Wrapped In Us, page 1
© 2022 MJ FIELDS
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Published by MJ Fields
Wrapped In Us
Copyright © 2022 MJ Fields
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of MJ Fields, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, in investigation by the FBI is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Songs mentioned throughout have been given credit and are the work of the credited artist, musician, or song writer.
*Original works Wrapped Always And Forever Copyright © 2013 MJ Fields*
THANK YOU
We did it.
Another series completed!
Cover Design - Amy Queau @ Q Cover Design
Editor - Kris @ C&D Editing
Proof- Asli Arif Fratarcangeli
Proof- Kim Ginsberg
Conductor or my chaos - Autumn
Thank you all so very much.
XOXO
MJ
CONTENTS
Thank you
Music That Inspired
WARNING
Reading Order
About Wrapped In Us
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Want More Maddox Hines….
Stained
Books by MJ Fields
Audio Books
About the Author
MUSIC THAT INSPIRED
Wild Horses ~ The Rolling Stones
Fell On Black Days~Soundgarden
Black Hole Sun~ Soundgarden
Marry Me~ Train
Link To Listen
WARNING
*This book contains content that may be triggers for some readers.*
READING ORDER
The Brody Hines series
Must be read in the following order
Wrapped In Silk
Wrapped In Armor
Wrapped In Us
ABOUT WRAPPED IN US
Uncovering a human trafficking ring, Brody unknowingly brought danger to the doorstep of the only woman he ever truly loved, and their family, who he desperately wants to protect.
After being rescued from captivity and working hard to remember the family he was forced to leave behind, drugged to forget, Brody holds the power and proof to bring down all the powerful people behind the heinous crimes against humanity.
Now he lies on a cot, in an eight-by-ten jail cell, thinking about his next move while being consumed with worry about their safety and the possibility that Emma will uncover the proof and learn his secret that is buried in the third drawer.
Can love truly conquer all, or will secrets and distortion crush all his dreams and ruin the lives of those he wishes to save?
CHAPTER 1
“All right, my three little loves, what do we have for Dad?” I smile as I stand in front of them at the door, smiling the best I can to show them what deep down I know to be true—we’ll be okay. But I know, God how I know, we have a lot to get through.
Maddox hands me an envelope. “Please tell him we love him and miss him.” He runs his hand through his hair, and I smile at the fact that their mannerisms are so similar, even with Brody having not raised him. “I know that sounds so strange.”
“No, Maddox, it sounds perfect.” I hug him.
“Thanks double-O Mum.” He blushes.
“No problem double-O son,” I joke in an attempt to make him feel less uncomfortable.
“Mom … tell him when he gets home, he’s Dad from now on.” London smiles and hugs me tightly. “Also, tell him I know he wouldn’t have left if he didn’t have to.”
“I will, London.” I bend down and kiss the top of her head. “Do we need anything while I’m out?”
“We should have ice cream sundaes for dinner. I think Maddox deserves that, don’t you, Mom?” London blinks rapidly and flashes a large smile.
“I don’t know. Maybe Maddox doesn’t like ice cream.”
“Oh, I do.” He smiles and mimics London’s eye flutters, and then they both laugh.
“Pizza for lunch and ice cream for dinner?” I tap my head.
“And Christmas in July.” London lifts her hands in the air. “Because you love us more.”
“Maddox will get the wrong impression of us, and then, when things get back to normal, he’ll think we’re boring.”
“I promise I won’t,” he quickly replies.
“Okay fine,” I throw my hands in the air in mock exasperation.
They give a triumphant cheer, and Lexi joins them, adding clapping, of course.
“Give me hugs. No, huge hugs, so I don’t change my mind.” I laugh as they both do so and hug me tight. “Perfect.” I pretend to be in pain. “The broken ribs will be a good reminder to stop and get liver and onions for dinner tonight.”
“Ice cream!” London yells.
“Oh … Okay, ice cream! Now I remember. See you soon.” I bend down and kiss Lexington’s head then look at Mom. “I love you.”
On the way, I get a call and look at the screen. Write House.
“This is Emma,” I answer.
“Okay, we’ve been really good about staying out of your private life, but please tell me how in the hell you’re managing to stay not only on top of your workload but ahead,” Kathy asks.
I sigh. “I’m a reader first. It’s always been my escape. Needless to say, I’ve been bingeing.”
“And adding depth to your manuscripts. Our authors are very happy with your work, Emma, very happy.”
“Imagine if they knew my last name and not my maiden. They’d—”
“Use it to their advantage,” she cuts me off.
I don’t say anything. I’ve been waiting for the day when they’d ask me to expose that, and as much as I love my job, I love our privacy more.
“Are you okay?” she asks sweetly.
“I am.”
“Are you going to stick with us?”
“Yes. Just like you’ve stuck with me.”
I walk into the visiting room, dressed in orange. Not my best color, but it is what it is.
My wife and the girls are safe. My son—my fucking son—is safe.
“Could you please un-cuff my hands?” I ask the female officer.
“No, it’s against the rules. I’m sorry, Mr. Hines.” The blonde blushes.
Okay, so the color might not be that bad on me.
“Can you tell me who I’m meeting?”
She reads off the clipboard, “Eli and Emma.”
“I want them both in here; is that all right?” I ask, trying my best to look confused—they seem to eat that shit up in here.
She smiles. “I think I can swing that.”
No shit, control freak.
“Thank you so much.”
“Is there any way around these?” I hold up my wrists, exposing the cuffs. “Maybe take one off and attach it to the chair?”
“Sure, Mr. Hines.” She giggles. Yes, giggles. Then she leaves when Eli enters.
“Where’s Emma?”
“She’s putting away some things that I advised her not to bring in.” Eli sits.
“Like what?” I ask.
“Homemade cards.” He shakes his head.
“All right then.”
Emma walks in, looks at me, and then closes her eyes, trying not to cry.
I nod to the chair beside me. “Come here, Em.”
Emma walks over and sits next to me.
“No contact, love.” I glance down at my wrist. “Jewelry. Isn’t it spectacular?”
“Who told you that?” Eli snaps.
“The guard who searched me before I came in here.”
“Bullshit. Hug your husband, Emma,” Eli growls.
“Are you okay?” she asks as she wraps her arms around me.
“As long as you are, Em,” I kiss her head then push my forehead against hers.
“Well then, we’re good.”
“If you’re good, that means the kids are, yes?” I ask.
“They are. They made cards but, apparently, it’s not allowed,” she mumbles.
Eli clea
“We have paperwork being pushed rapidly through family court as we speak. The judge is a friend. Maddox is your child, so those charges will be dropped very soon. I’m thinking within an hour, which happens to be when your arraignment hearing will be held. Emma, I would like you to be there, and if all goes well, he walks out of the courtroom with us.” Eli looks up from his notes briefly.
Emma smiles truly now and nods. “Thank God.”
“What will Maddox’s birth certificate say?”
“Elizabeth will be listed as his mother and you as his father. I also have the paperwork you asked for, and as soon as the cops drop these ridiculous kidnapping charges, we file the others, giving Emma legal guardianship.” Eli rummages through his file, producing the paperwork.
Emma shakes her head. “Why?”
“If I get sent away, Em, he has you. Unless you don’t—”
“Of course, I do.” Emma shakes her head. “Brody, of course I do, but you’re not going anywhere.”
“It’s precautionary.” I lean in closer to her. “Have I told you yet today that I love you?”
“I love you more.”
“And you look beautiful, Em.”
“And you’re a sight to behold, Brody, even in orange.” She wags her brows.
“Orange working for you?” I wink.
“Okay, you two, let’s get focused on the task at hand.” Eli is all business as Emma and I simply look into each other’s eyes.
More … in love with her than ever.
Bail is set for two million dollars.
I glance back at Emma, whose eyes tear up.
“Love you,” I mouth then turn and glare at Eli. “Our accounts are frozen.”
“I’ve been working on that, as well. We have it covered.” Eli, who never smiles, does so.
“How?”
“Your new friends are particularly resourceful.” Eli winks.
One night in that place was enough to drive a sane man mad, but that smile looking at me from the other side of the glass, I would walk through hell to get to it.
As soon as the doors slide open and I step through the gate, I hurry to her and grab her up. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” I kiss her quickly, take her hand, and we damn-near run to get to the car, laughing.
“We have to stop at the store. I promised ice cream for dinner.”
“And you scolded me about soda? You’re getting soft, Em,” I jokingly scold her as I open the door to the vehicle.
She slides into the back, and I slide into the front beside Henry.
“They don’t know, right, Dad?” Emma asks.
Henry smiles. “No, the kids will be very excited.”
Emma hands me an envelope of cards and tells me what Maddox and London asked her to tell me. She goes into the store alone, against Henry and my wishes. I suggested we have the groceries delivered, but she insisted that I walk into the house with the bag of junk to make sundaes, to surprise the children. She did so and slipped out.
I watch her walking quickly toward the car and notice she has tears spilling down her face.
I hop out and hurry to her. “You all right?”
She hands me one of the bags. “Yes, let’s go home please.”
“Okay, love.” I kiss her cheek then look behind her as I take the other bag. People are looking and pointing. “Come on.”
I open the back door and follow her in. “Let’s roll, Henry.”
As we pull away, he asks, “What’s wrong, princess?”
“There were tabloids at the registers. The cashier recognized me. Made comments about my husband. I told her the truth, that he’s a good man. She laughed and said, aren’t they all. I paid and told her to go to hell as I left.”
“You told her to go to hell, Emma?” I attempt to hold back a laugh.
She scowls at me. “Not very loudly.”
“You’re going to have to grow thicker skin than that, Emma.” Henry chuckles.
“Not while I’m around, she won’t. I’m sorry, love.” I lift her chin and look into her eyes. “We’re going to have to be tied up in our home for a while, but it’ll get better.”
She tries not to smile.
I whisper, “You missed me, Em?”
She nods. “I missed you.”
CHAPTER 2
My heart is so full it may burst as I walk in the house, alone, and am met at the door by two beautiful children who immediately hug me.
“Did you forget something?” London asks quietly.
“No. What was …?” I pause. “Oh shoot, let me grab those bags.”
I step back and pull the door open. Then I watch something so beautiful and touching in the face of two children who, for all reasons, should curl into balls, are filled with joy, with love, with … hope. Maybe, just maybe, the reason children are resilient is because they are still filled with hope as a result of being loved and cared for.
“I got them, Em.” Brody winks at me, and I quickly take the bags, knowing they will be dropped soon if I don’t.
Maddox and London both hug Brody just as they have me, except I see such emotion in the eyes of the boy who has just learned he has a father, one who has already proven he would turn the world upside down for him, and a girl who’d just made the decision to call him Dad … Both having lost theirs, Maddox having lost Elizabeth, as well.
A lump forms in my throat, hoping Eli finds out what happened to Maddox’s adoptive family, even though the kid has not asked once.
“Now that’s one heck of a welcome.” Brody squeezes them both tighter, just as emotional yet smiling.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Dad,” Maddox says as tears well in his eyes.
“We will all be fine. I love you, kid. You know that, right?” he asks while cupping Maddox’s face.
“I do, I truly do.” Maddox hugs him.
Brody looks at me and widens his eyes. I’m sure shocked at all of this, as well, and yes, I see the pain he feels that neither knew of the other for fifteen long years.
“All right, is it dinner time yet?” London jokes, always trying to lighten the mood.
“You had lunch three hours ago.” I wink at her as Brody swoops her up in one arm so she doesn’t have to hop.
“But it’s time to celebrate, right, Brody?” London bats her lashes at him.
“I don’t know about that.” Brody lifts his nose in the air. “Ask again.”
“Okay.” London giggles. “It’s time to celebrate, right, Dad?”
“Absolutely.” He kisses her cheek.
“And I’m going soft,” I say, walking past them with the bags in my arms.
“Better you than me, huh, Em?” Brody wags his eyebrows at me.
Dad sighs loudly from behind us, and I feel a blush cross my cheeks as I turn and hand him the bags. “I’m going to get Lexi.”
“You up for some help, love? Do you need me to come?” Brody smirks.
“No, you promised sundaes way too early—get on it, music man,” I tell him as I walk up the stairs.
I walk in the kitchen with my sweet little Lexi’s arms around me, her nuzzling into my neck sleepily. I can picture what our forever and always will look like and nothing, not one thing, will stand in my way of making it happen, for all five of us.
