Acts of Redemption by Eleanor Aldrick

 

Act cool. Just keep walking. Don’t look back.

Oh. My. God.I need a moment to compose myself. Sliding into the powder bath, I close the door and press my forehead against the cool slab of wood.

Instead of worrying about the state of our home, I’m over here stressing about spending the night with Aiden. Yes, we’ve slept together before, but this is different. He’ll be staying the whole night and everyone will know about it.

It’s already hard enough for me to keep myself in check, now add in the pressure of everyone wondering what’s going on behind closed doors and I’m about to combust!

A knock on the door startles me, sending me flying back and falling onto the toilet. Thank god the lid was down or my soaked bottom could’ve been super awkward to explain.

“Yes? Almost done.”

“Char, it’s Bella. Can I have a word?”

Quickly scurrying off the seat, I make my way to the door and pry it open. Bella’s hesitant smile shines back at me, melting away some of my nerves.

Stepping out into the hallway, she motions me down the hall. I’m about to ask her where we’re headed when she opens a door off the corridor. The room is beautifully decorated in pale grey and soft pink. There’s a massive four poster bed, and across it a chaise adjacent to a large bay window.

“This is where you’ll be staying with Dad. Please let me know if you need anything.” Bella opens her arms wide, showcasing the room. “There’s also an attached bath so you don’t have to worry about roaming down the hallway in the middle of the night and you already know where the kitchen is in case you need anything.”

My face must be the color of a stop light by now. I can’t believe she’s talking to me so casually about shacking up with her father. Granted, he said he would take the couch, but how does she know that?

“Thank you, Bella. I really appreciate your help during this trying time. My life isn’t usually this full of drama.” My gaze falls to the floor, unable to look her in the eye. She must think I’m a hot mess and probably doesn’t want me anywhere near her father.

“Please sit.” Bella lowers herself onto the Chaise, patting the spot next to her.

My palms sweat and stomach churns as I do as asked, all while still avoiding her gaze.

“I’ll just cut to the chase. I’m sure you have a lot going on with the senator, your divorce, and now whatever’s happened at the safe house.”

Finally looking at her, I open my mouth to say something but she stops me, placing one hand up in the air and shaking her head.

“Please, let me finish. I know you have your own stuff going on, but I want to make sure that it doesn’t drag my father down with it. I’m not sure what you two have going on, but it’s safe to say that I’ve never seen my father act like this toward a woman. Not even my mother.” She sighs out a breath, her brows furrowing. “I’m not saying you aren’t a wonderful person, all I’m saying is that my dad has been through a lot and having someone play with his heart will only set back all of the amazing progress—”

Needing to interject, I grab her hand and squeeze it gently. “I’ve loved your father for as long as I can remember. You might not know me, but I know him and I would never do anything to hurt him. This might be a little TMI, but I have a feeling you’ll understand.” It’s my turn to let out a shaky breath, unsure if I should be divulging as much as I’m about to. “Aiden was always the forbidden older man in my life. The one too far out of reach for me to even dare dream of. And to be honest, I’m not sure of what’s going on between us either. But I do know that if I’m ever given a chance to hold his heart with mine, then I wouldn’t do anything to lose it. I’d cherish it and appreciate it for what it is, a gift.”

Bella’s eyes glisten in the dim lighting and my heart clenches, waiting for her response.

“You have no idea how much that means to me.” She squeezes my hand before pulling me toward her for an embrace.

“Here you both—” Aiden walks into what I could only assume is a very curious scene. “Everything okay here?”

Releasing each other, we both turn to Aiden with wet eyes and sappy smiles. “Everything is fine, daddy.” Bella tries to get up but needs a little push from me, her belly throwing off her center of gravity and all. “Now if you two will excuse me, I need to go get Harper ready for bedtime.” She kisses Aiden on the cheek before closing the door behind her, and I swear I think I see her wink at me.

Aiden clears his throat as he lowers himself onto the spot Bella just vacated, his broad hand reaching for my back and rubbing slow circles. “You okay?”

“Yes.” My whole body warms at the concern in his typically callous eyes. “We were just having some girl talk. I like Bella a lot. You did good.” My hand falls to his thigh and I sense him tense up on me.

“No. I didn’t. That’s all her. She was just born amazing. Honestly, I’m lucky I didn’t fuck her up completely.”

“Stop.” My hand tries to squeeze his thigh, but it’s so wide I barely manage to apply any pressure. “Last time I checked, you’re human. It’s not easy being a parent, and a single one at that. Look, I’m not making excuses for you, but now that Bella is a mother to Harper, I’m sure she understands. There is no manual on how to be the perfect parent and all we can do is try our best, putting in as much love and patience as we are able.”

Aiden stares at me, jaw clenched and narrowed eyes, before his hand reaches out, wrapping behind my nape and bringing me to him. Our lips crash into one another, finding their other half as they bite, nip, and suck.

Home. That’s what he is.

Wherever I go, whatever I do, he’ll always be my home.

Taking his lower lip into my mouth, I lick and suck, eagerly wanting more. Aiden lowers me down onto the chaise and I open my legs wide, wrapping them around his waist. As soon as his hardened length hits my center, I moan, writhing underneath him and pressing myself into him with the help of my heels on his ass.

“My principessa perfetta. I can’t stay away.” His pained face looks down at me, and I can see the struggle in his eyes.

Reaching up to his face, I bring him down to me. “Then don’t. Stop thinking and just feel.” I gently rub my lips against his, back and forth. “Doesn’t this feel good?”

“You know it does.” He thrust his hips forward, his ridge hitting my clit in just the right spot, causing another moan to escape.

A hard knock on the door has me sucking in my panting breath and looking up at Aiden. Our bubble has burst once more and even though I’m a lady, I could definitely punch whoever knocked on the door just now.

Aiden lowers his mouth to mine, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips before getting up and adjusting himself. “Anyone ever tell you you’re adorable when you pout?”

I scoff as I sit up, “I’m most definitely not pouting.”

“Sure thing, princess.” Aiden opens the door slightly, enough to let me see the outline of William’s head.

“We got our man.”

Those four words have Aiden’s entire posture going rigid. “Alright.”

Without another word or even a glance back, Aiden exits the room, leaving me cold and in the dark once again.

Aiden

There’s only one thing replaying in my mind over and over. Protect Charlotte at all costs.

Following William into his office, I see that the other men are already here.

“Took you long enough,” Ren grumbles, but the smirk on his lips lets me know he’s teasing.

William sucks in air with pursed lips, “Yeah, it sounded pretty intense in there. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I knew I needed to get to you before things got too heavy. We have business to attend to.”

“You were fucking listening in on me and Charlotte?!” I see red, the only mission is to protect her virtue and this sure as shit isn’t doing that.

“Wow, chill out Dad.” William tries to push me off of him and it’s just then I realize I have his shirt in a tight grip. “This is family and we don’t rat on each other. You should know that by now.”

“Give him a break,” Titus chimes in. “You would've been the same way had someone been listening in on you and Bella. Don’t go acting like you and Ren aren’t psycho overprotective over your women.”

Now I turn to Titus, practically growling, “Charlotte is not my woman.”

“You keep telling yourself that, brother.” Ren shakes his head as he chuckles. “We all see it as clear as day, but you keep living on that river called de Nile.”

“Enough. It’s time we cut to business.” Hudson cuts into the banter, his brows dropped and mouth formed into a thin line. Something’s up with him. He’s usually the jokester, ribbing everyone and making us all lovingly miserable.

“You okay?” The space between my eyes crinkles as I frown.

“He’s just butt hurt because he has to babysit his step-sister. Didn’t you hear? She’s shacking up with big bro over here.” Titus rolls in his lips, biting back a laugh.

“Shut your pie hole, Titus.” Hudson throws a wadded napkin at Titus’ head. “I’m just wanting to get to the issue at hand. I’d think lover boy here would want to know since it’s regarding the incident that happened at the safe house.”

All eyes fall on me, and I choose to ignore the stupid remark for the sake of efficiency, “Talk to me. What do we know?”

“Our guy was found at the Arkansas border.” William’s tone is cautious and I know there’s more to the story.

“And.”

“The other men were transporting him back to our SUV when a sniper took him out.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?! Did anyone get any information out of him before they took him out?”

“Nope.” Titus pops the ‘p’ before continuing. “All we know is that he is the one who ransacked the home and that he admitted to messing up. We don’t know why he did it or who ordered it, if anyone.”

I roll my eyes. “Someone definitely ordered it, or else there wouldn’t have been a sniper.”

“I’m just playing Devil’s advocate. Don’t shoot the messenger.” Titus raises his hands as he chuckles. “Get it? Shoot the messenger?”

Shaking my head, I close my eyes. “Man. That’s tasteless, even for you.” Rubbing my hand across my face, I start thinking of the next steps. “Okay. We need to get a hold of his phone records and any surveillance video of him we can get our hands on. There’s gotta be a clue linking him to the person who placed the order.”

“He knew your schedule, so he definitely didn’t want anyone home while he did it.” Ren rubs his chin, voicing my exact thoughts. “Now, if we could figure out what he was searching for or who sent him.”

I rub at the back of my neck as my head falls back. “My bet is on Preston, but what could he be looking for?”

“Did Charlotte take anything from the house?” William asks.

“The only thing I took was her go bag. She had it ready to go, but there wasn’t anything in it other than clothing and toiletries.”

“Well, it’s not the evidence we have on him. He knows that it’s safely stored on the cloud, and it’s definitely not Charlotte’s tampons. So...”

I glare at Hudson, “Crass much? The sooner we get ahold of his phone records and question the rest of the team, the sooner we’ll have answers. One of the other men must’ve noticed something off about our rat. Where’s the team now?”

Titus answers, “They’re taking Sylvie to the airport. Per your orders, she’ll be staying with her daughter until this all blows over. Once the drop-off is made, they’re heading to HQ and awaiting your orders.”

“Good. I’ll want to interrogate them personally. William, will you stay here with Charlotte?”

“You know it. I don’t plan on venturing far from home for the next week. We are seven days out from the wedding, Bella will lose her shit if something happens to this mug of mine before then.” Rubbing his jaw, the fool grins.

I shake my head, choosing to ignore the invitation for a jab. “Alright, Casanova. I’ll be back as soon as possible. In the meantime, you three dig into phone records and any possible surveillance. Let me know if anything comes up.”

“Ten-four, lover boy.” Titus smirks, batting his lashes in imitation of a love-struck fool.

I flip them off as I exit William’s office, mumbling, “Assholes. All of you.”