116. Homebound

As quickly as the drama had started it was over.

Tamsyn was cuffed and led to a waiting police vehicle.

Bystanders retreated to their houses, happy the baby was safe and sound.

The media crew packed up their equipment and called it a day. They had gotten what they’d wanted. Six hours of drama would play out for days. Eloise and Devon’s lives would be torn, dissected, and displayed for the whole world to see.

The police taskforce in charge of the rescue operation would sleep easy that night knowing justice had prevailed; a family had been reunited with their son after a week-long ordeal.

Inside a private jet, flying over Bridgeport, Devon couldn’t describe the emotions running through him as he held his son.

Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the horror of those of first few moments when he’d seen Blake lying in his crib, unmoving, silent, his eyes tightly shut. He’d thought the worst, not daring to pick him up in case he was right. But then Blake had opened his own eyes and stared straight at him, bawling his little lungs out, as if reprimanding him for taking so damn long to get to him. The relief that had washed over him then was unlike anything he’d ever felt before…

A part of him still couldn’t believe it was over. He kept thinking any second now, Leigh would rouse him from sleep and tell him it was a dream, an incredibly beautiful but sad dream.

“It’s not a dream,” Carla, sitting beside Gabe, assured him. She’d read his thoughts.

Devon smiled. For the first time ever he wasn’t irritated that he had no privacy around the vampires.

“He’s beautiful. Can I hold him?” She asked softly.

“Maybe later, Carla?” J.D. suggested, sensing Devon’s reluctance. He didn’t blame the other man one bit for not wanting to share his son. Devon and Eloise had gone through a grueling week, something he hoped he and Krimsyn, or any parent for that matter, wouldn’t have to go through.

Carla and Gabe drifted off to the bar, leaving Devon and J.D. alone.

Devon was content to just hold his son and not think about anything, but the issue with Tamsyn bothered him. He felt cheated. He wanted answers from her, an explanation. Closure. He had no idea why she’d want to hurt him the way she had.

“What’s going to happen to Tamsyn?” Devon asked.

“She’ll be handed over to Bridgeport’s PD and the courts will deal with her from there.” J.D. replied

“Is that all?” Devon looked at him, sensing he wasn’t telling him the whole truth.

J.D. hesitated before telling him the rest. “When I spoke to Jonah just before we boarded the flight, he said Tamsyn's mom, along with her psychiatrist, were at the station, looking into entering a plea deal. She’s schizophrenic and they have her medical records to prove it. Apparently she stopped taking her medication a little over four months ago. An article about you and Eloise in HEAT magazine caused her mental break and that’s when she quit therapy, left Twinbrook and returned to Bridgeport under a false identity. Her mother was looking for her all this time, but she’d had nothing to go on since Tamsyn had left no paper trail. Chances are she won’t serve jail time. She’ll most likely be committed to a mental facility.”

They grew silent, processing Tamsyn’s fate…

“I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for all your help-” Devon started to thank the other man, but J.D. cut him off.

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled. Devon nodded. They were guys, they had an understanding. Words weren’t needed.

“But there is one thing you can do for me,” J.D. added as an afterthought.

“What’s that?” Devon’s gut tightened a little. He really had nothing to offer.

Give Krisis a break. He really loves your sister. He’s a decent guy,” J.D. told him seriously.

“He’s a punk and a playboy. I don’t want him to mess with my sister.” Devon retorted.

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, Krisis isn’t the hottest thing right now, I don’t see women throwing themselves at him, and I don’t see him chasing after any skirts either. In fact, if my eyes aren’t deceiving me, your sister’s heavy with his kids, so does that sound like a playboy to you?” J.D. asked.

Devon had to admit the other man had a point. “Fine. I’ll lay off him. For now. Until he does something stupid!” He mumbled as he gratefully accepted a bottle of formula from one of the flight attendants.

He stared at his son as he gulped down the milk.

Physically Blake seemed to be in good shape, he looked well fed and taken care of,  Devon hated admitting it, but Tamsyn had done a decent job of caring for him. But he still wanted to take him to the doctor as soon as they landed. He wanted to be absolutely certain that Tamsyn hadn’t drugged his son.

A short while later Gabe and Carla came back to check on them again.

When Devon refused to hand over Blake to her, she sauntered off in a huff; Gabe had to go find her to do some damage control. It seemed Blake had awakened her maternal urges…