Page 71 of Love At Close Range

“Okay, Dad,” he agreed.

I walked out the room with him and made sure he was straight in the bathroom before heading back to Reiana’s room. When I walked into the bathroom, she was already in the shower, standing beneath the water with her back to me. I stripped out of my clothes and stepped in with her. The moment she felt me behind her, she turned in my arms and broke down, releasing everything from today.

“I was so scared, Lennox,” she cried into my chest. “I tried to keep it together for Rhyse, but I was terrified,” she cried. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.” She continued to cry in my chest and I let her.

“Baby, don’t cry.” I pulled her tighter against me and kissed the top of her head. “I got you... I got Rhyse. I pray nothing like this ever happens to y’all again but you gotta know I’m coming every single time,” I assured her as I rubbed her back. “You know that, right?” I peered down in her tear-stained face before I kissed her lips.

She nodded against me, but the tears kept coming. I didn’t try to make her stop or tell her everything was okay because I knew it would take more than being back home for her to feel that way. I just held her until she finally started calming down on her own. When she eased away from me, I reached for the soap and started washing her. She stood there quietly while I washed her, being careful not to irritate the cut on her temple. No words were exchanged as she got the other washcloth and started washing me the same way I did her. Once we were both clean, we dried and redressed for the night. The only difference was that she had on a nightgown while I dressed in black from head to toe.

“What happens now?” she asked softly as she clung to me.

“I kill Dorian,” I answered, rubbing my hand down her back. “He let his shit get too close to my fucking family and I’ain letting that shit slide… fuck a contract.”

Reiana stayed quiet for a few seconds before she spoke again. “I’on wanna know the details,” she admitted. “I just want all of this to be over.”

“And it will be,” I told her. “Once I handle him and the people responsible… it all will be.”

“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?” she asked as she gripped me tighter.

“Stay here with our son and rest. You’ve had an eventful day, and you need to rest,” I replied. “You’on need to worry about what happens after I walk out that door.”

“That’s easier said than done,” she said quietly.

“I know, but I’on need you worrying about me, Ree,” I assured her.

“Just make sure you come back to us,” she breathed out.

“I always will,” I promised, tightening my arms around her. “I still love you, Ree,” I admitted, keeping her close. “Truth is… I never stopped.”

“Lennox…” she breathed out.

“I’m not saying it because of what happened tonight,” I continued. “I’ve been feeling that shit since you came back into my life. I was just too stubborn to say it.”

“I still love you too,” she admitted as she slid her arms around my neck. “I’on think I ever stopped loving you either,” she mentioned.

There was no need to respond after that. I simply kissed her so she could feel the words that I was saying. Finally breaking the kiss, I peered down at her and dropped one last kiss to her lips.

“I’m going to check on Rhyse before I leave,” I told her. “Get in the bed and try to rest.”

“I’ll try,” she replied. “Be careful, Lennox,” she damn near pleaded.

“Always, baby,” I assured her before kissing her once more. I held her for another second, then left the room and headed down the hall to check on my son.

Rhyse had finished his bath and was already in bed when I walked into his room. He looked over at me as I sat down beside him and rested my hand on top of his head.

“You feeling better?” I asked.

“A little… I’m just tired,” he responded.

“Get some sleep and I’ll check on you when I get back,” I countered.

He nodded and settled farther into his pillow, but when I started to stand, he stopped me.

“Dad?” He called out.

“Wassup, son?” I answered.

“I was so scared, but I had to be strong for my mama like you told me. I was so glad when you found us,” he voiced and that shit did something to me. Before I knew it, I pulled him into my arms and hugged him tight.