Ready For Love?

Chapter 19

Rip POV

Thanks, Amy.

Should have known it would be the first words out of her mouth.

I wanted to speak to Annie about that and was liking the way the conversation was going. She was proving more and more why she was mine.

She was smart and we worked together well.

I studied her for a moment, wanting her in my arms more and more. It was hard holding back. This new possessiveness growing more and more.

“You are a mom and I bet an amazing one at that.” Her face softened, as a small blush appeared on her cheeks. “But you aren’t everyone here’s mother. You can be just you, look after yourself and be just you. You can sit down and eat and not make sure everyone around you has eaten. You can be momma bear, but you can also be you.”

The surprise is evident on her face before she starts rapidly blinking, trying to contain her emotions. She's struggling with the fact that I can see her. That's something she is going to have to get used to. I know it's been a long time for her, but I'm not going anywhere.

I gently put my hands on her hips, rubbing my thumbs up and down, as she now looks everywhere but at me.

“Ummm… wow. That went… ummm… deeper than I expected…” she clears her throat, trying to clear the knot I can tell is there.

I kissed the top of her head again but gave her space to collect herself. I want to fully wrap her in my arms, but she isn’t ready right now and I know it. “Just make sure you know you're not being forced to do or be anyone but yourself.” I pull back and grab her hand. “Come on, I’ll take you to get another drink before we go to the movie room. What drinks do you like or do you want some more of that wine?”

She blinks again as she thinks about it. She has collected herself, but I have definitely got her thinking. “Vodka and a juice?”

“We have orange, apple and cranberry, I think …” I led her through the internal hallways and explained how to get back to our room. Yes, our room.

When we got to the bar, Taali, one of the new bar tenders, was there. We decided to finally hire some real staff rather than the prospects doing it all and having no f*****g idea.

“Oh I meet the famous Bear. That food was amazing. Please tell me you're doing some good old meat pies and sausage rolls tomorrow.” Taali gushed and talked about her cousin, who now makes them after living in Australia for 6 months.

Annie ordered a vodka and cranberry juice as they chatted.

Everyone greeted her warmly as they came to grab a drink themselves. She really had slotted straight into the club, it feels like she's been a member for a long time.

Stalker caught my eye and gave the signal we needed to talk. I acknowledged it before taking Annie to the movie room.

The room had been set up with bowls of snacks and their own bottles of alcohol ready for a good night. It made me relax a bit, knowing she was going to have something else to eat.

"Good luck!" I kissed her on the head and left them to it with a lot of commentary being thrown at me.

I headed to one of our meeting rooms with Stalker and Venom.

“Not sure what you know, but I got word that Hatch had gone missing, and his wife had been in bed with a Minotaur.” Venom was like me, but close to getting out for good.

At sixty-five he lasted longer than most and was beyond ‘tired of it all’ but wanted to finish this last job.

“He’s either dead or still being interrogated then,” I sighed.

He had been a good mole and I had worried he was getting too deep. He was getting close to finding the suppliers though, so didn’t want to quit.

“I don’t believe he would have talked though.” After having a childhood like mine, he made it his mission to bring down as many drug dealers and traffickers as possible.

“Neither do I. The wife…” We all nodded, knowing it had to have been her, whether or not she was with a Minotaur. “Have you organized…”

“Yep, that’s how we found out about her being Vlad’s side piece.”

I pulled out my phone to check my messages after my earlier calls. One particular message caught my eye. It seems we weren’t the only ones who had a mole.

I pulled up the photos attached before sliding it across the table to Venom and walking out the door to get Viking to call another church.

“f**k!” I heard Venom groan. Yep, this just got worse… and was the worst timing.

Anne POV

My head was spinning.

WHAT THE f*****g f**k!

“You are a mom and I bet an amazing one at that.” I wasn’t sure how to react to that. “But you aren’t everyone here’s mother. You can be just you, look after yourself and be just you. You can sit down and eat and not make sure everyone around you has eaten. You can be momma bear but you can also be you.”

He looked straight through me when he said that.

STRAIGHT THROUGH ME! Straight into my soul to the question I had been asking myself… who am I if I’m not a mum?

I… no. No. Now is not the time. Now is not the place.

This man had just met me. He can’t.

Breathe. No.

I blinked as I tried to think of something, anything! Anything else!

I nearly jumped away when I felt his hands on my hips.

I concentrated on his hands as I looked at the wall, then the bed, then the door…. Thankful that he didn’t pull me into his arms, or I would be a gonna!

So when I said he was smart… he is a f*****g mind reader. I am more than happy for the movie night now. MORE than happy for a dark room full of women and booze so I could collect myself and work out WHAT THE f**k!

I sighed in relief as he let it go and walked me to the movie room. Seriously trying not to trip over my feet as my mind swirled and my emotions were trying so hard to take over.

I was surprised when the movie chosen was Ever After. I haven’t seen this movie in YEARS! But I probably would have preferred NOT to watch a romance tonight.

Once again, today was NOT working out the way I thought it would. And every time I think I get a handle on it... rug is gone. I'm on my ass staring up at the ceiling wondering what just happened.

There were eight of us in the theatre, no kids, lots of alcohol, lots of snacks and some very comfortable proper movie-style recliners.

“Rip made sure this room was decked out properly,” Collins commented.

“Yeah! He’s an amazing man, when he lets anyone close to him.” Amy made sure she was looking straight at me.

“They're all like that. You have to know how to handle a military man and their issues and separate lives. Ever dealt with that before?” Trap started digging, and I smirked at her, trying not to roll my eyes.

Yep, couldn’t see this one coming... although I really was hoping they wouldn't. I appreciate what they're trying to do, but I really would like to watch the movie and let my brain work out what was going on. Acutally have time to process it all.

“My dad was a cop at a one-man station. So I know about it to an extent. Had to help with a few things. He wanted me to become one, but I did NOT have the patience or… restraint needed.”

“Oh, I hear you.” Collins spoke, and they all nodded and hummed in understanding.

“Dealt with PTSD much?” OK, we are deep diving here as well.