Chapter Eight Delphine

I let my breathing even out so that Dixie thinks I've fallen asleep. I know I should try to sleep, but the thought of losing my children tomorrow is enough to keep me wide awake. The story I need to tell has the power to destroy their love for me. I've made some hard decisions in my life, but some of my hardest came about while trying to protect my family. I just don't know if they'll see it the same way.

Dixie's promise to love me no matter what confessions I make in the morning gives me some hope. Maybe I won't be alone after the dust settles. But is it false hope? I know right now he feels that way, but will he feel the same way once he knows everything?

My mind is on a loop, reliving every decision I've made since I first met Maxim Zoloth. With the eyes of maturity and experience, I can see how he fooled me into believing he loved me. How I allowed him to fool me into believing it. With Maxim, I remember how many hours I'd spent going over every interaction, searching for proof that he cared about me as much as I cared about him. I repeated the same mistakes with Sasha and Shayna's father. It's only after being with Dixie that I've experienced true love. Dixie loves me like no one has ever loved me before.

When I walk into a room, Dixie's eyes are on me. He's always aware of my presence and my mood. If I'm sad, happy, needy, upset, confused, or tired, he knows just by looking at me. I can't get away with hiding any of my emotions from him. Sometimes that pisses me off, but mostly I realize how lucky I am to have someone so in-tuned to my needs. With Maxim, he never knew or cared about what I was feeling. Only his feelings mattered. Today reminded me of the man Maxim is. He's angry and self-centered. Everything Dixie is not. Dixie never loses his temper with me, unless I've put myself in danger. My mind settles as I think of Dixie and how hard I've fought him these past few months. Eventually, I fall asleep and luckily my dreams are only of the man sleeping next to me.

I wake feeling rested, but still dreading the morning ahead of me. Opening my eyes, I see Dixie watching me. He brushes his thumb over my cheekbone before tucking a strand of hair that escaped its confines behind my ear.

"How did you sleep, beautiful?"

"I got enough."

"Any bad dreams?"

"I only dreamt of you," I admit.

His grin fills me with happiness. "So, sexy dreams. Let's test how sexy," he growls while his fingers slide through my pussy. He pulls his hand out and studies the cream coating his fingers. "Very sexy." He puts the digits in his mouth and licks them clean. Without warning, even though I should have expected it, Dixie slides down the bed and pulls me up and over so my core hovers over his mouth. He slowly lowers me until he can bury his face in my cunt. So good.

He noisily licks and sucks my pussy until I'm writhing against him. I grind down as I chase my orgasm. He shifts his hands from my waist to my ass and squeezes my globes before giving each a hard smack. The bite of pain sends me over the edge. I'm still coming down from my high, when he shifts me again so my core's over his erect cock. He lowers me until my channel envelopes his throbbing erection. I love how he manhandles me. Slamming my hands on his chest; I ride him hard. "You feel so good under me," I groan as my fingers dig into his soft skin over hard muscles and his massive cock fills me up.

My breasts sway with the rocking of my hips. He opens his mouth to capture a nipple and bites down. The sensation sends my libido into overdrive. Using my knees for leverage, I slide until his cock almost escapes before slamming back down. He grunts when I do it again. Soon his hands move back to my waist as he helps up before letting me fall. We stare into each other's eyes as we chase our release. I scream out his name just as I feel his hot cum fill me.

I collapse on his chest as he holds me in place with his arm around my waist while his other hand strokes my back. We lay like that for several minutes as I gather my courage to face my children.

"Wish we could stay here like this all day," I murmur.

He squeezes me before helping me sit back up. His cock still embedded inside me.

"Everything will be fine. You'll see. Even if they get mad, you know they won't stay mad for long. You're their mom. They love you unconditionally."

I nod before shifting off him. He helps me into the shower and washes me again as I mentally walkthrough what I need to say. Once we're both dressed, we head downstairs.

"Breakfast?" Dixie asks.

I shake my head and run a hand over my queasy stomach. "No, I don't think I can eat. I'd kill for a cup of tea."

He places a kiss on my forehead before ducking into the kitchen to get me my tea. When he returns and places the warm cup in my hands, a commotion at the back of the building draws our attention.

Abra and Zip are frogmarching a man through the backdoor. I can't make out his features in the shadows, but something about his build seems familiar. When they move him into the light, I gasp.

"Vladimir?"

"Mother."

His tone is neither warm nor cold, just neutral.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"I want to know that, too," says Hex as he and Cleo join us. "I also want to know how you found us."

"Wasn't easy," Vladimir admitted with a hint of respect in his tone. "I had a tracker on the boat Levi used to rescue the women. However, I lost the signal. I take it that's your doing?" Vlad asks Pirate. He doesn't wait for Pirate to respond, but continues. "Took me some time to travel through the bayou before I found the boat. They met me when I docked." He nods at Abra and Zip.

"That's how you found us, but you haven't explained why you're here." Dixie reminds him.

"Maybe I just thought it was time to meet my family."

"Is that why you're here?" I ask him, unable to hide the hopeful tone.

He studies me for several long minutes before giving me a soft smile. "It isn't the primary reason, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't play a major part. I need to talk to Hex about our father's plans. I could have planned for a meeting away from the clubhouse, but I was hoping to see you. Hello, Cleo. What I have to share concerns you as well."

"My office," Hex orders. "Cleo, Mom, and Dixie, let's go."

"Me, too?" Vlad asks with a cheeky grin.

Hex growls back as Abra and Zip drag Vlad into Hex's office. They dump him in the chair furthest from the door before each taking a stand blocking his exit. However, my oldest son simply crossed one leg over the other and adjusts the crease on his suit. He looks out of place with his styled hair and neatly trimmed bread. His suit is a stark contrast to the jeans and leather the other men wear. Hex takes his seat and pulls Cleo onto his lap. Dixie does the same with me. Vladimir frowns at Dixie's obvious claim to me, but says nothing.

"Start talking," Hex says to Vladimir.

"What do you want to talk about, brother dear? Want to swap childhood stories? How you grew up with a mother and sisters, while I spent my time with a cruel narcissist? Did your life include watching your father torture and kill his allies and enemies, knowing that one day you might be on the receiving end of his particular brand of fun and games? How was it seeing our mother every day while I only saw her once a year? Did she smile and laugh with you? While all I got were her tears and anguish?"

I try to stop my sob, but can't. Dixie squeezes me while Hex shoots a look of concern in my direction. That look changes to one of accusation when he glares at Vladimir. "Don't fucking make her cry," he growls.

Vladimir ignores Hex, focusing his attention on me. His expression is contrite, almost apologetic.

"I'm sorry. I didn't intend to make you cry. Believe me, I've seen enough of your tears to last me a lifetime."

"What do you mean?" Dixie asks.

"I'll explain everything, but we have little time before I have to leave and find Maxim. He doesn't know I'm the one who facilitated the escape. He's looking for Levi, but he's bound to remember that I'm the one who suggested Levi guard the women. I'm afraid of what he might do once he figures it out."

As Vlad speaks, a sense of foreboding snags my attention. I can sense Maxim's anger and, worse, his determination. He's considering the best way to retaliate against the man who aided our escape. That foreboding morphs into panic when I realize his next steps.

"Wait!" I explode, drawing everyone's attention. "Olivia. Maxim's going after her."

"Who is Olivia?" Dixie asks.

"Levi's sister," Vladimir says. "Shit, I didn't think he knew about her. This is my fault. Delphine's right. Our reunion can wait. You need to find Olivia and bring her back here."