Once he's done washing my body and hair like he worships me, he lifts me out the bath, soaking his suit, and carries me to the bedroom. He dries and dresses me before ever so gently combing and blow drying my hair.
Once he's tucked me into bed, I watch him change his wet suit for a dry one, Royal blue with a black collared shirt and silver tie. God, he's handsome. I can't believe he's going to be my husband. How did I get so lucky? I never thought I could be this lucky.
The one thing that could make this scene perfect is the one thing I will never get back if Draven kills my brother. Peter is the only link I have left now that my father is gone. Without him, I will never be able to make my family complete. The only reason Peter is still alive is the fact Draven didn't want to leave me alone this whole time.
I should have found the courage to tell Draven before now the secret I hide, but I haven't, I don't know how he'll react. I'm a damn coward, but I'm scared to tell him now because it's been too long, he'll be angry that I kept it from him. However, my heart is in bits over it all.
I did try to tell him a couple of times, but something kept stopping me. I feel like the worst kind of coward and failure all at the same time. A failure is precisely what I am.
As I watch Draven splashing on aftershave, fastening his cufflinks, combing back his black hair, and then slotting his gun – which scares the hell out of me – into the holster at his side under his jacket, I know I have to say something, because I know tonight is the night he's going to finally sort Peter.
Brooke told me how Peter showed up the night I was rushed into the hospital, and how he admitted what he'd done, to me and how Draven's men dragged him away. She told me how Draven told her in no uncertain terms that Peter would not leave wherever they have him locked up alive.
How horrible is that? My older brother is locked up somewhere, having God only knows what done to him, waiting to die, and I'm not even bothered that he will. I am annoyed that I can't get to him first. I only want to get to him because I need information from him. It's going to kill me if I never get it.
Maybe if I told Draven, right now, the secret I hide from the world, he'd take pity on me and make Peter tell him what I need to know before doing what I can't talk him out of. As angry as he'll be with me for not telling him sooner, I know he won't let me go another day without knowing. He'll move heaven and earth to find them and bring them home to me. That much I do know without any doubt.
“Draven?” I swallow hard. How am I going to get him to listen to me? Start with family. Family is everything to him, right?
“What is it, il mio amore?” I love it when he calls me, my love, but it gives me the wrong idea about him loving me when I know he doesn't.
“Do you really have to do this? I mean, killing my brother?” How wrong does that sound? I'm talking to him about killing another person, one who shares my blood, like it's something we talk about every day. It isn't.
I should be scared of a man who kills. I mean, cold-blooded murder? I like to think he kills only those who deserve it, and as bad as that sounds, some people really deserve it.
“Marnie, that bastard almost killed you. He wanted our baby dead! He was going to drag you back to that piece of shit motherfucker, who would have done God only knows what to you, and God knows how long it would have been before I found you!”
“I know!” I yell, just to stop him from getting angrier. “I know,” I say more calmly, but as I do, my heart sinks. Nothing I say to him now will change his mind about this. He will kill my brother, and I know I will never see them again, and my heart is beyond broken.
How am I supposed to let go? It feels like I'm drowning with no hope of breaking the surface.
Draven takes my face in his hands and sits beside me, facing me. “I know this is hard for you, he's still your brother, no matter what he's done,” My eyes scan his face, his dark eyes. He really has no idea what this is doing to me, and not for the reasons he believes. “But it's time you learned to cut the dead weight out of your life. I will not let him go. God only knows what he'd do to you next time if I did. I have to keep you and the baby safe, Marnie.”
This baby means everything to him, and that's exactly what I wanted for my child, to have a father that would love it more than anything and anyone. But at what cost?
“I know.” I try to plaster on the smile, so he doesn't know something is wrong. Even if he does, he'll just think it's because of Peter.
With one final kiss to my lips, Draven leaves me alone for the first time since this whole thing happened. But not before telling me not to do anything until he comes home. Three hours max, he said. I won't hold my breath, and I'll be asleep before he gets home. As sad as I feel, I'm usually asleep early these days.
I wipe the tears from my eyes. What good will crying do me now? So Peter's gone, I'll just have to pluck up the courage to talk to Draven about my big secret. Even with Peter gone hope is not lost. If anyone can find lost information that has been hidden from the world, it's Draven. Nothing is ever as bad or as hopeless as it seems. Well, that's what Brooke tells me, anyway.
Yes, I have to keep my spirits up. All is not lost.
“Everything will be okay, baby,” I tell my unborn child while stroking my stomach. “We'll all be together soon, Mommy promises.”
Chapter Sixteen
Draven
I'm standing in front of the piece of shit who hurt my girl. He's tied to a chair after being beating the shit out of, waterboarded, electrocuted, etc. The sleeves of my shirt are rolled up to my elbows. I beat the shit out of him myself without asking him a damn thing. I'm an ex-cage fighter for fuck sakes, and I could've killed the prick with one punch. Luckily for him, I know how to throw a punch. I know what will cause the most damage and what will merely stun a man.
My men have been working on him for days, ever since they took him from the hospital — no way out for him. Paul escaping was a fluke, never to be repeated.
There's nothing to ask this motherfucker. I know everything I need to know already. I want the cunt to suffer before I finally put him out of his misery — nothing more, nothing less.
It hasn't stopped him mouthing off, however. I'm not listening. He's got nothing to say to me that I need to hear. People will say anything to buy time.
“Kill me, and she'll never find them!” His words are slurred. They would be with everything that's been done to him over the past few days. I don't suppose his head meeting the butt of my handgun once or twice has helped. I cock it in place and aim it at his head.
Peter spits blood from his mouth to the floor. “Those poor little girls, all alone and wondering when their mommy is going to finally show up and hold them. All those promises Marnie made to those little girls, and she chose you over them.” He shakes his head, laughing.
Motherfucker has my attention.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“He's stalling for time, Boss.” Lorenzo's right, he is, but I want to know what he means.
I have a clue what he's getting at, but I need to hear it. If I don't and what he's spitting at me is the truth, and I kill him before I get the answers, then I know I'll regret it. I don't do regrets!
“Kill me, and Marnie will never find her daughter's.”
And there it is, but he's lying. He has to be. There's no way on this earth Marnie would have kept something like that from me. I've seen the way she is with our unborn baby and how she'd die for it. There is no way she'd give up her child, let alone two. No way! No way would Marnie have kept that information from me. She would have asked for my help to find them!
Plus, when I fucked her at that wedding, I saw how perfect her naked body was. There was no sign that she'd ever been pregnant. Don't women get stretch marks and all that crap? Especially after two kids?
Definitely lying to buy time.
“You're lying.”
“Am I?” He smirks at me, his swollen eyes sparkling with glee. Cunt is loving this. “Ask her. Ask yo
ur precious fiancée about her daughter's and why she had to give them up. Ask her why I am the only person that can take her to visit those kids!” He yells, and my blood is boiling.
I don't fucking understand this shit! Were those children taken from her? If this is true, then why were they taken from her? I don't believe she gave those kids up willingly. I just don't buy it.
“Ask her about the kid's dad. Ask her about my dad and how he ripped those babies from her arms while she screamed in agony!” And there it is, she didn't give her children away willingly. The children were taken from her. If there even is any kids.
“Ask her how since my father was killed, I am the only person in this world who knows where her precious kids are, the kids she is allowed to see only twice a year. Without me, she will never see them again!”
Bullshit!
If Marnie does have kids out there, then I'll find them, without this cunts help. I can find anyone. I'm Draven Vidal, for Christ's sake!
“He's bluffing, Boss.”
“I don't give a shit, Tony!” Tony nods slightly. He of all people knows I am not the kind of man to take something like this lightly. Not where a child is concerned. This fat sack of crap is talking about two little girls that came from my Marnie's body, two little girls that are part of the woman I love. I want them home where they belong, with their mother!
“You,” I point to the fat blob in the chair in front of me. “What are the kid’s names?” He says nothing, just laughs through the wheezing of his chest, caused no doubt by his broken ribs. I'm surprised he can even speak after what we've done to him here over the days. “Where are they? Why the hell was Marnie forced to give up her children?”
“Go to hell, you filthy dago!” He spits at my feet. There's not much effort in it; he's fighting to stay conscious. He's a tough SOB; anyone else in his position would have passed out or even died from their injuries by now.
Lorenzo and Tony pull their guns and point them at fat fuck. One wrong move from anyone and my men will kill you. Their loyalty to me is paramount, and much appreciated. Although not needed right now.
I hold my hand up. I don't need their help.
“You first,” I smirk, put my gun to fat fucks head, and pull the fucking trigger. Bullet right between the eyes, perfect shot.
I should feel an instant sense of relief, but it doesn't come. I've blown the back of that motherfuckers head out. His brains are splattered against the back wall of this warehouse hellhole — payback for hurting my pregnant fiancée. Yet I feel no relief. I feel more anger than I can possibly hold inside of me.
Why the hell didn't Marnie tell me about her daughter's? The most important thing in her life and she didn't tell me! Hell, I don't even know if there really are any daughter's. However, if there are, I will move heaven and earth to find them and bring them home. They belong with their mother, with me. I just need to speak to Marnie first and get the truth.
* * *
I've been thinking this past hour about everything, but I just can't believe it. What that son of a bitch told me cannot be true.
How can it?
However, if it is, then how did Marnie keep it to herself for so long?
How has she not cracked?
Marnie knew where I was going tonight and what I would do, so why didn't she tell me? God, maybe she was trying to when I shut her down.
According to what that cunt gave away, Brooke doesn't even know about these little girls. Which would make sense because I know that girl would have asked the MC for help in finding those kids so she could bring them back to the sister she worships. I have not one doubt about that.
I have no choice but to ask Marnie about this. I have to know if it's true. I have to know if what they've put her through is the truth. I pray to God that it isn't. Because if it is, if they truly made her suffer in that way, then I swear to God above, no one will be safe from my wrath.
The only good thing is that Peter along with his fucked up racist father is already dead. However, to keep a child from its mother means there are more people involved. I'll find them. I'll find them and kill them all!
Marnie is sitting up in bed watching some old film, eating popcorn, giggling at the funny scene before her. I thought she'd be asleep. After being let out of the hospital, I've made Marnie stay in bed. I won't have her doing anything for a while. She needs to bathe; I'll bathe her. She needs to use the bathroom; I'll carry her. She hasn't let what happened to her get her down. She's strong. She's perfect. She also wants to attend Tony's wedding, and I won't stop her. Marnie deserves some happiness after everything, and I know how much she is looking forward to seeing Tony and Amy marry.
The wedding is the perfect opportunity to forget what happened for a few hours. She was so upset at the hospital. Marnie had every right to breakdown, and the first thing she said to me when she woke was, ‘Draven! Please tell me my baby is okay. Please.’ The look of sheer terror and pain in her eyes cut me to the core. After what Peter told me, I know why it was made so much worse for her.
It finally hit me just now why this baby means so much to her. It's more than the average new mother. It's more than just wanting a child. It's needing to know you won't lose another one.
I step closer into the bedroom, amazed that she hasn't noticed me before now. Her beautiful smile the second she lays eyes on me proves what Brooke said to be true. Marnie has fallen for me, and I can't believe I didn't see it before now.
“Daddy's home, little one.” She giggles to herself while talking to her belly. It makes me smile as I remove my suit jacket and place it across the rocking chair beneath the window. The one Marnie insisted I buy ready for when the baby comes so she can nurse. “I wasn't expecting you home yet. Is everything okay?”
Marnie knows where I've been, what I've done, yet she's still happy to see me. My ex-wife couldn't bear it. Every time I came home, it was the same thing, screaming, shouting, crying, emotional blackmail. Pity the blackmail never worked. I never even tried to give a shit. I was that kind of bastard.
“Everything is fine.” I smile, even though nothing is fine right now. I wonder if she's noticed that I came home wearing a different suit? If she has, she hasn't said anything. I would never come home covered in blood. Not to Marnie, I would never frighten her like that. That's why I showered and changed before coming home.
I slip off my shoes and socks, my shirt and pants, and then make my way over to Marnie. I take a seat on the bed beside her, my hand on her beautifully swollen stomach, hers over mine, holding me there. “We need to talk.”
“You want to talk looking like that?” She licks her bottom lip. Little vixen. She knows I can't resist her.
She also knows there will be no sex for a couple of weeks. Not until she's fully healed. I can't even believe she's looking at me like that after what she knows I've done.
I take her roaming hands from my bare chest and hold them in mine. I kiss her knuckles. “What did you call them?”
Her eyes narrow in confusion as I stroke her stomach. “Draven Vidal, I swear to God, if you found out the sex of our baby, I'll...”
“I didn't.” She lets out an exaggerated sigh and rolls her eyes playfully. “I wasn't talking about our baby,” I pull my eyes away from her stomach and lock them with hers. “I mean the babies you had taken from you.”
Her eyes are suddenly darting from side to side in swift succession. She looks like a deer caught in the headlights. “How? I mean... um...”
“It's true.” My eyes close for a second. I knew deep down that it was, but actually having her confirm it without confirming it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Draven,” My names slips from her pretty pink lips. “Please don't.”
“Tell me what happened, Marnie.”
Chapter Seventeen
Marnie
I need to know if what that cunt told me is true.”
How am I supposed to answer this?
Peter told him?
Everything?
<
br /> “Tell me, Marnie. If we're to have any kind of future, I need to know what happened.”
“You're going to leave me?!”
Yeah, yeah, I know, panicking when I have no real reason to, but I'm still concussed and not able to really think about things the way I usually would. My breathing is becoming erratic. I'm going to cry!
Draven takes my face in his big strong hands, bringing his lips to my forehead. “I didn't say that, but I need to know the truth, Marnie. Tell me, baby.” He encourages calmly.
What the hell do I have to lose? And it's not like I could, in all honesty, keep it to myself forever. Plus, I've wanted to tell him about my little girls for months now. I'm scared, but it's time. I need to do this for my little girls. I need to know if I can bring them home.
“Promise me that you won't think badly of me, Draven. I didn't want to do it. I tried so hard to keep them with me, but I'm not like Brooke, I had no one to run to, no one to help me.”
“Nothing you tell me will make me think badly of you, Marnie. Let it out, sweetheart.”
I nod and take a deep breath.
Here goes.
“Six years ago, when I was still in college, I met a man. I knew of him already, I'd seen him around campus, and we had a couple of classes together. Every girl wanted to be his girl, but he asked me directly if I wanted to attend a party with him. Every girl in the room gave me the evilest look.” I chuckle to myself. “I was shocked because no one ever asked me to go anywhere with them. People stayed away from me because of my family, but he didn't care.”
Full on truth. Everyone knew my racist daddy and brother's, and they all stayed the hell away from my sister and me, even though we didn't share the same views.
It was the same in high school, I had no real friends, and those few I did have couldn't stand my family because they were racist. They weren't alone in that, though. Brooke and I hated it; all we wanted was to be normal.
Vidal!: Snakes Henchmen MC Page 16