The Legacy series: The Love series, the Wrapped series, and the Burning Souls series.

by Mj Fields

  ���Okay let���s be honest here,��� Maddox smiled, ���You couldn���t have been a father at fifteen.���

  ���Maddox, if I knew about you, I would have found a way,��� Brody���s voice was intense.

  ���I believe that. But it just wasn���t meant to be,��� Maddox smiled, ���Not then anyway.���

  Brody visibly relaxed.

  ���I also know that she was involved in a sex ring, and that she was extremely young when her abuse began. I know she couldn���t help what she chose for me,��� Maddox smiled sadly, ���It actually feels good to know that…as odd as it may sound.���

  ���Maddox, how do you know about sex rings?��� Brody asked.

  Maddox took a deep breath, ���The people who raised me raised many other children. Most of them left before they were ten or so, some younger, dependent on their physical appearance. I was the only one never sold, or as they said, the only one they adopted.���

  ���Thank God,��� Brody said softly.

  ���Yeah I guess,��� Maddox looked down and scowled, ���There were many others. From what I can piece together, Elizabeth was the only adult that ever visited a child held there. She gave them an envelope whenever she was came. I assume she paid them so that they didn���t get rid of me. Everyone ate well for about a week after she stopped by. The others were also whipped a lot.���

  ���Were you Maddox? Did they whip you?���

  ���Well, I used to step in when the others were beaten. They were so young and scared, like London. Can you imagine watching her plead for her life? Being beaten because she asked for more to eat? Or getting flogged for waking up to use the bathroom?��� Maddox asked his voice shook.

  ���Of course not������ Brody said sadly.

  Maddox smiled, ���Well one other good thing I can say about Elizabeth is that one time when she stopped in, I had bruises on my face and back. She asked what happened and wouldn���t let up until I told her. She took them outside and chewed their asses. Oh sorry.���

  Brody smiled, ���Go on.���

  ���I heard her tell them if they ever laid a finger on me again, she would kill them,��� Maddox laughed. ���And that same day, she told them that I should be allowed to use the library. She knew I loved to read and brought me books every time she came. Once, she stayed for a week, well, stopped in every day for a week, and taught me to read. She was very passionate about it. I was ten and didn���t know how to read, can you even imagine?���

  ���No, I couldn���t,��� Brody said sadly, ���Your grandmother���s a librarian and Emma���s an editor, the love of books runs in your family.���

  ���I guess so,��� Maddox smiled.

  They sat in silence for a few minutes.

  ���Are they dead? The family I lived with?��� Maddox asked.

  ���Yes Maddox. I���m truly sorry,��� Brody looked at him.

  ���Don���t be sorry, they were awful people, scum of the earth. There were no other kids in the house at the time. I think they were all sold. A person who reeked of money and power stopped by the day before and gave them a lot of money. Apparently Elizabeth was going to take me for a week. They were taking a vacation,��� Maddox explained.

  Brody sat deep in thought and looked at Maddox, whose expression mirrored his own thoughts.

  ���Maddox, do you think you would like to see a psychiatrist? To help you adjust or������ Brody began.

  ���Do you think I���m crazy?��� Maddox asked looking hurt.

  ���No Maddox, not at all. I just want to be sure I���m giving you every opportunity available to get through all of this. I���m actually in awe of you; I don���t understand how you���ve come through all this and seem so well balanced. And when I say that, I mean that if you had Satan on one side of a scale and Jesus on the other, Satan���s ass would be soaring through the air like a rocket to hell…Maddox you are������

  Maddox started laughing.

  ���What���s so funny?���

  ���You are,��� Maddox laughed, ���Can you just picture Satan flying through the air?���

  ���I guess I can,��� Brody laughed.

  ���I���ve read a lot, even parenting articles,��� Maddox laughed, ���By the way, parents are supposed to be on the same side, that whole ice- cream sprinkle thing���not good parenting.���

  ���Oh great, now I have two of you teaching me!��� Brody laughed.

  ���She���s great, Emma I mean,��� Maddox smiled, ���I can imagine that Elizabeth may have been alright had she not gone through what she did.���

  ���Then I wouldn���t have you,��� Brody said without thinking. He looked at Maddox, ���And I can���t imagine my life without you, even though it���s only been a few days, Maddox. In all my life, I���ve only felt that way about Emma and London, and then Lexington. We can���t wonder what would have been, we just have to make sure, from here on out, that we cherish one another.���

  ���I agree,��� Maddox smiled, ���Where���s Emma?���

  ���I assume she has fallen asleep with Lexi,��� Brody smiled.

  ���Should you go check���just to be sure they are alright?��� Maddox asked.

  ���Will you be okay for a few minutes?��� Brody asked.

  ���Yes, and so will she,��� Maddox said looking at London.

  ���I want to continue this conversation Maddox, it���s very important that you talk about things openly with us. And please anytime, anywhere, anything you need just let me or Em know. Life will be much different from here on out,��� Brody kissed the top of his head.

  Maddox smiled and shook his head and laid back, taking London���s hand.

  * * *

  Brody looked in Lexington���s room, and Emma was asleep rocking her. Brody kissed Emma���s cheek, ���Em, I���m going to put her down okay?���

  Emma smiled and nodded her head yes, ���I���m going to sleep in here tonight, just to make sure.���

  ���If you���re concerned than we all stay together, is her portable crib still in the closet?��� Brody opened the door and grabbed it.

  ���I���m okay staying in here, I just need them to know we���ll take care of them Brody,��� Emma stood up and hugged him.

  ���We also need to show them were safe here Emma. They shouldn���t live in fear.��� He kissed her and quickly and walked out the door with the portable crib taking it into their bedroom.

  Brody walked back in Lexington���s room, and Emma smiled at him, ���We���ll get there. Those two have each lost a parent.���

  ���How the hell are we going to explain that Elizabeth killed Troy? That���s going to crush them both,��� Brody kissed her hand.

  ���We���ll figure it out. From what I understand, we���re going to be here for a while. Although Mom and Dad want to do a graveside service for Elizabeth. I think it may help give Maddox closure.��� Emma smiled.

  Brody closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair and let out a deep breath.

  ���Tired, Brody?��� Emma asked walking towards him.

  He opened his eyes and smiled, ���Intense conversation with Maddox, who by the way loves you Em.���

  He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

  ���What���s not to love?��� She smiled up at him and kissed his lips softly, ���I love him too.���

  ���
I know,��� he smiled and kissed her softly again.

  Emma smiled, ���Let���s get to bed.���

  Brody kissed her again a little harder, ���Now?���

  ���They���re waiting, right?��� Emma moaned as his hand slowly slid down her back.

  ���London���s asleep. Let me go see if Maddox is, don���t move, Love,��� Brody looked down at her with glassy, lust- filled eyes.

  She closed her eyes and nodded her head yes.

  * * *

  Emma was sitting on the bed when he came back, ���They���re asleep.���

  ���Okay ��� should we talk about������ Emma stood up.

  Brody put his finger gently over her mouth and shook his head no. He traced her lip with his finger. Closing her eyes and kissed his finger gently. Her hands moved down his stomach, pushed his pants down and gently grabbed him. Soft kisses followed the same path her hand had gone, but before she could take him in her mouth, he pulled her up.

  ���Em,��� Brody shook his head no and kissed her.

  He grabbed her, lifted her up and wrapped her legs around him as his tongue entered her mouth slowly. Their kiss became deeper as he laid her on the bed and pulled her panties off.

  He kissed her belly and slowly started moving lower, Emma moaned loudly, ���If I can���t, you can���t,��� she started to sit up. ���And our daughter is������

  Brody pulled her up and kissed her, ���How about a sixty eight?���

  Emma looked at him, confused as Brody opened the door and looked down the hall checking to make sure no one was there. He quickly pulled her into London���s room.

  He shut the door and kissed her hard on the mouth as he pushed her back into the wall, his kisses moved to her breast. He lightly tugged at her nipple through the thin material of her shirt. She pushed against him and whimpered.

  He kissed down her stomach and was on his knees before her. He quickly lifted her leg over his shoulder and began licking her softly.

  ���Brody, what���s a sixty eight?��� She whimpered.

  Brody laughed a deep dark laugh and the vibration sent her over the edge. She began to slide down the wall slowly, unable to stand as she exploded.

  Brody stood, wrapped her legs around him and swiftly pushed into her. Her back was to the wall as his thrusts hastened and he released, hissing through his clenched jaw against her chest.

  They sat on the floor trying to catch their breath, holding each other tightly. ���I could stay wrapped like this forever Em.���

  ���Me too,��� she smiled up at him.

  ���Hey Brody,��� Emma said softly, ���What���s a sixty eight?���

  Brody laughed softly as he kissed her neck, ���I go down on you and you owe me one.���

  Emma looked confused. Brody raised his eyebrows and then smiled.

  ���Oh, I get it,��� Emma giggled.

  * * *

  Emma walked out of the bathroom as Brody was laying Lexington down in the portable crib.

  She looked at the bed and laughed softly.

  ���It���s good, right?��� He asked hugging her.

  ���Yes, very good,��� Emma kissed him.

  ���Just how long do you think this will go on?��� Brody asked softly.

  ���I don���t know Brody,��� Emma smiled sadly.

  ���Well I guess it doesn���t matter now, does it? Besides bedroom wall and floor sex is alright, huh?���

  ���Better than alright,��� Emma kissed him.

  ���We should sleep, we have lots to chat about tomorrow, Em,��� Brody looked at her and closed his eyes.

  ���Third drawer talk?��� she asked.

  ���Sure, but Maddox was very forthcoming with some information this evening. I believe we have bigger problems than we initially anticipated. ..���

  ���Ok but he���s such an amazing kid, Brody. I can���t believe how strong he is. How fast he���s adjusting,��� Emma closed her eyes, ���Brody������

  ���I asked him if he wanted to see a psychiatrist and it upset him, made him feel as if I thought he was crazy. And what is truly crazy is that I believe he is better adjusted than I am,��� Brody smiled, ���I just found out I had a son a week ago Em, and he���s very much a part of me as the girls are. I love him, I need him to be okay, I want to take care of him, and he seems������

  ���Dad,��� Brody and Emma turned around and saw Maddox getting up out of bed.

  ���Maddox,��� Brody began, ���I���m sorry if������

  ���I need you, too,��� Maddox said as tears fell down his face, ���I���m just afraid that this is going to end somehow, and I need to be strong so that I don���t go crazy.���

  Brody hugged him. Emma blinked rapidly so the pending tears wouldn���t fall. Maddox looked up and wiped his face, ���I love you���Mom���please don���t cry.���

  Emma gasped, and the tears fell. Brody pulled her into their hug, ���Thank God we���re stuck here for a bit. Can you imagine what the press would do with photos like this?���

  ���Hey Maddox, Em and I want to show you something,��� Brody smiled.

  ���We shouldn���t leave her. If she wakes up she���ll be upset,��� Maddox said, looking towards London.

  ���I���ll go grab it. We can sit in the hall with flashlights,��� Emma smiled as she left the room.

  Emma ran up the stairs and handed the envelope to Brody, smiling.

  Brody opened the envelope and handed its contents to Maddox.

  Maddox read the document with a flashlight and smiled.

  ���You, Maddox, are my son and now we have it on paper. They can���t take you from me,��� Brody smiled, ���And tomorrow we file legal guardianship paperwork. Emma will be your guardian, so if lightning strikes me dead, you���ll still be a part of this family forever Maddox, not just by chance alone but also by choice.���

  Maddox closed his eyes, ���How did this work, I mean don���t they need proof, did you just pay someone to do this?���

  ���No, Maddox, before I came looking for you, we had samples of your hair and Elizabeth���s medical documentation. We did a DNA report and found she was indeed your mother. The night I saw you I had no doubt you were mine, but my right hand man, Clive, did have a report already in the works. I didn���t need it; however, it made this go much more smoothly, and at least one charge has been dropped,��� Brody smiled.

  ���So I���m your son legally as well?��� Maddox asked Emma.

  ���Yes,��� Emma smiled, ���Always and forever.���

  ���Which means we need Lila, your Dad���s publicist and my best friend, to come here in the morning. Lots of pictures and a press release. You ready for all of that?��� Emma asked him.

  ���I guess, but what if it causes this family to be in more danger?��� Maddox asked.

  ���We���re a family, our family will deal with it together,��� Emma hugged him.

  ���Alright then,��� Maddox sucked his cheeks in, trying not to smile.

  ���It���s okay to be happy Maddox,��� Emma smiled, ���Your father does that same thing when he���s trying not to smile, let it go.���

  He laughed, and she did too.

  * * *

  Emma���s parents, Henry and Caroline, and the kids were outside playing as Emma watched out the window smiling.

  ���Lila���s on her way,��� Brody said from behind her.


  ���Perfect,��� Emma beamed as she turned and looked at him.

  Brody smiled as he slowly stalked towards her causing her eyes widened.

  ���They���re right outside Brody,��� she whispered.

  ���Are they busy?��� He smiled seductively.

  ���London���s riding bike and ������ Emma stopped when his face change from predatory jungle cat to rabid dog.

  ���He doesn���t have a bicycle?��� Brody snapped.

  ���It���s okay Brody, we���ll get him one. He was riding mine, well trying to. I don���t think he���s ever ridden one, and he didn���t want to try anymore. I didn���t push because������

  ���Fuck,��� Brody snapped, ���My fifteen year old son doesn���t even know how to ride a fucking bike! Em, I���m so pissed at those fuckers! If they weren���t dead I would be killing them with my bare fucking hands!���

  ���Brody, it���s going to be������

  ���No, it���s fucking not! The shit he told me last night, Em…how the fuck didn���t I know that I had a kid out there? He was fucking abused and������ Emma tried to reach for his hand, ���Not now, damn it Em, this is fucking insane, all of it! I need a moment.���

  Brody turned to walk away, and Emma yelled, ���Well, you don���t get one!���

  He turned around as she began to cry, ���Em I������

  ���NO! We���re in this together, and you need to get a grip! He needs us to be strong together, and if you need a moment all the damn time, well, you���re just being a PUSSY!���

  Brody���s jaw dropped in shock.

  ���Now snap the fuck out of it!��� Emma stormed past him into the office and got online.

  Brody walked in a minute behind her fighting to hold his composure, ���Emma what are you doing?���

  ���Ordering a damn bike!��� She snapped, ���But I���m more than sure that���s not what the problem is Brody. Your problem is that you���re hurting because you know he is. And it tears your heart to pieces because you want to do what���s best for him. And you feel like you have to tiptoe around him. Trust me, I get that, but you and I are in this together, Brody ��� you ass. I don���t need two people to tiptoe around. He needs us. I need my husband to be strong for me and this walking away isn���t strong. This is…screw it, the bike���s ordered. I���m going outside!���