Chapter 19
Van
“You ever gonna put him down?” Pike asks when I walk back into the main room and sit with the little guy in my arms.
“Not plannin’ on it. Besides, he likes it when I hold him,” I retort with a grin. One I couldn’t stop from crossing my face even if I wanted to.
“You like this?” Mask asks, nodding toward the baby.
“Yeah. I wasn’t sure I would but damn, holdin’ him feels right, brother. It all feels right.”
“Then you keep that, Van. You keep your girl and that little boy,” he says, nodding to him once more.
“I plan on it. I also plan on killin’ the motherfucker who touched them,” I inform him.
“I figured that.”
“When need to find his ass first,” I tell him. He nods his head and takes down his beer before glancing around the room. Then he drags his gaze back to mine.
“You know, I never thought I’d see the day you’d settled down with anyone.”
“Why is that?”
“You were a fuckboy, Van. You fucked and walked away. Hell, you did that with half the girls here,” he reminds me.
“Not anymore.”
“Better not be anymore.”
“I’m good, Mask. I want Chy.”
“I can see that. Gave that baby your last name,” he muses.
“Yeah, I did for more than one reason.”
“Which are?”
“He isn’t touchin’ them. He isn’t gonna throw around I’m the father like it’s nothin’. The other reason is because they’re mine.” I hear the tiny gasp behind me, and I know it’s Chy. I turn my head, look over my shoulder, and see her standing right behind me.
“You okay?”
“I can’t sleep,” she tells me. I nod and shove out of the chair I’ve been sitting in and walk over to her. I lean down and press my lips to the top of her head.
“Come on.” I walk back down the hall with Chy behind me and back into the room. I know she’s tired. I can see it all over her face. Once we’re inside, I motion for her to get back in the bed, and she does, but not without a little protest first.
“I’m really fine,” she says.
“You’re really tired,” I tell her as I drag the bassinet right next to her side of the bed. I lay Nate down in it and snuggle him under a blanket while she watches me. Then I kick off my boots, walk around the bed, and climb in behind her. I get as close to her as I can and wrap my arm around her body, keeping her close to me.
“God, I missed this,” I tell her.
“You did?”
“Fuck, yeah, I did. You think I didn’t miss you, Chyanne?”
“I didn’t know what to think. It was all so much. I was so scared, Van. He kept me chained to a bed.”
“It’s all over now. He’s never gonna touch you again, baby. I promise you that much.”
“Are you sure about all this?”
“I’m very sure about this. Now sleep before I spank your sore ass,” I tease. She laughs and pushes back into me as I sigh and hold her.
Soon, I hear her breathing even out, and I know she’s asleep. I close my eyes and try to catch a nap with her.
Nightmares come, and I can see him. Derrick. I know it’s him, and he’s close. Too close to her. To the baby. I don’t want him that close. I try to move, but it’s like I’m in quicksand. My legs are heavy as I try to take a step toward them. I call out to her but she can’t hear me. I struggle to move my legs as he raises the gun and aims it at her. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I take in the scene in front of me, knowing there’s nothing I can do. I try to pull myself free of whatever is holding me in place, but it doesn’t work. There’s no use.
Then he pulls the trigger, and Chy falls to the ground. I scream, but nothing comes out. There’s only silence as Derrick picks up the baby and walks away. I look down, and there she is, slowly sinking into the quicksand. I reach for her just to be startled awake. I almost want to thank God for waking me up.
I blink my eyes rapidly and see that Chy is still in my arms, sound asleep. I lift my head and see Nate still sleeping in his bassinet, and I sigh in relief. Fucking dreams. It was vivid and so scary. The only thing it did was solidify the fact I was going to kill him. I’m going to end his life for trying to take hers.
I don’t know how long we stay cuddled up like this when I hear Nate start to stir. Chy pops up quickly and sits on the edge of the bed, ready to grab him.
“I could have done that,” I tell her. She looks over her shoulder at me and smiles.
“You have been doing it. It’s my turn,” she tells me. I nod my head, not wanting to step in her way, but I also want to help so she can rest. It’s such a strange turn of events. I never thought I’d want this. I never dreamed I’d have this, and here we are.
I sit up and scoot against the headboard as she gets to work changing his diaper and wrapping him in his blanket. Then she makes him a bottle and feeds him while I sit back and watch her.
“You’re already a good mom.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, I do. I think you’re doin’ great,” I tell her. I know she needs to hear it, and I’ll be the one to tell her.
“You too, Van. I know this wasn’t what you had planned for your life, but you are great with him and me, too. I can’t say thank you enough.”
“I’m just glad I’m here and can help.”
“Me too.” She smiles. It’s everything. It’s just a smile to her, but to me, it’s everything.
“I need to go talk to the guys. You need anything?” she shakes her head.
“We’re fine. Go talk.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. We’re good. We aren’t going anywhere, Van.”
“That’s the damn truth,” I tell her as I slide out of bed and shove my feet back into my boots. I walk around the bed and kiss her before I leave the room.
When I get in the hallway, I sigh. I’m glad Chy’s back. I’m glad she’s safe. But I need to know Derrick is out of the way. I need to know he isn’t going to be around her anymore, and he won’t have the chance to touch her or our baby.
I walk to the main room and find the guys just hanging around, and walk over, dropping into the first free chair I can find. That’s when Nicole walks over.
“Is she awake? I didn’t want to bother her,” she asks.
“She’s awake. Feedin’ Nate. Go on in.” She nods but doesn’t walk away just yet. Instead, she stares at me strangely. “I get it, Nic. I’m happy to have found her.”
“She’s my best friend, Van. I wouldn’t be able to handle it without her,” she tells me.
“Well. I don’t plan on lettin’ her go, so she’s gonna be around more often.” The smile that crosses her face brightens the room.
“Thanks, Van.” I nod my head once and watch as she walks off toward the hall.
“What’s that about?” Free asks when he passes me a beer and sits in the chair next to me.
“Just happy she’s still around.”
“Heard that. How you holdin’ up?”
“I’m good, brother. A little tired, but I’m good.”
“What’s it like? Havin’ a little one like that?” he asks.
“It’s weird. He’s so small but needs so much attention. Chy though, fuck, Chy is amazin’. She has it all handled.”
“And you?”
“I’m … happy. Fuck, brother, I’m happy as hell. Holdin’ that little boy in my arms after watchin’ him grow inside her? That’s the best feelin’ in the world. I wouldn’t change that at all.”
“So she’s stayin’?”
“She ain’t goin’ anywhere,” I tell him proudly. She’s mine, and I plan on keeping her here for as long as she’ll stay.
“Then let’s talk about this asshole of hers,” he says.
“He’s a piece of shit. Likes to hit her. Only wanted the baby when he took her. He kept her chained to a bed,” I tell him what she’s told me.
“What kind of sick fuck does that?”
“Him. He’s the sick fuck. I don’t know how we’re gonna track this one down, Free. He walked away from the hospital. I can only imagine he knew I was there after seein’ you guys in the hallway. He probably got spooked and ran.”
“He should run. He’s gonna wish he was runnin’ when we get a hold of him.”
“Heard that. Now it’s just findin’ him. She doesn’t remember exactly how to get to the house he had her at. She has a general idea, though.”