Chapter 48
Eve
So similar to what I did ten years ago, we left Wade’s warehouse behind as it was lit up in flames and burned to the ground. News reports from Florida called it a ‘mysterious accident’ but we knew the truth. We had burned down a monster and his make believe kingdom.
I cried when I saw Abel again, his little face red from tears as he ran towards me on the tarmac.
Wylder’s friend, Carolina, had kept Abel as calm as she could while the guys went to get me, but she said he had cried almost the entire time they were gone.
She said the only time he stopped was when her husband, Tank, took him outside and taught him to shoot.
Wylder laughed and hugged them both, thanking them for watching our son.
It was then that I realized not only have I gained four more lovers, but my son had gained four fathers – and I couldn’t be happier. It makes this so much easier.
After we picked up Abel, we went back to the house to finish packing.
A long talk on the plane helped us decide it was best if we went ahead to New York.
Denver was tainted with the presence of Vivianne and Wade.
Plus, Atty, Kor, and Ro had to get back to work sometime.
Work being overthrowing Aldo’s hold on the Valente throne.
Now, a week later, we’re on the plane once again but this time it’s heading to the other side of the country – to New York.
It didn’t take long for us to finish packing up the house and load into the plane, especially since Atlas had men he could order around to do it for me.
I made sure to have my shed and portraits packed up before they could see them, though.
I’m ready to show them the one piece of me I’ve kept hidden, but not until we’re safe and sound in New York.
Terry was a problem though. He hates his carrier and nearly scratched Roman to pieces as he tried to coax him into the travel bag with nothing more than a can of tuna. I think Roman’s hurt more emotionally than physically.
Work was easy for me to pack up and leave after Atlas took care of Thompson.
I’m not sure what he did to have the judge drop the charges, but I wasn’t going to ask, and thankfully neither was my boss.
Sawyer was happy to leave me with a smile and a glowing letter of recommendation in case I ever wanted to practice again.
Shit. My head spins toward Wylder, “What did you do about work?”
“ Well – “
“Dude. What do you do for work?” Roman leans in his chair, eyebrows bunched together in confusion as he looks over at Wyld. “I’ve never seen you go to work. Or even take a work call.”
Wylder laughs and reaches over to rub my shoulder.
“It’s because I didn’t have to. After I left the military, I started taking private security jobs with some other guys from the club.
Usually doing one every few months gives us more than enough money to get by.
I don’t have to work them myself, though.
” He turns to me, “I’ll just get an additional business license for New York and let the guys run things in the Colorado office.
It should be fairly easy,” His eyes cut over to Kortez, “Especially if a certain computer wizard speeds the process along.”
Kor gives him a nod, “Send me the info and I’ll have it done as soon as we land.”
Silence doesn’t last too long before Abel is speaking up with his own questions. “Dad, what’s the school like there? Do they have cool parks? Can you take me shooting again?”
Atty’s eyes turn to me, “If it’s okay with your mom, I was thinking we would homeschool you for a bit.”
I want to interject. Abel loves school, and I promised him we would find a boy scout chapter to join in the city, but I see the fear in Atlas’s eyes. We may be moving back to New York for Atlas’s resources, but the other monster is still alive and thriving in that city.
“Does he know we’re coming?” I haven’t been able to bring myself to ask yet. I just finished one fight for their lives and we’re about to be plunged neck deep into another one.
It’s Kortez that answers, his fingers typing away on a laptop sitting on the bar in front of him. “We only told Atlas’s most trusted people. Everyone else thinks I’m bringing Roman home for a meeting with Quin.”
“Who is Quin?” Wylder leans forward in the seat beside me, his military training kicking in as he tries to gather all the information he can.
“He handles our clubs in NY. It’s a good cover since I usually handle our club business.” Roman leans over the bar and grabs a few beers from the fridge. He passes two over to Wylder and I on the couch before getting one for himself and sitting down in the chair across from Atlas.
They seemed surprised to see the plane put back together when we got on in Florida. Apparently, Atlas and Kortez had thoroughly trashed it before they landed.
I turn back to Atlas after taking a sip of my drink. “You don’t think it’s safe enough for him to go to school?”
Atty shakes his head, “Not until I handle my father. After what just happened…he has a lot to answer for. The elders won’t be happy either.”
Abel looks up from his place on the ground. He brought a black suitcase full of cars into the cabin with us and has been playing for hours. “My grandpa?”
Atlas’s face falls as he looks down at our son. “Yes, but he’s not a good man, Abel. He wouldn’t be a very good grandpa.”
I see our son deflate between us. “I kind of wanted another grandpa. Most kids have two. I only have David and Brenda.”
Wylder reaches over and ruffles Abel’s hair with a chuckle. “Only? You’ve got two sets of grandparents now.”
Roman speaks up from his seat, “My parents will love you, Bel. They’ve been wanting a grandchild.”
His words make my hand fall down to my stomach, butterflies erupting at even the thought of another.
Atlas gets down on the floor beside Abel and our son immediately gives him a few cars to play with. “My mother will love you, though, Bel. She’s nothing like my father.” I can see Bel chewing on his lip, a trait he no doubt picked up from me. “So, I have two grandpas?”
I join them down on the floor and steal one of Atlas’s cars, making him look up at me with mock anger written across his face. “Exactly – and three grandmas.”
“Wow.” Him and Atlas prepare a race with their cars, and I take the time to look around the cabin.
When Bel was first born, I hated that he would never have a large family.
It’s all I wanted when I was younger. I wanted a mother’s touch and a father to teach me the tricks of life.
I wanted grandparents to spoil me and siblings to argue with.
It looks like Bel will get all of this and more.
“Good evening, Mr. Valente. The plane is approaching the runway. Please prepare for landing.”
At the captain’s words, we all find a seat and strap in.
Abel’s cars begin to roll about the cabin as the plane begins its descent, making everyone release a small laugh.
When the plane finally rolls to a stop, we all unbuckle and begin picking up the cars and putting them back into Bel’s suitcase.
I think I hear Roman muttering something about his ‘custom Prada’, but it’s not clear enough to make out.
A gunshot sounds through the plane. I scream and lunge for Abel, putting his body behind me as Atlas shoots up with a gun already in his hand. Kortez joins him as Roman and Wyld step in front of me and Bel.
The cabin door opens and I hear Roman release a soft curse. Atlas’s body tenses even further and Kortez spins a knife in his palm. Wyld reaches his hand over for a gun that Roman immediately slides into his waiting palm.
“Mom?” Abel’s voice wobbles as he grabs ahold of my shirt.
“Well, it looks like my son has finally returned.”
Aldo Valente.
“Don’t you mean both of your sons?” Atlas’s voice is dripping with venom as he spits the question at his father.
I can’t see around their bodies, leaving my only view of Aldo to be the bottom of his suit and his shiny black loafers. His voice, though, is enough to send shivers down my spine. “I was wondering who set fire to my old warehouse. It was you, wasn’t it?”
No one says a word as Aldo’s shoes move a step closer. “You brought friends.” He hums as he comes to a stop only about a foot away from Atlas. “And…a woman?”
Kortez stops his knife spinning as a gun cocks and breaks through the silence that followed Aldo’s question.
“Don’t be stupid, Kortez. Move out of my way before I have to shoot you.”
His demand is greeted with more silence.
“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I shoot up, Abel’s hand gripped tightly in mine as I shove through Wylder and Roman. “Wait!”
“Eve, don’t.”
I ignore Atlas and make my way to the front. I keep Abel behind me, but I feel his head pressing into my back as he tries to look between me and Kortez.
Aldo looks exactly like what I thought he would.
He’s got Atlas’s dark eyes, but his hair has begun to gray at the roots.
You can tell he used to be strong in his prime, but his body has begun to lose the muscle.
He’s wearing a dark gray suit with a white shirt underneath.
A spot of blood stains the collar, probably from whoever he shot to get on the plane.
His head tilts to the side as he looks at me, his gun still trained on Kor’s chest. “You. I thought we got rid of you a decade ago.”
I give him a smirk, “I don’t scare easy.”
He hums and looks over to Kortez, “Hmm. You brought her here?”
Kortez’s body begins to shake as he stares at Aldo, refusing to answer his question. Atlas pushes Kor behind him as he answers his father and grabs my free hand. “I did.”
Aldo squints his eyes as he lowers his gun. “Why?”
I feel Roman’s breath against my ear as he leans forward to whisper to Atlas and I. “We’re surrounded. Don’t do it.”
Atty squeezes my hand before answering his father. “We’re engaged. We’ll be married soon.”
It’s not Aldo’s voice that answers and instead a small, excited voice coming from behind me. “You’re getting married?”
I tighten my grip on Abel as Aldo’s eyes dip down to the small hand clenched in my own. A wicked smile flits across his lips as he crouches down. “And who are you?”
Looking down, I realize he’s looking directly between Kor and I where Abel’s small face is in view. He must not have realized him before now.
“Abel.”
Aldo waves his fingers, “Come here, son.”
Kortez finally moves, closing the gap between us so Aldo can’t see Abel anymore.
Aldo chuckles and stands, looking over at Kor. “Move, Kortez, or I’ll have Zahail come in and move you for me.”
I feel the tremble go through Kortez as Atlas curses. “Come here, Bel.”
Abel releases my hand. I turn to Atlas, my eyes wide as he brings our son in front of us.
“I’ve got him, Eve.” His murmur is low enough that his father doesn’t hear as he moves closer to look at my son.
“Well, well. You’re a Valente if I ever saw one.” Aldo looks up at Atlas before turning his head to look at the still trembling Kor. “Which one of you does he belong to?”
“Me.” Atlas wraps an arm around Abel’s shoulders and pulls him close. “He’s mine. I found them while searching for Roman.”
Aldo laughs, “Yes, your cousin is always getting into trouble one way or another.” His eyes look over me and no doubt land on Ro standing against my back. “Roman, your parents will be so happy you’re home.”
Roman grunts as Aldo turns back to Atlas. “So, you brought her and your son home.” He nods. “Good thinking. The elders will appreciate your willingness to settle down. They’ve been searching for a bride for you and your brother. I’ll let them know we already have one of you taken care of.”
Anger simmers in my blood at Aldo’s words. “No.”
He looks down at me with raised eyebrows and a smirk on his lips. “No? My dear girl, I don’t think anyone has ever told me no before.” He turns to Kortez with a questioning look. “You have your hooks in both of them, don’t you?”
I don’t say anything, but he takes it as an answer, giving me a single nod before looking over at Wylder on Kor’s other side. “Who are you?”
“He’s with us.”
Atlas’s words have Aldo’s grip on his gun tightening. “Interesting that you leave to get Roman and come back with a new friend.” His eyes drop to me. “And a family.”
The cabin is quiet as he mulls over his words. “Well. They’ll be at home at the estate; I have no doubt. Come, let’s get you settled in.”
Kortez finally speaks as Aldo begins to turn around. “We aren’t staying with you.”
Aldo stops in his tracks; his back turned to us but still holding all the power in the room. “Of course you are, Kortez. I would have to kill them otherwise. They know too much to be set free now.” He gives a soft laugh. “You’ve damned them.”
He walks from the cabin and each of us releases a breath. “Do we have to go?”
Kortez grunts as Atlas squeezes my hand and begins to follow his father. “Yes. We just have to bring him down from the inside.”
I follow Atlas with our son between us and my heart beating too loud for me to hear any protest. My hand falls to my stomach as we exit the plane, guns drawn on us as we follow Aldo to the waiting SUV’s.
We killed one monster just to be thrust into the den of another. Now we’re trapped. I’m getting married.
And I haven’t even told the guys there’s another baby to protect.