Chapter 13

M y head is throbbing, and I'm about to yell at Bastian to turn the damn music down. He's always blasting it while he cooks.

My mouth feels dry and I could use a drink. My body is stiff, and when I try to open my eyes, they are crusty.

"What did we do last night?" I mumble, attempting to open my eyes again. When I do, they burn and I wince.

There is a bright light shining over my face, but I can't make out much else.

"Well, it looks like my darling daughter has decided to finally wake up."

"Mom?" I croak, and cringe when she starts to laugh.

"Wow, Tempest, you've really fucked things up, haven't you? I sent you away to repent for your dirty ways, and instead, you end up knocked up with a bastard, and back into the den of iniquity."

"I… What's going on?" I try to remember where I was last, or what I was doing, but everything feels cloudy.

"Oh, give it up, you little slut. You're an embarrassment to me and everyone around you. I should have sold your worthless ass a long time ago."

"Mom, stop. I don't understand." I wish someone would move the light away from my face.

My limbs feel like they are frozen, and I'm trying like hell to move.

"Don't bother. Isa gave you a double dose of Paradise. I just wanted one more look at you before she breaks you."

"Please, Mom, don't do this. I have a baby." My words are slurred, and I'm not sure if she can even decipher what I'm saying, but I have to try.

For my baby. For Romeo. For Jacob and Otto, and the family we've made together. For my best friend, who will die if something happens to me.

"Goodbye, Tempest. You should have never disobeyed me. All I ever wanted was for you to repent. But it's too late. Enjoy Hell, darling."

Her heels click as she moves further away from me.

"No, come back. Mom!" I scream, but she never stops walking. The click of her heels continues until a large door slams, echoing around wherever I am, and I know she's left me here

I don't know how long I've laid here for, but my body begins to tremble, and I'm not sure if it's because I'm terrified of what's to come, or the chill.

I'm finally able to wiggle my fingers, and I can tell now that I'm restrained to a metal table and my clothes are gone.

Shuffling in the corner of the room has me on edge. Am I not alone?

"Hello. Is there anyone there?" I yell, waiting for a response.

Someone groans and I freeze. Oh God, is this how I die? Trapped in some unknown location, where they will never find my body.

I don't want to leave this Earth yet. I want to get married and have more babies. I want to call Roman and King, and see them again.

I want to tell Otto what he means to me. I want more bubble baths and girl talk with my best friend. I want more late nights with Jacob watching Gossip Girl.

Tears fall down my cheeks in abundance. I'm sobbing and shaking, pleading and praying to anyone that will listen.

The door in the corner opens, slamming against the wall, and the light above me shuts off, causing me to see spots.

I blink and continue to pray. Closing my eyes, I picture a future that I'm afraid I'll never get to see.

Rome and Eli are making sandcastles on the beach, while Charity toddles along in the sand as Levi chases after her.

Otto and Jacob are holding our daughter, while King is rocking our newborn son to sleep.

There is so much love and laughter, and I wish more than anything that it can come true.

But as cold hands grab my body, and I feel another sharp pin prick on my neck, I know that it's just a dream, a fantasy, and my present, my now, is never going to allow such foolish wishes.

I never should have left the house. I should have just died inside quietly, continuing to fantasize about what could be.

Or maybe Chas was right. I should have written a book, made millions, and moved to a beach.

CHASTITY

I wake up wrapped in tight arms, and I cuddle down deeper into the blankets. It's dark outside, and I don't know what's woken me. I listen for a few minutes, but the house is quiet. No babies crying, or yelling out "Mommy".

I close my eyes and try to fall back to sleep, but I can't. There is something nagging in my brain, and I can't figure out what the hell it is.

Ash mumbles something in his sleep, and I hug him tighter. I still can't believe all the hell he's been through. Isabella's days are numbered, and I hope I'm the one to pull the final trigger. She's a parasite.

Levi shifts behind me and grinds his cock against my ass. Biting my bottom lip, I hide my moan when he shifts closer and almost slips inside me. Even in his sleep, his dick wants admission.

After Ash calmed down, Bastian and Jonas came home and we all watched a movie. It was like the old days, when I would hang out with them in their dorm. Except, this time, we wouldn't have gotten reprimanded.

Though, Levi does have a penchant for spankings.

I can't believe we are returning to the Academy in the morning. It almost feels as if we have come full circle.

Sighing, I lift Levi's arm and try to shuffle down to the end of the bed. Sleep isn't coming back to me, so maybe I'll swipe Tempest's Kindle and read for a bit.

Grabbing my robe, I carefully crack the door, so I can slip into the hall without waking anyone. I peek in on the kids and Bastian, he and Jonas snuck in here after the movie was over, then shuffle over to check on Charity.

She's probably going to need to eat soon. I know they say never to wake a sleeping baby, but she can just hang out with me on the couch.

Moving over to her crib, I rub her little belly and brush her hair off her forehead until she begins to stir.

When she's squirming and about to cry, I pick her up and cradle her tight to me. Holding her brings me peace and sadness.

I love being a mom, but I will always have an ache in my heart for my missing baby.

Laying Charity on the changing table, I quickly swap out her damp diaper and put her in something warmer.

The house has a chill to it, and I don't want her catching a cold. When she's bundled up, I grab my Boppy pillow and an extra blanket, then head into the living room.

I miss our house, with the huge bay windows that show our pool. We always leave the night lights on.

It's peaceful. This place is nice, but it's too big. Placing Charity in her bouncer, I turn the vibrations on, then leave her for a minute.

I don't want to wake anyone, but I need something to read. Remembering Levi has that book, I change course and quickly grab it off the nightstand.

Ash is now in the middle of the bed, and he's spooning Levi. I'd take a photo if I wasn't so worried that my flash would wake them.

Leaving them to snuggle, I return to Charity, freezing when I reach the living room.

Snake is there, rocking my daughter in his arms. There is a lamp on now, and the look on his face will stay with me for a long time.

He's amazed. He touches her little nose and her cheeks, and Charity blinks up at him.

I gently clear my throat, so I don't startle him, and he looks over at me.

"Hey," he grunts, and I move closer.

"Hi," I mumble, then he smiles and we both laugh.

"Fuck, this is awkward," he mutters, and I have to nod, agreeing.

"It doesn't have to be, though. Since we're both awake at three AM, why don't you tell me about yourself."

Snake sits down on the couch and lays Charity on his chest. He's a natural, and I haven't heard a peep out of her. She hasn't even needed her pacifier.

"What do you want to know? I'll be honest, being undercover for so long has desensitized me to my past, but I'll try."

I think for a minute, then smile.

"Tell me about how you met my mom. What was she like back at Holy Cross?"

Looking off at the wall, he's quiet. "She was heaven personified. Her hair shone like gold, and her eyes would take you hostage. She was my best friend, until everything changed."

"How old were you when you met?"

"I was an orphan and lived at the sister orphanage to the school until I turned twelve, then I was accepted at Holy Cross. My parents died overseas doing missionary work. They were good, honest people. David Madden was my first friend."

"Levi's dad?"

Snake nods and looks at me. "We were a lot like how Bastian, Ash, and Jacob are. We were a group, a family of sorts. Me, David, and…"

He doesn't need to say his name. I already know he's talking about the man who abused me and raised me, thinking he was my father, and not this kind soul beside me.

"Things got weird once we were initiated and Charity turned out to be our Eve. I always suspected, since she wasn't pure. Not that she messed around, but she and David were in love."

"Wait, are you saying that David didn't wait until he pledged to lose his virginity? Isn't that against their oaths?"

Snake sighs and shakes his head.

"Back then, things weren't as strict, and we never told anyone, but someone found out about your mom, and made her our Eve. I was thrilled. Polyamory wasn't something people spoke about at the time. I'm happy for you and your men. That you get to love out in the open."

"I never saw my life being this way, but I wouldn't change a thing. Levi may be my husband by law and according to God, but Bastian, Jonas, and Ash have as much space in my heart as him."

I look into my daughter's eyes and smile. She's so content, and it makes me wish that this man could have been a true father to me.

"I'm sorry that I was never there. I didn't know. I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but it's the truth."

He stands, readjusts Charity so that she's resting in the crook of his arm, then offers me his free hand.

"I may not have been around, but I'm here now, and I want a second chance, if you'll have me? I made you something. I've been nervous to show you, but now's a good time."

I take his hand and let him guide me to the garage. The boys mentioned that he and Ash were building something, but we didn't know what.

When the door opens, and the automatic lights turn on, I lose my breath.

"Oh, my God," I gasp, then shuffle closer, releasing his hand. He stays by the door. He seems uncertain.

"This is incredible. Thank you," I tell him sincerely, as I run my finger along the hand carved baby bassinet. It's so smooth and painted, so there's no chance of splinters.

There is an angel carved into the top, and the detail is amazing, it brings tears to my eyes.

"I wanted you to have something to remember me by. The life I've chosen isn't a good one, and my future is never promised. But you can lay your babies to sleep here and think of me."

Covering my mouth with my hand, I try to muffle the sobs.

He moves closer and wraps his arm around me. Leather, musk, and motor oil assault my nose, and I breathe it in.

This is my first real hug from my dad, and I don't want it to ever end.

"Thank you. I will cherish this gift forever."

"I know Eli is too big now, but maybe Charity can still use it, and of course, your future babies," he mutters and I nod.

"It's perfect."

He hands me my little girl, so he can lift the bassinet, and I hold the garage door open for him to bring it inside.

There is a padded mattress on the bottom, so once it's set up in the living room, I place Charity down. He pulls out this battered old phone and takes a picture.

"Would you mind taking one of me holding her?" he asks, and the tips of his ears are red.

"Of course."

I take a few photos for him, and he takes one of me and my daughter.

"I never thought my baby would be having babies. You're still young," he grunts and I laugh.

"If only you knew," I mutter and he freezes. Sighing, I tell him about Angel.

When I'm done, he has tears in his eyes, and a promise on his lips.

"I will find out what happened to her, Chastity. Mark my words."