by Autumn Stone
She thought about a recent conversation she’d had with her son at the treatment center during an approved visit.
He was looking more and more like himself, but he had become quieter as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
“Mom, I’m sorry.” Dante begins one of the most difficult conversations he imagines he will ever have in his life.
“I’m sorry for hurting you so much with my actions. And, I’m sorry that I endangered my and Lily’s life by using and by working with the Cartel.”
“My darling, I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you from your father. I never knew he was what he was.” Liliana apologized for a lifetime of regret. But, she would never regret having her son. Even though his father became her own personal Devil.
“Mom, did you love my father?” Dante asked while looking at her with eyes that were duplicates of her own.
“Yes, I truly believed that I did. He showed me only one side of himself. And, by the time I saw the other part of his heart-the dark, twisted part, it was too late to escape him. But, I realize now that it’s never truly love if you’ve only seen an incomplete picture of the person you’re with.”
“I think I’m in love with Cree but how can she possibly love me? She’s never met me as a drug free man.”
“I know that I’m biased, but, you’re a good man. Yes, you’re a broken and flawed human being. But, you survived the death of your childhood. Your father took away your innocence and neither one of us should feel guilty for his actions.” Liliana caressed his face in the comforting ways that moms do. Kissing his cheek, she places her cheek against his and hugs him tightly.
“We have to forgive ourselves if we want to make room for love in our lives now.”
“I’m not sure that I can mom, but I will try.” Dante hugs her back tightly “When will you tell me where Cree is?”
“I’ll tell you where she is after you finish your program.”
With that quiet declaration, Liliana gave Dante something to hope for.
The plane landed at the private airport connected to the ranch and Liliana waited impatiently to disembark as the flight attendant, pilot, and co-pilot finished the end of flight procedures.
She was a grandmother again!! She had a precious little boy to spoil in addition to her little girls. A blessing to come out of all of the pain that she’d dealt with.
The door opened and the stairs descended. The sun beat down on her face and she quickly put on her sunglasses to keep from being blinded by the sun. Looking down she saw Gage waiting for her.
The one man that she’d desired in recent years, and the one desire that she fought because he was a just little older than her son. She’d dated very infrequently throughout the years because she was nervous to trust her judgment when it came to matters of the heart. Look at who she chose the first time she dated.
As a result, she’d only been with one man and had no idea how to handle this attraction.
And, Gage wasn’t helping her with her plan of action. She’d tried to keep her attraction to herself, but she was becoming more and more convinced that he knew her secret.
“Liliana, it’s good to see you.” He kissed her cheek. The feeling of his 5 o’clock shadow brushing against her face taunting her and the smell of cologne lingered in her nose.
“How is Cree doing?”
“She’s doing great! The baby is absolutely beautiful, and he has your beautiful eyes.”
Her breath catches in nervousness. She’s unsure how to take control of this situation and is pretty sure that Gage has taken control out of her hands and that he had a specific agenda when it came to her.
What that agenda was, she wasn’t sure.
They settle into a comfortable silence, each person deep in their own thoughts.
Liliana almost ran out of the limo as the urge to see her grandkids overwhelmed her. Then, she realized she had no idea where they were in the house.
Gage smiled down at her, firmly grasped her elbow and took her to see her grandbabies.
Cree and Liliana
The baby was sleeping the sleep of a newborn, deep, innocent, and sweet. He is so tiny but healthy.
A ridiculously adorable tuff of curly dark hair was on his head and he was a beautiful brown color. He was a beautiful blend of his parents.
“Why didn’t you tell me Cree? Did I do something that made you feel like I shouldn’t be told?” Liliana asked sadly.
“No, no I just was so embarrassed. And, I don’t think that Dante remembers that we were…ahem…together.” Cree blushed while saying this because she thought of Liliana like a second mom.
“He’s doing much better. I had no idea how bad things were going until the accident. There are things about Dante’s life that only he can share with you. Things that broke his spirit for a long-time.”
“Did you tell him about the baby?” Cree asked fearfully.
“No. It was recommended that we wait until he’s done with his program. But, eventually he will have to know and I hope you will give him a second chance.”
“Liliana, I will give him a second chance because I love him but I’m scared. What if he doesn’t want me?”
“Cree, he would be a fool not to want you and he’s no fool. Now, hand me my grandbaby. Lily, sweetheart, could you pull your chair next to Grandma so that I can hold your brother?”
“Yes, Nonna!”
Liliana gently holds her new grandson and prays that everything will come together in the end. The family was still in danger from the Cartel because the negotiations with Alexei broke down without a resolution.
One Month Later
Dante exited the treatment center and was surprised to find all of the Sixx, minus Alexei, his mother, Gage, Darius, and Aedan were waiting for him. His eyes stung with emotion at this show of support.
He’d felt so alone for so long and for the first time in his life he was happy to discover that he was no longer alone.
Hugs were exchanged, enthusiastic slaps on the back, and mom kisses were given.
“You’re looking good Dante!”
“You’ve gained muscle.” Darius noticed
“Well, I worked out whenever possible.” Dante shared quietly “I couldn’t leave the facility and had nothing else to do. So, working out was a great stress release.”
The guys noticed that Dante seemed a lot more introspective as if his brush with death had left an invisible mark on his soul that no one could see.
And, no one mentioned the only other person who should be in the room: Cree.
Cree
Liliana had mentioned in passing that Dante had been released from the treatment facility. Everyone had decided to meet him as a show of support for his recovery.
Each guy had spoken with Dante separately as part of his recovery process. He had to make amends to the different people he’d hurt as a result of his drug use.
It was the first time she found herself and the kids on their own with the exception of the other staff and Mina, the high-school student who helped out with the kids when Cree was busy with her house matron duties.
For the past week she napped, relaxed and nursed the baby who was growing so quickly.
She missed Dante.
In the quiet moments of the day when the kids were napping, she wondered what he would be like now, free of addiction?
Would he finally remember that fateful night? Would he remember wanting her in the way that she remembered him?
And, in those moments she wondered why life had been so hard for her? Was she cursed? Or, was it the reality that the longer you lived the more likely you would be tested?
It didn’t matter.
Giovanni continued to nurse, Lily ran around, and Sierra walked around on cute little chubby legs, for now, life was good.
That Evening
Cree spoke with Gage’s head of security before settling down for the evening. The guys would be returning in a few days and Gage wanted to make sure that Cree
was safe and at ease on the ranch with everyone gone.
Truth be told, she loved the down time.
Making her way to her room she thought about the moment she would see Dante again.
It was time.
But, this time she wanted to be acknowledged. Cree wanted dates, and flowers, and love letters. Yes, actual written love letters in the digital age.
It was time that she demanded more for herself.
She wasn’t anyone’s sidepiece. She was, and had always been, a forever girl. It was time to make Dante (and the world) understand that truth. No more accepting less than what she is worth.
Walking into her room, she yelped after stepping on a freaking Lego. Hopping in pain, she made her way to Giovanni who was set up in a crib that was ridiculously close to her bed. Lily was sleeping on a cute little cot in the room and Sierra had her own crib.
It felt like a kid menagerie in her room, she kept stepping on toys, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She settled down for the night and read a fun smutty romance before drifting of to sleep.
Cree is startled awake by a hand being placed over her mouth and the urge to scream or piss herself overwhelm her until she sees the Stone, Gage’s head of Security, looking down at her.
“Grab the kids, the compound is under attack. Be as quiet as possible. I’m taking you to the panic room. There’s plenty of food and water inside it. Gage has been contacted, your safety is our number one priority.”
The Attack
Dante was getting used to navigating the world with clarity versus through a coked out haze.
It was crazy how the feeling of extreme awareness that he believed he experienced high was nothing like the awareness that happened without drugs.
Colors seemed brighter, he experienced smells more intensely (probably because coke wasn’t messing up his sense of smell) and even food tasted better.
He and the guys had gone hiking the other day and he knew that the experience of being in nature would now replace his need for drugs.
And, Cree.
One day it all came back. The memories of the afternoon in the dance studio, how they made love, and how that was the first time he felt that level of intensity for any woman in his life.
Gianna had been right when she said that Cree was the most dangerous person in his life.
He was in love with her, but the last time they spoke he’d been hateful. He’d hurt her by not remembering making love to her and sharing how it made him feel.
He owed her an apology not only as a part of his recovery, but because he wanted to start again with her.
She deserved better than what he’d given her.
It was time for him to ask his mother where she was so that he could go get his woman.
He would ask tonight after dinner. No more delays and it was time to see his baby girl. He hoped that hadn’t damaged little Lily with his fucked up shenanigans.
The Call
Gage’s phone lit up, excused himself and walked outside to take the call. He heard what the person on the other end of the call relayed to him and paled.
The party was over.
He made a quick call and went to tell the men what was going on. Walking back into the room filled with guy talk and laughter he dreaded telling them what he’d just been told.
Gage didn’t realize how pale he was as he reentered the room.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you Gage? You look like you saw a ghost.” Daniel joked.
“The ranch is under attack.” He stated baldly. Everyone in that room except for Dante knew what that meant.
The room turned dead silent.
Turning to face Dante he delivered the words that could destroy his friend and make him start using again. “Dante, Cree and the kids are at my ranch.”
“What the fuck?! They’ve been there the entire time? Oh my God.” He moaned.
“It’s the Cartel, they broke into Liliana’s emails and figured out where to find Lily. The jet is ready, it’s time to get your woman and your kids. There’s no time to fight about this right now.”
In that moment, the urge for a line threatened his resolve. One hit, one hit would make this all go away.
Then, his mother looking at him and almost as if she could read his mind, told him “Dante, you can’t run from this. Not with drugs. Once they wear off, you will still have to deal with the consequences of how your actions got us here. Be the man that I know you can be. You have to fight this.”
Nodding, he walked with the rest of the men to the waiting jet and they prepared for the upcoming battle.
Cree
The panic room was so well hidden that she worried no one would find her if things went terribly wrong.
It had been several hours since Stone had locked them inside and she was fighting an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. Sweat trickled down her forehead and she shifted Giovanni in her arms causing him to make a cute little squeak as he protested the sudden movement. Sierra, as was typical, was playing quietly with a box of Legos that had been placed inside the room. In fact, it was obvious that Gage had added items to keep the kids comfortable into the panic room in the event that something crazy happened.
That day was today.
The longer she waited the more frightened she became. Would she have the opportunity to tell Dante about his son? Would he forgive her deception? Why did she stay angry at him for so long?
The muffled sounds of shouts and gunfire broke through the relative silence of the room. Lily ran to Cree and hugged her waist. “I’m scared” she whispered.
“I am too.” Cree admitted and kissed her on the top of her head hoping to calm her fears and comfort her when she wished that someone could do the same for her.
The Battle
“Don’t tear up my goddamn house.” Gage threatened everyone. “I’m pissed off that this motherfuckers are running around eating my food.” He said jokingly, as everyone prepared for battle.
Night vision goggles were secured, various weapons placed on their persons, and guns loaded with enough clips of ammo to avoid having to reload. The goal was to sneak in and then take the Cartel soldiers out.
The Cartel men lacked fighting sophistication and there was a distinct lack of military and special-forces trained fighters in group of men that they’d observed on video.
Unfortunately for the Cartel, all of the Sixx, and the additional men in the group are military trained.
The goal was to use Gage’s knowledge of his own home against the fools who’d come into his home.
The fight would be short.
They snuck in as the guards slept, exhausted by their search for Cree and the kids. Stone had done an excellent job of confusing the Cartel soldiers in the house with misleading noises, adding sedatives in the food (because there is always one guy who wants to eat the food) and putting some of the others to sleep with a non-lethal gas that was released into several of the rooms.
It was kind of sad to arrive and have a small handful of men to take out.
The men moved in unison around the home and began the assault. It was over in less than an hour. Gage’s security personnel did a full sweep of the home before giving the all clear to open the panic room door.
Dante wanted to be the first person that Cree saw.
Cree
The door swung open and fresh air swept in. The kids stirred sleepily on the bed that they were on and I looked at who had come to rescue me.
Tortured green eyes met mine and looked down into my arms in confusion. Shit! Baby Giovanni was resting in my arms.
Dante was seeing his son for the first time.
“I missed you Cree.” He stated baldly.
“Is he mine?” Dante asked, never thinking for a second that the beautiful enfant in her arms could be anyone else’s child but his.
There was no point in lying. Too much time had passed and she had to have faith that things would work out.
“Do you remember…what
happened?” I had to ask.
“Yes, every incredible second.” He confirmed.
“He’s yours. Giovanni meet your daddy.” With that I carefully place him in Dante’s arms and decide to not think about anything but the moment we’re in.
