CHAPTER TWENTY
Avery
T
he steady blip of a heart monitor pulls me from the shadows of unconsciousness, each beep a soft tug tethering me back to the land of the living. For a moment, I’m not sure if this is another cruel hallucination. But then I hear it—a gentle, feminine voice coaxing me through the fog.
“That’s it. You gave us a little scare,” she says softly, as she checks something near my side. “But don’t worry. You and the baby are both healthy. We’ve already contacted your father. He should be here soon.”
My lower lip quivers before I even feel it, the first crack in my barely held-together exterior. I don’t have time to process her words—her warmth, her relief, the miracle she just dropped on me—before familiar voices slice through the air like lightning.
Shouting.
“Are you sure it’s her?” my dad bellows from somewhere beyond the door, desperation and disbelief tangled in his voice like barbed wire.
My heart lurches in my chest. Then more voices join—deeper, frantic, overlapping.
My guys.
Each voice distinct, panicked, frayed at the edges. Their footsteps echo off the walls, rapid-fire questions being thrown at someone—probably the doctor—as they rush closer.
Then they’re here.
The door bursts open like a dam breaking under pressure, and the air shifts with the weight of their presence. Jaxton. Kamden. Liam. Lennox. Their eyes search wildly until they land on me.
And just like that, the room goes still.
Four sets of eyes widen, breathing halts. Then, in unison, their gazes drop—to my belly.
Their stunned silence crashes into me harder than anything Sarah ever did. They weren’t expecting this. Hell, I wasn’t expecting this. Not like this. Not here.
Confusion. Shock. Anguish. Wrath.
Every emotion I’ve cycled through over the past few months paints itself across their faces in real time.
Then my dad steps forward, his expression sharpening into something dangerous. Protective. Misguided.
His eyes darken as he studies me—my face, the bruises, the swollen stomach—and I see the moment he fills in the blanks all wrong.
“Who had you, darling?” His voice is low, trembling—not from fear but from fury. “Who did this? Who got you pregnant?”
Oh no.
He thinks—he thinks someone hurt me in a way even worse than what I endured. He thinks I was violated.
My mouth opens, ready to correct him, to tell him everything—the truth, the love, the miracle. But the words die before they form, caught in the tangle of emotion swelling in my throat.
All I manage is a breathy, broken whisper. “Daddy…”
It’s enough.
His face crumbles, tears already streaking down his cheeks as he drops into the chair at my bedside. One of his large hands wraps around mine, the other covering his mouth like he’s afraid to sob out loud.
His forehead rests against the back of my hand as our tears mix—his falling like broken promises, mine soaking into the hospital sheets as months of fear and pain dissolve into something new: hope.
I cling to his touch like it’s a lifeline. His voice trembles as he speaks again, thick with emotion.
“Are you okay? What happened, darling? Who took you?” He swallows hard, like it hurts to ask. “How… how are you pregnant?”
I glance up at the others—my guys—my heart, my family. They're still frozen, silent, taking it all in. Jaxton looks like he’s been sucker punched. Kam’s jaw is clenched so tight I’m afraid he might crack a molar. Liam and Lennox exchange glances, shock giving way to something darker. Fiercer.
They don’t move yet. No one does.
But something deep inside me stirs—something stronger than panic, stronger than grief. A flicker of fire. Of home.
I survived.
The story pours out of me again, just like it has a dozen times already—to the doctors, the police, the nurses—but this time, it’s different. This time, it’s for them. For the men I love. For my dad. My voice shakes but doesn’t break as I recount every horrifying, twisted detail of the months I spent in that hellhole. Because they need to know. They deserve the truth.
“Kitten…” Jaxton chokes out, his voice raw and tight as he leans in, pressing his forehead gently against mine. The moment our skin touches, something in me unwinds. My eyes flutter closed, and I breathe him in. His scent, his warmth, the familiar rhythm of his breath—it’s all here, wrapped around me like a cocoon.
“We thought we lost you,” he whispers. “We missed you so damn much. I love you. God, I’m so sorry. I should’ve—”
I hush him before he spirals, pressing two fingers gently to his lips, stopping the guilt before it can take root and grow.
“Shh,” I whisper, my voice soft but firm. “None of this is your fault. None of it is any of your faults. I don’t want any of you carrying guilt for something that wasn’t in your control. I’m here. I’m safe. We’re safe.”
As I speak, I reach for Jaxton and Lennox, who are standing closest. Gently, I guide their large, calloused hands to the swell of my belly. The connection between us crackles to life—emotional, physical, soul-deep. Lennox gasps softly, his fingers trembling against my skin. Jaxton holds his breath, eyes wide with awe.
“And…” I add, smiling through the rawness in my throat, “we’re both healthy.”
That’s when Liam steps closer, his movements hesitant but full of longing. Kamden follows without a word, his face unreadable but eyes burning with emotion. They each press a hand to my belly, joining their brothers in the sacred moment.
Four massive, protective hands now cover the entirety of my stomach, forming a warm barrier between me and the rest of the world. And like my little bean knows exactly who’s touching them, they give a solid little kick—then another—like they’re dancing under their fathers’ fingertips.
All four of them freeze. And then, wonder flickers across their expressions.
“Was that…” Liam’s voice cracks as he stares at my stomach like it holds all the secrets of the universe.
“Yeah,” I whisper with a small laugh, tears pooling in my eyes. “That was your baby saying hi.”
Jaxton presses his lips together and shakes his head like he can’t believe this is real. Lennox wipes at his eyes without shame. Kamden’s jaw tics, but his hand remains steady. Liam leans in and kisses the side of my head, a silent promise wrapped in the briefest of touches.
The tension in the room—the fear, the grief, the helplessness—all breaks in that moment. Replaced by something else. Something sacred. A piece of light in the middle of the darkness we’ve all been living in for far too long.
I look at each of them, taking in the cracks in their armor, the pain etched into their features, the fierce love they wear so openly. These are my men. My soulmates. My forever.
And this little bean? This baby is the best part of all of us.
“We’re going to get through this,” I whisper, voice trembling but certain. “Together. No matter what comes next.”
Their nods are silent vows. Unbreakable.
And for the first time in months, I feel whole again.
“Sarah was a monster,” I say slowly, my voice still hoarse from everything I’ve endured, “but no one assaulted me.”
I pause for a breath, my hand resting instinctively on the curve of my belly. “This baby is ours ,” I continue, looking at the four men surrounding me— my men—with so much love it aches. “I don’t know exactly who the father is… not yet. But with the timing, it’s probably Jaxton or Liam.”
My voice catches slightly as I shift my gaze toward my dad, whose face is a mix of overwhelming emotion. My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I offer him a sheepish glance—a silent apology for having to talk about my sex life in the middle of a reunion, especially with a black eye, cracked lips, and my hospital gown hanging awkwardly off one shoulder.
“Sorry, Dad,” I mumble with a wince. “Didn’t mean to dive too deep into the logistics.”
But instead of discomfort, his deep, raspy laugh fills the room like a balm to my soul.
“Darling,” he says, shaking his head with a watery grin, “I don’t give a shit what you talk about. You could sit here and read a damn anatomy book out loud for all I care. I’m just…” His voice breaks, and he wipes at the corner of his eyes with the sleeve of his flannel. “I’m just beside myself that you’re here and safe. And now…” He laughs again, more like a shocked exhale. “Now I’ve got me a grandbaby on the way.”
The room warms with the quiet hum of love and disbelief.
He glances around at the guys—Liam, Kamden, Lennox, and Jaxton—each one still hovering near my bed like they can’t bear to step more than a few feet away.
“The boys and I have gotten pretty damn close while you were missing,” Dad continues, his voice rough with pride. “And I couldn’t be prouder of the life you’re building. These men… they didn’t just stick around—they showed up . Every single day. For you. For me. Hell, for your plants.”
A watery laugh bubbles up from my chest, followed by soft chuckles from the guys, and I reach out to grab my dad’s hand again. This time, it’s me who clutches him like a lifeline.
“We’re gonna be okay,” I whisper, half to him, half to myself, like if I say it enough, it’ll sink into my bones and settle there for good. “We’re home now. And this little bean…” I rest my palm against my stomach again. “This baby is already so loved.”
Jaxton leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. Kamden strokes his thumb across the back of my hand. Liam and Lennox share a knowing look, that silent conversation brothers have when words fall short.
And in that moment, despite the bruises, the trauma, the healing still ahead—I know one thing with absolute certainty:
We’re going to be a family.
And no one—not Sarah, not fear, not even time—can take that away from us again.
“Our baby? Kitten… you’re saying we’re going to be dads?” Jaxton’s voice is low, stunned, like he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing. The question lingers in the air, suspended between disbelief and wonder.
A soft giggle escapes me, surprising even myself. The sound is a breath of life—light, familiar, and mine . It reminds me of the girl I used to be, the one who laughed freely in the sun. It feels like the first piece of myself I’ve gotten back. “Sure am, Daddy,” I tease, voice thick with joy, even as my body aches. And the flare of desire in Jaxton’s eyes tells me he felt the new title down to his soul.
A breathless laugh tumbles out of him. His eyes shine with a thousand emotions as he leans in, brushing his lips against my forehead, reverent and tender. “We’re going to be dads,” he murmurs again, like he’s trying to make it real with the sound of his own voice.
But then, the glow in his expression dims. A shadow clouds his face.
“Sarah…” he says carefully, his tone laced with disgust. “She told me the baby was mine, too. I never believed her. I already ordered a paternity test, but I just—God, I swear, she was sleeping with half the damn city. I should’ve never—”
“Jax,” I interrupt, resting my fingers gently over his mouth. “Stop.” My lips curve into a small smile. “She lied. Once she realized I was pregnant, she hatched a plan to steal the baby and pass it off as her own. She had fake sonograms. The whole thing was a setup.”
Relief slams into him like a tidal wave, and for a moment he’s speechless. Just breathing. Just feeling .
Lennox’s jaw clenches next to him, the muscle ticking with unspoken fury. His grip on my hand tightens, protective and firm. “She’ll pay for everything she did to you, Bee. I swear it.”
I sigh, the weight of everything still simmering beneath the surface. “Get in line,” I mutter dryly, my voice scratched but steady.
“Let me closer,” Liam blurts, stepping forward like a man starved for sunlight. “I need my fix.”
I laugh softly as he nudges Jaxton aside and buries his face in my hair, breathing me in like a man drowning finds air.
“Liam…” I whisper, voice hitching when emotion tightens my throat. “I probably smell horrid.”
“I don’t care,” he mumbles against my skin. “You’re here. That’s all that matters.”
He pulls back just enough to press a kiss to my knuckles, his eyes glassy. “I thought I was holding everyone together,” he admits. “I really did. I thought if I stayed strong, the others would too. But I was barely holding on, Bee. Every morning I’d walk your damn yard just to feel close to you. Just to breathe.”
“I missed you all so much.” The words are barely a whisper, but I know they hear them. I see it in the way they stand straighter, as if my presence puts their world back on its axis.
Liam brushes his thumb along the top of my hand. “We love you so damn much. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“I don’t,” I whisper. “Not for a second.”
Lennox is next, slipping in like the calm after a storm. His eyes are rimmed with red, but there’s light in them now. “You scared the shit out of us, Bee.” He leans down and nuzzles me gently, the way he always used to when words weren’t enough.
“I’m sorry,” I breathe. Not because I did anything wrong—but because I wasn’t here. Because of everything we lost in the time I was gone.
He brushes a strand of hair from my face. “When you’re well enough to come home, we have a surprise waiting in the yard.”
My brows pinch in curiosity.
“We finished it,” he says, pride tinging his words. “The whole landscape design you’d been working on? We did it exactly how you planned.”
Tears flood my eyes. “You didn’t…”
“Oh, we did.” He smirks. “Every last detail.”
My laughter mixes with my tears, equal parts joy and heartbreak. “You guys…”
At the foot of the bed, Kamden stands silently, arms crossed, his face carved with tension. Unlike the others, he hasn’t said much. But I feel him. His restraint is a mask barely hiding the storm underneath.
“Kam…” I say softly.
He finally steps forward, his expression shattering. He kneels beside the bed, brushing his thumb under my eye like he’s memorizing the curve of my cheek.
“I failed you,” he says, voice low and broken. “I didn’t protect you. I didn’t see what she was doing. I let you walk into her trap.”
“No,” I say fiercely, gripping his wrist. “Don’t you dare say that. None of this was your fault. You all did everything you could. And I never gave up… because I knew you wouldn’t give up on me.”
His gaze falls to the swell of my stomach, then lifts to meet mine. “You sure the baby’s okay?”
I nod. “Perfectly healthy. Strong. Just like their dads.”
He lets out a long breath. “We’re going to raise that baby with more love than they’ll know what to do with. You, us, Grandpa Dan—all of us. That kid’s going to be surrounded by love every single day of their life. I promise you that.”
“You better,” I whisper with a teasing grin. “Because I’m not doing diapers alone.”
The room erupts with laughter—the real kind. The kind that carries warmth and life. The kind I haven’t heard in so long it almost hurts.
A moment later, my dad returns to my side, placing a warm, steady hand on my shoulder.
“You’re home, baby girl,” he says, voice thick with emotion.
And as I look around at the men I love—the ones who fought for me, who waited, who never let go—I know without a shadow of a doubt…I’m finally home.
A throat clearing draws our attention. It takes a few tries before we actually notice the nurse standing just inside the room, hands folded gently in front of her chart. Her presence is unobtrusive, respectful—but necessary.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she says with a kind smile, stepping closer. “Just checking in. Are you in any pain, sweetheart?”
I shake my head slowly, the movement slight as I sink a little deeper into the warmth and safety surrounding me. “Not really,” I reply softly. “My muscles are a little sore, but I think that’s just from the baby… and maybe being chained to a floor for months,” I add with a touch of dry humor.
Liam’s hand tightens slightly over mine, his palm covering my stomach with gentle reassurance. The others don’t say anything, but their presence grounds me, their protective energy wrapping around me like a weighted blanket.
The nurse nods, her expression sympathetic. “That’s perfectly normal. After everything… your body’s bound to be holding tension in all sorts of places. The doctor will be in soon to check everything over. You’re doing so well.”
I nod, appreciating the softness in her voice. She’s one of the few strangers I’ve seen since escaping that hell, and her gentleness doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Do you need anything before I go?” she asks, glancing around at the guys, then back to me. “Ice chips? Another blanket? Something for the dryness in your throat?”
I hesitate for a beat, but then offer a small smile. “No, thank you. I think I’m okay for now.”
She nods again, giving me one last reassuring glance before slipping back out the door, pulling it gently closed behind her.
And then it’s just us again—me and my family. Their eyes never leave me. Their hands never stop touching me. And for the first time in a long time, I feel safe enough to close my eyes… even if just for a moment.
The door swings open, and a man in a white coat steps in, his smile warm and professional, flashing a row of perfect pearly whites. “Good afternoon, Miss Dawson,” he greets, clipboard in hand. “How are you feeling?”
I shift slightly in the bed, careful not to jostle my bandaged leg too much. “Sore,” I admit, “but good otherwise.”
He nods. “That’s to be expected. And the baby? Still keeping you on your toes?”
A small laugh bubbles out of me, and I glance down at my belly where one of the guys' hands still rests protectively. “Yes,” I answer with a smile. “Still kicking.”
The doctor chuckles along with me, then flips through a few pages on his clipboard. “You’ve been through an incredible ordeal, Avery. But I want to reassure you—you’re remarkably healthy, considering everything. We’ve cleaned and bandaged your leg, started you on a round of antibiotics to keep infection at bay. And here—” he hands over a few glossy printouts, “—are the ultrasound pictures we took earlier.”
I take them with trembling hands, the image already bringing tears to my eyes. My bean perfectly formed. Our baby.
The doctor’s voice softens. “The baby is doing beautifully. Strong heartbeat, healthy growth. Did you want to know the sex?”
The room goes quiet as every set of eyes turns toward me. My heart skips. I wasn’t expecting the question—not now, not like this—but the idea sends a flutter of excitement through me. Still, I’ve waited this long. What’s a little longer?
I shake my head slowly, a smile tugging at my lips. “No. I think... I think I’d like it to be a surprise.”
“Surprise it is,” the doctor replies with a smile, jotting a note. “Now, we’d like to keep you overnight for observation—standard protocol, especially after everything you’ve endured. But if all continues to look good, you’ll be ready to go home tomorrow.”
A sudden wave of emotion crashes into me. Home. After all this time.
“Where will you be staying?” he asks, glancing up.
“Oh, um—my house,” I say, blinking, almost unsure how to answer such a simple question after months of captivity.
His eyes lift from his notes, assessing. “Will you be alone?”
Before I can get a single word out, five male voices respond in unison. “No.”
My mouth opens in stunned amusement as the doctor laughs, clearly startled by the coordinated answer.
Kamden steps forward, arms crossed, expression resolute. “She won’t be alone. We’ll all be staying with her.”
The doctor nods approvingly. “Good. She’ll need help—physical and emotional support. It’s going to be an adjustment, even with her strength. She’ll need time, and people who love her.”
I glance at each of them—my guys, my anchors, my home—and my dad, who looks like he’s ready to build an empire just to protect me. I don’t say anything, because I don’t need to. Everything I feel is written on my face.
“I’ll leave orders for pain management and continue your antibiotics,” the doctor continues. “But if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call the nurse. You’ve already done the hard part, Avery. Now we focus on healing.”
My body sags into the pillows with relief. “That sounds amazing.”
He gives me a kind smile. “I thought so, too. But before we all get too comfortable…” He glances over his shoulder at the door. “The police are here. They’d like to speak with you again, if you’re up for it.”
The words make my stomach twist, but I nod. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
The doctor pats my arm gently, then slips out of the room, leaving behind a quiet hum of tension as we all prepare for what’s next.
As soon as the doctor slips out of the room, the door swings open again, revealing two unfamiliar men in dark suits. The one in front speaks first, his tone professional but gentle.
“Avery Dawson?”
My pulse skips as I straighten slightly. “Hi, yes. That’s me.”
“I’m Detective Jensen, and this is Detective Swanson,” he says, motioning to the other man beside him. “We’d like to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right?”
I nod, but confusion furrows my brow. “Sure... but I already gave my statement.” I assume they’re following up on the information I gave earlier.
Jensen shakes his head. “We’re not here for that. We’re here to talk to you about Sarah Hearst.”
Sarah Hearst. Hearing her full name makes my skin crawl. “What about her?” I ask carefully, already on edge.
It hits me all at once—I never even thought to ask what happened after I escaped. I’ve been so focused on getting back to safety, to my family, that I didn’t think to ask the one question that now makes my stomach churn: Is she dead or alive?
Jensen hesitates, glancing at his partner. That pause alone tells me everything I need to know.
“She...” He exhales and delivers the blow. “Once you were taken to the hospital, the police conducted a full search of her house. But she wasn’t there. She escaped before we could detain her.”
My body goes rigid. “What?” The word barely escapes as my heart slams against my ribs like a prisoner trying to escape. Panic sets in so fast, it threatens to drown me.
“What do you mean she wasn’t there?” My voice cracks. “I knocked her out. I watched her fall. She was bleeding everywhere . She couldn’t have just... disappeared!”
A heavy wave of nausea rolls through me. She’s out there . Breathing. Plotting. Waiting. My mind spirals with all the ways she could come after me—or worse, the people I love.
Dad is already halfway out of his seat, anger radiating off him in waves. “How the hell did you let her get away?” he growls, the protective father in him barely restrained.
Swanson steps forward. “We’ve issued an APB and locked down the hospital perimeter. We’re checking security footage and interviewing everyone on staff. An officer has been stationed at your home and will remain posted there until she’s apprehended.”
I shake my head, trying to hold it together, but the anxiety is spreading like wildfire. “She could be anywhere. Watching. Waiting.”
“What about my dad’s house?” I ask suddenly, dread filling my lungs.
“We have someone stationed there as well,” Swanson assures, his voice steady. “All of your known addresses are being covered.”
But that assurance doesn’t soothe the terror gripping my chest. They’ve already let her slip through their fingers once. She’s smart—manipulative. Capable of vanishing without a trace.
Kamden’s jaw is tight, his arms folded across his chest like he’s one second away from going full beast mode. “No. She’s not going back to her house,” he says with conviction. “We’ll secure a floor at the hotel Jaxton stayed in. The suite is secure, top floor, limited access. We’ll set Dan up in a room on the same floor. She’ll never be alone. We’ll lock down that entire floor.”
He looks at me then, his gaze softening as he brushes a loose strand of hair away from my face. “Private security, 24/7. Nobody gets in or out without our say. I swear to you.”
A lump forms in my throat, but I nod, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief. I want to be surrounded by them—all of them. Only then do I feel even an ounce of safety.
Jensen nods in agreement. “It’s a smart plan. We’ll keep officers on-site at both homes, just in case she returns to one of them.”
The conversation continues between the guys and the detectives, but my thoughts start to drift. The fear is still there, lurking like a shadow in the corner of my mind. But their voices—their presence—keep me tethered.
When the detectives finally leave, Kam returns to my side, his presence grounding me like it always does. He doesn’t say anything at first, just gently takes my hand and kisses the back of it.
I glance up at him, voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think they’ll catch her?”
His eyes meet mine, dark and full of promise. “She’ll never hurt you again.” He presses his cheek against the top of my head, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I curl into him, breathing in his warmth, but the tremble in my voice betrays me. “I’m scared.”
His arms tighten around me, holding me like he’ll never let go. “You don’t have to be—not anymore,” he whispers back. “Because she’s the one running now. And we’re not stopping until we end this—for good.”
And in his arms, with all of them surrounding me, I believe him. For the first time since my escape, I start to believe I really am safe.
Even if the monster still lurks in the shadows…
I’m not alone in this fight.