Chapter 93

**Blue**


“Who are they?” Lilly asks as I push her chair toward the car.

“Those are our bodyguards.” Artemis says.

“Bodyguards? Why do you have them?” She asks, sounding too grown up for her age.

It’s not uncommon for kids like us to grow up a lot faster than we should. When you have to depend on yourself most of the time it comes easy. In my case I had to grow up so that I could help my foster brothers and sisters. I still regret not taking them with me when I left, but after what my foster father did, I couldn’t stay even for them. When I was free, I had called an anonymous tip to the police and hoped it would help get the others placed somewhere else. After what my foster parents did, I guess the police hadn’t listened to me.

I told them one day a kid would end up dead and it wouldn’t be an accident because I almost was.

“To keep us safe. Artemis is a very important man and sometimes people don’t respect his privacy. This way he can do his job without having to worry about getting hurt.” I try to explain to her.

“They are here to protect you too. No one will hurt you if they’re around which is why they go with us everywhere.” Artemis continues.

Lilly nods her head and looks at Dane first. “You’re going to protect me?” She asks him.

He looks down at her and then crouches. “I will. No one gets through me.”

“No one?” Her question comes out as a scared whisper.

“No one. I swear to you.” He makes a cross over his heart to seal his promise.

“Okay.” Lilly says with a relieved sigh.

“Let me help you in.” Dane says before scooping her up and walking her the rest of the way to the car.

Bryant already has the door open, and Dane is able to slide her in easily. I feel tears coming again so I push the wheelchair over to the trunk, so no one sees me. This is a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. I glance over at the house and see little faces watching one of their friends being taken to a new home. God, I wish I could bring them all, but that’s not possible. I wave to them and most of them send one back which only makes me want to cry more.

Dammit!

Forcing myself to look away I try to figure out how to fold Lilly’s wheelchair.

“Let me, Miss Blue.” Bryant says.

“How do you know how to fold it?” I ask.

“A bunch of my buddies in the service had to use one at one point or another.” He doesn’t sound sad on the few occasions that he talks about being in the Army.

“That must have been hard. Did you ever use one?” I snap my mouth shut regretting asking him such a personal question. “I’m sorry that was rude.”

He lifts the wheelchair into the trunk and closes it with ease before turning to me.

“It isn’t Miss Blue. No, I was blessed to get out with smaller injuries, but some men aren’t as lucky. Now I get to protect some very important people.”

I smile and nod. “Artemis is a special guy. I’m glad you kept him safe so that he could be a pain in my ass.”

He chuckles. “Of course, I am honored to protect Mr. Rhodes but you and that little girl are going to be the most important people to protect from now on. All Mr. Rhodes cares about is that you are safe, and I plan on doing just that.”

Why is everyone trying to make me cry today?

“Thank you.” I reach out and squeeze his arm.

“Thank you for coming.” Artemis says from behind me. “I wanted Lilly to see you guys.”

“Of course, Mr. Rhodes. We’ll follow you home.” Bryant gives me one more smile before walking off leaving me alone with Artemis.

“Everything okay?” he asks, looking worried.

I wrap my arms around his neck the best I can, but he leans forward to help me reach better. “Everything is perfect. Thank you for letting me do this.”

He smiles. “I would do anything for you.”

Shit. I don’t think I can stop the tears now, just like I feared they start falling.

“Fuck, baby don’t cry.” He says reaching up to cup my face and wipe away the tears.

Him calling me *baby* only makes me cry even more! Hell, if I know why but it seems so…real. Like this is all real. Him and me…our daughter…our new life…it seems too good to be true. Nothing stays perfect forever.

“Let’s enjoy the good moments as they come. We can worry about everything else later.” He says, tilting my head up to look directly at him.

“Did I say that out loud?” My face flushes.

He laughs. “You did, but I’m glad. I don’t want you to keep your fears from me. You can talk to me about it all. I haven’t run away yet and I won’t let you even if it’s only in your mind.”

“What’s happened to you? You’re a real softy now.” I tease him.

Unlike before he doesn’t scoff or roll his eyes at that comment. No, he smiles proudly. “I met an amazing, brave and smart woman who has changed my life forever. A woman that I love.”

My heart stops and it takes me a second to process those words, but on the outside, I try to play it cool.

“Artemis Rhodes…I love you too.” I am surprised how calm my voice sounds.

He leans down and kisses me so strongly that my toes curl in my shoes and I have an urge to climb him here and now. We are in a public place though, so I push his shoulder lightly.

“We can get into this here. We have a little girl waiting in the car for us and a hundred eyes looking our way.”

He growls and drops his head on my shoulder. “I expect to pick this up later tonight. I never accept half done.”

That makes me laugh. “Of course, Mr. Rhodes.” I say in my most professional voice.

He lets me go and grumbles. “Yeah, yeah don’t tease me or I’ll forget about decency and kiss you again.”

“Promises, promises.” I say walking past him and to the passenger side of the car.

I slip in and he follows a few seconds later.
“Right, let’s go home.” He says before turning the car on.

When we get home, I remembered too late that we haven’t finished setting up the rooms yet. How could we not do that first and then bring Lilly here? Shit! When we pull into the driveway, I’m shocked by what I see.

“How long were we gone?” I ask no one in particular.

“Long enough.” Artemis says before climbing out of the car.

Apparently while we were out someone came and set up ramps leading up to the front door. It looks a little raw but I’m guessing it’s temporary until we can have better ramps put in.

“I already scheduled for the real ones to be put in tomorrow, but this will do for now. There will also be ramps set up at the back of the house as well. I have spoken to someone about a wheelchair accessible car as well, but it’s going to be customized so it will take some time.” Artemis says.

He’s opened Lilly’s door already and Bryant brings around her chair. I watch Artemis lift her out of the car and sit her carefully in her chair like he’s done it a hundred times before. I don’t know if it’s possible to love someone more but seeing him as a dad will be the thing to test the theory. Once Lilly is settled, I take over and push her toward the first ramp.

“This house is so big.” She says excitedly.

“I know. I haven’t even seen it all yet. Maybe Artemis can show us around later, but first I’m starving. How about you?”

She looks at me and nods. “Yeah, I’m hungry too. What will we eat?”

“What do you want?” I ask. “We’ll get you anything.”

She made a sound of thought and focused ahead of her for several seconds. When she decides I see a little bit of hesitation.

“Can we get pizza? I haven’t had some in a long time.”

“Of course! Pizza sounds so good right now! Artemis?” I glance over my shoulder at him and see he’s already typing away on his phone.

“On it.” He says.

“He’s super handy to have around.” I whisper to Lilly which makes her laugh.

“Does he take desert orders?” She whispers back and I break out laughing.

“Oh honey, can we get desert with that?” I call out.

“Desert. Right.” He sounds flustered but doesn’t refuse or argue.

“See? Anything you want he will get it for you.”

Lilly’s smile is so big that I wonder when was the last time she smiled like that. Too long I’m sure.