Chapter 39
It All Adds Up
Trevor
I’ll haveto thank LaSalle and Tasha for sending Donna away before I could get my hands on her. Collen arrived just in time to get her drunk ass off my family’s property.
Snacks said she let it slip that Cakes and I are engaged. Donna started drinking after that. Then she got pissed at the kids for no reason and forced them into the car to drop them off.
I know in my bones she came to start some shit. The one thing to keep me from leaving that barn to choke the shit out of that woman and wait for the cops to come get us both was that fact that I have the woman I want, and she might be carrying our child.
When I almost knocked Cakes down in my rage, I snapped out of it. I could have hurt her and our unborn child. I’m tired of hurting her, hurting us.
“I love you, Miss Lynn. I’m so glad you’re gonna be our mama,” Scoot says as Lynn throws a blanket over him.
The kids all wanted to sleep in the living room together. Snacks was shaken up until she fell asleep not too long ago. I’m still pissed off. This was too far.
It’s one thing to fuck with my life and to mess with the love of my life. To place my innocent children in harm’s way is another thing. Donna is a monster.
Lynn brushes Scoot’s hair back and kisses his forehead. “I love you too. It will be an honor to be your mama. You go to sleep now. I promise it’s going to get better.”
My heart nearly bursts with joy as I watch this woman with my children. Her heart is so big. She didn’t have to accept any of my children. Yet she’s come to love all four, and they love her the same.
“Don’t worry, Daddy.”
I turn to look at Jess as she comes to my side with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. My heart breaks again for her ruined day. Of all my children, Jessica has been through the most.
“She will never hurt you or any of us again. You always deserved so much better. If she doesn’t care about our lives, why should we care about hers?
“She’s gonna get what’s coming to her. Enough is enough. I’m protecting my family,” she says almost to herself.
I pull her into a hug and kiss the top of her head. She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight. I hold on tighter as she begins to sob.
“This ain’t your burden, darlin’. Daddy made a mistake, and I’m so sorry you’ve paid for it. Hush now. Don’t waste your tears,” I choke out into her hair.
“But you didn’t. This isn’t your fault—” She cuts off and blows out a breath. “You know what? It’s late. Can we talk in the morning?”
“Sure thing, baby girl. I’ll make you breakfast after my run.”
“Uncle Brad told me how you thought you’d never walk right again in your life. He told me how hard you worked to get back to using that leg as if nothing ever happened.
“One day it will be the same when it comes to my mama. It will be like she never happened. Monroes are strong, we can take a loss and come back pushing. I love you, Daddy,” she says and lifts on her toes to kiss my cheek.
“I love you too, Jess.”
She turns and goes to cuddle with her little sister as they all lie around the living room. Lynn comes over and places her hand on my chest. I look down into her eyes, not able to say what I’m thinking.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” she says and nods her head toward the bedroom.
“You go on. I want to kiss them goodnight one more time,” I say.
“Okay, take your time.”
I peck her lips and watch her go before I turn to my children and go to tuck them in. Bam is knocked out snoring. The sight brings a smile to my face. I kiss the top of his head.
Turning I look down at Scoot. Toby has a hot temper like mine. I’m glad he didn’t see me fully lose it today.
My eyes burn with unshed tears. She could have killed my babies. I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around my son.
He has so many dreams and things he wants to do with his life. She could have taken all of that away from him so carelessly. Not because she loves me and is hurt that I’ve fallen for someone else, but because she lost access to my money, to me.
Pulling myself together, I stand and kiss the top of his head before moving over to do the same with Jess and Paige. I take one last glance around the room and thank God all my babies are still breathing.
When I walk into the bedroom, Lynn is already in bed. I crawl up the bed and place my head on her lap. She starts to run her hand through my hair. I close my eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“Not at all. I don’t understand what the fuck she could have been thinking. They’re fourteen. Still my babies. If she would have …” I can’t even say the words.
“Breathe, babe. If we have to, we can file for a restraining order. Toby and Paige already said they don’t want to be around her.”
“I want her to disappear. I wish she would go away. I’m so fucking tired,” I breathe.
“Then rest, baby. I’m right here. You can let go for a while. I’ve got you. I have your back,” she says softly.
“I don’t know what I would do without you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. You will never know what life is like without me again.”
I close my eyes and begin to drift off as she continues to comb her hand through my hair. Enough time has to have passed between the night I choked Donna and now. I want her gone.
* * *
Lynn
My big strongman has fallen asleep with his head in my lap. Today I got to see just how broken he’s become because of that woman. This isn’t the Trev I know.
There’s something this Donna doesn’t know. Since we were younger, Pook and I took care of Trev as much as he took care of us. I have never played when it comes to Trevor Monroe.
When girls would tease him about his braces, I would set them straight anyway I had to. I used to get my butt whooped for fighting over Trevor. Back then, everyone thought I was fighting over my big brother. No one knew I had a crush on my sister’s best friend who was like a big brother to me.
While he’s no longer like a big brother, some things will never change. Those babies are a part of Trev, so she’s not about to play in my face when it comes to them either. She can drink herself into oblivion for all I care, but she will never think to take one of those babies and get in a car again as long as I’m breathing.
I run my hand down Trev’s back. He groans and rolls over, settling on his side of the bed. I bite my lip and climb from the bed.
As quickly as I can, I make my way to his office. All I need is an address. There has to be something in his office with her address on it.
I’m going to beat the dog shit out of her when I find her. She hurt my family today, and I’m not about to let that slide. I check the first few drawers in his desk and find nothing.
It’s when I get to the bottom drawer that I become hopeful. There’s a notebook that looks promising. I reach for it and notice the file folder beneath it. My gut tells me to grab the file.
I place it on the desk and flip it open. “Bingo,” I whisper as I find a picture of his ex-wife along with her personal information.
I grab a sticky pad and jot the address down. When I’m done, I go to close the file and a picture floats out. I look at the picture and gasp.
“What the fuck?” I hiss.
I pick the picture up with trembling hands. It’s Walter. What the hell is a photo of him doing in a file on Trevor’s ex? I flip the file back open and begin to read through it. My blood boils the more I read.
“That bitch hired Walter to rape me,” I seethe. “Oh my God, she was behind the oil contracts and the feed infestation.”
I flip the page and a sob almost rips from my lips. I can’t believe what I’m reading. This is insane. She’s insane.
Who in their right mind would do all of this? I jump as the door opens. I look up to find Jess.
“Hey,” she whispers.
Looking at her after what I just read makes so much click into place. She knows. She knows Trev isn’t her father. That’s the burden she’s been holding, the secret she’s been hiding.
“You know, don’t you?” I say as I hold her gaze.
“Huh?” she says nervously and comes around the desk to see what I’m looking at.
She leafs through the pages with a shaky hand. I watch the side of her face as she scans the pages. Tears begin to spill down her cheeks.
“I knew he isn’t my dad. I didn’t know any of the rest of this. I know Cousin Corinne helped her, and I know Cousin Cliff is my real daddy. I’ve been calling him Uncle Cliff since I was a baby, but he’s my real daddy.”
“I’m so sorry, honey,” I say.
She reaches for the sticky pad. Then she looks at me. I close the file to return it to the drawer I found it in.
I get the feeling Trev has never gone through this information. I wouldn’t have been able to stop him today if he knew all of this. My head is still spinning.
“What were you planning to do?” Jess asks as she fingers the address.
“Beat the dog shit out of her. Just like I promised,” I deadpan.
“I have keys to the old house. I can let you in. It doesn’t look like my favor will be answered.”
I blink at her in confusion, not knowing what she’s talking about. What favor? I shake the thought off. I could use the keys.
“I’ll drive, but you stay in the car.”
“I’m okay with that. I don’t ever want to see her again. We should set the place on fire with her in it.”
I look at her and lift a brow, trying to figure out if she’s joking. It’s not hard to imagine that she’s not. I’ve heard her say she feels like nothing because of what her mama has done.
My anger only rises as I think of her words once spoken. Yeah, I’m not going to sleep until I whoop this woman’s ass. That’s for sure.