Read Online Choices: Immortal Protectors, Prequel by H.M. McQueen - Free Book Online

couple days off from the hospital to help me set up the nursery. Our son will be here soon and I want everything just right.”
    She watched him hammer a nail into the wall and carefully hang the picture. He turned to see that her eyes had filled with tears. 
    He came closer to cradle her in his arms, and pushed the hair out of her face. “What’s wrong sweetheart?”
    “You hate your new job don’t you?” She sniffed and pushed her face into the space between his neck and shoulder. “Because of me you can’t do what you were born to do. I know you miss being a Protector.”
    “I don’t hate being a doctor. I save lives instead of taking them, it’s rewarding. And I still help the guys out when they need me. Besides, not putting my life in danger on a regular basis means I’ll definitely be around for you and the baby.” 
    “That’s true.” With a wide smile she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers.  “I love you so much,” she pressed kisses all over his face.
    A chuckle escaped from his mouth and she frowned up at him. 
    “What’s so funny?”
    “That I never thought I could be so happy.  I’ll love you forever.” He said, not quite being honest. He wasn’t sure of her reaction to him thinking it comical how pregnancy affected her emotions.
    “Oh Rod, you make me so happy.” Rachel sighed against him.
    That after all these years he’d find a new purpose in life beside a woman didn’t cease to surprise him.  Yes, he missed spending his nights out on the Atlanta streets battling those that sought to hurt innocents, but he wouldn’t trade his life with Rachel and the son he’d soon meet for anything in the world.
    Perhaps Julian would change his mind one day and allow him to join the Protectors again. But for now, he accepted the punishment.
    Secretly he hoped the Roman would not seek his sword arm until his son was old enough to understand.  Especially since one day his son would join the Protectors himself. 
    There was no choice; any son sired by a Protector was predestined.  Rachel didn’t know there was plenty of time for that conversation. 
    “I’m hungry.” Rachel tugged his hand toward the kitchen. “Want some ice cream?”
    Roderick followed her from the room.  “Anything is good as long as I share it with you.”
    Her delighted giggled died as his lips moved over hers.
    The walked hand in hand down back up toward a gelato stand she'd spotted earlier.  The holidays were upon them, the cold air

 
    Sixteen years later
     
    “Brock!” Rachel called from the kitchen.  “Sweetheart, please answer the phone, it might be your dad.”
    The insistent ringing stopped and she waited for the teenager to come in with a message.  Instead the lanky boy walked in holding the cell phone out to her. She eyed his mused hair, the same striking silver as his father’s.  Brock blew a lock out of his eyes. “It’s Uncle Cyn, he says it’s important.”
    “Son, comb your hair; it’s almost time for you to leave for school.” Rachel waited for him to leave before bringing the phone to her ear.
    “Good morning Cyn.” She heard Roderick’s closest friend clear his throat and her stomach clenched.  “What’s wrong?”
    “Roderick’s been taken.”
    The stilted words worked past the shock and she gasped. “What? When?”
    “This morning when he left the hospital.  There was a call to the local authorities by a hysterical nurse who witnessed several men grabbing Roderick and forcing him into the back of a van.” His voice cracked. “Rachel I’m sorry, but from the details, we’re sure it was demons.”
    All breath left her body and she collapsed onto a chair, her eyes jerking to the doorway hoping Brock did not overhear.  “Is he alive?” She whispered.
    “I don’t know.”