue. "What's so important about this old thing? He's missing his head!""Likely that makes it worth more," Mandy added, clearly not very impressed with the ancient artifact.Nate and Elliot had successfully retrieved the horse and rider statue the following morning and returned to Nate and Kim's apartment. The time was approaching when the exchange was to take place."Whatever it's worth, I'd far rather have Alyssa and Scott," Kim replied."I don't like the FBI using you two as bait. Surely there is a safer way to do this exchange."Elliot kissed Mandy's temple. "They’ll be with us the entire time.""That housekeeper heard that someone in the FBI is crooked," Kim pointed out. "How do we know they aren't setting you two up for something terrible?"Nate squeezed her cold hands. "I promise you. I won't do anything to jeopardiz
Chapter Twenty-NineNate and Elliot walked into The Grind just as Freddy was closing up.“Hey, I’ve got a fresh pot back there. Would you like some?” he asked.“That’d be great,” Nate replied. “I am so damn tired, I don’t know what's up from down anymore.”Freddy finished locking up and then went to the counter to pour three cups of black coffee. He brought Elliot and Nate theirs before going back and picking up his own.His brow was knit with concern as he asked, “Still no sign of them?”Elliot shook his head. “Not a trace. Mandy and Kim have gone back to the penthouse. I really hoped to at least get a lead on where they could be, but it’s as if they’ve vanished into thin air.”Freddy took a sip of his coffee before adding, “Agent Jackson has been here every day this week. I don’t know what he thinks I’m hiding. He even asked
Chapter Twenty-EightAlyssa awakened to the sharp stinging pain coming from her shoulder. It took just a few moments to remember that the pain was caused by a bullet wound.“Scott?” she called out, trying to clear her fuzzy head.Her head and shoulder pounded in rhythm with her heartbeat. Her body felt weak and sluggish. As the room came into focus, Alyssa realized that she was in Uncle Frank’s home. This was where the nightmare had started for Alyssa.“You’re awake,” a man’s voice noted.Startled, Alyssa turned her head to see a man in his fifties, wearing a white lab coat, coming toward her. He appeared to be a doctor, but Alyssa knew things were never what they appeared to be.“Who are you?” she demanded, shrinking away from him.The doctor raised a brow. “I am Dr. Carmichael, your uncle’s private physician. You’ve had quite the time of it. How are you feelin
Chapter Twenty-Seven“Who is the smartest baby in the world? You are, that’s who!” Kim cooed as baby Auggie stared back at her. His big blue eyes, so very much like his mother’s, held wonder as he gazed about his new world.“The smartest and the bravest,” Nate agreed, leaning over to quickly kiss his wife before taking Auggie from her arms.He tried to avoid brushing against her cracked and swollen nipples. Breast feeding had ended up being the roller coaster of a lifetime. They now had a lactation specialist coming in every day to help out.Kim reluctantly gave him up as she put a top back on. She was thankful that she did, because just a split second later, Mandy and Elliot walked into their apartment. It wasn’t that Kim was embarrassed about her body or that she wasn’t for breast feeders everywhere. It was only that she didn’t want her brother-in-law to see her boobs. Her feminist sensibilities di