CHAPTER 47: A sigh of relief...

Celeste
After I release the guards from my hold, I walk back toward the guys. Randol immediately envelops me in his warm arms. I bury my face in his chest and breathe in his scent. I can feel my nerves calming just from his touch. All of a sudden, I remember Uncle Anthony. "Oh my god!" My head shoots up off Randol's chest. "We have to get back to the hotel. I have to treat Uncle Anthony's arm."
"Celeste, I'm fine, really. Are you sure you're done here?"
"Yes, I'm done here, and the two quarts of your blood on the floor say you're not fine. Don't worry about the damages or blood either. Donnelly is so ashamed of how he brought us in here to torture us that he wants to cover it all up for us."
"Nice thinking, Celeste. Everyone climb on. I'll fly us back to the car."
"Let's get outside first, huh? I don't want to worry about smacking my already injured arm on the window frame." Well, he's joking around, so he must not be too bad off, then. We all walk outside so that Mr. Yamaguchi can get us back to the car. This time he drives and Uncle Anthony leans back in the passenger seat.
"I'm going to call Daddy to update him. I know he's probably walking a rut into the floor right now." They try not to, but they all laugh at the picture I'm sure just ran through their minds. "Hey, Daddy."
"Celeste! Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Daddy. Everything is taken care of on our end. We are ready to fly back tomorrow."
"Is everyone else okay?"
"Well, your adopted brother has a bullet in his arm."
"What? Why?"
"Well, he got mouthy so I shot him to teach him a lesson." Uncle Anthony busts out laughing from the front seat.
"Celeste!"
"I'm just kidding, Daddy. He's just getting slow in his old age and couldn't dodge a bullet. He's fine, though. I'm going to stitch him up when we get back to the hotel. He'll be good as new in no time." No laugh this time, but I do hear some mumbling under someone's breath. Wonder who.
"Well, that sounds more likely. I'm glad you're all safe. Give me thirty minutes, and I'll e - mail you all your itineraries."
"Thanks, Daddy."
"I love you, sweetheart."
"Love you too, Daddy." I hang up the call and let the phone fall to my lap.
"Celeste, are you okay?" Randol's face looks so concerned.
"I'm fine, Randol, I promise. I'm just relieved to be done with this. The children are home. Donnelly is mentally destroyed. The organization will be completely disbanded by the weekend. Not bad for a week of work."
"Not bad at all, Princess." He pulls me into a soft kiss, then lays my head on his shoulder.
We finally arrive back at the hotel, and while I'm stitching up Uncle Anthony's arm, we get our flight plans. Ugh! Another "before dawn" flight. Great. Well, I need dinner. Then a nap.
"There we go, all done. How's your pain?"
"Not that bad. I'll just take some ibuprofen with the antibiotic you gave me, and I'll be fine."
"Well, you'll have to be because I don't have anything stronger."
"You did good today, honey."
"It's just a few stitches."
"No, I mean, back at the house."
"Honestly, when I saw you get shot, I almost lost it."
"Hahah, almost nothing. You did lose it. Lucky for you, you have a mate that loves you and balances you out." I look over at Randol. He's on the phone telling his dad about our night. He gives me a smile, and I smile back. "Just like your mother did."
"What? What do you mean? Did they have problems like this too?"
"No, but your mother's temper was much worse than yours, if you can believe. Your dad was her temperance." Now he glances at Randol. "You girls have the same taste, I guess. Like mother, like daughter."
"I am very lucky." I smile at him, and he pulls me into a hug. "You're still my number one man who's not my dad."
"I know." Sigh. "There's no topping perfection, honey."
"Hahah. You are absolutely right."
After that we heat up the pizza we brought back to the suite. We ate dinner and planned out our schedule for the morning. I'm not sure when it happened, but I fell asleep on the couch listening to
the men prattle on about sports and work and whatever else. When I woke up the next morning, I did not want to get up, but I did it anyway. We all got ready and made it to the airport on time. Just under six hours after we returned the rental car, we are climbing into our car at the Denver airport. Thank God. Only a couple more hours, then I can shower and get some decent food. This week has been hell. I swear, when I get back to Chicago, I'm booking a full package at the spa. I am mentally and physically wrecked. Oh! Something just occurred to me. When I get back to Chicago, I'll be planning my move to New York. Wow. I never thought I would ever say that. Funny how life works, though.