22. Ren
22
REN
A sense of normality sets in as I take my seat at the long dining room table. My parents and Luna sit beside me while Xander sits at the head of the table and his family across from us. My mom is finally back to normal now that Luna was returned to us unharmed. She is smiling brightly at me, the spark in her eyes returned.
Ella also seems unusually happy today, probably because she feels like the family is finally whole again. She’s always seen me as a bonus kid, at least that’s what she told me many times. I wish I could share their joy without restrain. Unfortunately, there is still so much darkness surrounding me. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Rebecca and William are finally dead, though I still feel like there is unfinished business. New Haven still exists, and though their once leaders are gone, the Russian mob is simply going to appoint someone else to do their bidding. I know it’s not my problem, and I shouldn’t feel responsible for them, but I also can’t just let it go. Young kids are still being picked off the street just like Luna and I were randomly chosen. Those kids are still going through hell every day just to be sold off to the highest bidder when they’re grown up.
The maids bring the first course out to the table. A bowl of savory smelling creamy soup is set in front of me. As I reach for my spoon, my father clears his throat.
“Now that Luna is back safely, Sophie and I were thinking about returning to our home. We were also hoping to take Ren with us.”
I drop my spoon on the table. That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Shocked, I look over at my father, wondering why he didn’t ask me first. I guess he just assumed I’d want to go home. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Scarlet shake her head profusely.
Before Xander has a chance to answer, I blurt out, “I’d rather stay here if that’s okay with you.” I meet Xander’s surprised expression.
“Is that so?” Xander asks, looking between my father and I. “I’m surprised you want to stay.”
“Dr. Stone is here, and I doubt she would make the drive out to our house every day.”
“I want Ren to stay here as well,” Scarlet chimes in, making her father scoff in annoyance.
“Is that the only reason you want to stay?” Quinton questions.
No . Is the short answer. I want to stay because I still want to take down New Haven, and I know I need Xander’s help to do so. I also know it’s not going to be easy to get his help with this. He won’t just start a war with the Russians, without a good reason.
Instead of bringing up my real reason now, I go for another half lie.
“I also want to stay here because it’s safer. If I turn into River there are guards and a cell downstairs.”
“Or I can just kick your ass,” Quinton jokes.
“You can try,” I snap back, making us both grin.
“I don’t mind you staying,” Xander finally announces, though the tone of his voice is hesitant.
Relief washes over me. I wasn’t sure if he would be okay with this. Especially not with Scarlet here.
“I’d rather have you home with us, but I understand why you want to stay,” Mom explains. “I’ll be happy as long as you are happy.”
“I think it’s a good idea that you are staying,” Ella chimes in. “It will be good to have you boys back together. Just don’t try to burn the house down again.”
“That was one time, Mom.” Quinton laughs. “And it was by accident. When will you let that go?”
“When you promise never to try to cook on your own again.”
“I swear we’ll let the cook prepare all food from now on,” Quinton promises, making everyone at the table laugh.
This is nice, a normality I never thought I would experience again. I glance over to my parents and see the same sense of contentment I’m feeling reflecting back at me. Luna smiles at me, she feels it too.
“Have you thought of any baby names yet?” Scarlet asks, her eyes bouncing curiously between Quinton and Aspen.
“We haven’t decided yet, but we have a few names on the short list,” Aspen explains, excitement filling her voice. “For a girl we like Emma or Emily and for a boy we like Tristan or Briggs.”
“Oh, I like all of those names,” Ella beams. “When will you find out what you are having?”
“At the next ultrasound in two weeks. I’m so excited. I can’t wait.” Aspen grins from ear to ear.
I still can’t believe Quinton is going to be a father. It’s hard to imagine him wanting to be one, but looking at his proud smile now lets me know he is just as excited as Aspen. I guess Q has always been full of surprises. When we first came to Corium, I never thought he would have a girlfriend, let alone a wife. Here he is, happily married with a kid on the way.
The rest of the dinner is spent discussing more baby topics like the upcoming baby shower, the decorating of the nursery, and choosing the safest car seat. None of which I’m particularly interested in, but I enjoy watching all the women’s enthusiasm about the addition to the family. A family I didn’t feel like I would be part of ever again—until today.
By the time we finish dessert, the sun has set, and my parents are ready to leave to go back home. My mom comes and hugs me first, followed by Luna and my father. After everyone says their goodbyes, Scarlet comes to give me a hug as well.
She brings her mouth to my ear to whisper, “I’m going to take a shower, and I’m going to make myself come while thinking of you.”
My cock stirs in my pants at her raunchy confession, and my mind is instantly filled with an image of her fingers stroking her pussy. Calm down, boy . I tell my impatient dick.
“Maybe I’ll sneak into your room after,” Scarlet keeps whispering into my ear seductively. “And I could suck—” I break the hug, knowing if I keep listening to her, I’ll definitely walk out of here with a boner. I’m sure Xander will change his mind about me staying rather quickly if he sees me hard after hugging his daughter.
Scarlet giggles before spinning around and exiting the dining room.
I’m about to follow her upstairs when Quinton steps in my way. “Hey, about earlier. I just wanted to say thanks. You didn’t have to take a bullet for me, but you did without thinking.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, like it was no big deal. “I just didn’t want to hear you whine about a bruise all the way home.”
“Sure,” Quinton slaps me on my shoulder. “Just say you’re welcome and move on, asshat.”
“You’re welcome, prick.” I slap his shoulder back.
“I wanted to thank you too,” Aspen says, coming up beside us.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I tell her honestly. She doesn’t owe me anything after what I did to her. “If anything, I owe you an apology… for what I did at Corium.”
Quinton stiffens at me mentioning the past. He is still not completely over it, and I don’t blame him.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s water under the bridge. But just so you know.” Aspen takes a step closer. “If you do anything to hurt Scarlet, I’ll kill you myself… slowly.” She smiles sweetly while rubbing her round belly, as if she didn’t just threaten me with a violent death. I guess she is a Rossi after all.
“I swear I won’t do anything to hurt her,” I promise. Quite the opposite; I would do anything to keep her safe.
Aspen nods, seemingly satisfied by my response, she takes Quinton’s hand and pulls him away. I watch them walk out of the dining room before following them a moment later.
I walk upstairs to the guest room that has become mine. I’m only a few doors away from Scarlet’s room and the dirty fantasy she put in my mind runs rampant in my head. I wonder if she is taking a shower right now, touching her wet little pussy thinking about me. Is she moaning my name? I’m so curious, I almost walk past my door to get to hers.
Forcing myself to behave, I stop at my room and open the door. I walk in thinking about taking a quick shower myself. It’s probably a good idea with my cock being so hard. Cold shower it is, I decide.
Peeling my clothes off quickly, I make my way into the attached bathroom, turning on the cold water in the shower. I step under the spray right away, letting the icy water cool my heated skin. I stand under the spray until my dick is completely deflated, and my muscles ache from the cold. When I step out, I wrap myself up in one of the large, fluffy white towels. This is much nicer than downstairs. I’m glad Xander trusts me enough by now to let me spend my time up here. And with no stress to worry about, I hope River won’t appear again anytime soon.
Thinking of my split personality makes me remember the notebook the doctor gave me. With everything going on, I haven’t had a chance to even look at it. I haven’t written anything in there myself, but I wonder if River has.
I dry off my hair and pull on a pair of sweats before I seek out the notebook sitting on my bedside table. I open it up and see my familiar handwriting on the first page.
Ren,
I’m starting to think she likes me more than you. Why else would she come so hard when I fingered her through the bars? She was so fucking wet for me when I called her my little slut and promised next time I would fuck her ass. Maybe you need to fuck her better and then she’ll tell you all her secrets like she tells me. Unless she’s told you about the baby growing inside her already.
River
I read the note twice, then a third time, letting the words sink in slowly. There is too much to digest in these few lines, and they’re so monumental I’m not sure if I can believe them.
Did my angel really lie to me again? Betrayal settles in my stomach like a deadly poison. Jealousy, shock, and a sense of loss mingles in my chest. I don’t know what to think or what to believe. Can Scarlet really be pregnant with my child? We didn’t use protection, and we had plenty of sex, but why wouldn’t she tell me, and why would she tell him? Does she really like that side of me better? The bad side? Does she like it when I hurt her and degrade her? Or is River simply playing mind games again? Although he hasn’t lied to me, at least not that I know of. Could this really be true?
My mind spins. And it won’t stop until I know the truth.