“He’s got to be delusional. He didn’t seem this far gone when mom was alive. Demented, but he always sounded rational and everything was well thought out. What happened?” I’m not asking anyone in particular but Con answers anyway.
“He’s had a psychotic break from reality.”
“You’ll love your new sisters. Her mother is just like yours. Quiet and submissive. Never asks questions. Her little girls will be just like you. Groomed and ready for their daddy’s dick by the time they hit puberty.”
Bastian swallows me into his hold, blocking everything from my senses. But I know what is happening and I do nothing to stop it.
Despite my husband’s efforts, the gurgling of blood replaces the sound of my stepfather’s voice. I try to push out of Bastian’s hold but Con is right there stopping me when I finally escape.
“I need to see him take his last breath. I need this! Move!”
“Nyet,little birdie.Nyet.”
I lose myself to the tears then and they hold me until the well of water empties.
I feel Dante’s presence when he walks up to us. I see the blood on his hands, the knife. “It will only be us who carry the burden of sending him to hell. When we see him there when our time comes, we’ll have something to do with the next phase of our damnation.”
“Torturing his soul forever sounds entertaining.” Con’s dark humor soothes my soft sobs. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not crying for the death of the evil man who abused me. I’m crying because I didn’t have the strength to send him to hell myself, for finding men strong enough to carry my burdens and to love me despite them.
I know they love me. I don’t need the words. What they did tonight was done out of love.
I turn to Dante and fall into his arms. He’s hesitant at first but I don’t let up until his arms are around me and his forehead is against mine. I pull the other two in and we stand there breathing each other in.
My hand falls over my stomach.
“He will never hurt another being again. Thank you. But we all know this will cause a wealth of backlash back home. Seattle will be in an uproar.”
“His territory is small and his strength is nowhere near ours. Let them come, we will be ready.”
I nod. Bastian is right. “We need to call Aster, I guess. Test out how good she is at the wholeyou slash, we stashroutine after all.”
Con is already pulling his phone out. “First you need a doctor.”
Oh my God. I forgot all about being shot.
Bastian peels back the sleeve of my top. My blood is a deeper red compared to the color of red silk. It sticks to me and I hiss when he peels the material back from the meaty part of my shoulder.
It went right through my tattoo. Shit.
“It’s a flesh wound but it still needs tending. A couple of stitches.”
“Really? It felt like I was dying and being cut in half with a lightsaber.” I hold a hand up. “But seriously, everyone needs to listen for a minute.” I take a deep breath. There’s no going back after this.
“I’m pregnant. Three months according to my calculations. It had to be our first night together or there soon after. I know you don’t want kids, but it’s hard to do anything about that now. I want this baby. Even if you don’t.” I let it all spill out and don’t stop until it’s all out there.
Silence and the sound of sirens off in the distance are all I hear for several heartbeats. That is because they are all busy passing me between them. Lips, hands, and arms are everywhere. Con’s lips crush against mine. Bastian’s kiss is gentler but just as consuming as his brother’s. And then there’s Dante. When his lips glide over mine the last shred of doubt in my mind evaporates into the ether. I forget about the body on the ground behind us and only focus on the good. Only the good. Just the good.
Their hands, their mouths. Their heartbeats.
And most importantly, their love.
Bastian falls to his knees and presses his forehead to my stomach. “For God’s sake. We almost lost you.”
“I thought the news of me being pregnant would send you running.”
“The idea woke us all up in cold sweats. But eh reality is we couldn’t be happier.” Dante’s words are firm, unwavering. Con and Bastian are both nodding their heads at their brother’s words.
Relief so profound washes through me. I chew at the inside of my lip and let Con tuck me under his chin.