Chapter 28

Taylan

"Koda Novikov raped me." I slam my eyes closed and breathe through my nose. Pride swells inside me that she was strong enough to admit it out loud to them, but anger, bloodlust and pain also war for control. That son of a bitch hurt her and no amount of torture will ever change what he did.

"Fuuuucccckkkk!" Gage roars, the pain and heartache in that one word has me fighting back tears of my own. Gage's hold on both of them tightens. He buries his face in the crook of Destiny's neck. The three of them stay like that for over an hour. When Gage finally pulls back, his eyes are red and puffy. Not wanting him to think I was standing here judging them, I look away when he stands and helps both girls to their feet. "We're going to go home, sit down and talk this through. We're here for you whatever you need, baby girl. I swear to Christ almighty we will never think any less of you."

Destiny sobs and launches herself at Gage, wrapping her trembling arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. He cups the back of her head with one hand and grabs Anya with the other, pulling her in close enough he can rest his head against hers.

"You both are the most important people in my life," he mutters as he releases them and then turns to me. I still as his gaze bores into mine. A moment passes before he gives me a slight nod of thanks, then climbs out of the ring. I remain silent and wait as Destiny and her mom embrace in the ring. I feel like I should give them a moment, so I head outside. I lean against the side of my rental and look up at the night sky feeling utterly useless. I preyed on her like a lion, I made a fucking bet that I could bag her without realizing how disgusting that was until I got to know her.

"You ride alone, we need this time with her." I lull my head to the side and stare at Gage.

"Yeah, okay," I say as I push forward and turn to get in the car but his words have me pausing.

"How long have you known?" His tone is hard but I know his anger isn't directed at me, I do him the courtesy of meeting his gaze.

"A while. Consent is a huge thing for me, Gage. I swear on my honor that I never took advantage of your daughter. No matter what those pictures showed you, I never forced her, not a single fucking time." He eyes me warily for a moment before nodding and stepping back.

"You get to be there but you stay silent, you are only here because my wife agreed to your terms."

"I understand," I say firmly before climbing into my car, it fucking kills me that I can't be the one to hold her right now but I know she needs this. I know I have no right to feel the way I do after I just let her walk out of that hotel room and did nothing to stop her, but never again.

The fucking cock sucking bitches manning the gate of the Murdoch compound wouldn't let me enter, so I've had no choice but to wait out on the fucking road for Gage to get here. The second I see his headlights, I pull up behind and follow him through the gates, but I roll my window down and shoot that cock sucker the bird as I drive past.

When he pulls into the driveway of his house, I park mine at the curb and kill the engine, suddenly feeling nervous. I climb out of my car, pull my hoodie on, then stuff my hands in the pocket and make my way up the drive. Gage glares at me before opening the back door. Anya steps out, followed by Destiny who won't even look at me.

I deserve the cold shoulder but fuck that shit hurts.

Gage leads her inside and I follow behind slowly, before I can make it through the door, Anya stops me. She looks shattered and torn apart. Without overthinking it, I pull her to me and hug her, she instantly melts into me and returns my embrace.

"Thank you for helping us," she says low enough for only me to hear, then she pulls back.

I shoot her a kind smile as I stuff my hands back in the pocket. "There is no thanks needed, Anya, truly." She nods, then gestures for me to head inside before her. Their home is spacious and has this real homey feeling to it. I smile at the sight of all the photos of Destiny and her cousins that adorn the walls. She looks really happy in a lot of them but that smile slowly fades when you reach the ones of her in college and now her parents know why. Anya leads me into the living room where Gage and Destiny are sitting on one of the sofa's.

I claim the single seat while Anya takes the vacant space next to her daughter. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. I feel out of place and awkward but I'm trying to show her without words that I'm here and I want this!

"How are you feeling?" Anya asks her quietly.

Destiny twiddles her fingers in her lap and keeps her eyes downcast. "Like a fraud."

"Why the hell would you feel like that?" Gage snaps. Anya shoots him a look telling him to rein it the fuck in.

When she still doesn't answer he sighs and slouches back looking defeated. I know I'm supposed to remain silent but fuck him and his rules. I stand ignoring his look of warning and drop to my knees in front of Destiny. Anya stands and moves to sit beside Gage, giving us some space. She still won't meet my gaze so I reach out and grip her chin, forcing her to look at me. Those gray-blues eyes look haunted, I'd do anything to never see that look in them ever again.

"You aren't a fraud. You coped the only way you knew how, they don't see you as anything less." A soft whimper escapes her, I see Gage trying to stand out of the corner of my eye but Anya stops him with a hand to his chest.

"I let them down," she says quietly but they hear. Gage growls and Anya sniffs.

"No. You could never do anything for them to be disappointed in you. Nothing that happened to you is your fault, baby, you didn't ask for him to…" I take a deep breath and rein in my own anger before continuing. "You didn't ask for that cunt to do what he did. He took what didn't belong to him and for that, he will fucking suffer. I swear it." I reach up and swipe away her tears with my thumbs.

"I want my mom," she chokes out. Within a split second, Anya is at her side and pulls her into her embrace where she breaks down. "I'm so sorry, Mom."

"No, I'm sorry I never saw the pain in your eyes until now." Both of them are bawling and it pains me to see it.

"I never wanted you to be disappointed in me." Anya pushes her back and cups her face between her hands.

"Destiny Laurel Murdoch, there is nothing and I mean nothing in this fucking world that could make me see you differently. You are my miracle, my greatest gift. Never ever forget that, baby girl." Sobs wrack my girl's body and I clench my fists, forcing myself not to haul her away from her mother.

"Move," Gage snaps a second before shoving me out of the way and pulling both girls into his arms. I stand here and stare at them in awe. What I wouldn't have given to have parents like hers growing up, maybe I would have turned out differently if I didn't have a junkie for a mother and a rapist for a stepfather.

I reclaim the chair I had just vacated and sit silently as Destiny tells them everything. I may have already heard the story before but it doesn't make it any easier to stomach. Gage looks murderous, like he is hanging onto his sanity by a thread. I can already tell he won't be able to transport that cunt without killing him. Anya looks like she wants to maim someone but I see the blame in her eyes as well, she thinks what happened to her baby is her fault.

"I never should have kept that fucking formula," she forces out through clenched teeth.

"No, Mom. None of this is on you, I had… stars in my eyes where Koda was concerned. He said and did all the right things. I fell into his trap," Destiny says bitterly.

"The blame isn't on either of you. I should have left this life behind the second I married your mother. I thought we were invincible and untouchable," Gage admits.

Fuck this!

"None of this is any of your faults." All three of them snap their gazes toward me. "You cannot control the actions of others. The trauma she suffered through doesn't make her a victim, it makes her a fucking warrior who came out the other side stronger. Both of you raised her to be the fighter she is and it's because of your teachings why she was able to survive such a traumatic event on her own."

"Shut up," Gage snaps. I roll my eyes and slouch back in my seat but Destiny keeps her eyes glued to mine.

"I'm kind of tired." Gage and Anya both climb to their feet, muttering about how they will both sleep on her floor or offer her to sleep between them but she shakes her head ignoring them as she asks me. "You planning on running again?"

"No," I answer without hesitation, she looks skeptical and I don't blame her.

"Somehow I don't believe you."

"And I don't blame you for doubting me, Slayer, but I'm here, aren't I?" She narrows her eyes and studies me for a moment before turning to her parents and hugging them both again and telling them how she loves them before making her way toward the stairs. I deflate.

"You coming?" I perk up at her invitation and immediately jump to my feet, ready to follow her but Gage blocks my path, glaring down his nose at me.

"I kept my end of the deal, honor yours."

I return his glare with a hardened look of my own. "I'm no bitch. I'll be there and ready to take care of business." He nods once before I step around him and follow his daughter up the stairs. I feel like a naughty teenager sneaking into his girlfriend's room instead of a thirty-three-year-old man who owns his own fucking home and doesn't need to sneak in anywhere. Her room is the last one at the end of the hall. I follow her in and close the door quietly behind us. My eyes widen at the color scheme of her room.

Pink.

Clearly her parents didn't change a single thing in here when she moved out, it's like time was frozen in this place and she's still a sixteen-year-old kid.

"I'm gonna take a shower," she mutters as she pushes a door open on the left hand side of her room. She doesn't close it all the way and a part of me is wondering if that's an invitation to join. I push that thought away and scold myself, seeing me fucking his daughter in photos is one thing but hearing her scream my name in his house is asking for him to murder me.

Instead of following after her like I want to, I distract myself by looking around her room. She has photos on her desk. I know I shouldn't breach her privacy but fuck me, it's hard not to when I spot a picture of her in her swimsuit on the top. She looks stunning in that all white two-piece bathing suit. I flip to the next one and feel a twinge of sadness for my friend, Chaos and Havoc stand there with a beer in each hand and an arm around each other as they smile at the camera. I feel for him, losing a piece of your soul must be fucking heartbreaking. When we thought we lost Waverly it nearly destroyed our family.

When I hear the shower shut off, I drop the pictures and claim a seat at the end of her bed. I am man enough to admit that my palms are sweating and my heart is racing as nerves spur to life inside me. My breathing grows choppy the longer she takes to come out. When that bathroom door finally opens, I stop breathing for a second. I slowly turn to face her and have to bite back the groan that wants to rip free at the sight of her in nothing but a towel. Her long blonde hair is wet and dripping, she is a wet fucking dream.

"I'm all talked out, Taylan."

I swallow and nod. "Okay," I say dejectedly and slowly stand.

She frowns. "Are you leaving?" I hear the pain in her voice but I can also hear the undertones of anger there as well.

"I don't want to," I answer honestly. "But, I also don't want you to feel pressured?—"

"I don't feel pressured."

"Then tell me what you want, Slayer. I'm right here."

She takes a deep breath and peers up at me through her lashes. "Stay." One word, that's all it takes before I'm pulling my hoodie and shirt off in one swift motion, then pushing my pants down my legs, leaving me in my boxers. Her eyes drink in the sight of my near nakedness. She nibbles on her bottom lip and fuck me, the sight has my cock growing hard at the thought of sinking into her tight wet pussy but tonight isn't about that. I snatch my shirt off the floor and toss it to her. She catches it, only to shoot me a frown.

"Keep making fuck me eyes while you're standing in a towel and I'll say fuck it to respecting your father's house and fuck you." A wicked gleam enters her eyes and I groan. "Slayer!" I scold her, earning an eye roll and huff from her. The dirty rotten little shit makes a show of dropping the towel, exposing all of her naked glory before slowly pulling my shirt on. "I swear to God you are going to pay for that move."

"Making more promises you can't keep?"

"Oh, baby, you and I both know I can have your fingertips gripping those sheets like it's a lifeline." Before the conversation can continue a knock sounds at her door, I groan internally. This is going to look real fucking good, me standing in my boxers and her in my shirt. Before I can even move to grab my pants the door opens to reveal her mother. I snatch the cover off her bed and wrap it around my waist, doing my best to hide my raging hard on! I sigh in relief at the sight of her and not Gage.

Fuck!

The second Anya takes a step to the side, Gage is right there with a dark look on his face, my hackles raise immediately.

"We have a problem," he grits out, his tone leaves no room for argument. I snatch my pants off the floor and turn my back to them as I drop the comforter and pull them on. Before leaving to follow Gage, I step in front of Destiny and cup her face between my hands. She looks apprehensive and I can't blame her.

"I'm not running, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Taylan," she whispers.

I place a quick chaste kiss to her lips, ignoring her father's growl. "This is one I'm going to keep, I swear it." I release her, step past Anya and follow Gage downstairs. When we make it to the living room I cringe at the sight of all his brothers and Vincent.

Definitely should have stolen my shirt back .

They all take in the sight of me shirtless with my jeans still unbuttoned and they don't look impressed by the sight at all, but there isn't much I can fucking do about that now. I try to gauge why they would all be here at this hour but their faces give nothing away except for the disdain at the sight of me half-dressed and coming from their nieces room.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Koda isn't going to Ireland." I inhale sharply at Vincent's reply.

"Why?" I press.

"It appears the mother of his child has had a change of heart regarding his punishment and we can't risk her setting him free." I stare at Bishop in shock, thinking I must have heard him wrong.

"I won't chance that cock sucker getting free after what he did to my…" Gage clamps his mouth closed, unable to finish his sentence. Fuck this. I rip my phone out of my pocket and hit dial on Kimber's number not caring about the time difference, she answers on the fourth ring.

"Taylan?" she says when she answers.

"Don't you fucking Taylan me!" I roar.

"Let me explain," she pleads.

"Explain what?" I snap, not caring that everyone in here is listening to my one sided conversation, with how loud I am yelling I have no doubt Anya and Destiny would be able to hear me. "He is going to fucking suffer and I don't give a shit if he is Lila's father. That cunt is on borrowed time for what he did!"

"I'm not doing this for me!" she defends.

"Your kid is better off without him!" I snarl. "Do you really want a rapist to be part of your kid's life, Kimber?"

"No, but?—"

"No, buts! I swear on my brotherhood with Knox and Xander, if you try to rise against the Murdochs to free him it won't be the Re Della Strada coming for you, it will be me !"

"Lila loves him!" she screams into the phone.

I drop my voice low so she can hear every word clearly as I speak. "I helped you get your kid back," I say my tone dripping with malice. "You try anything, Kimber, and I will take her from you, she won't just be fatherless, she will be motherless as well."

"You don't mean that." Her tone is watery.

"My love for Wave won't keep you safe from me. Xander loves Waverly but make no fucking mistake, he won't help you hide and will lead me straight to you. Fuck around and find out, Kimber, I dare you!"

"Fuck you. I never wanted him to live but my daughter does. I'm sorry he hurt Destiny but he hurt me too and I am prepared to let that shit go for the sake of my child. I don't want him to be free, all I am asking is for him to rot in a cell so when she wants to see him he isn't beaten and bloody which will scare her."

"I thought you were different, Kimmy, I really did, but you are just the same as my mother. You keep making excuses for the cunt that hurt you and I promise you that you will lose the respect of everyone you love, even your daughter won't forgive you. Tell the kid the fucking truth, that her father is a rapist and see how much she misses him then!" I snarl before ending the call. I take a minute to try to calm myself before slowly lifting my gaze back to the guys who all stand there staring at me. I run my gaze over each of them before settling on Gage. "You have my word that I will put a bullet between her eyes before she can even think about freeing that cunt."

"She tries to come anywhere near my family again and I will slit her fucking throat in front of her daughter, mark my words on that," he answers. I nod in agreement.

"How did you find out what she was planning?" I ask the group.

"Knox Bronson got a tip from his sister's man," Bishop says.

"Xander," I mutter.

"Your boys are loyal to you and I respect that, but he betrayed his Don, Waverly could have him killed," King adds.

I shake my head. "Wave would have been the one to tell Xan to give Knox the heads up, knowing he would tell you," I admit.

"Why wouldn't he just call you?" Knight pushes.

I smile. "He knew something like this would happen and what my reaction would have been. He was giving me a chance to prove myself loyal to Destiny in front of all of you." I'm going to beat the shit out of Knox for this but I am also grateful for him for doing this. The looks on all their faces show a tiny amount of respect for what I just did. "He may not be going to Ireland but I want him to suffer just the same, but not here."

"You don't make the call, we do!" Gage snaps.

I shake my head at the idiot. "And how is your daughter supposed to feel fucking safe here when the guy who fucking hurt her is right fucking there?" I roar.