CHAPTER NINETEEN
Seraphina
I open my mouth to scream as I’m running through a maze, trying desperately to get away from Angelo. But he’s gaining on us, his voice taunting me as he gets ever so closer to catching me and Willow. I think I’ve got a firm grip on Willow’s tiny hand, but she’s suddenly not there. I look around desperately, but I can’t see her, and she suddenly morphs into my bloody, dead baby. But then Angelo is there, his face contorting into that of a monster.
As I shoot up, disoriented, the room filling with the piercing sound of my scream, a mixture of pain and anguish.
“Willow!” I call out, but she doesn’t answer, as pain spreads throughout my whole body; I look around me, expecting to still be stuck down in that godforsaken basement. But what I see is nothing like that.
I’m in a room, in a soft bed. But am I safe?
My anxiety builds, my heart pounding in my chest, urging me to flee. Something I cannot do, since the pain I was feeling was too great. A sense of relief washes over me as I finally remember where I am.
Suddenly, Ky bursts through the door, a look of worry on his still sleepy, but handsome face. He’s wearing blue pajama bottoms covering his lower half, but his tattooed torso is on full display. He strides further into the room, lowering down onto his knees beside the bed; softly talking to me, trying to calm me down, stroking my damp hair away from my face.
I wince as an unwanted whimper escapes my lips when I try to move, remembering everything that had transpired in the last weeks. The kidnapping, the beatings. Me losing the baby. Ending up in hospital. And now I’m staying with Ky in his home, but not in his bed. He’s put me in the guest bedroom, and that’s where I’ve been since we returned from Florida a few days ago. His large hands cup my face as he forces me to look at him.
“It’s alright. Sera, you’re safe. And so is Willow.” But I can't stop the tears, silently streaming down my pale cheeks, betraying my inner turmoil. He lets me stay like that for a few minutes, and as I calm down, the need to get to the bathroom takes over, but I ignore it.
“Where is she?” I demand, still disoriented, wrapping my hands around his wrists. Completely at a loss at how I got here.
“Our girl is next door with Zoe and Chains. We’re home. We’ve been home for a few days now, remember?” He soothes, and gently wraps his arms around me, I take a long whiff of his scent.
He smells like home.
Everything comes back to me after the fog of sleep and that too real nightmare has lifted. I shake my head and attempt to push him back. We’ve been good these last few days since leaving the hospital and coming home, though I can’t help but notice the distance he’s putting between us. My nightmares having intensified in frequency.
“How can you look at me after everything that’s happened?” I voice the words I’ve wanted to ask for a while now. “Where’s Ink?” I demand. I hadn’t seen him since I had been rescued. It looks to me as though he’s deliberately staying away. But seeing the hurt in Ky’s eyes, my self-preservation kicks in, and I harden my heart. If he’s putting distance between us, then so can I.
It’s difficult for me to believe that everything is going so smoothly that nothing will happen to ruin what we’ve begun building here. I’ve even refused to have my daughter at the house to see me the way I was when I arrived. The bruises have subsided, and I’m hoping I’ll get to see her soon. I’ve missed her something fierce.
I’m not thinking clearly right now, I know that, but I can’t seem to stop myself from plunging the proverbial knife deeper into Ky. He’s been so kind to me since returning to Briar Creek, attentive in every way. We haven’t been intimate, and I doubt he’ll keep me here much longer when he finds out another secret I’ve kept from him. The fact his girlfriend was the one who kidnapped me. All on Angelo’s orders.
“I can look at you because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. And Ink knows his place in your life, and it isn’t as your man,” he growls, shocking me into silence. “He filled me in on all the details of what went down between you two,” he continues, as if I hadn’t even spoken.
“Oh, really?” I snarl, anger and grief over losing my baby consuming me. I didn’t hold Ky responsible. Not really, but if he hadn’t just thrown me away and forgotten my existence for a woman who had already broken his heart once before, maybe none of what happened would have happened.
And that was my reasoning for what I said next.
“Did you know your little girlfriend was the one who kidnapped me and took me back to Angelo?” I bite out. With a swift motion, I snap my mouth shut, cursing under my breath for my momentary lapse. Nothing could be gained from accusing Mariah of kidnapping me. I know for a fact, he wouldn’t believe me, anyway.
I’m waiting for the denials from Ky, but when I don’t hear anything, I lift my head. He hasn’t walked out, and he’s not defending the other woman like I had expected. There is no look of incredulity on his face, nor that he doesn’t believe me. In fact, he doesn’t look surprised at all that I just accused her of kidnapping. His snort of derision surprises me.
“I had my suspicions about her; but no proof until you just confirmed it. Don’t worry, she won’t be hurting anyone ever again.”
“What did you do?” I demand.
But Ky quickly looks away. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with right now. Come on, I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
His words make me realize I was in bed, virtually naked. A quick glance down told me I was wearing a soft, oversized T-shirt. A shirt I put on the night before, a shirt that belongs to the man in front of me. Something I’ve gotten used to wearing at night in bed over the last few nights. It’s then my full bladder makes itself known.
Throwing back the covers, determined to do this on my own. Lowering my feet to the hardwood floor, I thought I was doing well, until I try to stand, and a sharp pain, unlike anything I have felt before, sliced through me, and I doubled over. I would’ve fallen, had Ky not grabbed me in time, my body colliding with his as he holds me up.
“Woah there, sweetness. I’m all for Miss Independent, but I think you need someone to look after you for once. Especially with everything you’ve been through in the last few weeks.”
Unfortunately, I had to agree with him, because I was just too weak to do things on my own.
But I needed to use the bathroom. And now.
So, I let him pick me up and take me to the bathroom, where he deposits my feet on the cold tiled floor.
“You’re not needed for this. I need to pee,” I tell him, refusing to move until he leaves me alone in the bathroom. He gives me a lopsided grin, but otherwise doesn’t move.
“Are you sure you don’t need my help?” he drawls, and I had to roll my eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll call you if I need you,” I tell him.
“Fine. I’ll be in the bedroom,” he announces, before turning on his heel and finally I find myself alone.
Doing what I need to do, I flush, then wash my hands. Before I’m even able to lift the T-shirt off my body, he’s opening the door, and in one swift movement, he’s gently hauling me onto the vanity. The shock of his actions renders me speechless for a beat. Opening my mouth, I intend to give him a spray about being a caveman, but the warning on his handsome face has me snapping my mouth shut.
I try to distract myself from his presence as he helps me undress, instead focusing on a spot above his head, noticing the spacious and masculine feel of the bathroom for the first time. Just like the man in front of me.
With the more skin he uncovers, his jaw clenches tighter, even though a few weeks had passed since I’d left that hellhole of Angelo’s estate, my face doesn’t show anymore bruises. But my body is another story.
I could feel he was barely holding back from wanting to find Angelo. The look on his face told me he was ready to murder the man.
Expecting him to just place me in the shower and leave me alone, I was shocked when he removes his jeans and T-shirt but keeps his black boxer briefs on.
Thankfully.
Tying back his shoulder length dark hair, he silently turns on the water, steam quickly filling the room, as he gently picks me up again, and steps into the shower stall with me.
Lowering me to my feet, I grab onto his shoulders, my fingers dragging along a deep scar there. I knew that was where he had been shot, but I couldn’t stop my fingers from moving against his skin, skimming over the scar. My legs were still feeling decidedly weak, and I was scared I would fall over.
“I got you, sweetness. I love your hands on me,” he speaks softly, but his gruff morning voice instantly makes my pussy weep, mixing with the water that runs down my body. When he grabs a washcloth from the pile of clean towels sitting on the vanity and begins to wash me with it, I can’t hide the goose pimples that cover my skin, or that my nipples are so hard they could cut glass.
But I force myself to endure his ministrations, even when he washes my hair, I don’t protest because he’s so gentle with me, and it feels too good to make him stop. Once he’s done, he grabs a large bath towel and wraps it around my body, after he first used it to dry my hair, providing warmth and comfort. Despite his outward appearance of tattoos and the whole dangerous aura around him, this biker had a gentle side I didn’t know existed.
Until now.
Placing me on the vanity once again, I try not to notice the way the droplets of water cling to his tanned skin, the now wet boxer briefs cupping his member like a second skin. I force myself to keep my gaze on his face, as he gives me a lopsided grin, obviously noticing where my gaze had been, ordering me to stay where I am, as my heart does a little dance. He disappears for a few minutes, returning dressed in a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved black T-shirt, carrying another T-shirt and another pair of sweats in his hands. Putting it over my head, he helps me put it on with minimal movement so I didn’t hurt myself further. His scent lingering on the material, and I had to force myself not to take a long whiff of it.
The sweats are another story, they at least were my size since they were brought to the house by Zoe a few days ago when we got back from Florida, with other clothes and an array of colorful bras and panties.
Even after I’m dressed, Ky carries me back to the bedroom, placing me in bed, just as there’s a knock on the door downstairs.
“I want to see Willow,” I call out as he heads for the door, getting out of bed and standing on my own. My arms crossed over my chest as I wait for him to argue with me. When we arrived back in Briar Creek, after I’d been released from the hospital, Ky brought me straight to his place. Because I’d still had yellowing bruises over my face, it was decided that Willow would stay with Chains and Zoe for the time being.
I didn’t want her seeing me like this.
But that was a few days ago, and I was tired of waiting. I needed to see my baby.
“Let me just see who’s at the door, then I’ll take you.” He placates before leaving me standing there. Shaking my head, I walk out of the room, my eyes ignoring the bed, which I know is brand new, since he’d had one of the prospects throw out the old one and buy a new one and set it all up before our return.
A wave of disgust rolls over me when I think of her in this room, but I can’t help wondering where she is? Did the club make her disappear? Do I even really want to know?
Wiping my mind of all thoughts of Mariah, I make my way out of the bedroom and down the hall to the landing. Slowly and carefully, I make my way down the stairs.
Ky’s standing at the front door, and I watch in fascination as his muscles bunch under the T-shirt he’s wearing, standing at his full height of six three, he walks over to the door, looking through the peephole, the muscles that were taut just moments before, now relax as he pulls the door inwards.
Standing on the other side is Everleigh, and I can’t help my lips curving into a genuine smile.
“Came to see how my patient is doing. If that’s okay?” she says, moving past Ky, her eyes lifting to where I was standing on the last step.
“You’re just in time for breakfast,” Ky says, a mischievous glint in his eyes as his hand brushes mine on his way to the kitchen. A soft jolt of electricity runs up my arm, and I stop myself from rubbing it. That was the first time he has willingly touched me since we came back. I wonder what has changed for him?
“You’ll have more privacy upstairs in the bedroom,” Ky replies, disappearing in the kitchen, as the smells of his cooking permeate from there.
“There’s no way I’m climbing back up those stairs,” I call out to him, hearing him chuckle, the sound makes my panties wet, and I curse him silently.
“None for me, thanks. Your father and I already ate. He’s waiting for you in Church, though. I’ll just look Sera over quickly, from what I can see already, she’s looking much better.” Everleigh says, a smile on her face.
To my surprise, and to hers if the look on her face is anything to go by, Ky walks back into the living room with a plate loaded with bacon and fluffy eggs, placing them on the coffee table in front of me, he wraps her up in a gentle hug, saying something close to her ear that I can’t hear, Everleigh pats him on his bristled cheek, and he gives me a peck on the cheek before he’s slipping into his leather vest or cut as the guys in the club call it. Sliding into his scuffed boots, he strides out the door, leaving me alone with Everleigh.
“How are you feeling?” she asks, sitting on the couch.
“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.” The salty bacon hits my taste buds and I groan, unable to hold back a moan as I shove another forkful of food into my mouth.
Despite my intention to keep things light, Everleigh's serious reaction to my joke casts a shadow over the moment, leaving me feeling awkward.
“I’m so happy that you’re okay. You would’ve died had Ky and the rest of the guys not gotten to you in time,” she replies sadly. “I’m glad he didn’t listen to you and took you to the hospital. Otherwise, who knows in what state you’d be in now,” she replies, her face serious.
I look at her and shake my head, wishing I could forget everything that happened to me. But know that it’s impossible.
“I thought I would never be rescued.” I sniffle, unable to stop the words from spilling from my mouth, tears rolling unbidden down my face. Everleigh sits closer, enfolding me in her arms.
“I was pregnant with Ky’s baby.” My emotions were so overwhelming, I couldn't hold them back, and words tumbled out of me in a torrent.
“I know.” Everleigh says without judgement. “I would like to get to know Willow better, though. And so would her grandfather, If you’ll let us?”
“Of course.” I begin, taking her hand in mine. “I could never repay you guys for what you’ve done for me and my little girl. But I would like to tell her first about Ky, if that’s okay. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”
“Of course,” she replies. “We’re not going anywhere.” It was like a dam bursting open, both of us unable to stop the tears from falling.”
Wiping her face clear of tears, she clears her throat.
“Anyway, the reason I’m here is, at the hospital they started you on a course of antibiotics, but because we got you out of there earlier than they would’ve liked, I’m here to give you your antibiotics orally, as I promised I would do. You need to take them with food,” she instructs.
I nod and give her a small, watery smile, taking the pill from her and popping it in my mouth with a swallow of water.
“I could kill that man with my bare hands.” Everleigh says, her anger boiling to the surface on my behalf. “Even though you may still be sore, most of your injuries are slowly healing, thankfully. After everything you’ve been through, and seeing you after they brought you to the hospital, I’m surprised your injuries weren’t as bad as everyone believed they were. Your ribs are healing, your nose was broken, but that was fixed at the hospital and you look as good as you did prior to everything that happened. The worst of your injury, obviously, is the miscarriage.”
I’m silent for a beat, taking in everything Everleigh just said. I’m surprised Angelo didn’t kill me. But I know as surely as I was sitting here, I would have died had the club not come to my rescue.
I’m really not in the mood to relive the trauma of being taken, so I try to shift the conversation to something less painful.
“Do you think it’s okay for Willow to see me? Ky said he’d take me to see her, but obviously he’s not here now,” I ask.
Everleigh smiles, taking out her phone from the pocket of her jeans.
“Yes, let’s call Zoe, see if she’s home, which I’m sure she is, but as you know, her and Chains are still relatively new at the relationship thing. I’ve walked in on them a few times, doing it on the couch. So we need to warn them we’re coming.”
I can't help but giggle, my heart swelling with the excitement of seeing my little girl.
“Yes, please,” I say, waiting on tenterhooks for her to dial the number.
The phone rings a few times before an anxious and out of breath Zoe answers.
“Everleigh, is Sera okay?”
I made a silent motion for Everleigh to hand me the phone, and when she does, my voice comes out shaky when I finally speak,
“I’m okay.” And I hear my best friend sniffle on the other end of the line.
“There’s my bestie.” She forces humor into her voice, and I know it’s for Willow’s benefit.
“Is Willow there?” I ask, needing to hear my little girl’s voice.
“Of course. Let me just get her. Lexie’s here also, I’ll be right back. Your little munchkin is helping me look after Bella,” she explains with laughter in her voice.
My lips turn up in a genuine smile. It feels like a lifetime since I saw her, and I've been missing her desperately. I was surprised at how easily I could let go of my anger towards Lexie after her treatment of me. But since the kidnapping, and given her apology, I'm open to seeing where our friendship could go.
“Mommy!” my little girl squeals excitedly, and I can’t help the laughter that escapes me. “I miss you! When will I see you?” my little girl speaks excitedly down the line, and fresh tears slide down my face at the sound of her voice.
“Baby girl. I miss you too. Mommy’s home now,” I hesitate slightly with what I want to ask next, because then it would be final, and if something goes wrong, we both would be stuck here. I bite down on my bottom lip, second guessing myself, but then I charge head first. “Would you like to stay at Ky’s house for a while?”
Maybe I should have checked with Ky first before asking my girl about living in his home, but he didn’t give me any choice in where I was going to stay, so he would have to just suck it up.
After a few minutes of excited chatter, we hang up, having made plans for Ky and I to come by after lunch. I’m left wiping tears from my eyes.
We're caught in an awkward silence, Everleigh clearly wanting to ask me something but hesitant. Just then, Ky bursts in, looking furious. Zoe must have spoken to Chains about my planned visit, and he must’ve then told Ky. His eyes dart from me to Everleigh, then back to me, as though making sure I was okay.
“Thanks for staying with Sera.” He turns to Everleigh, addressing her and completely ignoring me. His voice cold.
“Pops wants you home,” he says, throwing his keys into the fishbowl like thing on the hallway table. Everleigh was having a hard time trying not to show her amusement as she gets to her feet.
But my anger was growing exponentially at his rudeness.
Turning to me, she says, “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you.” Then, in Ky’s direction, she fires a shot. “ You , don’t be an asshole.” Before leaving.
Things were uncomfortably quiet for a beat before I whirled on him.
“Do you always go out of your way to be rude and to make others uncomfortable?” I demand, and he chuckles. A sound which makes my pussy immediately all wet and tingly. I shake my head. No, I’m pissed off at him, I can’t feel this damn undeniable attraction toward him right now.
I refuse to.
But it’s something that’s easier said than done. Especially when he continues to look at me the way he does.
He stalks toward me. “Who do I make uncomfortable, sweetness?” he growls, stopping right in front of me. As he draws near, a wave of nervousness washes over me, making my palms damp, and I quickly wipe them on my sweats.
I jut my chin out. “Everleigh,” I say, to which he only chuckles. Again.
“Everleigh can give it as good as she gets. Try again. Do I make you uncomfortable?” He presses, demanding an answer from me. One I don’t want to give.
Clearing my throat, I force my eyes to stay locked on his.
“Hardly.” I scoff. Hopefully, that will get him to back off.
He gently tucks a lock of hair back from my face, just another reminder at how sweet and gentle he can be.
“I think I do,” he replies cockily, and it’s all I can do not to roll my eyes like a recalcitrant teenager.
“Well, you’d be wrong,” I say, more confidently than what I was actually feeling. Wanting to walk around him, as the closeness of his body was doing strange things to mine. His arm bands around my waist, not letting me move.
“You want me to prove it?” His voice lowers even more, making shivers run up and down my spine, and I force myself to stand still. But feeling the unmistakable bulge pressing against the cheeks of my ass, I try to rip myself from his grasp.
“Let me go,” I demand.
“Is that what you want?” he asks, nuzzling my ear, causing goose pimples to appear all over my arms and body. And I’m sure Ky sees them and knows the words out of my mouth make me a complete liar.
“Yes!” I hiss. His arm suddenly disappears, and I have to hold on to the dining table so as I don’t fall flat on my face. I hate the bereft feeling I have when he moves away.
“I’ll wait outside for you,” he replies flatly, walking to the door. “Then I’ll walk you to Zoe’s house.” Confirming that he knew I’d made plans to see Willow, before he opens the door, and with a small click, it closes behind him.
I collapse on the couch, feeling like a bitch. But I can’t think of his hurt feelings right now. I need to see my little girl, and I probably should tell her the truth of her paternity while I was there. Telling her who her father was, is going to break me, because it had been just the two of us for so long. Which is absolutely ridiculous, I know, because Ky would never try to undermine me as her mother.
Getting to my feet, I slide into my Skechers that had been placed conveniently by the door. A soft smile plays around my lips—just more proof of how good this man truly is.
Walking outside, I spot Ky pacing, a cigarette between his fingers as he talks on the phone. When he sees me, he quickly ends the call and stubs out the cigarette on the sole of his boot. I swallow my nerves, wishing my stomach didn’t do somersaults every time I simply saw him.
Silently, we walk side by side the short distance to the house at the end of the street that belonged to Chains and Zoe. I walk up the path toward the front door, just reaching it when I notice Ky had stopped.
Turning to look at him, I know he’s waiting for me to go inside before he turns, intending to leave. Shaking my head, I walk back down the path toward him, a slow smile spreading on my face when I see the confusion on his.
Taking him by the hand, I drag him back toward the door. “We’re doing this together,” I tell him. “I want you to meet your daughter.” With those words, he stops pulling back and lets me guide him to the door.
By this time, the door had opened, and Zoe was standing there, watching our interaction with a look of curiosity on her face. Her hair, like mine, was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, but where my hair was a dark brown, hers was red.
“Good of you guys to finally join us,” she drawls, as a tiny tornado in a frilly dress pushes past her and runs at full speed toward me.
“Watch out for Mommy,” Zoe calls out to the little girl, who stops when she is right by me and hugs my legs. I really want to pick her up, but because my ribs still felt tender, I can’t.
Ky bends down and picks Willow up in his strong tattooed arms. A ball of emotion sticking in my throat when I see them together, knowing what this means. Seeing them like this, I wonder how I ever thought I could keep father and daughter apart when they look so much alike.
“Hey there, baby girl. Mommy’s not feeling well, so I hope you don’t mind me carrying you?” he says to her. She answers by throwing her tiny arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
“Mommy says that we’re going to stay with you from now on,” she says, as he smiles softly at her.
A smile I know is only reserved for her.
I can’t help the blush that stains my cheek after my child outs me to the man I’ve wanted for such a long time. He looks at me, and his mouth tips up into a grin before turning his attention back to Willow.
“Would you like that? To live with me?” She smiles shyly and nods her head.
Ky quickly turns away and heads up the path with her still in his arms. They seem to be already inseparable.
“Good. Because I want that too,” he tells her, hugging her close.
Going inside, Finn is in front of the TV, but when he sees Ky, he jumps up and throws himself at his father. Ky picks Finn up like he and Willow together weigh less than a feather.
I could swear I feel my ovaries explode.
“Daddy.” He beams a smile at Ky, and my heart feels like it’s about to burst. Unshed tears in my eyes.
“Hey, little man, I missed you.” He hugs the boy tightly, and I can see there’s a lot of love there. Pulling back, he looks his son in the eyes and says, “I want you to meet someone.” Finn becomes shy suddenly, leans his head on Ky’s shoulder and stares in my direction.
“This is my friend Sera, she’s Willow’s mom.”
My hand beckons him forward, a bright smile playing on my lips as I wait. The weight in my chest lifts as he accepts, and I exhale deeply, thankful that he didn't reject me.
“Hello, Finn, it’s so nice to meet you,” I say sincerely, before standing to my full height.
Leaving father and son to get reacquainted after being apart for a few weeks, Zoe and I head for the kitchen, a baker's delight, with all stainless-steel appliances and even two ovens.
The smell of cinnamon cookies baking makes me salivate.
“Take a seat.” She offers, motioning to the chairs around the kitchen table.
“Where’s Chains?” Ky asks, leaving Finn and Willow sitting next to each other, playing with Leggo, while Bella sleeps peacefully in her bouncer.
Zoe chuckles. “He’s outside cleaning the grill. We’re planning a club get together next weekend. You guys will obviously be there.”
“Of course,” Ky answers for the both of us, giving me a wink before he saunters out to the backyard.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, motioning to the baked goods covering the island and every available space of the bench top. To my surprise, Zoe blushes.
“I’m branching out. You know how I’ve sold my cleaning business?”
“Yeah?” I say, biting into a delicious cookie.
“Well, I’ve decided to open a bakery,” she announces, and it’s all I can do not to choke on the cookie as I was swallowing. Zoe quickly grabs a glass of water, handing it to me.
“A bakery? Not to offend, but do you even know how to bake?” I ask, once the coughing fit has subsided.
“Yes, a bakery. Of course, I know how to bake, I made that cookie you almost choked on,” she replies, narrowing her gaze at me and crossing her arms over her chest. “Something wrong with that?”
“No! No, of course not, it’s just a big leap, from cleaning up crime scenes to baking cookies. That’s all I meant,” I explain as we stare at each other for a beat, hoping I hadn’t offended my best friend. Both of us bursting into laughter until we’re breathless and crying from it.
“Maybe you should bake cookies in the shape of a body at a crime scene?” I suggest in jest. “That would be a hoot with all the members of the Devil’s Carnage MC.” Another round of laughter, and it isn’t until Chains says, “What’s so funny, you two?”
As the two men come in from outside, we force ourselves to stop. Barely.
“Oh, nothing. Zoe was just telling me of her new venture. I think it’s a great idea. Free baked goods are always a good idea,” I say, sending her a wink. We linger for another hour, enjoying the company, before Ky stands making it clear we were going home.
The excitement on my little girl’s face when she knew we were going to live with Ky made my heart soar, and I felt for the first time that maybe we could make this work. Finn and Willow were both bouncing on their toes. They were so excited about living in the same house together. I was amazed with such a short time together at how easily they took to each other.
Like they knew they were brother and sister.
I reached out to take my girl’s hand, a pang of guilt for not telling her there and then that Ky was her father. As we walk back to Ky’s house, the smell of pine needles hung in the air, as the clubhouse and surrounding grounds were encircled by fir trees. From the outside, anyone looking at us would believe we were the picture perfect family, but we were far from that.
I still held hope that we would be some day.
I don’t even know where Finn’s mother is, if she’s still alive.
I’m nervous about broaching the subject of the other woman. Do I even want to know if he’d had a hand in her death? Especially with her son living with us. Arriving back at the house, it’s still hard for me to call it home, since I’ve only been here a few days, and before that another woman was living here, playing happy family with her and Ky’s son.
Once inside, both Willow and Finn ran upstairs to their respective rooms. I was shocked when I saw Ky had a room prepared for Willow, a princess theme throughout. Something a girly girl like my daughter absolutely adores. When had he had time to do all that, I’ll never know?
“No running up and down the stairs,” I call out, hearing their little feet slowing down. Smiling, I turn to face Ky. A look on his face I can’t fathom.
“Thank you for doing all that for her. It’s beautiful.” I shake my head, refusing to cry. No, there’s been enough of that to last me a lifetime.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, getting the feeling that I wasn’t going to like what he was about to tell me.
“Come sit,” he says, taking my hands and pulling me towards him on the couch.
“Earlier, I had Church with the rest of my brothers. We’ve decided it’s time we went hunting.”
I knew what he meant by hunting. They were going to go after Angelo.
“I wish you wouldn’t,” I whisper, the warmth of his hands in mine a stark contrast to the chill in my voice, my gaze pleading. I can't bear the thought of experiencing that gut-wrenching loss all over again; the memory is still too raw.
“Oh? And why’s that?” he demands. The raw anger in his voice grates on my nerves, sending a chill down my spine. I see the simmering rage just beneath the surface, and it's clear he thinks I'm protecting Angelo, that I have some kind of affection for him, which is why he thinks I'm against him going after my stepbrother.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I inhale deeply, trying to calm my own frayed nerves. Intent on explaining my position.
“It’s not what you think.”
Ky pulls his hands out of my hold, pinching my chin between his fingers, turning my face to look at him.
“What is it then?” His demanding tone, laced with urgency, is accompanied by the intense gaze of his brown eyes piercing into my soul, making me feel utterly exposed.
I swallow nervously as he tracks the movement.
“I don’t give a crap about Angelo, if that’s what you’re thinking. I wouldn’t shed one tear for the man if you were to kill him. But I am worried about you. He’s powerful and has a lot of friends in high places,” I try to explain.
Ky sits down across from me. Leaning forward, he takes my hands in his, and that well known tingly sensation whenever he touches me starts up again.
“I’m well aware of who your stepbrother is. But you need to understand, I have my own ace up my sleeve, and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you, Willow, and Finn safe.”
I glance down, the guilt over not telling him about Willow all these years was overwhelming. But I couldn’t get away from Angelo since he was watching my every move. When next I look up, he furrows his brow in a deep frown.
“But who’s going to keep you safe?” I demand.
“I can look after myself, sweetness. And besides, I have all of my brothers at my back.”
Determined not to lose my nerve, I speak up and finally voice the question I've been avoiding.
“What about Mariah? What about when she comes back from wherever she’s gone and demands her position back in your life? What happens to Willow and I then?” He was crazy if he thought I was going to move into a house where he expected me to be second to his girlfriend.
The woman responsible for my kidnapping.
Understanding dawns on his handsome face, and his full lips split open in a blinding smile that makes my heart pound inside my chest.
Stop it, Sera. You can’t think like that.
Ky stands, his arms crossed over his broad chest, looking down at me.
“Do you really think after everything that bitch has done to me and to you, I’d keep her around?” he demands, and I can tell he’s fighting to keep his anger in check, since the kids are upstairs and could probably hear everything that was said.
I frown, hissing through my teeth, “I don’t know what you’ve got with her. That’s the problem. She spent months with you, in your life and your bed, and I was relegated to a virtual stranger. Maybe you were just keeping me in the wings until Mariah did something you could kick her out for. And then just let me slide into her place.”
I gasp, closing my mouth, horrified that I’d actually say that to him. He chuckles, but it’s without an ounce of humor.
“Tell me how you really feel,” he grinds out, grabbing his cut before heading toward the door.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” I call out, hoping to stop him, my voice full of remorse. But he continues on toward the door, only looking more determined to get away from me. “Where are you going?” I demand.
Without answering, he slams the door shut behind him, and I can hear his motorcycle start up before he peels out of the driveway.
What have I done? Would this be considered our first official fight? Are we even a couple? Since he only addressed me as his friend to his son.
Sitting on the couch for what feels like hours, but must’ve only been minutes later, a knock sounds at the front door. Taking a deep breath, I slowly shuffle to the door, holding onto my ribs.
Opening the door without checking the peephole first, I come face to face with the man who has become my closest confidant besides Zoe as tears of frustration pool in my eyes, making it hard to see clearly. On a whimper, I throw my arms around his neck, burrowing my face in his neck as I sniffle and cry.
“Sera, what the fuck happened?” Ink asks me, before guiding me inside the room and shutting the door.
I shake my head. “It was all me. I said something stupid, and Ky took off. I don’t know where he’s gone.”
Ink looks down at me knowingly. “He does that when he’s pissed. He’ll be back.” He assures me. But I have a feeling I’ve stepped in it too deep this time.
“Where have you been these last few weeks? I thought we were friends?” I accuse.
Looking decidedly guilty, he can’t seem to look me in the eye.
“You and Ky needed some alone time without me interfering. It’s not healthy for me to always be hanging around. Ky and I were constantly at each other's throats, ready to kill each other at any moment these last few months when he thought that you and I were seeing each other. I needed to get our relationship back on track. If I didn’t, being at the club would’ve been untenable.”
Shaking my head, just add another tick to the list of things to feel guilty over.
I wish I was strong enough to pack up Willow and leave. But I can’t; for one, where would we go? My house has burned down, there’s nothing left. And it’s still dangerous out there for us since Angelo has yet to be caught. And for another, the thought of leaving Ky is something I can’t bring myself to even consider.
Willow and I have a roof over our heads, we’re safe and protected. I have a job I love. A man that I hope in time will learn to love me. Why would I leave? I wouldn’t give Angelo the satisfaction of knowing he scares me.
Without thinking, I wrap my arms around his waist, letting the stress of what just transpired between Ky and me leave my body. We stay like that for at least a few minutes, before I decide I’ve had enough moping.
If he wants to act like a broody asshole, then so be it. But I refuse to do it any longer.
“Come on,” I tell Ink, grabbing his hand as I lead him into the kitchen. “You’re staying for dinner, and you’re going to help me cook it.”