Getting Away Book 2 Of The Mafia Run Away Luna

will you adopt him 24

Chapter 24

Catherine POV

After I finished talking to the dark witch, I knew exactly what I had to do. I needed to tell Tony something, but I couldn't risk him finding out where I was hiding. That left me with only one option, one that would guarantee I'd have Grill's attention. I walked into Grill's office without knocking and deliberately left the door open.

I wanted Ava to hear every word. Grill barely looked up from the paperwork spread across his desk.

"Catherine. Why are you here, and what do you want? I have work to do and an intruder to find. You've got two seconds to tell me why you're here... or get out."

Only two seconds. Fine. "You need to adopt Noah." The words came out before I could stop them. "I know you already know he's my son. He doesn't have a father in his life. I... I don't have anyone else he can look up to. I know it's a lot to ask, but I can never catch you alone except when you're in your office."

Grill slowly lifted his eyes to meet mine. He stared. Then looked back at his computer. Then back at me. He rubbed a hand over his face before speaking.

"Did I hear you right? You want me to adopt Noah? You want me to become your son's father?" His voice hardened. "Are you completely out of your damn mind, Catherine? What the hell has gotten into you?" He pointed toward the door. "Get out."

I hadn't even noticed Ava step into the office until she spoke.

"I don't know, Grill. Maybe we should take Noah if she doesn't want him. If she's just here to dump her kid on someone else, maybe we could raise him better."

My head snapped toward her. How dare she. I crossed the room in seconds, stopping inches from her face.

"I didn't ask for your opinion. How dare you say I can't raise my own son? And if Grill ever adopted Noah, which he won't, you would never be allowed near him. You're unfit to be his mother."

I jabbed a finger toward her chest. "You're not even fit to be a Luna. Grill hasn't even marked you yet. Deep down, he knows you're not worthy."

Before I could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the office.

My head snapped to the side. Then another. And another. Ava had slapped me so hard my face burned. I slowly turned back toward her and smiled.

"You really love my sloppy seconds, don't you?" I watched anger flash through her eyes. "Did he tell you I was the one who rejected him? Now that I'm back... I'm taking back what's mine." I stepped closer. "I challenge you for the title of Luna."

Without warning, I grabbed a fistful of her hair and drove my fist into her face. She barely moved.

Ava POV

I had been in the kitchen fixing Grill and me something to drink when a strange feeling settled in my chest. Something wasn't right.

I set everything down and headed straight for his office. As soon as I reached the open doorway, I heard Catherine asking my mate to adopt her son. Grill refused without hesitation. Then she refused to leave. I stepped inside.

"I don't know, Grill. Maybe we should take Noah if she doesn't want him. If she's just here to leave him with someone else, maybe we'd raise him better."

The look on Catherine's face was priceless. She looked ready to explode. Instead, she started insulting me. Calling me unfit to be a Luna. Saying Grill hadn't marked me because he didn't want me.

Talking about being his "sloppy seconds." I lost my temper.

Before I knew it, I'd slapped her across the face several times.

She smiled.

That smile told me everything. She wanted this. She wanted a fight.

"I challenge you for the title of Luna," she growled before grabbing my hair and punching me. The pain shot across my scalp as she ripped several strands out by the roots. I jerked backward.

She came at me again. I waited. One opening. That's all I needed.

As she swung, I stepped inside her punch and drove my fist straight between her eyes. Her body went limp instantly. She collapsed to the floor unconscious. Silence filled the office. Grill walked over beside me, looking down at Catherine.

"Ava... it's your decision what happens to her. She challenged you. She lost." He wrapped an arm around my waist. "And even if she had won... I never would've accepted her as my Luna." He smiled softly. "You're my mate."

Something inside me shifted. Willow surged forward. Without thinking, I leaned into Grill and licked the spot on his neck where my mark belonged. Then I sank my canines into his skin. His scent wrapped around me instantly. When I pulled away, Grill smiled and returned the gesture, marking me in return. The mate bond exploded to life.

Warm. Complete. Permanent. When it was over, I looked down as Catherine slowly began regaining consciousness. I pointed to the fresh mark on my neck.

"See this?" I smiled. "This means he's mine... and I'm his."

Her face twisted with rage. "So get over it." I folded my arms. "I'm done walking on eggshells around you." I looked toward the guards outside. "Guards!" They entered immediately. "Take Catherine to the cells. She'll spend four months there without seeing daylight."

I paused. "Oh... and Catherine?"

She looked up hopefully. "We had a nice conversation with Tony."

Her eyes widened. "He's on his way to pick up his son."

"No!" She screamed so loudly my ears rang. "You can't do that! He's my pup! You can't take him away from me!"

I looked at her without sympathy. "Oh, but I already did." I knelt so we were eye level. "I spoke with Noah." My voice softened slightly.

"He told me you promised he'd see his father again." I stood.

"He said you took him away from... from his father."

Tears streamed down Catherine's face. "He doesn't want to stay here." My final words shattered what little hope she had left. "He wants to go home with his father."

The guards grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the dungeon.

She kicked. Screamed. Begged. Cried for Noah. But no one stopped. I watched the cell door close behind her. For the first time since she'd arrived… I finally felt like the true Luna of this pack.

Chapter 25

Tony POV

I don't know how long I was on that plane. The moment Alpha Grill called and told me my son was in his pack and that Catherine was being held in the cells, I knew what I had to do. I boarded my private jet immediately. It took three stops to refuel before we finally landed.

A few of Grill's guards and warriors were waiting on the runway.

"Welcome, Alpha Tony," one of them said. "Alpha Grill asked us to greet you and escort you to the pack so you can see your son."

He opened the door of the SUV for me. I climbed inside while the others got into the escort vehicles behind us. It took nearly an hour before we reached the pack. The entire drive, my thoughts never left Catherine.

Maybe she would agree to come home. I wasn't looking for a fight. I wanted answers about the missing money. I'd worked for years to build my pack, and that money belonged to everyone who lived under my protection. She never seemed to understand that.

When we arrived, I stepped out of the SUV. A man and a woman stood waiting at the bottom of the pack house steps. Alpha Grill.

Luna Ava.

I was standing in another Alpha's territory, so I greeted them with the respect they deserved.

"Alpha Grill. Luna Ava. It's a pleasure to meet you both. May I see my son?"

"Of course," Grill replied. "He's inside with the nanny. He knows you're coming."

We entered the pack house. It was enormous, almost as large as my own. A rack of firearms lined one wall, while polished swords hung crossed along another hallway. Luna Ava opened a bedroom door. Noah looked up, and his face lit up.

"Daddy!" He ran straight into my arms. "I'm so happy you're here! Can we go home now? I don't want to stay here anymore."

I smiled, lifting him into a hug. "Of course, buddy. We'll be going home soon. I just have to speak to someone first, but I promise I'll come back for you."

"Okay... but don't be long. I miss my toys."

"I won't."

I kissed the top of his head before setting him down. Turning to Grill, I asked quietly, "Will you take me to Catherine?"

He nodded. We crossed the grounds to the detention building. Catherine sat on the floor of her cell with her knees pulled against her chest. She knew I was there but refused to look at me.

"Why are you here?" she asked bitterly. "To gloat? To take Noah away while I sit in here?"

I let out a slow breath. "Catherine... I came because Noah is my son, and because I wanted to see you. You have a choice. You can come home with us, or you can stay here. The decision is yours."

She finally looked at me. "And when we get back? Are you going to throw everything I've done in my face?"

"I'm not here to argue," I answered. "I just need to know one thing."

"What?"

"Are you still working with the dark witch?"

She hesitated before shaking her head. "No."

Silence settled between us. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll come back... but things have to change. Noah deserves better from both of us."

I gave a single nod. "Then let's go home."

Alpha Grill unlocked the cell and stepped aside. Catherine walked out without another word. We collected Noah from the pack house, thanked Alpha Grill and Luna Ava for everything they'd done, and made our way back to the airport. As the jet climbed into the night sky, Noah quickly fell asleep in his seat, worn out from the day's excitement.

Catherine sat across the aisle, staring silently out the window.

Neither of us spoke. The flight home was quiet. Whatever came next, the real conversation would have to wait until we were back in our own pack. She was drinking her drink, i hope that it relaxed her, i knew she didn't want to be here, but she is now,