Mag-log inMy heart doesn't just drop.It crashes.Ashley.Of course it's her.One of his sister's little friends. Leather pants, a halter top that shows just how desperate she is, and the kind of smug smile that makes me want to rip out her hair strand by strand.Heat climbs up my neck.Rage. Embarrassment. S
"Final boarding call for Flight 238..."I finish the last sip of my mimosa, sling my Gucci diaper bag over one shoulder, smooth the fabric of my dress with a flick of my wrist, and reach for Cameron with the kind of ease that only comes from knowing no one else is going to carry the weight for you.
Christine(August 2025 — 9 months after I left)"I have to ask," Evelina says, her voice soft but unwavering as she shifts Cameron in her arms, rocking him like she's done it a million times. "Are you sure about this? Going back to him?"I lift my mimosa and take a measured sip, letting the citrus b
"You wouldn't love me if I wasn't.""I assure you I would."Carol turns back to me, her voice softening. "Honey, anytime you need help with the babies, you call us. Day or night. Nothing's more important than family."Relief settles heavy in my chest, dragging the rest of me down with it."Thank you
As I ruffle Niko's hair while he sits beside me, a soft knock echoes through the room, followed by the quiet creak of the door swinging open."Mind if we come in?" Carol's voice floats gently through the doorway.Niko lifts his head, quickly wiping away the evidence that he'd been crying."Hey, Mom.
AlyssaAt the hospital, the nurses whisk my babies away for the routine tests that should've been done as soon as they were born.Still, my chest tightens when they're rolled out of the room.I know it's standard. Necessary—especially considering the way they made their grand entrance on the floor o
Mason soon returns to the car, a new pair of keys clutched in his hand. His face is unreadable, but tense. Something else must've happened. He opens the back door and grabs my hand to help me out. "Let's go. I'll fill you in on the bad news once we're out of here." My stomach plummets. Bad news
LoganFor the first time in weeks, it's me when I wake up.No growling.No barked threats. No pressure pounding behind my eyes like War's trying to crack my skull open from the inside out. Just... silence. And the soft, steady beat of someone else's heart.Hers.Alyssa's curled in King's arms on
AlyssaWhen I finally come out of the bathroom, I'm not surprised to find Niko, Mason, and War already asleep.The motel didn't have side-by-side rooms available, and War flat-out refused to be separated from us—not after what happened. So he's on the pullout, and Niko and Mason are curled up togeth
"Don't worry, kitten," he says, his voice like gravel. "I'm saving all my energy for tonight. You already gave me fucking blue-balls earlier. I hope you're ready to pay for that."I drag my thumb slowly across his bottom lip, watching his eyes flare."Oh, I'm ready, Daddy," I purr. "Don't hold back.







