Chapter 20

G etting assaulted sexually and then shot was not on my bucket list for this year.

But seeing the fear and desperation in Tempest's eyes left me with no choice but to offer myself up on a serving dish.

I didn't expect Isabella to shoot me after her assault, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised since she did the same to Snake—her original pet.

At least I'm not on a cold morgue slab like him.

Jacob found me in time to get me help. They were able to stop the bleeding in the ambulance. At least, that's what I'm being told.

I wasn't very conscious for most of it. Isabella's obsession with Paradise finally came in handy. It paralyzed me and numbed the pain.

Now I'm back at the Academy, and I have a harem of my own, it seems. Chastity, Jonas, Bast, Levi, and even Tempest won't leave me the fuck alone.

It's bad enough that I can't shit without assistance, I don't need people hovering over me.

I'm not used to this, and frankly, I don't like it.

Chastity runs her fingers through my hair as she nurses Charity. I don't mind it much when it's just the two of us in the bed, but Bastian ended up with a concussion during the battle, so he's also supposed to be resting.

I love the guy, he's my brother, but I have yet to have any serious alone time with our girl since I returned from that hellhole the first time.

Not that I'm really up to snuff in the sex department. I have to heal first.

Ugh, I'm so bored.

"I can hear you thinking. Your thoughts are very loud. You're supposed to be resting, Ash. You almost died."

Charity makes some babbling sounds and I stare at my daughter. We have gotten better acquainted over the last few days.

"Life is short, Chas. I don't want to spend it in this bed. Can we at least go home? I still haven't seen the house you and the guys bought. Plus, we would have a lot more space there."

I watch as she thinks it over, silently praying that maybe she will give in.

"I'll discuss it with the others, but my grandmother is having some separation anxiety, which is oddly comforting," she mumbles, then puts her boob away and hands me the baby.

I take her, smiling as she gives me a gummy grin in return. Fuck, she's cute as shit.

"Burp her and I'll be back."

Chastity leaves the room and I do exactly what she said. It's not long until Charity's eyes are getting heavy and she quickly falls asleep.

I shut my eyes and continue to hold her close to me. I almost lost this. The freedom to be a father, and to love my guy and girl.

Isabella took so much away from me, but she's gone now, and it's time to heal and move on.

"Wow, this place is amazing," I mutter.

Levi opens the car door for me, and I fight not to roll my eyes at his princess treatment.

"Yeah, it's home, and there has always been a place for you here."

I nod and carefully shift out of the seat, placing my feet in the grass. Jonas watches me worriedly, but I don't think he wants to be snapped at again.

I am fine. I'm alive, and I can handle my own shit.

We walk, albeit very slowly, up the porch steps, and Levi opens the door with a code.

"Fancy," I mutter and Bastian snorts.

"This place is locked down tighter than Fort Knox," he says as we walk inside, right into a huge living area.

Plopping onto the couch, he sighs. "God, I've missed you."

Chastity laughs, shaking her head.

I look around, a little unsure about what to do, but when Eli crawls over to me, I risk the pain and bend down to swoop him up.

He gives me a big smile and I know that this is home.

CHASTITY

It's a sunny day, but I still feel like everything is all wrong. We are burying my dad today. It shouldn't be a nice sunny day.

We should have clouds and rain, tornadoes, or even hail. The way I feel inside, broken and barely keeping it together, should be replicated on the outside.

Tempest grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. I lean my head on her shoulder and sniffle.

"Why is this so hard?" I mumble, and she quietly laughs.

"It's a funeral, babe, it's supposed to be hard. But you need to tape up your tits, pull up those sexy granny panties, and just get through it."

Letting me go, she slaps my ass, then rushes over to Otto as I huff.

"I do not wear granny panties," I scoff. Someone laughs behind me and grabs my ass.

"No, you don't, baby girl," Bast whispers into my ear, pulling my back to his chest. "You wear sexy little thongs or nothing at all, and it drives us all wild."

"I should not be turned on at a funeral, Bast," I complain, and I am woman enough to admit I may even whimper.

"No, but later tonight, you're all mine."

"Fine, but for right now, you need to behave, please. Snake meant something to me."

Sighing, he stops grinding his cock against my ass and lets me go.

Levi walks over and takes my hand, leading me to the burial plot. Charles Draxton was an orphan, and didn't have any family except me and mine, but he was loved, and I will make sure my children grow up knowing who their grandpa was.

The photos of me and Snake, and him with the babies, have been enlarged and placed near his headstone.

We don't bother with chairs as there aren't many people attending today, so we stand around his casket, waiting for my grandmother to start.

We didn't go the normal priest route, and chose a nun to officiate instead.

"Charlie was an exceptional man, who rose to his challenges, and worked hard to overcome them. He was a father—though he didn't know that until recently—a grandfather, and one of the loves of my daughter's life."

She pauses as two teenagers join us. I don't recognize them, so I don't think they are from the Academy, or in the Society.

The girl is wearing all black with big shades covering half of her face. The boy is tall and reminds me of someone that I can't quite place right now in my grief.

My grandmother clears her throat and continues, while Jacob pulls out his phone and begins texting someone.

"He was kind, even if his exterior didn't show it. He was gentle, as he loved his grandbabies, and he was honorable. He gave his life to protect others, and he will always be remembered in that light.

"Charlie, we know you're at peace now, and we thank you for your sacrifice."

My throat clogs and sobs escape my lips. Levi pulls me closer and holds me as I shatter once again.

My grandmother places a black rose on my dad's casket, then walks over to me and presses a kiss to my forehead.

I watch her dab her eyes with a tissue, then straighten her shoulders as she heads to the car.

Everyone else stands there with me until I calm down enough to say my final goodbyes and lay my own flowers on his casket.

Black lilies, because though he's gone, I'm hoping he will one day be reborn. The world deserves a man like him, and it's at a loss now that he's gone.

Jacob moves over to us and whispers, "Those kids that haven't moved are Charles' children, though according to David, he didn't know about them."

My heart races and my palms become sweaty. I have more siblings?

"Seems to be a common occurrence for him," Levi mutters. If I wasn't haven't an internal freak out, I'd smack him in the side.

"We should go and speak to them, right?" I ask Jacob, and he nods.

Taking my hand, he leads me closer. We stop a few paces away, so we don't startle them.

I know how shocking it is to find out that you have a family you didn't know about.

"Hi, I'm Chastity Madden, and this is my brother, Jacob."

I offer my hand, but only the boy moves closer to shake it.

"I'm Hennessy, and this is my twin sister, Bailey… Our mom was a bartender. She used to drink a lot," he stammers, then clears his throat as he looks over at the grave again.

"She only told us that our dad's name was Snake, but when she heard he died, she confessed everything. So, you're our sister?"

I nod. "Yeah. I didn't know about him either until he kidnapped me and saved my life."

"Cool. Can we maybe swap numbers? I think I'd like to get to know you, if that's okay?"

Tears fill my eyes once more and I nod, handing him my phone. I offer Bailey a smile, but she still hasn't moved or said a word to me.

"Do you want to come back to the Academy for food? No pressure, but I have to get over there and feed my baby."

Hennessy nods exaggeratedly, and I think he might really be excited to have another sister.

"I'd love that, actually. Can we follow you? My car's just over there."

"Yeah, I'd like that."