Page 39 of Catch My Fall
“Good girl. Come here,” I open my arms and she climbs into my lap, wrapping her little arms around me. I hold her tight, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, her dark raven hair the same colour as mine. “I love you, Ivy.”
“Loves you too, Auntie.”
Heading back downstairs, I meet my brothers, Reese and Della, just as Alec strides across the driveway, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
One of my brother’s SUVs is parked out front with the engine running. I’m guessing because it’s fitted with a tracking device, it’s his way of making sure I’m safe, even if he can’t be there in person.
Alec tosses his bag into the trunk before closing it, giving me a warm smile. “You ready?”
“Absolutely,” I reply.
“Alec, can I have a word?” Gage asks before leading him away so they’re out of earshot.
“You take care of yourself, little Hudson.” Rafe extends his hand out to me and I take it.
“I will, I promise.”
“We’re going to miss you so much.” Reese goes in to give me a hug but hesitates.
“It’s okay.” I open my arms and she crashes into me, hugging me tight. We part to allow Della room to squeeze in too. “I love you guys, you know that? You’re my best friends, my family. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have the two of you.”
“Shut up before you make me cry,” Della says, her eyes welling with tears, making Ree and I laugh.
“I’ll call you, okay?”
“We’ll hold you to that,” Reese says. “But promise us one thing, despite everything that’s happened, don’t close yourself off from that beautiful man over there. He adores you, anyone can see that and I think he’d sooner die than ever hurt you.”
My eyes find Alec over her shoulder to see his eyes fixed firmly on mine while Gage talks to him, though I’m sure Alec’s not hearing a word considering his focus is elsewhere.
My cheeks heat under his gaze.
The girls pull away just as Alec and Gage head back towards us.
Gage sighs heavily, stopping in front of me. “I’m not going to change your mind about this, am I?”
“Not a chance.”
He chuckles. “This family and their stubbornness…”
“And pig-headedness and overprotectiveness…” I trail off, smiling softly.
He touches my arm lightly. “Be safe, sis. You know where we are if you need us.”
“I know.” I give the four of them a wave before heading for the car, where Alec is waiting by the open passenger door.
After I’m in, he shuts it behind me and circles the hood and climbs in his side.
“You sure about this?” he asks, his eyes searching my face for any sign of a second thought.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
He shifts gear and we pull out of the long driveway, the front gates swinging open to allow us on our journey.
And I have no doubt it’s going to be one to remember.
16
We’ve been on the road for a little over four hours, another three or four to go before we reach Maine. While I’m used to driving long distance, what I’m not used to is having Sierra in the car with me. I’m hyper-aware of her presence, her sweet, floral scent filling the car and invading every one of my senses. She’s a distraction I can’t afford to have. I have a job to do, and one slip of my attention could be the difference between life and death. I’ve checked the rear-view in excess of a thousand times, scanning the road behind me for any signs that we’re being followed. I’m paranoid, but I’d rather be that than blind to the dangers.