Total pages in book: 266
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
“Only Ashtyn knew. I haven’t told anyone else…she promised…”
“Calm down. Take a deep breath, beautiful.” I interrupt her rambling. “What is it?”
Taking in a shaky breath, she whispers, “The Lords at my house…you said they gave me something to appear dead…then the adrenaline. I just realized…”
“We’ll have Devin check on the baby,” I assure her. I don’t want her to panic or think the worst. So much is happening. We’ll take one thing at a time.
“I didn’t even think about it,” she rushes out. “I made Ashtyn keep it a secret because I didn’t think you wanted kids. I’ve been trying to think of how to tell you…”
“Charlotte,” I command, stopping her. “It’s okay.” I don’t want her to regret her decision. I understand she felt abandoned and did what she thought was right.
She nods, looking around aimlessly. “Okay.”
I look up at Kash. “Can you…?”
“Go. Go.” He waves us off.
I take her hand and pull her out of the basement and to the elevator. Isabella isn’t going anywhere; the guys can have her tonight. I’ll get everything I need from her another time.
Thirty minutes later, we’re entering our bedroom in the birdcage, and I lie her down on my bed, cuddling up next to her. “Talk to me, doll face,” I urge, pushing her hair from her tear-streaked cheeks. “How long have you known?” As I ask the question, my hand drops to her flat stomach, and I push up her T-shirt. Thoughts of her pregnant belly come to mind. How beautiful she’ll look. Devin did an ultrasound and assured us the babies are fine. And that he’s more than willing to let us see them whenever we want. “Use your words, doll face.”
She sniffs before licking her lips and whispers, “Two days ago. You were still in the hospital. When we got back from Dollhouse and the sedative wore off, I got sick again, and Ashtyn talked me into taking one of her tests.”
I sigh, dropping my forehead to hers. Both of my hands cup her soft face. I hate that I left her tied to her bed all alone and had no clue that she was pregnant. To raise my children. “I’m sorry, Charlotte.” What would Isabella have done to her and my babies if they hadn’t pulled me out of there when they did?
“I’m the one that’s sorry, Haidyn. I promise...” she rushes out. “I swear I didn’t know.”
I shut her up with my lips crashing onto hers. I hate hearing her apologize for something she had no control over. She opens her mouth for me, and I deepen the kiss as her hands go to my hair. She digs her fingers into it, pulling tightly.
Did I want a child? No. Not before she came into my life. But just like Isabella put Charlotte in my life, her stepfather made sure she always remained a part of it. I was willing to give my life up for hers. Now she’s giving me life. Nothing could be better.
I pull away and she sucks in a deep breath. “I love you, Charlotte,” I tell her. I hope she knows that by now, but I want her to hear it. I was taught that words mean nothing, but she’s made me realize they are important.
She blinks, fresh tears falling from the corner of her pretty blue eyes. “I love you, Haidyn.”
EIGHTY-FIVE
HAIDYN
We all sit in our office, including Adam. He stands over in the corner. I’m thankful he stayed here with Charlotte to take care of her. I called Kashton and Saint to pick her up from her house because I knew they could protect her at Carnage. I never thought to ask Adam. He’s always coming and going, and I didn’t want her on the run like he is. But like the brother he is, he stepped up and helped take care of my girl. I owe him for that.
After I found out that my wife is pregnant, we spent a few hours in bed and then Kash told us that our presence was needed. So here we are. She sits quietly on my lap with my arms wrapped around her waist, holding her in place.
“Did you get anything else out of Isabella?” I wonder.
Kash shakes his head. “She just kept saying you killed our fathers, and you deserved to be punished.” He adds chuckling. “And she yelled at Bill a lot.”
Ashtyn is sitting over at Saint’s desk, and at Kash’s words, her head pops up, and her eyes go to mine. “Why did you kill them?” Her voice sounds hopeful. As if I’m going to tell her that I killed them for her.
I hate to disappoint her. “I—”
“I don’t know why you kept it a secret all these years.” Saint interrupts me. “Not like we give a fuck.”
He says that now, but I remember what it was like after they were found dead. We were ordered to go into “training” for the following six months. We all hated our fathers for different reasons and wanted them dead, but Isabella made us hate life when she took over.