Embracing Series Box Set #1-6

by Delisa Lynn

  “Yeah. Here, I’ll show you,” he says, flipping on the TV.

  The reporters face pops up and she starts talking. There is a picture of Christa’s last mugshot plastered next to her.

  “Thirty-two-year-old Christabella Ellis, daughter-in-law of Gill Ellis of Ellis Winery, was found on Sullivant Avenue late last night. She seems to have overdosed. Authorities aren’t saying if there was foul play involved. Please stay tuned for the latest on this investigation.”

  “Fuck,” I roar. “I have to get to my son before he sees this shit.” I sprint toward the door. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Ansley.

  “Baby, please don’t let AJ watch TV. I’m on my way home.”

  “We just heard. He is out back with the kids. He doesn’t know.”

  “Please, keep him away from the news until I get there. I have to go identify her body. I’m going to be there as soon as I do. Let me talk to Li, please.”

  “Okay, love you,” she says.

  “Love you more, shorty.” I breathe into the phone. Then I hear Lila clear her voice.

  “Hey, Ash. I am—” she starts, but I cut her words short.

  “Make Liam stay with you all and bring all the kids in the house,” I say as I start my truck.

  “Okay. It was an OD, right?” she asks.

  “So they say, but I trust no one. You know that.” I spin out of the parking lot. “Please do as I asked. I’ll be there soon.” I hang up and dial Kade.

  “Brother,” he answers.

  “Yeah, picking you up now. Be waiting,” I say. No way am I doing this alone.

  ***

  “Jesus Christ,” I say to the man in the white coat. “That’s her. This is Christa.” My stomach turns as I see the mother of my son lying there, naked, with bruises up and down her arms and track marks on her chest.

  “Sir, we will perform an autopsy to confirm the cause.”

  “I want to know ASAP,” I order.

  “We can do a rush and have it to you within seventy-two hours.”

  “Thanks,” I reply.

  “Doing my job, sir.” He shakes my hand.

  I look at Kade, who’s as white as the man’s jacket. I nod toward the door. I can’t believe this fucking shit. I warned her. She knew that someday this was going to happen. Did she care? Fuck no, she didn’t.

  “How am I going to tell my son this shit?” I ask Kade as we get in the truck.

  He blows out the breath he’s been holding in. “Not sure, man. I know she wasn’t around much, but I know he loves her. Hell, I feel sick and I wasn’t a fan of hers.”

  “Yeah, I think I’ve thrown up in my mouth more times than I can count, but I have to tell him. My other concern is watching out for everyone. This may not have been on OD, ya know?” I say as we drive down the highway.

  “That’s what I was thinking too. Shit, I am so sorry, brother.”

  “Telling AJ is going to be so hard.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Ansley

  “Lila, what are we going to do?” I ask her as I sit at the table. I sip my beer. “AJ is going to be so upset. He isn’t old enough to quite understand it all.”

  “I know, babe. Ashton will be here and handle it all. Don’t worry yourself about it. I hated her, but I didn’t want her dead.” She squeezes my hand.

  I think back to the last time we saw her. We were at Slices and she must’ve seen Ashton’s truck there. She’d walked up to the three of us.

  She snorts. “Is this your whore of the week? She looks young enough to be your daughter.”

  “Mom, what are you doing here? I missed you,” AJ says, hugging her waist.

  “Yeah, me too, kid. Go play so I can talk to your daddy and his play date.”

  “Seriously, Christa? When the hell you going to grow up. Good God, you smell like sweat,” Ashton says.

  “It’s hot out. But look, can I get some cash? I’ll pay you back.” She holds her hand out.

  “No, just go. Please don’t cause a scene. AJ will see that you did.” He turns his back to her and places his arm around me. “This is my girlfriend and AJ’s teacher.”

  “Oh. Well, I guess you are old enough to date my ex-husband. Look, can I borrow some cash, hun?” she says to me.

  “Just go. Here, take this.” Ashton hands her a wad of cash. “You going to tell your son bye?”

  “Thanks, ass wipe. No, I gotta get going. I’ll come see him soon,” she says over her shoulder.

  That was the last time any of us saw her. I know she wasn’t the best, but my heart is breaking for my little man. Ashton comes storming through the door.

  “I love you, baby. Where is our boy?” he asks, hugging me.

  “Downstairs,” I say as I look to Lila. “The other kids are with him.”

  “We will go home and give you all some time,” she says sympathetically.

  “You all don’t have to leave. He’ll want the girls around after I tell him. You know they are like his sisters,” Ashton says to Liam and Lila.

  “How about I take the other kids outside and you two can talk to him?” Liam says.

  “That works,” Ashton says. He walks to the game room.

  I sit and twist my hands, then realize what I am doing. I watch as Ashton brings AJ up the stairs. Everyone else goes outside. We walk him into the family room and sit him on the couch.

  “Buddy, we have some bad news. I know you may not understand it right now, but please know that we love you and your mom loves you,” Ashton says, then turns to me. I swallow the gulp that has formed in my throat.

  “What’s the matter, Daddy?” he asks. Ashton’s face has pain written all over it.

  “Son, you know how your Aunt Addie and your other grandma are in heaven?”

  “Yeah, they are my angels, right?”

  “AJ, your mom is now your angel too.” He sighs and wipes his own tears. “Buddy, I am so sorry. She died last night.” He hugs his son. AJ cries into his neck.

  “Daddy, you’re hugging too tight.” He pulls back. “I won’t ever see her again?”

  “No, son. She is gone to heaven now.”

  “Okay, can I go play now?” he asks us both.

  “Of course you can. If you need to talk, you know Ansley and I both are here for you.”

  “I know. Ansley, you’re my only mom now. Please don’t go to heaven,” he says, wrapping his arms around me.

  “Oh, baby, I love you so much. I will never leave you,” I cry.

  “Thanks. I wanna go now,” he says, walking out of the room.

  “Ashton, I’m so sorry.” I hug him. “Please let me know if there is anything you need me to do.”

  “Be strong for our boy. He is confused, shorty.”

  “I will stay as strong as I can, but this is breaking my heart. I know you hated her ways, but you had to have loved her at one time,” I say, rubbing circles on his back.

  “I never loved her. I stayed because of my son. She was a deceiving, back stabbing, worthless whore. The only good thing she did was give birth to my son. She was evil. You saw how she treated him. Now she dies and leaves us to clean up her fucking mess.” He walks over to the fireplace. I never noticed it before, but there is a picture of the three of them. It’s old. AJ is a baby. He picks it up and slings it. “She fucking did this. She did this to her goddamn self. Now my son is hurt because of her,” he roars. “I fucking hate her.”

  “I’m so sorry.” I grab his arms. “He needs you. You’re his strength. Please don’t break when he needs you the most,” I say through my own tears.

  “I can’t believe she is dead. She is gone, and I have to clean up her shit,” he whispers.

  “I know. We will, though. We will plan her service and make sure it’s all taken care of.”

  “You’re amazing. You know that, right?” He presses his lips to mine. I feel his tears hit my face. “I don’t deserve you, but he does.” He kisses me hard.

  “You deserve a lot more than I can give you, Ellis. You
have made me see that there is life after the storms I have endured.”

  “I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he says into my mouth.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Ashton

  It’s a week before Christmas and we buried Christa last week. Turns out it really was an overdose. She had every known drug in her system. I’ll never know what caused her to do the things she did. She had some strong demons, somewhere. I hate that I could never help her, but, in the end, she couldn’t help herself.

  I met her eight years ago. She was hot as hell, but I knew she was trouble. Still, what she gave me was worth everything she put me through, worth every fucking thing she did or took from me. I have the most important thing and that is my son. He’s hurting right now and he isn’t showing it. Hell, she treated him like shit. I know he saw it. He’s smart.

  “Hey, what are you thinking about over there?” My shorty asks, crawling up my lap. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts. She’s so short it comes to her damn knees.

  “Just the fucked up shit we’ve been through.”

  “Well, what if I told you that I forgot to take my birth control?”

  “You saying you want to have my baby?” I grin at the thought.

  “Well,” she straddles my lap, “I’m saying that I’m going to have your baby.”

  “We’re pregnant?” I ask

  Nodding, she smiles against my lips. “Yes. I am a little over seven weeks”

  “Best fucking thing I’ve heard all day. God, I love you.”

  “How much time do we have until your mom brings AJ home?” she asks as she slides her shirt over her head.

  “Plenty enough time for me to fuck that sweet pussy.”

  “Good God, I love when you talk like that,” she says, freeing my cock. “Fuck me from behind.” She gets on all fours.

  “Fuck, you didn’t have anything on under that shirt?” I smile as she shoves her ass in my face.

  “Nope, my pussy has been ready for you all day.”

  I smack her ass. She jumps a little and slides her hand to her center. “Don’t you dare touch yourself,” I groan.

  “Mmm, I need you now,” she says as she slides her hand over her clit.

  “Jesus, you are soaked,” I say as I slam into her.

  “Ahh, yes,” she cries. I smack her and she cries out again. “Harder, Ellis. Fuck me harder.”

  “You like that, baby? Come for me, sweets,” I say as I rub her clit.

  “Don’t stop, please.” I slam into her again. My hand goes to her hair. I thrust in and out of her as her pussy tightens around my dick. I feel my balls growing and my cock thickening.

  “Ready for me to fill you up?” I ask as I pull her hair tighter.

  “Feels so good. I’m so ready.” She moans. Just as she is about to let out another moan, I release and pour myself into her. “I love your cum,” she mumbles before collapsing on the bed.

  “And I love you and your sweet pussy.” I lean over her and kiss her.

  “I’m going to have your baby.” She smiles.

  I lay next to her. “Yes, and if it’s a girl, I’m gonna have to hire body guards.”

  “Yeah, you are.” She laughs. “Thank you for completing me. You saved me when I was at my worst.”

  “We’re destined.”

  Epilogue

  Ansley

  “Lila, he is going to shit. He doesn’t want me out this close to my due date,” I say as she pulls me out the front door.

  “Please, I can deal with Ashton Ellis. I’ve had four kids. I know what to do if you go into labor. I need you to see this.” She pulls me in the direction of her yard.

  “What is so important that you need me to walk to your house?” I ask as I waddle behind her.

  “Just waddle your happy ass and find out.” She laughs.

  I’m due at any moment. My ankles are as big as five-pound weights and I swear I waddle like a mother duck. All I need to do is quack. While walking up her front steps, I wonder why she couldn’t just bring whatever this is to me or tell me what it is. She smiles and walks into her kitchen.

  “What in the world?” I start to say, but then I stop in my tracks.

  “Do you like it? It was delivered today and I wanted to get your ass over here so I could show you.” She smiles and my hand flies to my mouth.

  I walk to the table and run my hand over the huge glass box that used to hang in the hall of Poland High. Inside of it is a yellow and black letterman jacket. It isn’t just any letterman jacket. It’s my brother, Angelo’s, jacket. The school always had it displayed in the hallway and I would look at it every day I walked past it. It looks the same. The box has his senior picture and his number, sixteen, in it as well.

  “How did you do this, Li?” I ask through my sobs.

  “We wanted you to have something of his for Angelena, so Liam and Kade tracked it down. Now we need to have them put it in the nursery.” She smiles

  “I love it. Thank you so much. Umm, Lila?”

  “Yes, sweets. What is it?”

  “Either I pissed myself or my water broke,” I say, looking down to the floor.

  “Good heavens. Addie, Maddie, Greyson…shit, call your dad, AJ,” she says as she guides me to the front door. “Crap, Rory! Oh, Maria,” she yells.

  “Calm down. Just get Ashton here.” I smile at her. I’m trying to stay calm, but the contraction I had earlier feels a lot worse now. I know I should’ve told them I was having contractions, but I thought maybe it was just Braxton Hicks contractions.

  “Mommy, are you okay?” AJ asks, holding my cell in his hand. He called me mommy. That’s the first time he’s ever said it to me.

  “Yes, baby. I’m ready to have your little sister.” I hug him.

  “Cool. Um, did you wet yourself?” He scrunches his nose.

  “Yes, you can say that.” I laugh.

  The contractions are strong, so strong that I can feel them shooting through my entire body. I allow Lila to guide me outside and into the car. My mind goes back to the conversation with Ashton this morning.

  “Baby, you can deliver at any time. You better stay in this house and in this bed until you do,” he orders.

  “Yeah, yeah. Look, you can’t lock me up like I’m some animal at the zoo,” I spit.

  “I’ll show you an animal.” He smiles. “Really, you are very swollen and need rest. I’ll bring you sushi for dinner. Just please stay in bed.” He kisses me.

  “Sushi? Hmm, yes. I’ll do anything you say, sir.” I moan against his lips.

  “Fucking hell, I better go. This no sex shit is killing me, especially when you do that shit,” he says as he moves my hand from his pants.

  Laughing at him, I say, “Don’t be a whiny ass. We can still have sex.”

  “The hell we can. You’re supposed to be in complete bed rest. I have to work. I’ll see you tonight.” He kisses me again. “Love you, shorty.”

  “Back at ya, Ellis.”

  ***

  Ashton

  “Baby, she is beautiful. She looks just like you,” I say as I run my finger over my little angel’s face. She has a head full of black hair. Her eyes are a beautiful blue.

  “Ellis, I think we did a fine job.” Ansley winks. She just gave birth and is even more beautiful than before. She has a glow.

  “Yes, you did. I’m so proud of you.” I kiss her forehead.

  I was at work and received a call that she was in labor. I met her at the hospital. I’m not sure who was more nervous, me or Kade. He was with me when we got the call. Lila brought Ansley to the hospital and Maria stayed with all the kids.

  I watch my beautiful woman talk to our daughter. The love she has in her heart for me and our kids is a love I never thought I would find.

  Walking into Storms that warm, June night changed my life. I found my soul mate that night. She and I both have been through some fucked up shit, but, in the end, we were able to forget and move forward.

  “Hey.” She rests he
r hand on mine. “What about Storm?”

  I smile, knowing exactly what she’s talking about. “Angelena Storm Ellis?”

  “I think it’s perfect and it fits her.” We’d been going over middle names for months. Once we found out that we were having a girl, we decided on Angelena, to represent Angelo.

  “I love you so much,” I say, placing my lips on hers.

  “Thank you. You’re truly my savior,” she says, wiping a tear away.

  “It was all fate, baby.”

  I hate all the bad shit she’s endured, but she is where she belongs now. The storms landed her in Storms Bar and into my life.

  We are her family.

  The End

  Playlist

  With Arms Wide Open by Creed

  When It Rains by Kid Rock

  Right Where I Belong by Good Charlotte

  I can Wait Forever by Simple Plan

  Shoot To The Moon by Nora Jones

  Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

  The Story by Brandi Carlile

  Save Me by Jem

  Brutal Love by Greenday

  I’m A Mess by Ed Sheeran

  Stay With Me by Sam Smith

  Not In That Way by Sam Smith

  Lay Me Down by Sam Smith

  Cardiology by Good Charlotte

  Addicted by Saving Abel

  3Am by Matchbox Twenty

  Fighter by Christina Agularia

  Demons by Imagine Dragons

  Nobody Knows by Pink

  Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

  Until The End Of Time Justin Timberlake

  Prologue

  Audrey, Age Ten

  “Mommy, why can’t I play with the Kelley kids? Tatum is my best friend, and her parents are super nice to me. Daddy said I could go to their house, so why can’t I?” I beg, hoping she’ll change her mind.

  “Audrey Renee Ridge, I will not tell you again. You stay the fuck away from those people. They’re nothing but trash. If I catch you playing with those brats, you will be punished, and your father will not protect you this time. Do you understand me? Look at me when I’m speaking to you.”