49. Tyson

Tyson

S tars flicker in Olivia’s eyes as she says, “Angel, I’m pregnant.”

She’s going to keep the baby. Maybe she doesn’t know it herself, but it’s more than obvious that she wants the pregnancy. Taking her on a vacation was the best thing we could have done for her.

Olivia shrieks, scaring the shit out of me. I quickly scan the people around us, thinking that someone is about to shoot us or detonate a bomb when I hear Olivia say, “You are having the baby? It’s about time. You’ve been pregnant forever at this point.”

I step away from Olivia because I want to take another look at the message Cirro sent me.

I found out where Olivia’s grandparents live: Malta.

What were the fucking odds that they would be here? Cirro also sent me the address, and they live in Valletta. Taking Olivia to the other island with some excuse shouldn’t be hard.

Olivia talks a little more with Angel before ending the call. “Let’s have lunch,” she says.

We find a restaurant nearby that serves spicy food. Jasper is the only one complaining, but I like spicy food. My thoughts turn to the baby. I wonder if he will like sweet or spicy stuff.

Strings pull at my heart. I’m going to be a father for the second time. We need to make something in Spencer’s memory. Maybe plant a tree next to our house. Olivia always liked cherries. I’m sure she’ll love the idea.

After we eat, we return to the hotel to take a nap. Olivia and Mose fall asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow while Jasper goes to take a shower. He asked me to join him, but the idea that I finally know where Jon and Khloe are makes me feel restless so I refused. Olivia is going to be so happy.

Ansel and Rueben are the only ones who notice my agitated state. “What’s going on?” Ansel asks.

“Olivia’s grandparents are here, in Malta,” I say in a low tone. I don’t want to say anything to Olivia until I’ve spoken to them.

Rueben’s eyebrows shoot up. “What are you planning to do?”

I make sure my phone and wallet are in my pocket. “Pay them a visit. I might be late. Make some excuse as to why I’m out,” I say and leave before Rueben or Ansel can stop me.

Since there’s no airport in Gozo, the fastest way to get to Valletta is by ferry. I rush to catch the next one and buy a two-way ticket online.

An hour later, I’m in Valletta. I take a taxi from the port to Jon and Khloe’s house. They live relatively close to the port. I knock on their door while thinking about what to say to them. Jon must be mad at me for how I treated him.

The voice of a woman speaking in Maltese comes from inside.

I start to sweat. The last time I was so nervous was when I asked Olivia to be my wife.

The door opens, revealing Khloe. She looks just like the last time I saw her. Only now do I notice the uncanny resemblance between her and Olivia. They both have the same eye and hair color.

I swallow nervously, thinking of what to say when she throws her arms around me. “Tyson. Is that you?”

“Yes,” I reply.

She pulls back. “Let me see you better.” She presses her left palm against my cheek. “Look at you; you are a man now. I am so happy you decided to visit us.”

Shit. I feel guilty as hell. I should have never pushed them away.

Khloe pulls me inside the house and takes me to the living room, where we sit on the sofa. “Jon didn’t believe me, but deep down, I knew you were a good lad and you truly cared about my Olivia.” She sounds so heartbroken when she says Olivia. “It was only natural to be hurt by her actions, but I knew you would forgive her one day. And here you are. Too bad Olivia left us.”

I frown. “What do you mean by that?”

Khloe looks at me with tears in her eyes. “You don’t know? Olivia died in labor. She had placenta previa, and she didn’t make it. She lost too much blood. The baby was born premature—”

I don’t let her finish. “I don’t know who lied to you, but Olivia is alive.”

Khloe puts a trembling hand against her mouth. “Impossible.”

The only way to prove that Olivia is alive and well is to show Khloe all the photos I took over the past few days. I give Khloe my phone. “My blood-brothers and I brought Olivia here to propose to her.”

Tears spill on her cheeks as she looks at the photos of Olivia.

“For six years, Olivia was abused and drugged. She was kept in the Celestial Heaven. Her parents and Jason knew. Hell, Jason even let his friends rape her.”

I shouldn’t be so crude, but Khloe needs to know, to understand what happened to Olivia. Khloe cries, and I comfort her. She asks me where Olivia is. When I tell her that Olivia is on the other island and that I plan to bring her here, Khloe finally stops crying.

“My poor Olivia. The things she must have endured.”

While nothing I say will comfort Khloe, I will try my best to make her see how strong Olivia is. “Olivia is amazing. She refuses to let the past destroy her. It was by chance that she returned to me.” I feel like the walls are closing up on me. “I need to ask your forgiveness.”

“What for?” Khloe asks.

“The last time I spoke to you and Jon, I was hurt and said many hurtful things. I thought that Olivia had betrayed me. Now that I know the truth, I know how awful I’ve treated her. I…hit her. Hurt her many times.” The guilt of what I did to her is eating at my soul day and night.

Shock appears on Khloe’s face. “Why are you telling me all this?”

How can I explain why I hated Olivia so much? “Because I was a fool for a long time. But life gave me another chance with Olivia, and I don’t want to blow it. I want to ask you and Jon for your blessing to propose to Olivia. My blood-brothers and I love Olivia with all our hearts.”

Khloe is silent for a long time, and I’m starting to believe she will kick me out of the house for what I did to Olivia, but she finally says, “Did you beg for her forgiveness?”

“More than that. I showed her that she can trust me. That I’ll never hurt her again.”

“Good,” Khloe says. “I don’t think Jon will forgive you, though. He was very hurt by your actions, and if he learns that you harmed Olivia…I don’t know what he will do.”

“Jon is right to hate me.”

Khloe exhales softly. “Does she love you?”

“She does. Otherwise, she would have never bonded with my blood-brothers and me.”

“She’s your bonded?”

I nod. I want to tell her about the baby, but I refrain myself. “Can you bring her here for dinner?”

I glance at my watch. “I’ll call my blood-brothers and ask them to bring Olivia here.”

“That’s a good idea,” Khloe says.

I stand. “I’ll go buy some flowers and a bottle of wine. Jon won’t be happy I showed up here with my hands in my pockets. Talking about Jon, where is he?”

“He went to buy something for me.” Khloe leads me to the entrance. “Thank you for being honest with me, Tyson. It is what I always liked the most about you.”

I give Khloe a hug. “I’m so sorry for everything. For being young and stupid. For not listening to Jon and for removing you from my life. But what I regret the most is thinking the worst about Olivia.”

“Make it up to her.”

I never thought Khloe would be so understanding. “I will.” I kiss her cheek. “I’ll return soon.”

“Don’t take too long.” Her voice is thick with emotions.

“I won’t,” I promise before leaving.

Olivia narrows her eyes. “Why are you all acting so strange? And why won’t you tell me what’s with the flowers and the Cognac bottle?”

It’s been about ten minutes since I picked up Olivia and my blood-brothers from the ferry.

I interlace my fingers with hers. “You will find out in a bit. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Olivia becomes nervous. “You’re finally going to ask me to marry you.” She looks at Ansel. “You should have said something earlier so I could have at least styled my hair.”

“It’s not today,” I try to calm her nerves.

“Oh.” She sounds disappointed. I know she is impatient about the proposal, but right now, the reunion with her grandparents is more important.

We make it to Khloe and Jon’s house. Olivia is more confused than ever. “Who lives here?”

I kiss her. “Knock, and you’ll find out.”

Olivia glares at us. “If you brought me to some BDSM club, I will find the biggest strap-on and fuck you all.”

Jasper’s eyes light. “You want to peg me?”

I rub my temples. “Can we talk about this at another time?”

“Fine,” Olivia says and knocks. A moment later, the door opens. A gasp leaves Olivia’s lips. She takes a step back. “Oh. My. God! Grandma? Grandpa?” Tears run down her face, and she throws herself in the loving embrace of her grandparents.

For the following minutes, Khloe and Jon hug and kiss Olivia all over her face.

Jon finally looks at me. “Thank you for bringing her to us.” He looks over to my blood-brothers. “Please, come in.”

Jon and Khloe lead us to the living room. Before we enter, Khloe says, “There’s something we need to tell you all.”

Olivia grabs the front of my T-shirt. “Tyson.” Her legs give in. “Good God.” Her voice cracks. “I’ve truly gone insane.”

I try to pull Olivia to her feet when a child’s voice reaches my ears.

“Mommy, you’re not in Heaven anymore?”