Lucas
It's a fair question. Anyone who knows me would wonder the same thing. My hatred for Creed has been no secret. I've cursed his name more times than I can count, and the thought of protecting him should make me sick to my stomach.
But the truth? It's simpler than I thought it would be.
"While stuck in that cellar, her biggest fear wasn't for herself—it was for Alyssa," I say, my voice rough as I try to shake off the heavy pressure that squeezes my chest whenever I think of how close I came to losing them. "She was terrified of what would become of Alyssa should they be separated. She wondered who would be there to help her, to keep her safe if Embree couldn't. Lost and alone in a world full of evil... who would stand up for her? Who would save her?" I let out a harsh breath, but it does little to relieve the pressure crushing my lungs.
"It was then she realized not all of Creed's decisions were selfish. She finally understood his sacrifice. With her child's fate hanging in the balance, she saw why he did what he did. Leaving them behind, disappearing for weeks, months at a time to work cases... walking away from his own family to infiltrate a human trafficking ring to destroy them from the inside. All of it was for one reason—to save lives, to stop those monsters before they could destroy more innocent people by subjecting them to a fate worse than death. The same fate that befell his sister."
I exhale loudly, trying to release the tension in my body as I fight to get control of the anger consuming me. I'll never understand how humans can be so vile, especially to the most vulnerable among us. But if my time fighting wars has taught me anything, it's that there's no greater threat to humanity than other human beings.
"Though I hate what he did to the woman and children I love... though I may never fully trust him with them again, even I can admit that his job—what he does—matters. He stands up for those with no choice. No voice. And that's a mission even I can respect. Because when I think about it... when I picture our little girl out there, lost somewhere in the world, I'd want an army at her back. An army willing to do whatever it took to find her. To fight for her. To rescue and bring her home, safe, where she belongs."
The thought of losing them to that world still sends a jolt of fear through me, a fear I'll never shake. I take a breath, trying to steady the emotions that threaten to drown me. "I didn't come to this conclusion on my own. Embree—she helped me see past my anger to the truth I hadn't wanted to admit. Creed and I, for all our differences... we're not so different after all. At our core, we're both protectors. Defenders of what's right. Justice, or whatever version of it we can carve out of this broken world."
I exhale, allowing the full weight of that realization to settle in. "Yeah, our methods are worlds apart. God knows I don't agree with what he did to Embree and those kids, but in the end? We're both motivated by the same thing. Balancing the scales to give the little guy a fighting chance. That's really what it comes down to. Plus, she wants him to know about the baby. And once he's free of all this, she wants to give him a chance to be a father to the kids. If he even wants it."
"Christ!" Ben sighs, running a hand through his hair, eyes downcast. He looks like he's fighting the same internal battle I did when she first told me. That doubt, gnawing at the back of your mind, telling you it isn't a good idea. I had the same reaction. But for her sake—and the kids—I'm willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. But only once his circumstances are no longer a danger to them.
"Yeah. I get it. I felt the same, but I promised her I'd support her no matter what she decided. And I fully intend to keep that promise. The only condition is that if the baby comes before he's sorted this shit out, he'll have to sign over his parental rights. That way, I can adopt the baby legally, just like I did with the girls."
The adoption was actually Embree's idea. If all goes well, we'll be able to give the three kids a life filled with love, with a mom and possibly two dads who will cherish them unconditionally. A future where they'll never know the pain of being abandoned by a parent and, more than that, they'll never have to question who they are or where they came from. There won't be any secrets. They'll grow up with all the love in the world and the knowledge that family doesn't always follow a traditional path. Sometimes, families like ours are forged even stronger than biological ones because ours are founded on choice. On pure love. On acceptance and understanding.
The bottom line is this: for the sake of our kids now and for any future children Embree and I might have, I truly hope Creed can find his way back to us. Back to the family where he belongs.
"We got him." The words crackle through my earpiece, and almost instantly, cheers erupt around me. The Offset Tactical team, who've been glued to my side all day, swarm in with pats on the back and excited congratulations. I try to hold it together, but the weight of the moment—the realization that the threat looming over our lives is finally gone—tears a sob from my chest.
"We got him. It's done, brother. It's done." Dominick grips my shoulder, and through the blur of my tears, I catch sight of the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. I'm too choked up to speak, but I do my best to smile, nodding my thanks as each of them offers their support. Emotion threatens to overwhelm me, but for the first time in what feels like forever, it's the kind that brings relief without a single ounce of fear.
It takes another hour for them to secure the scene, and honestly, I'm grateful. It gives me time to pull myself together, to rein in the gargantuan-sized boulder of emotions still threatening to break loose. Once I'm certain Kessler is in custody and on his way to the nearest airfield—off to his new home, the prison he'll never escape from—I lift my phone to my ear, anxiously waiting to hear her voice.
"Hey." Just that one word, but it's filled with so much fear and uncertainty. Though I can't see her, I can picture her standing in our kitchen, lower lip caught between her teeth the way it does when she's nervous.
"Sweetheart, they got him. They fucking got him." Her breath hitches, a sob breaking free—a sound that would normally tear me apart, but not this time. This time, it's different. Because beneath the tears, I hear something else. Relief. Pure, unmistakable relief.
"It's over? Tell me again. Is it really over?"
"Yes, my love. It's over. It's all over. So I'm leaving now. I'm coming home to you, baby, so be ready. Our lives begin today, sweetheart. It's time for you to become my wife."
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Author's Note:
They got him! Though a part of me wishes Lucas had gotten his moment to confront Kessler, the fact Lucas took the high road shows how far he's come.
I'd love to hear what you think of this scene. Are you surprised Lucas is willing to make space for Creed in the family he's building with Emilia? Do you agree with Emilia and Lucas's assessment that Creed's job and what he's doing for the world is important?
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BROKEN COURAGE (Broken Redemption Book 3)
RomanceWhile tortured and held captive as a prisoner of war, she became my reason to keep breathing. The force that fueled my will to fight. To survive. When I woke after the rescue to discover the life I thought I was coming home to was but a figment of m...
