Chapter Two
Elise
The door clicked open, and the pitter-patter of feet sounded over the tile, followed by a soft giggle.
“Granddaddy John said she was a duchess,” a sweet voice whispered. “I’s never seens a duchess before. I wonder if she’s pretty.”
“We’re princesses,” a different sweet voice exclaimed. “I wonder if we’re related to her ‘cause my pop says Granddaddy John’s king of the castle.”
The bed moved, and the mattress dipped, and more giggles filled the air.
Curiosity got the better of me. I cracked one eye open and let out a little squeak when I was confronted with a pair of beautiful, huge, grey eyes looming inches away from mine.
“Morning!” the little girl sang loudly. “I’m Sunshine Hope Stone. Are you a duchess?”
My wide-eyed gaze swung left to see an equally beautiful pair of cornflower-blue eyes studying mine curiously.
“Umm—” I began.
“Granddaddy John saids you knew my other Granddaddy Stevie,” Sunshine announced, turning to the tiny blonde girl beside her. “He’s in heaven.”
The other girl nodded understandingly.
Sunshine turned back to me. “Did you play with him?”
“Umm. He was my friend,” I confirmed, a little bewildered.
She beamed. “Kady’s my friend and Gabby and Kai. Willows and Baby Belle are my friends, too, and my mommy’s got my two little brothers in her belly. They’ll be my friends, but my daddy says they may be a pain in the butts when they’re babies ‘cause babies cry like all the time . Kady and Gabby are my best friends.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Can you keeps a secret?”
I nodded.
“Libby at school thinks she’s my best friend, and I lets her ‘cause Mommy saids I should be kind, but she tried to kiss Kai, and Kai’s gonna be my ol’ man, not Libby’s,” she turned to the other girl, “isn’t he Kady?”
Kady nodded gravely again before tipping her chin up to look at me. “Do you like Taylor Swift?”
I blinked.
“Kai says I’m like the song, Trouble,” Sunshine said gravely. “It’s sooooo annoying. He said I was a pains in his ass, but don’t tell Uncle Kit ‘cause Kai will get in some bad books for cussing,” her little bottom lip wobbled, “I don’t wants Kai to get in bad books.”
Voices sounded from outside the door.
Sunny’s eyes went huge. “Oh my Gods!”
Kady made an ‘eek’ face as the door cracked open and a voice called, “Sunshine Hope Stone. I told you not to bother Elise.”
“She asked me to, Momma,” Sunshine blatantly lied.
Kady’s face twisted into more of an ‘eek’.
I couldn’t help but smile.
The door flew open, and a procession of beautiful women strutted in, all gorgeous in entirely different ways.
I recognized Cara, of course, from when she was engaged to Robert Junior. Layla I’d known since she was a baby, but I’d sadly lost my connection with her after Stevie died and Kelly hit the bottle.
My eyes widened as my daughter entered the room last alongside the stunning blonde lawyer, Kennedy, who’d moved to town the year before. My daughter carried a baby in her arms and had a huge diaper bag thrown over her shoulder.
She made an immediate beeline for me, her eyes flicking over my body, assessing as she approached. “You look a lot better.”
My heart clenched as I studied her gorgeous, wonderful face.
I couldn’t believe she was so close after all these years of yearning for her. Realizing she’d been here for so long without knowing, cut me up inside. All I’d ever wanted was to look at her, touch her, and hug and kiss her, but now she stood, flesh and blood before me, I didn’t quite know how to act. My tongue was tied, and my emotions hit me from all angles.
Constance carefully slid onto the edge of my bed. “Belle needs a nanna snuggle.”
My eyes went to the tiny baby and my breath caught in my throat.
“This is Belle, your granddaughter,” she murmured, gently transferring the gorgeous bundle into my arms. “Make the most of this. Danny won’t usually give her up for anyone. You’re honored.”
I froze. My eyes fixated on Belle’s tiny face, and I wondered to myself if I’d ever had my arms filled with so much goodness before. She was everything I’d once imagined my own daughter to be, back when she was a baby. Tiny, beautiful, and adorable. Dark, fuzzy hair smattered across her perfectly shaped head, and her eyes, although closed, appeared slightly almond in shape, just like my mom’s, mine, and my daughter’s. The clean, cotton, baby scent I’d dreamed of for years hit my nostrils just as Belle gave a cute whimper through her sublime pink rosebud lips.
A tendril of warmth infiltrated through the impenetrable walls I’d built, and I felt a jolt as my soul sparked back to life. Tears welled in my eyes as the shards of ice around my heart began to melt.
“Are you okay?” my daughter whispered.
I looked up, almost startled, my eyes misty with emotion, and croaked, “I haven’t felt this good in thirty years.”
“Babies will do that to you,” Cara said from her chair under the window. “They always make everything seem better. Even my Satan child.”
My gaze swung to the group of girls who all sat around the room watching me with Belle. Kady’s eyes caught mine, and she cocked her head, eyebrows furrowing as if she was trying to work something out about me. “You’re warm.”
I stilled.
She left her mom’s side and scrambled onto the bed beside me, her little head resting against my side. “When I came in here, the room was cold, but you held Belle, and now it’s warm.”
Kennedy’s eyes softened on her daughter. “You feel okay, baby girl?”
A tiny arm slid across my belly, and Kady pressed closer. “Yeah. Duchess is snuggly. I like it.”
My breath caught again as heat from Kady’s body seeped into mine. I could feel it penetrating my pores, filling every cell, and making me glow from the inside out. My mouth fell open, and I studied her gorgeous face, almost bewildered. She was like a tiny furnace of heat and goodness, and she was generous with how she shared it with me.
“You done?” Kennedy asked her gently. “Don’t get overtired.”
My eyebrows drew together as I tried to work out the secret conversation between mother and daughter.
Kady beamed up at me. “For now.”
“Good girl,” Kennedy said approvingly. “You two better get your little tushies to the kitchen if you wanna bake cupcakes with Iris and Sera.”
“Wanna stay with Duchess,” Sunshine declared.
My eyes went big because for the life of me, I had no clue why she would want to do that.
“The cupcakes are for you, Sunny,” Layla reminded her gently. “You told Iris you’d help her bake them, so you have to take care of that and not break your word.”
“And you said you’d help,” Kennedy told Kady.
Kady sighed resignedly.
Sunshine heaved a breath so hard her little chest compressed, and she flung her arms across it angrily.
“Sunny,” Layla said, a thread of warning in her tone. “You know you have to keep your promises.”
Sunshine’s arms fell to her side, and she lowered her head. “Yes, Momma.”
I covered my laugh with my hand.
The girls locked hands and walked out to the corridor, the sound of Kady’s chatter and Sunny’s complaining wafting into the room.
“I don’t know where she gets it from,” Layla murmured, eyes still on the door.
“She’s a fucking trip,” Cara crowed. “That kid won’t take any shit when she’s older, and I, for one, love it.”
Layla’s big, grey eyes narrowed on her friend. “Come to think of it, I know exactly who she gets it from.”
“At least the kid’s not a doormat,” Kennedy interjected, eyebrow cocking, “Cara’s teaching her that, thank God.”
Layla rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Ned.”
Kennedy smirked.
“Now, now, you two,” Constance said softly. “You’re giving off bad vibes. We’re here to cheer Elise up.” She turned back to me. “How are you really feeling?”
I took stock of my body. I was tender in places, but I’d been asleep on and off for days, and the worst of my bruises had healed. My ribs ached, and my shoulder hurt, but the pain was muted by medication, and bearable compared to the abuse I’d endured over the years.
“I’m okay,” I told her gently. “I can’t complain. As much as I ache, you being here makes everything seem better.”
She smiled as she moved toward me and held her arms out for Belle. “That shoulder was dislocated; if it’s aching, you need to rest it. There’ll be plenty of time for nanna cuddles.”
My heart soared at being called a nanna before I reluctantly passed the baby back to my daughter. “She’s incredible.”
My daughter gathered her baby close to her and nuzzled her tiny head. “Yeah, she is,” her eyes lifted to mine, “she takes after her grandmother.”
I took a sudden breath, but no words came. All the things I’d dreamed of saying to her over the years flew out of my head.”
“I’m sorry I let you down,” I whispered.
“No!” she said firmly. “You never let me down. John told me everything. You did everything to protect me, so I never want to hear those words from you again.”
Cara rose from her chair at the window and made her approach. “Elise, I’ve been where you are, remember? Robbie did the same to me as Robert Senior did to you. They both struck when we were at our most lost and vulnerable. You need to blame the person who deserves it, and above all else, you need to forgive yourself, especially when, all along, you were just trying to do what you thought was right.”
“It won’t be easy,” my girl murmured. “We’ve lost a lot of years, and there’s going to be resentment and a lot of frustration to deal with. But I want to get to know you. I’d like us to build a relationship, if you’re agreeable.”
My heart leaped. “Really? I’ve dreamed of this moment. I can’t believe we’re finally here, together.”
“Of course.” She jerked her head toward Layla and Kennedy who were listening to our conversation with interest. “You’re part of the ol’ lady gang now. We need all the numbers we can get.”
I grimaced. “I tried that before. It didn’t work out well for me.”
“Things around here have changed,” Kennedy responded dryly.
Cara laughed. “Yep.”
They all looked at each other smugly, knowing smiles playing about their lips.
“Do they still have club girls?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Cara admitted. “They have their place here, but they also know their place. No club girls are allowed near the bar until after eleven at night. They clean, do laundry, and if Iris can’t be bothered or she’s away, they stop the men keeling over from hunger.”
I cocked my head. “What do you girls do?”
“I’m a lawyer,” Kennedy drawled.
“I’m a doctor,” Const—Sophie informed me.
“I’m always pregnant,” Layla deadpanned, running a hand over her huge, pregnant belly and wincing.
“I can’t cook,” Cara said matter-of-factly. “And honestly, even if I could, I wouldn’t spend all day in that kitchen. Iris does it because she loves it, and that’s okay, but we don’t.”
My expression twisted curiously. “Don’t you do anything at the clubhouse? Back in the day, the kitchen was where John’s mom, Iris, and I spent most of our time. The men would stay in the bar, and we’d stay out of their way. There was always something cooking on the stove, and we usually had a bottle of cheap wine open.”
“Well, that’s not changed.” Cara smirked. “Though we’ve evolved to cocktails, too. Look, I’m not saying we don’t go into the kitchen to chat and keep Iris company, but we’re not confined there.”
“Can you imagine them trying?” Kennedy scoffed.
Layla rolled her lips inward to stop herself from laughing.
My gaze landed on her belly, and my heart clenched. “When are you due?”
She beamed. “Three days. Kennedy and Kit are getting married in two weeks. I know I won’t be able to do much, but I can attend the wedding at least.”
“I can’t believe you’re having twins,” I murmured excitedly.
“Yeah,” she confirmed. “Two boys. Bowie’s so excited, and Sunny... well, you’ve seen how happy she is. I thought new babies would lose their shine after Willow was born, but I think she’s even more excited about the twins coming.”
I don’t know why I said the following words. I didn’t even think about it. Maybe I just needed her to know how much her dad loved her.
“Stevie would be so proud of you,” I blurted out. “I see so much of him in you and your daughter. It’s like a part of him is here with us.”
“I’ve been thinking about him more lately,” she admitted softly. “It’s bittersweet. I’m finally getting the family I always wanted, but he’s not here to share it with me.”
“He’d love that you were so happy. Layla. Stevie was one of the best men I’ve ever known,” I told her. “I’d be honored if we could talk sometime. I’ve got some good stories I could tell you. Stevie and your mom were a big part of my life.”
“I’d love that,” she said quietly. “I want to tell Sunny and Willow about him, but I was young when he died, and I’m not on speaking terms with Mom, so there’s no chance of her telling me about him. We’ve got this huge family that loves them, but I don’t want my dad forgotten amongst all that, especially for my kids.”
“Do you see Kelly at all?” I asked.
She shook her head sadly. “It got to the point where I couldn’t cope being around her. I became pregnant with Sunny just after Gran died, so when she left me her house, it made sense to move in there. Mom won’t visit, and I won’t take my kids to see her. I don’t want them around someone who’s always drunk.”
“I understand,” I assured her, making a mental note to check in on Kelly as soon as I could. My friend wasn’t a bad person, but when Stevie died, she fell to pieces. I got it; the same happened to me when I thought John had been killed in action. I wasn’t about to judge Kelly for becoming depressed, even if I believed she could’ve been a better mother for Layla.
“Have you thought about your next steps?” Constance asked.
I had to remember she was called Sophie now. At the very least, I wanted her to feel comfortable around me. That wouldn’t happen if I constantly called her by the name I gave her when she was taken from me. Sophie was a pretty name, and it suited her. I had to remember she’d built her own identity, and I needed to respect that.
“My first step is to file for divorce,” I told her. “My husband ruined my life. He won’t get another second of it or me.”
“I can help you there.” Kennedy’s face took on a sly look. “Did you sign a prenup?”
“No,” I declared. “But I don’t want his money. It’s filthy.”
“You must’ve taken something into the marriage,” she prompted. “Property? Inheritances? Businesses?”
“The proceeds from my parents’ house sale were all mine,” I informed her. “And Robert’s dad left me a substantial amount in his will, but I never saw a penny. My mom also had life insurance, which paid out, but it went to him. He controlled all the money.”
Kennedy got her cell out and started tapping notes. “So, we threaten to take half of his filthy money if he doesn’t give you the clean money that’s rightfully yours. His lawyer will advise him to pay out what belongs to you, if only to avoid having to give you everything you could demand.” She stood from her chair and began to prowl across the room. “I’ll call my partner Scotty and explain the situation. We’ll work out the best way forward.” Her neck craned as she got to the door. “That’s if you agree for me to work your case?”
My daughter squeezed my hand and murmured, “Ned knows what she’s doing. I’d trust her with Belle’s life.”
My gaze fell to my granddaughter, fast asleep in her arms, and my heart clenched painfully.
Robert had taken everything that mattered from me, not just John and Constance, but also all the children we dreamed of having. Time was so precious, and we’d lost so much; it was heartbreaking.
I’d be damned if I allowed my bastard of a husband to take anything else from me.
My eyes met Kennedy’s, and I nodded. “Thank you.”
She grinned. “Thank you . I’m going to enjoy every second of making that pig sweat.”
Cara began to cackle just as the door opened, and a huge guy I recognized as the man my daughter married stalked inside the room, making a beeline for me.
“The mayor’s here with a fuckin’ posse,” he rumbled. “Want you all down the Cell.” His eyes met mine. “Good to meet ya, Elise. Wish we had time to do this properly, but Henderson’s called the goddamned sheriff. At this precise minute, he’s at the gates, accusin’ Prez of kidnappin’ you and Stafford.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “He’s got what looks like private security with him. Prez is threatenin’ to shoot him in the fuckin’ gonads, and Henderson’s threatenin’ to get his goons to storm the place to get you back.” He gently pulled Sophie to her feet and handed the diaper bag to Cara. “They can’t get into the Cell. Iris has already taken the kids down there. Move your asses and make it quick.” He stroked his hand over Belle’s head before grabbing a robe hanging from the back of a chair and handing it to me.
The room went still for a few seconds, then suddenly, everybody moved at once.
I threw the sheets back, ignoring the sudden churning of my stomach.
“She’s not goin’ back with him, big man,” Sophie declared, watching as Kennedy took my hand, helped me out of bed, and slipped the robe over my shoulders.
My breath caught in my throat at the steel in my daughter’s tone.
“Don’t sweat it,” he said softly, hooking an arm around my waist to help me walk out into the hallway. “Elise is ours now. Not givin’ her back.”
My eyes flew to his, and he gave me a confident wink.
Something happened to my insides. The block of ice freezing my organs began to melt. In one sentence, this big, burly, tough guy made me feel like I belonged for the first time in my life. And although it moved me, I didn’t quite know what to do with it.
Atlas ushered the women through the door, all the while keeping a firm and steady hold on me. We walked up a hallway, eventually hitting the bar. Nerves prickled through my stomach as I noticed a flurry of men rushing in and out of a corridor on the other side of the room, carrying an array of guns and rifles.
I glanced through the window we passed, and my heart began to hammer in my chest.
A long row of Speed Demons held the line inside the gates. They were facing off with a few men in law enforcement uniforms along with a dozen men dressed in black tac gear who were part of the private security firm Robert had started to use recently.
My steps faltered.
“Come on, Elise,” Atlas said gently. “Get to safety.”
My mind whirred.
I knew Robert would only leave on his own terms. He was confident enough to think he could control any situation because he usually had all his bases covered, except he’d just lost all his leverage with me.
Decision made, I rested a hand on Atlas’s arm. “I can help.”
His black-eyed stare hit mine. “How?”
My eyes darted between his, and I looked deep. “He’s got nothing on me anymore, but I’ve got a lot on him. I know what makes him tick, and I know what will make him retreat. I’m not saying he’ll give up, but I can buy you some time.”
He studied my face. “Prez won’t like it. Hell, I don’t fuckin’ like it. My girls and I just got you back. Not gonna risk a hair on your head.”
I squeezed his fingers. “I know what I’m doing. Thirty years is a long time to learn what makes a man tick, even if he is a psychopath. I can stop this without anyone getting hurt, but you have to trust me. He’ll retreat the second he’s knocked off-kilter. I’m probably the only person in this world who can do that.”
A warm hand fell on my arm, and I turned to see Sophie beside me. “What do you need?” my beautiful daughter asked.
The trust shining in her eyes hit me deep, and at that moment, I felt the invisible thread of connection between us. She was mine. Everything I ever did was to protect this remarkable woman, and I wasn’t about to stop now, or ever.
My head swiveled back to Atlas. “I need you to get Colt.”
Atlas’s mouth twisted into a wry grin, and he began to bark orders.
Sophie turned my body until I faced her. “Atlas will stay with you. He’ll have your back and make sure you’re safe,” her gaze slid toward her husband, “right, big man?”
“Won’t leave her side, baby,” he promised.
My heart fluttered, the block of ice inside me melting a little more as Atlas’s reassurance settled me.
It was crazy, but even with the man who’d abused and manipulated me for years outside, demanding I return to him, I wasn’t afraid. My daughter was safe; he couldn’t use her against me anymore, and I finally had people at my back, even if it was just Colt, Brett, and now Atlas and Sophie.
For years, I’d dreamed of getting my girl back. She was safe, and finally, the day I’d been waiting thirty years for had arrived.
It was time to take down my husband.