“You’re pretty stupid to taunt the man who will likely burn your dick off,” Nolan chuckles as Seth’s face turns ashen.
“Good idea,” I smirk.
“Wait!” he cries out. “It was Karen. It was her idea. I didn’t even want the brat when her parents died, but Karen said it would be a good way to get back at her brother for having everything when she had nothing. My wife was filled with jealousy over her brother's family because she couldn’t have kids.” Bringing the flame closer to his dick, I stop when he screams, “I’m telling the truth! I’m not lying!”
Nolan and I share a look, wondering if it could be true. Could Noelle’s aunt have orchestrated everything?
“I’ll go pick her up,” Nolan says and leaves.
Chapter6
Noelle
I’ve cried more today than I ever have. Holden walking out on me tore my heart from my chest. I knew he couldn’t look past such an incredible secret.
I believed I had convinced myself that Sawyer was my cousin and not my son, but I was wrong. The memories of his birth, the pregnancy...being forced to hand him over to my aunt and uncle, are fresh in my mind. I ache to my soul as the recollections crash down on me like a tsunami. For weeks afterwards, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Sawyer because the pain of not being able to call him mine was utterly unbearable. Eventually, it became easier but only because my subconscious had buried the precious events in some locked part of my brain.
After today, I’ll never be able to do it again. Neverhaveto do it again. I didn't deliver Sawyer in the hospital; instead, they hired a doula to take care of me during my pregnancy and birth. The woman signed the paperwork indicating that Karen was the birth mother.
Or at least we thought she had.
Daniel was able to find her and dig up the original birth certificate that states I am the birth mother. I have everything I need to claim Sawyer now. The video and pictures will provide proof that's required to keep them away from my son. We’ll be able to have a life together, just the two of us. Except, there’s a longing in my heart to have Holden as part of that too.
I don’t know how or when to tell Sawyer who I really am, but I’m still trying to remain hopeful that Holden will come around and be part of the process.
Lilith and King promised to keep Sawyer with them for tonight so I could get some much-needed rest, knowing my son was safe. But I’m restless. Unable to sleep because of how things were left with Holden.
I don’t know what I’ll say or do. What he’ll have to say in return, but the not knowing is horrific.
As the old door opens, the squeak catches my attention, and Holden walks in, illuminated by the hall light from behind. He shuts the door behind him.
I roll to turn on the bedside lamp and gasp when I see him.
“What happened?” I crawl from the bed and rush over to him. Blood coats his shirt, the side of his neck, and part of his cheek. His hands are covered in it too.
“You happened,” he growls before picking me up and colliding his mouth with mine. My back slams against the wall, rattling the framed picture hanging next to my head, but I don’t care because Holden is here. Devouring me. Fingers digging deep into the scars on my thighs.
“It’s his, isn’t it?” I ask and gasp as his lips trail down my neck, along my collarbone, pushing the loosely tied robe to the side.
“Theirs,” he grunts, and it takes me a minute to understand his meaning.
“Karen?” I finally find the courage to ask. He looks up at me with sadness in his eyes.
“She was the fucking cunt who had him rape you. The one who encouraged him to beat you. She wanted his scars on you because then, you’d never be as perfect as your mom.” He’s furious. So am I.
My chin warbles and Holden allows me to slide down his body to my feet. Once steady, he doesn’t hesitate to remove the robe and rip off my undergarments. His clothes soon follow.
“They don’t matter anymore. Nobody does but us. You and I, baby,” he groans as he steps forward, rubbing his impressive erection against my soft middle. “This is me, Noelle; I’m a fucking killer. I’m not a good man, but I will love the fuck out of you until my dying day.”
Somehow, on a soul-deep level, I already knew this, but I’ve been afraid to believe it. “And Sawyer?”
“Packaged deal. Your boy is my boy. No questions.” I swallow rapidly at his words because that’s exactly what I needed to hear to confirm that what I’ve been feeling for him is real and here to stay.
Brushing my fingers up his chest, I bite my lip when his muscles quiver. “They’re actually dead?” I ask him. I should be more horrified, but I can’t find it in me to be disgusted.
“Never to be seen or heard from again.” His eyes close as his head tilts back, a low growl emitting from his throat. Leaning forward, I kiss along his chest, the way he’s always doing to me. Nipping along his pecs and sucking his nipple into my mouth.
His fists slam into the wall on either side of my head, but it doesn’t scare me. Slowly dropping to my knees, my nails rake down his chest to his abs, then farther, until I’m gripping his thighs. Gazing up, I rub my cheek along his girth, loving the soft-steely feel of him, his stare boring holes into me.