Chapter 63
Chapter Sixty-Three
THE HEATHEN
One Week Later…
I’m outside with my men taking in the evening sky when I spot Bianca coming towards us with Raven and Athena on either side of her. My focus is on the baby in Bianca’s arms and I can’t control my excitement. I squeal with excitement as I run to her. Raven holds his hand up, telling me to stop.
“Do not break my wife or my son, you damn psycho.”
Bianca rolls her eyes at him as I hold up my middle finger with a grin.
“You love me, Raven. You just don’t know it yet.”
He grumbles to himself, but I hear him, and judging by the grin on my friend's face, she does too.
“You’re a particular taste that I have not acquired.”
I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be an insult, but I laugh anyway as I reach for their baby.
“Let me see my nephew.”
I take him into my arms as Bianca says, “Radyn, meet your Aunt Heather.”
Olivia and Radyn are so close in age, and it hurts a little to think about watching him grow through the years and not even knowing where she is.
I glance at Athena, who stands staring at me like she’s trying to read my mind.
“I’ve made a decision. I’m just not ready, as much as I want to be.”
Radyn fusses slightly, so Raven takes him from me as I focus my attention on Athena.
“We want to show you something and explain an idea we have.”
Bones walks over from across the field on his property and nods to her. My men stand beside me as if they know what’s going on when I definitely don’t.
“There were a lot of kids rescued from the cult. Honestly, we didn’t know what to do with all of them.”
She laughs an uncomfortable laugh.
“Let me show you, maybe it’ll make more sense then.”
I follow Athena as she walks hand in hand with Bones to the large building on the other side of their expansive property.
Killian and Carter walk beside me with Knox following close behind.
Always moving as if they are my security team.
It used to bother me, but now I like it because I know for them, losing me is the worst-case scenario.
It’s not done to control me but protect me.
Athena places her hand on the doorknob and turns to me, appearing nervous.
“This is your family, so your say is final. I don’t want you to feel like I’m stepping on your toes. I just want to help.”
Now I’m nervous, and I still don’t have a clue what the hell she’s talking about.
And then I walk into the building behind her, and all the air escapes my lungs.
I cover my mouth with my hand as tears fall down my cheeks, and Carter grabs onto me, holding me up.
There are children playing, but it’s not just any children. They are my family. The tiny survivors.
“This was my idea. We keep them here. Right now we have a full staff helping, but we can hire more as needed. And all the Bonetti wives will take one day a week here as well. You can help too, or not, whatever you’re comfortable with.
They will get an education and more love than they can stand.
We will provide everything for them. Including therapy. ”
I glance around at the groups of children playing.
The older ones are playing board games while the younger ones build with blocks.
I spot a little blonde girl by herself, appearing lost, and it’s like looking at a younger version of myself.
Children change quickly, and it takes me a while to recognize her, but when I do, it’s like being smashed in the face by a truck.
“Rebecca.” I gasp. My chest hurts as I remember seeing the picture with Jedediah on top of her.
Athena nods as her gaze moves to her.
“She won’t talk. Not a word has been spoken since she came here. We have a specialist coming in. Dr. Maggie Spears specializes in undoing cult damage. It won’t be quick, but they can heal. We have.”
I ask the one question that I cannot wrap my head around.
“Why would you do this?”
Athena takes my hand in hers, “Let’s talk away from the kids.”
She takes us outside to a beautiful patio with a large table, complete with umbrella and chairs. We sit down and she blows out a shaky breath.
“I know what it’s like to grow up with constant abuse.
My father never claimed to be a prophet, but other than that, he was a lot like your father.
I grew up in a cage without access to anything.
It’s a long story, but my point is this.
I understand what these girls have been through, like you do.
If they were to enter the foster care system, what becomes of them?
They will never get the counseling they need to heal.
Fast forward several years, and they’ll be broken girls alone in this world.
Girls who experience sexual abuse in childhood are ten times more likely to become suicidal.
As many as thirty-eight percent of little girls sexually abused experience assault in their adult years.
Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so. I believe predators have a sense within them, these girls are marked as victims for life.
I want to change that. It’s a passion project for me.
Changing the lives of all victims of sexual abuse is impossible.
But this, we can do. We can help these girls.
Like I said before, it’s ultimately up to you. ”
I throw my arms around her and cry on her shoulder as the relief floods me. Honestly, I expected them to be turned over to foster care and that I’d never see them again.
“What about Olivia?”
She glances at Bones and he nods.
“We will raise her with us and if the time comes when you’re ready to take her that’s fine.
You can see her as much or as little as you want.
If you choose to not be in her life, that’s okay too.
As she grows, we’ll be mostly honest with her.
She’ll know we are not her parents. We will keep the details to ourselves. ”
Killian pulls me into his arms as I sob.
“I want to be ready, but I’m not.”
He strokes my hair tenderly, but it’s Carter’s words that make me feel heard and seen.
“You get to be selfish, Little Heathen. Your entire life has been focused on saving others, protecting them from things you had no control over. It’s okay to put yourself first for a change. The kids matter, but you matter too.”
I shake my head with disbelief.
“Is this life now? I went from being all alone, and now I have all these people around me? Supportive people?”
Bones grins at me.
“It’s called family, Pipsqueak. Welcome to the family, where you belong.”