Looking down at my watch, I see that two hours have passed. Both Marcus and his father passed away less than fifteen minutes ago from the poisonous venom that overwhelmed their failing bodies due to the multiple stings they received from the scorpions. I’m pretty sure the rat bites didn’t help things any.
“We really didn’t get any further information, but this sure was fun,” Atticus states. “Let’s get this shit cleaned up, Silas. Jonas, you go see if you can dig anything else up. I can’t for the life of me figure out who the fuck they’d be so terrified of that they’d willingly allow themselves to be tormented to the point of death.”
“Who the fuck are you, giving me instructions?” Silas inquires.
“Your brother, asshole. The man whose woman and unborn baby, both of them defenseless mind you, is giving you the orders. Now, are you gonna help me or what?” Fucking hell, I’m ready to escape the room of horrors and get my ass back upstairs in my batcave where I belong.
I’m far beyond done with the two of them and what we’ve just done that I wave my hand in the air and head to my cave. They can sort the trash themselves. I’m wondering if I need to go upstairs and cleanse my soul so Satan himself doesn’t come to collect my soul when the day comes that I take my last breath.
TWENTY-ONE
RAVEN
Six months later
Atticus is currently pacing Piper’s hospital room. She’s in the middle stage of labor, and he’s a freaking disaster. Silas and Jonas refused to step foot into this room, opting instead to stay firmly seated in the waiting room. As soon as Piper had her first contraction, then an hour later when her water broke, I thought they were both going to pass out. They both turned as white as a sheet, then started sweating profusely. It was funny but doesn’t leave me much hope for the future.
I found out last night that I’m pregnant, but didn’t have a chance to share the news with Jonas this morning, especially after he had a panic attack when Piper announced it was time to head to the hospital. Damien was so cute when this happened. He went and got a wet washcloth and spent some time wiping the sweat from Jonas’ neck, whispering words of encouragement in his father's ear.
Three months ago, Damien asked Jonas at the dinner table, in front of his brothers, if he would be his dad. Let’s just say that Jonas wasn’t the only one tearing up that day. I swear the men's hormones in that house are more severe than the women’s are.
“Atticus! I need some damn ice chips!” Piper bellows. I’m impressed at her vocal strength and the fact that she’s not afraid to yell at him.
He rushes over and grabs the cup, then runs out the door. Hopefully he comes back. “You’re doing well,” I encourage her.
“He’s driving me batshit crazy,” she grumbles trying to find a comfortable position. I look on in amazement as her stomach contorts with her child's movements. They weren’t able to determine the sex of the baby, he or she had their legs crossed at every ultrasound. Needless to say, we’ve had a very unhappy mother to contend with for months now. A moody Piper is not a fun Piper. “I needed a break, which is why I sent him for more chips.” I have no desire to inform her I could use a break from them both for a few minutes, hours or months. Whichever.
“Oh you’re crafty,” I tease.
“God, how much longer?” she moans. “Why did I say I didn’t want drugs again? What the fuck was I thinking?” I’m not sure where her mindset was when she made this decision, but I make a mental note to make sure I get drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.
“You said you wanted to experience childbirth in all its natural glory,” I remind her. I don’t mention that Destiny and I worked for weeks to talk her out of this decision, to which she rolled her eyes at us and told us she was made of strong shit. She’s a badass, her words, not mine.
“Why the fuck are you reminding me? It was a rhetorical question.” Where the fuck is Destiny right now? Dammit, Piper’s her sister, not mine. She should be in here taking some of this shit. She sure is taking a long time in the restroom.
Before I can respond, Atticus comes flying into the room, a huge-ass jug full of chips in his hands, a nurse hot on his heels. “Sir, sir, we don’t recommend you give the mother-to-be that many chips. A small cup is sufficient.”
Not wanting to be any part of this confrontation, I walk over to the bathroom and bang on the door. It cracks open and Destiny has one eye that is visible. “Is she still in labor?” she quietly whispers.
“Yes, the devil is still inside of her.” Her eyes widen and the door slams in my face.
“Call me when it’s over!” she calls out, then I hear the lock click. The bitch not only shut the door in my face but locked my ass out too?
I tune back into the conversation between Atticus and the nurse and roll my eyes at his indignation. “Fuck that, my wife wants chips so I’m making sure she’s got them,” he growls out. The nurse takes a step back, her eyes wide. I shake my head at her and she leaves the room, not saying another word. Why is it I suddenly feel like I’m living in the world of lunatics? I knew this family was a little on the crazy side, I had no idea that they were clinically insane!
“Atticus! You were rude to my nurse. What if she spits on our baby or something?” Piper has tears in her eyes. Fucking hell. Did she really just say that shit?
“No motherfucker better spit on our kid. I’ll wipe the floors with them,” he promises. She stops crying and a smile breaks out on her face. Guess that’s sweet talk coming from him. I think I prefer my man and his words because Atticus is about as sweet as a fucking cactus.
“I love you,” she purrs at him. No, no, no. My ears are going to start bleeding.
“I’m gonna take a break, check on Damien,” I mutter. Before they can respond, I walk out the door. I don’t stop until I reach Jonas and I practically fall into his arms.
“How’s it going?” he inquires.
“We’re on the fifth level of hell, I think. Atticus has pissed off a nurse. Piper’s worried about someone spitting on the baby because of him. Destiny has locked herself in the bathroom and won’t come out.”
“What’s wrong with Destiny?” Silas asks. Figures. He misses the rest of that and only hears her name.
“She’s a wuss. She can’t handle Piper being in pain or spewing out profanities. Who knows? All I know is it’s looney tunes in there right now and I need a damn break.” I almost begged the nurse for some morphine in there so I didn’t give a damn what was going on around me.
“She’s not a wuss,” he growls out. “She’s a strong woman.” Jesus, now he’s going to go on and on about all her attributes.
Rolling my eyes at his defending of his woman, I throw my hands up in the air and say, “You know what? I’m tired of this shit. You deal with it,” I tell Jonas as I blow a kiss at Damien sitting quietly in the corner, then I swiftly walk out the door before anyone can call me back. When I make it down the elevator and out the front entrance of the hospital, I walk out and breathe in the fresh air.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been standing out here listening to the crickets chirp when the sound of the doors opening captures my attention. “Raven!” he hollers as he trips over his feet and stumbles out. “They need you back in there. She’s ready to push.”
Sighing, I turn and head towards him. “I suppose Destiny’s still in the bathroom, huh?” He grins and nods as he throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me close.
“I know this has been a long day for you. I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”
“You better,” I sass.
Jonas
I’m sitting in this chair holding my forty-minute old niece in my arms. She weighed in at a whopping seven pounds thirteen ounces and was twenty inches long. They named this little beauty Ansley Amaya Nelson. “You’re perfect,” I whisper. Now I’m thinking of Raven swollen with my child and realize we need to have that discussion soon. I want it all with her— I want her to wear my rings, I want her to bear my children, and I want to adopt D
amien and make him legally mine.
“You about ready? Damien’s nearly asleep,” Raven murmurs. I look at her and smile. She ended up being the real trooper when it all came to a head because Atticus passed out like a Texas tornado making its way through a trailer park. He’s pissed as hell because he now has seven stitches in the back of his scalp from hitting the serving tray when he went down.
“Yeah, let’s get our little man home, beautiful.” I hand Ansley over to Destiny, who is sitting on Silas’ lap. Not touching that one with a ten-foot pole right now, but they both seem to be happy with whatever’s going on between the two of them.
I go over to the couch where Damien is struggling to keep his eyes open and pick him up. He lays his head on my chest and quickly falls asleep. Raven comes up to me and wraps her arms around my waist. We leave as a family, and I’ve never been so happy in my life.
Nothing is better than this.
TWENTY-TWO
RAVEN
Once we get home, we put Damien to bed and then head into our room. Despite the lateness of the day, I need a shower and walk into the bathroom with Jonas hot on my trail. He starts the water while I pull towels out from under the sink and then undress. My orbs are glued to his form as I get to feast my eyes on him as he disrobes. “C’mon, baby, let’s get cleaned up and then hit the hay. Been a long day and I know you’re tired.” My mouth waters and I’m completely distracted from his words, they take a few seconds to penetrate my brain.
Well, I was tired, but seeing his delectable body in front of me has my lady parts singing a different tune. I sashay towards him and when I get close enough, I run my finger down the middle of his chest to right above his dick. “Need to do something about this first, don’t you think?” I tease as my hand lowers further and grips him.
“I like shower sex, it’s my favorite,” he whispers before kissing me breathless.
“All sex is your favorite,” I reply once I can breathe again.
“This is true but having you in the shower, all slippery and wet, makes it that much more fun.” His hands are roaming over my body and I feel myself responding as he plays me like a fiddle. When his mouth lowers to my neck, I throw my head back and moan.
As he nips and sucks, his hands find their preferred spots - one is rolling my nipple and the other is moving between my thighs. I shift my legs to give him access and cry out when one finger enters me. His strokes are soft and gentle, not enough to send me over the edge, just enough to ramp up my desire.
I start stroking his dick in time to his finger thrust and am thrilled at his reaction. “Raven,” he hisses out. “You keep that up and I won’t last to get inside you.”
“We can’t have that,” I reply before I turn in his arms and bend over the bench. It’s my favorite feature in this damn shower and we’ve had many pleasurable hours doing this very thing.
“No, we can’t,” he states as he lines his dick up with my entrance and pushes inside. I love the slight burn I get when he enters me and throw my head back, moaning when he bottoms out.
“Faster, Jonas,” I encourage. His hands grip my hips and he begins powering into me so hard that I swear I see stars. When he adds a swivel each time he hits bottom, I feel my pussy start to spasm. “Jonas, I’m gonna come,” I moan.
One hand slips in front of me and he starts stroking my clit. “I got you, beautiful,” he murmurs. “Come on my dick, Raven. Come now,” he commands. At his words, I shatter, keening out my pleasure as I feel him thrust several more times before he stills and I feel his release pour into me.
Long moments pass as we both try to catch our breath before he pulls me up and gently washes first me and then himself, before shutting off the water and drying us off. He then scoops me up and carries me to our bed, laying me down before crawling in next to me.
I curl close to him and sigh. “What was that for?” he asks.
“I’m happy, Jonas. So, so happy,” I tell him.
“Me too, beautiful.”
“Jonas, I have something to tell you.”
“What’s going on, Raven?”
“I’m pregnant. You’re going to be a daddy, Jonas.” I’m a little worried because we’ve never discussed having kids together, but based on how he is with Damien, it’s a silly fear.
Jonas
“A baby. You’re not teasing me right?” I position us both to where we are looking at each other. “I’m a man on the edge here, beautiful. Please tell me that what you just said is what I really heard. You’re having my baby?”
“I’m having our baby, Jonas. You have to share,” she teases me.
“Maybe,” I say, but unlike her, I’m not joking. I mean every word. I’ve never been good at the whole sharing gig.
“Jonas,” she giggles.
“What? I missed Damien’s younger years.” These words hit me particularly hard. Damien is my little buddy, he’s special to me. It makes me sad that the piece of shit who donated his sperm got his developmental years. He is my son. “This one’s all mine.” This time I am joking as I place my hand over her still flat belly.
“Yeah, but now that Damien’s your little shadow, I’m pretty lonely.” This is true, he follows me everywhere and has started spending all of his free time in the batcave with me and his mother. Only he stands behind me, always watching what I’m doing over my shoulder. He loves his mother, but he tells me he wants to be just like me when he grows up.
“I love them both,” I hoarsely admit. My voice is choked up with emotion. “You don’t know what you’ve done for me. You’ve brightened my damp world, I always felt like I was treading water and you pulled me out and kept me from drowning. You’ve lit my life with your brightness and sassy as fuck mouth. I can’t imagine my world without the two of you in it. You’ve completed a piece of me that I was never aware was missing in my life. Thank you for everything you’ve shown me and given me. I love you so much, Raven.”
“I love you too, Jonas.”
“Are you ready for this, Raven?”
“Ready for what, Jonas?”
“Our life,” I respond.
“Let’s do this,” she replies. I bend over and kiss her. Thanking whatever being above for bringing her to me.
EPILOGUE
Destiny
I’m worried about the conversation I need to have with Silas. But it needs to happen.
For my growth.
For my independence.
For my peace of mind.
For us.
I’m hoping the space will bring him to me. We’ve been lovers for two months now, but he keeps telling me this is all he has to give me. We’ll see, I don’t buy it and have decided that I’ll fight that with my entire being. He’s mine, I just need him to claim me back.
“Silas, can we talk for a minute?” I ask as I join him on the back porch. He has a beer and is sitting on the swing.
“Sure,” he says patting the cushion he’s inhabiting. “What’s going on?”
“I made a decision. One I’m not sure you’ll agree with.” I bite my bottom lip, scared he’s going to flip his lid.
“If you don’t think I’ll like it, maybe you should think about it longer before you share it with me,” he pointedly looks at me.
“It’s not that easy. I already signed the papers,” I inform him.
“What papers?” he roars the question.
“I’m buying Raven’s house. I move out tomorrow.”
“You fucking what?” he bellows.
“I’m sorry, Silas. But it’s time.” I stand up and leave him sitting there with his mouth hanging open. “I love you,” I whisper as I go upstairs to pack my boxes. “I hope this brings you to me.”
The End
STALKING LINKS FOR LIBERTY PARKER
Website:
http://authorlibertyparker.com
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14035441.Liberty_Parker
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/author
s/liberty-parker
Newsletter sign up form:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s1v0k0
Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/authorlibertyparker/
Liberty’s Luscious Ladies:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153797384736487/
Rebel Guardians Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/280929722515781/
Twisted Iron Groupies: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2088172217913867/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlparker
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/libertyauthor/
Book order form:
https://goo.gl/forms/47PjnbSrSBj5hY5R2
Link to RGMC video:
https://youtu.be/0R312hkgvBQ
STALKING LINKS FOR DARLENE
Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/darlenetallmanauthor/
Darlene’s Dolls Group Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024089434417791/
Rebel Guardians Insiders:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/280929722515781/
Newsletter Subscriber Link:
http://eepurl.com/dEaxGj
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Tallman/e/B01LC3YKAY/
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15709175.Darlene_Tallman
Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/darlene-tallman
ALSO BY LIBERTY PARKER
Rage Ryders MC
1. Taken By Lies
2. Taken By Rage
2.5. Taken By Vegas
3. Taken By Sadistic
4. Taken By Chaos
5. Taken By Temptation
Rage Ryders Templeton
Faithfully Devoted
Forever Yours (coming soon)
Diva's Ink
1. Blank Canvas
2. Clean Slate
3. Beautiful Template
Seeking Our Forever: Nelson Brothers' Page 15
