Rugger: The Huntress (The Grey List #3)

Rugger Bonus Scene

Psalem’s hand against mine as he extracted liquid gold from my breast swelled my heart twice its size.

Another human that I would do absolutely anything for had joined my world. I’d burn my body to a crisp bringing him the sun if he asked.

I’d drag my battered body across broken glass to safety with him strapped on my back unharmed and in pristine condit I’d deplete my lungs of oxygen and my limbs of energy swimming across the ocean to make it home to him.

I would sacrifice my blood and body to distract the sharks from his distinct, unique scent. I’d climb Everest to retrieve a sample of its air if it was even of a slight interest of his.

I knew no boundaries for this small human and as beautiful as it was, it was just as scary. Not for me, but for the world. I would Riot behind Psalem. For him, bodies would pile.

I could feel it in my spirit the moment he entered the world.

“Mommy loves you, son. In this lifetime and the next. I promise to find you, wherever you might be.”

I lowered my head to kiss the top of his. He had consumed his father’s entire face. I wondered if my genetics fought at all in the pool. I had a hard time believing they even showed up for the cause.

His father has it, I imagined them claiming and taking the day off completely.

With a shake of my head, I chuckled. My body rocked from the influence of the humorous thought.

“Never could I have imagined it,” I sighed.

The words had evolved from the mix of emotions I was experiencing and happened to experience almost every time Psalem and I were alone.

I was still trying to piece together what happened in my life over the last year and four months. Nothing made perfect sense, but everything was perfect.

The pain had subsided. The trust had been rebuilt. The love was stronger.

The dependency was no longer a shameful realization. I loved every fiber of Psalms’ being. I needed him as much as I needed the blood running through my veins day in and day out.

He was an exceptional person. An exceptional partner. And, and exceptional father. His parents had raised him well.

“Knock, knock.”

I knew Roulette’s voice as well as I knew the others. She cracked open my bedroom door with apprehension plastered on her pretty face. She tiptoed inside, slowly making her way across the room.

Her tenacity was commendable. Roulette was beastly in her own right. She had lost the most from our

sudden relocation and temporary cease of operations. Yet, she managed to find the positive aspects of the situation and made them work in her favor.

“He’s not asleep,” I told her, “Not yet, at least.”

“Oh, good. I came to kiss his cheeks and tell him I’m going to miss him.

I’m going to miss you. I admitted, inwardly.

“He’s going to miss you, too, Roulette.”

“And, you?”

I rolled my eyes as a smile toyed with my lips.

“Maybe. You’ll have to leave for me to find out.”

“Fuck you!”

“But, seriously, be safe, Roulette. Psalms and I are right behind you. We want to spend a little more time on the island and with Mom. Psalem needs her. So do I, right now.”

I was vomiting at the mouth. My hormones were to blame. Having a child altered you completely and no one had ever told me that. It was an experience I was learning from daily.

“I understand and I’ll be fine.”

“Has Range decid–”

“In three or four months. She’s getting everything arranged for her return. She’s in no hurry. It’s been four years. I don’t blame her.”

“Me either. Royce?”

“Next month.”

“Rome?”

“Rome isn’t coming, babe. At least not for another six months. She’s not ready to leave the children on the island. She’s searching for a new instructor and helping Chem get some programs set up for the rising stars in the community who simply don’t have resources or coaches to enhance their skills.”

“I figured she wasn’t leaving any time soon.”

“Roaman?”

“She is undecided as to when but she will be returning.”

Hearing their plans was bittersweet. We’d all be in different places at different times and the man that held us together would still be in St. Catana when we all filed out.

“Your records have been wiped. The dust has settled. Anyone who was on our case or even close to it is no longer with us or is a living witness that hunting the hunters is not a very smart idea.

Should you want to, you are free to return to the United States. We have both Psalms and Rugger to thank for our peace of mind. Between the two of them, you are free to come and go as we please.”

“What about you?” Rome blurted.

“I’m still a wanted man, baby. I escaped federal custody. I will never be able to roam those streets as you can, but l am happy here. This is home for me. This is home for Egypt. This is home for our children. I have no desire to return to Clarke, not unless one of you need me.”

“And Mom?”

“She was never under the microscope. She came here because this is where she was supposed to be. She is choosing to stay so she can care for the children here. Should you all need her, she’ll be there too. If you’re not ready, you don’t have to leave, either. You can stay as long as you want, Rome. This is home, too."

The last family dinner was much different than the others. Chemistry had finally decided it was time to notify our siblings of their new opportunity to return to the United States and resume their lives after almost four years.

It was no surprise that Roulette was the first to claim her spot on the family’s private plan.

She leaned over and kissed Psalem’s cheek. “See you later Teetee. Don’t get too big too fast on me. My heart won’t be able to handle it.”

Neither would mine.

She lifted back up slightly, stopping close enough to my face to reach out and touch. So, I did. I pushed her hair back, exposing those glossy orbs of hers.

“I know I don’t say it enough or even as clearly as I should, but I want you to know, Rugs… I am proud of the woman you have become. Richie admired you so much, probably more than he did any of us. He favored you and that’s because he saw something in you. He understood you were different. You weren’t like us. And, so he poured into you more often than not. I can’t thank him enough for how he distributed his attention between us. Because, he did a mighty fine job, baby. He made a masterpiece. And, she’s made a masterpiece.”

My heart imploded. Her eyes mirrored mine. The barrier had been broken and the tears had streaked our cheeks.

“I love you, Rugger. So much.”

“In this lifetime and the next, Roulette.”

“Come find me, babe. I’ll be waiting.”

She kissed my soaked cheek and stood on her feet. Her chest inflated as she sucked in a big chunk of air.

Slowly, she let it out. With the back of her hand, she cleared the tears and replaced the long face with a smile.

“Later babes.”

“Later.”