12 Weeks Later
KASH
Time and life itself seemed to stop the day I was tossed into the hole.
Being alone for such a long time with no interactions or glimpse into the outside world would probably fuck any normal person up, but not me.
Between the immense injuries I got from the laundry room and the years worth of exhaustion from performing, I was able to spend most of my time sleeping.
And when I wasn’t sleeping, I was focused on controlling my anger and trying to focus that inner rage.
I replayed the memories of Motley and I together and lost myself in this odd utopia of peace.
It was shockingly refreshing. The only reason I wanted out was to be able to see and speak to my family.
Ever since I was thrown in here, I was denied that luxury. It fucking sucked.
“Hey, hothead!” I jumped at the guard’s sudden shout. “Let’s go!”
I watched as he unlocked the door and waited for me to follow him. “I-I’m leaving?”
He nodded. “Guess the boss thinks you learned your lesson. Let’s go!” The boss?
Oh shit. Did Xavier live?
The guard silently led me from the hole through the jail and past my cell. Juke waved to me as we walked by. He kept walking until we reached the cafeteria. “Take a seat.” The guard motioned to the cafeteria table.
“Am I waiting for someone?” He grabbed my arm and forced me to sit. “Fuck, I was just asking a question.”
The guard walked away as he muttered something to himself. I sat there and waited anxiously for Xavier to arrive. One of the jail doors behind me opened, and my spine stiffened. I listened to the sound of footsteps as they walked nearer.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit! Okay, in and out. Deep breaths. In and out.
Xavier began to whistle, and I immediately recognized the tune. “Wait.”
I spun around to see Motley standing there, his long curly hair pulled up on top of his head, and wearing an orange fucking jumpsuit. He stopped whistling and grinned. “I hear you’ve been a real hothead, songbird.”
Motley.
I had to blink over and over again to ensure I wasn’t going crazy. But it was real. He was real. Motley was here.
He walked around the table and sat across from me. “Don’t tell me the hole made you mute. Now, that would be a real tragedy.”
“Motley. But how?”
He leaned across the table and kissed me.
I panicked and pulled away as I searched for the guards.
Oh shit, now we're going to be in real trouble! “Relax,” he purred. “Now, get back here and fucking kiss me.” He grabbed my face and kissed me again, and this time, I didn’t pull away.
I kissed him back. It had been so long since I kissed him.
Whimpers of longing and yearning for him melted into his mouth as we kissed. God, I fucking missed him.
“Motley,” I whispered his name between kisses. “Not that I’m complaining, but—” His tongue grazed the top of my mouth. “Why are you here?”
Motley groaned before pulling away and smiling. “Well, I actually have you to thank for that.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “I expected you to cause some trouble being locked up in here, but never did I think you’d go after Xavier! I mean, what the fuck, Kash?”
My hands reached out and grabbed his. “He wanted to make you come back.”
“And so you decided to stab him in the neck with a sharpened toothbrush.”
I flicked my eyebrows. “I made you a promise, Motley. And besides, the toothbrush wasn’t even my idea.”
Motley laughed. “No, but it was a good thing you had it.” His fingers rubbed my hands. “You could've died, Kash.”
I nodded. “At least you’re safe.”
Motley shook his head. “Yeah, well, it’s my turn to protect you.”
I scoffed. “Oh yeah? How so? By being locked up in here with me? Real smart, drummer boy.”
Motley looked at me as if he knew something I didn’t.
Like he was in on some joke. “Me being here is the best way to protect you, now that I’m the head of my old gang.
” My eyes widened at what he just said. “I know, right? Trust me, I never thought I’d end up back in that damn thing, but here I am. ” He shrugged.
“Motley.” I pulled my hands away and grabbed my head. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. Fuck!” My leg shook, and I closed my eyes.
In and out.
Motley shook his head and tried to calm me as well. “Hey. Hey, it’s okay. Take a deep breath.” He watched me carry out the techniques he’d always used on me all by myself. “Kash, you–you’re doing it.”
I nodded with my eyes closed. “Being locked away in a dark, tiny room all by yourself gives you all the time you need to focus on your shit.”
In and out.
“I’ve spent most of my time trying to do just that.” After a couple moments, I felt my nerves settle and opened my eyes.
Motley was beaming. “I’m so proud of you.
And you have no reason to apologize. Xavier is dead, Kash.
” So he did die. “Once news of what you did spread, the entire gang began to panic. There was no one to take his place. So, after talking with Twila, I decided to take over. Most of the members welcomed me back, and those who didn’t just needed a little persuasion.
” I raised an eyebrow. “Relax. I just paid them a generous sum to win their approval. After the transfer of power was official, I simply picked up where Xavier left off, but under my own conditions.”
“So that’s how you got here?” I asked.
Motley bit his lower lip. “Actually, a small petty crime landed me here.” He tapped the table. “But it’s nothing I can’t get out of.”
Fucking Motley.
“So, let me get this straight. I went to jail, happened to end up in the same
one as Xavier?—”
“Yeah, that was apparently planned.”
I shot him a look. “Well, that backfired, didn't it? I killed him to protect you, nearly died, only to come out and find out you’re the new gang boss, and you purposely stuck yourself in jail just to tell me all this?” I scoffed and grabbed my head. “Fuck. Is there anything else I missed?”
He took a deep breath. “Actually.” Motley stuck his hand into the pocket of his jumpsuit and slid a small folded piece of paper across the table to me.
“Oh, what is this?” I picked it up and whipped it around. “More fucking photos? Are we being blackmailed? Again?”
“Just shut up and open it.” Motley laughed.
I shook my head and began to unfold the paper. “ I swear, I leave for—” My body froze as I stared at the image in my hand.
Oh my god.
“You were in the hole for twelve weeks. Before that, you were here for about two more. Count back and well.” Motley tapped the top of the black and white image. “You’re looking at like eighteen or so weeks.”
My mind was scrambling. “What–what is this?” I knew what it was, but I didn’t know what else to say. I was too shocked.
Motley stood, walked over to my side, and took a seat next to me. He took the small photo from my hand and gently placed it down on the table. “It’s this new thing called an ultrasound. Pretty wicked, right? Apparently, they can now take photos of babies inside their mother’s wombs.”
So many fucking words.
“Motley. Whose baby is this?” I tapped the ultrasound.
He smiled so big. “Ours.”
Ours? Wait. Does that mean ? —
He tapped my temple. “Think about it, Kash.” He picked the small ultrasound up and pulled it close. “You should see Twila. She’s fucking glowing, Kash.”
Twila is pregnant. And the baby was ours.
“Twila is pregnant. And we’re going to be dads?”
Motley gently gripped my chin and leaned in close. “We’re going to be dads. Now, go get your shit.”
“What? Why?”
Motley’s mouth hovered over mine. “Because we’re going home, Kash. Our family needs us. And our baby needs its dads. Both of them.”
God, I wanted to kiss him. So fucking bad. “But, Motley. How?” I asked.
He smiled again. “What’s the point of controlling a large gang with deep connections in the justice system if I can’t use it to get you out of jail?”
Oh my god.
“Motley.”
“I love you, songbird.” He kissed me.
My body melted into his, and I kissed him back. Tears of overwhelming happiness flowed from my eyes. I wasn’t just free to go home, but I was free to be with the man I loved. And now, we were going to be a family. Forever .
“I love you, Motley. I fucking you so much.”