“Jesus,” My brother mumbles, his eyes landing on the sleeping lump of crap on the sofa.
“Mr. Sam?” My brother turns his head and smiles at Lydia. “You mustn't swear. Mommy said it's bad to swear. Amber copies and then Miss Ada gets very mad and locks her in the basement, and then I can't get to her to make her stop crying and cuddle her, so she's not scared.”
Oh my god. These poor kids. That poor little girl locked away and beaten because she has Down Syndrome? What kind of monster is this woman?
I am many things. I have done many evil fucking things in my life, things most wouldn't even imagine possible, but this is something else.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart. I won't swear again, I promise.”
“That's okay.” Pretty little thing smiles wide.
“It's okay,” Amber tells my brother with a smile on her face, trying to be like her sister.
I have to get them out of here right this fucking minute.
“Lydia, where are your things?” I ask while turning to look at her twirling around and around, using her t-shirt as though it were a pretty dress, Amber laughing and copying her sister.
Kids are amazing creatures. They live in squalor, they're hungry, cold, filthy and alone, yet they're still here dancing and smiling. When I look at their little smiles, I see my Marnie even more. I don't know what Vito looked like, so I don't know if Lydia and Amber do look like him, but they definitely looks like their mother.
“Here.” Lydia grabs a small raggedy brown bear from a small chair beside her.
“What about your clothes?” Not that I'd like to take anything from this shit hole, but the girls need to get changed.
“This is our clothes.” She pulls at the shirt. “We don't got nothin’ else. Miss Ada hid all our clothes that Mommy got us ‘cause we're bad. I am only bad 'cause she hurts my sister so much, and she makes me cry.”
“She does?” I ask with some kind of melancholy.
She nods her little head vigorously. “She makes fun of Amber 'cause she is not like other people. It hurts me inside. She beats my Amber so hard sometimes that she can't wake up.” Fuck! This shit just gets worse. “I try to protect her, but Miss Ada is horrible, she makes fun of me 'cause I be missing Mommy a lot. She says I am a baby. Only babies cry for their mommies.” She shrugs. “But I don't care. I love my mommy. She gives me lots of hugs and kisses, and she gives Amber lots of hugs and kisses and tells her that she's special, and how we're both her whole heart. Mommy is our whole heart, too.”
I smile to myself. Just like a child to give all of their love to their mother. No matter if they're with them or not, it's their natural instinct to love.
“Are you taking us to Mommy?” Lydia asks hopefully.
I keep my eyes on her for a moment. Her pretty, expectant smile, those big brown, pleading eyes of hers – God, she's going to be able to wrap me around her little finger just as her mother can. Just as Amber will. Me, Draven Vidal, soft when it comes to the special girls in my life. The woman I'm going to marry, these children that will be mine, my sister and my niece, even my cousin.
God help me if the baby is a girl. I'm already part fucking psycho where the women in my life are concerned. I don't think I could handle any more.
“Mr. Draven, do you want me to take the package and then you'll let us see Mommy?”
“Package?”
She nods her head before turning and walking towards a small unit in the back corner of the room. She comes back seconds later with a thick brown package wrapped in brown tape. She hands it to me. I don't even have to open to know what's in it. Cocaine.
I toss the package to my brother, who inspects it. He tears the brown paper a little then nods his head, confirming what I already knew. That old bitch has been using Lydia as a fucking drug mule, and I'm going to fucking kill her!
“Wake it up,” I tip my head toward the bitch who won't live to see tomorrow. “I'll send Lorenzo in. I'll have Chris wait for you in the other car. I want to get these two back.”
“You sure no one is gonna find out about this?”
“Who would dare go against me if they did?”
“True.” He chuckles.
“Hammer, do as I've asked. I won't let those little girls spend one more moment in this place.” He says not another word, he just tips his head and turns away from me. “Lydia? Amber?” I hold my hands out to them. “Let's go, sweethearts.”
“Where are we going?” Lydia asks.
“I'm taking you to your mommy, little one.”
Her eyes light up, a smile spreads across her face. However, it dies just as quickly. “Then you will bring us back?”
“No, little one, you will not be coming back here. You're going to live with your mother now.”
She runs at me, arms around my waist, “Oh, Mr. Draven!” Sweet kid. She looks up at me. “And Amber, too?”
“Of course Amber, too.”
“Thank you. Oh, thank you. Amber, we're going to live with Mommy!”
“Mommy!” Amber grabs my hand, and I smile. I don't know how well she can talk, but Mommy seems to be her favorite word.
I lift both tiny girls into my arms and carry them out of that hell hole, leaving my brother and Lorenzo to deal with what's going on inside. The rest of the MC boys and a handful of my own to help them, Tony drives the girls and me back to the house.
As soon as we arrive, my little sister is there at the door waiting for us. I called her on the way back to see if she could sneak away from Marnie for a short while to help me. She told me she'd manage it.
“I don't want you to be afraid, girls. This is Maria, my sister.”
“I'm not afraid. Are you afraid, Amber?” Amber shakes her head at Lydia.
“Oh, they're adorable, Dray.”
“Is Mommy here?” Lydia asks me.
“No.” Her face sags. “Little one, Maria is going to help you get into a pretty dress before we see your mommy. You want to look pretty for her, don't you?” She nods excitedly.
“Then come with me, sweet pea.” Lydia happily takes Maria's hand, but little Amber whimpers and hangs back. Maria narrows her eyes.
I crouch down and take Amber's hands in mine. God, her hands are so small. “Princess,” She giggles at the name. Beautiful little girl is a princess. “You don't need to be afraid. Maria is not going to hurt you. She's going to help you look like a pretty princess for Mommy.”
“And Lydia?”
“Yes,” I smile. “And Lydia.” I'm stunned when she wraps her tiny arms around my neck. I hold her to me for a moment before she pulls away and takes Maria's free hand.
Maria leads them away, Lydia chats to Maria the whole time, Amber stays quiet. I needed my sister to come along in order to bathe Lydia and Amber, clean them up and get them ready to see Marnie. I couldn't take them to their mother looking the way they did when I first picked them up. Marine would be heartbroken, and I can't risk her getting upset. That and I wasn't going to bathe the kids; they don't know me, it wouldn't be right anyway.
I've taken a shower to rid myself of the smell of that house, changed my suit, and I've made a few calls, important calls. Lorenzo let me know that things had been taken care of swiftly, the house cleared of any evidence Lydia and Amber were ever there. Not that there was much. Old bitch has been taken where all of the soon-to-be-dead cunts are taken. I'll deal with her later.
The bikers are back at the clubhouse waiting for me to arrive. My men are working on the cleanup, and I'm going to spend the rest of the day with my girls. God, my girls, never thought I'd say that.
An hour after arriving home, Maria walks into the living room holding the hands of two very clean, very beautiful, very smiley little girls with pigtails in their hair, tied with red ribbons that match their little red and white dresses. The little dresses Maria picked out of the closet full of clothes already in the girl’s room. Clothes and shoes, and anything else a little girl would need. Stuff Marnie and I bought weeks ago ready for this day.
>
“What do you think of our Lydia and Amber?”
“They look beautiful.” Lydia giggles and runs to me. I lift her in my arms. Such a trusting little girl. “Pretty as a picture.” Little Amber is watching me, but she doesn't move from Maria's side.
“Do you like my hair. Maria washed and brushed all the knots out, and I don't have lice! Nor does Amber!” Perfect little creature. Her excitement makes her look even more like her mother.
“Your hair is perfect, little one. So is your sister's.”
“Do you think Mommy will like my new dress?”
“Your mommy will love it, Lydia.”
She giggles happily and hugs me hard, her little hands around my neck, and I know instantly that this little girl and the little girl now hugging my legs are going to be my world. Blood or not they are mine as much as their mother is.
I lift Amber into my arms just as Lydia asks. “Are you our daddy?” The question comes out of nowhere, catches me off guard a little, but the answer is so easy for me to give. I love their mother more than life itself. These little girls are an extension of the woman who holds my heart. Of course, I'm their daddy.
I nod my head in response to her question.
She wraps her arms around my neck again and holds on for dear life. “It's okay, sweetheart. It's gonna be okay.” She's crying into my neck. How can one so small cry so hard? Because she's lived five years of hell, holding it all in, hoping every day that she'll be able to see her mommy, to be with her where she's safe. It's okay for her to let it out now.
“Amber, this is our daddy.” Lydia hiccups while wiping her eyes.
“Daddy?” I nod at Amber, she blinks, smiles and lays her little head on my shoulder. “My daddy,” God, she pulls at my damn heartstrings.
“I didn't know what to tell Lydia when she asked me in the bathroom.” My sister shrugs. “I am so proud of you, Draven.” I stare at my sister while rocking my daughter's, trying to comfort them. “I have always been proud of you, but since meeting Marnie, you have changed so much in the way you don't hide from love the way you used to.”
“I'm proud of you, too.” I pull her against me and kiss her head.
“Can we see Mommy now, Daddy?” Lydia doesn't lift her head to look at me when she asks this. However, I smile and tell her how we're going to see her mommy right now.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Marnie
I am so tired it's beyond unreal. My back is starting to ache sitting on this damn stool. Draven's been gone all day, doing God only knows what. I can't say that I haven't had fun with my sister and some of the girls from the Snakes Henchmen because I have. However, I really wanted to go home after our shopping spree so I could rest. Brooke dragged me to the clubhouse, and for some reason, she's refusing to let me leave. Draven won't like that I'm here, he hates this place and doesn't believe I should ever set foot in it. God knows what he's going to say when he finds out I came here.
I sip my diet coke. It's cooling on my dry throat. It's not a hot day being as it's November, but I'm boiling in this room with all these people and kids running around. The kids aren't always here, it's not a place for children, not really, but they're having some kind of family day.
Not that I mind spending time with my nephews because I don't. DJ is sleeping in his baby seat. Cutie pie. Gabriel's such a lovely little boy, and he's growing so fast. He's changing too. I'm so glad Brooke gets to watch Gabriel grow every day. I'm glad that she gets to see all the changes a baby goes through as they enter toddlerhood. I never got to see any of this with Lydia and Amber.
I've been thinking about them more than usual since Draven, and I talked. I think about what it would be like to bring them home, to share every day with them without having to worry about leaving them ever again. I think about holding them close to me and telling them how much I love them. I think about the things we'll do together, and how proud I'll be to tell the world they're mine. I'm also worried something could come along and spoil things. Meaning they'll be taken from me for good, even though I know Draven would never allow it.
“Mommy!”
“Mommy!” The room goes deathly quiet, and all eyes turn to the two little girls with the pigtails running in my direction. For a second, I thought one of the kids had hurt themselves. But no, it's my little girls! Both of them!
I'm only just off my stool and on my knees in time to catch them in my arms.
Their little arms are tight around my neck, their legs around my waist above my baby belly, either side of me. I grab their faces and pull them away gently. I just want to look at them, make sure they’re real. My fucking heart is bursting, and I can't help the tears of joy falling from my eyes.
They giggle as I kiss their little cheeks one at a time over and over again. “My babies.” I hold them tightly, swaying them softly. I can't believe they're here in my arms. My eyes catch Draven's and the knowing smile on his face. He did this for me, just as he said he would, and I love him so much for it. Now I know why I was brought here, on Draven's orders to keep me out of the way. I can't even be angry with him for it.
“Daddy brought us to live with you, Mommy!”
Daddy? That was fast!
Don't question it, Marnie, just be happy.
“Amber and me are really, really going to live with you forever, Daddy said so!”
“Really, Mommy.” Amber mumbles.
“I am so happy that he did.” We smile widely at each other. “I am so sorry, my baby girls. Mommy is so sorry.”
“You don't got to be sorry, Mommy. I love you.” Lydia smiles.
“I love you, Mommy.” Amber smiles also.
“Oh,” I hiccup a sob and smile. “Mommy loves you so much.”
“Marnie?” I turn my eyes to Brooke now on her knees beside me, stroking the back of my hair gently. She turns her eyes to my baby girls one at a time, both looking at their new aunt in wonder. “How is this possible?”
“I know you're confused,” I say while pulling Lydia and Amber closer to my body, one hand under Lydia's backside, the other on the back of Amber's head, as she lies with her head against my shoulder. She's so tiny for her age, they both are. They're so delicate, and I'm too scared to let them go. I'm scared that this is all a dream, and if I let them go, they'll disappear. Everyone in the room is watching us, but I don't look at anyone but my sister and my daughter's. “I would be surprised if you weren't. Remember all those years ago when I told you that I was pregnant?”
“Yes. You lost the baby.”
I shake my head, tears slipping from my eyes, and I kiss my baby girls heads. I lean my cheek against Amber's head and look at my sister. The shock is written all over her beautiful face.
“You had twins.” I nod, even though it wasn't a question. “Oh, Marnie, I am so sorry. Hank did this. He took them from you, didn't he?” I nod my head. She sobs as she wraps her arms around Lydia, Amber, and me, holding us close to her. “Where have they been all this time?”
“Hank gave them to a friend of his. He made me because of... You know.” She smiles slightly and nods. “He was angry because of that reason and because of the way Amber is. He called her such horrible names, Brooke.”
“Oh, Marnie. He was wrong – a vile, mean man. Amber is just beautiful.” I smile at that.
“I told Draven all about them, and he brought them back to me, Brooke.”
“That's because Daddy loves us, Mommy.”
I smile at Lydia as she looks at me, big brown eyes sparkling. My man has made my little girl's feel so loved, so soon, there is nothing more I could ask for.
“Daddy loves us very much, Lydia.” She nods, and we both turn to look at Draven. He's smiling at us, and I see so much love in his eyes. What did I do to deserve him?
“Mommy, is this our baby?” Lydia points to my stomach, and I nod with a laugh. I hadn't had the chance to tell her about the baby before because I was denied my visitation. “Amber, we're having a baby!”
“Baby in Mommy's tum
my!” Amber yells happily, making me laugh.
“Mommy, we want a brother!” Lydia yells excitedly. I can't help but laugh with her. Then she looks at me with a little smile on her face and asks, “You happy to see us, Mommy?”
“More than happy, baby girl. I am so happy that my heart is bursting.” She giggles playfully. She's always like this when she sees me, always so happy. I don't deserve the amount of love my beautiful girls give me, but the Lord knows how much they deserve my love.
“Aunt Brooke is happy to see us, too, Mommy.” She giggles at my sister.
“They know me,” Brooke states in wonder.
“I told them all about you, and I showed them pictures.” I stroke my sister’s cheek and the tears away from them. “My best friend. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Go see your future husband. I think he deserves a huge kiss for what he's done.” He deserves so much more, and I am going to give it to him.
I set Lydia and Amber on their feet and get to mine. With my baby girls hands in mine, many eyes on me as I walk – waddle – toward the man I owe everything to, the man I love with all that I am, I have no idea what to say. No words can express how I feel, how grateful I am to Draven for bringing my babies back to me.
He stares at me with a huge smile on his handsome face. I let go of my baby girls hands and wrap my arms around Draven's neck. “I will never be able to thank you for what you've done.”
“You don't need to thank me for anything.” He takes my face in his hands as I pull away from him only slightly. “All I want is to see you happy, Marnie.” I close my eyes for a moment just to absorb all of this. It somehow feels surreal. Like if I open my eyes, none of this will be real, and my babies will disappear.
However, when I open my eyes, they're still beside me, hand in hand as they swing their hips from side to side, happy smiles on their beautiful little faces. “I can't believe they're really here, Draven. Three days before our wedding!”
Vidal!: Snakes Henchmen MC Page 22