“You are right at twenty-seven weeks,” she said, looking at the screen. “Amniotic fluids looks wonderful, and everything seems to be right on track. Did you want to know the gender? I could easily find out today.”
“No. I want to wait,” Summer said, still in awe. There was a baby. A living baby inside of her. And it was healthy!
She knew there had been, but it was so different seeing for herself, and even hearing the heartbeat. It was almost overwhelming. Summer wished more than ever that Chase would be here with her.
Would Chase want to know the gender? Would he be so excited knowing that she was pregnant? Hell, would he even have the same thoughts and worries as Summer did?
“I wanna know,” Fayth pouted.
“Waiting is just as exciting,” Marie said, turning off the machine and then handing Summer a few pictures that she printed off. “Here, you can clean off the gel.” She handed over a towel too.
After cleaning up, and still in awe of it all, everything else seemed to pass in a blur. Her blood was drawn, and Fayth was the one that almost passed out.
"I'd like to see you again in three weeks. Mostly because you’ve gone almost five months with no medical care, and Gabriel has been good at knowing what to look for, but I’d feel better if I saw you that soon,” Marie said.
“I’ll make sure she’s here!” Fayth stated, with a hop in her steps. “Maybe Bash will come.”
“I won’t hold my breath. But do tell him ‘hi’ for me. I’m sure I’ll run into him sometime,” Marie stated while Summer couldn’t tear her eyes away from the picture of the baby she held in her hands.
Her eyes were glued to the picture, even as tears of happiness gathered, making it slightly difficult to see.
It was so little in grays and blacks. She also couldn’t wait to be able to hold the little thing in her arms.
What was she going to name the baby? Would Chase want to help? Should she wait before picking out a name? Or just pick one?
Fayth led Summer to her car, waving with a smile at Sebastian who sat not far away in his car. She wanted him to know that everything was okay, and talking right now wasn’t likely to happen.
Finally, once buckled in the car, Summer came back down to earth with a sigh.
“Welcome back,” Fayth joked.
“Hi,” Summer said with a blush. “Sorry.”
“No worries,” Fayth shrugged, backing out of her parking spot. “So, you ready to be a mom?”
“Yeah,” Summer said with a smile. “I so am. I want Chase to be here, or me with him. But I am ready. I can do this.”
“Of course you can!” Fayth said with a smile. “Don’t doubt yourself. Ever.”
“I’m getting there,” Summer laughed. “I wonder how Gabriel talked her into this.”
“He’s a smooth talker. Marie is always a sweetheart. She’d give you her shirt off her back to help you. She wouldn’t even need to be talked into doing this,” Fayth said. “She and Sebastian would be so good for each other.”
“He won’t ever go for that,” Summer laughed, knowing what Fayth was talking about. She wanted to set them up. So not going to happen.
“Maybe not. But I can still hope,” Fayth said with a laugh and smirk. Oh, she sure would try.
Chapter 24
To say he was greeted with open arms was an understatement. Kayla stood with her arms folded across her chest, a permanent scowl on her stressed face. She was beyond furious with not only her son’s actions but also her husband's. Speaking of Ivan, the man was apparently not yet ready to return, as he had claimed to have some business to take care of before returning home.
Business that Chase wisely kept his nose out of. Chase knew he was in deep shit with his mother. He was returning home without his wife. Thanks to Gabriel, the one that had brought him back home today, he had a rough location of where the princess was at.
He would get her soon. It was beyond time to move on, create a new way of life. He didn’t care what it took to move on.
On the long ride home, he had called in just about all of his favors that he could. By the time Chase reached his house, all the small wannabe gangs in his home state no longer existed. He knew for a fact that they were still selling drugs underneath him. And those sellers and dealers alike would spend a very long time in jail.
All the debt up to this point in time would be forgiven to an extent. Chase didn’t exactly want to be feared but looked at as a role model. He wanted to give a light to those people that were pulled under other influences. Of course, in a week’s time, John Meads would be a nobody. Chase would have new regulations in place. It would be like taking over, as he had planned. He wouldn’t be the mayor or even a president, but everything in his state and a few other places would have to go through him.
He’d have to say over basically anything and everything. He’d know who bought guns, who sold them, among other things. He’d make damn sure that any and all gang activity was under wraps. And as many homeless people would have warm safe beds and food as long as he was able.
Things were already mostly set up and ready to take shape. Chase hated people living on the streets, hated seeing people abuse drugs, and even seeing women beat by their boyfriends. Everything would be changing. He’d do all this and more under Marcel’s industries, still hiding all his mafia information where no one would ever expect a thing. There wouldn’t be a need to expect it.
He, alongside Summer, would become a legacy.
“About time you came back,” Kayla said with a sniff. Her defensive posture melted with her next breath, as she paced towards her son, wrapping him in a bone crushing hug.
“Don’t ever do that again,” she stated tearfully as Chase returned the hug.
“I won’t. Promise.” He replied quietly. It was good to be back home, and he had no plans of leaving like that again.
“Good,” Kayla said, pulling back and wiping her eyes. She paid no mind to her rumpled gray jacket she wore over a light blue blouse. “Now, go see Clare before you take care of business. She hasn’t been handling things well.”
“How so?” Chase asked, his heart heavy. He hadn’t meant to cause unnecessary worry for his family. He was the one that hadn’t wanted to leave in the first place. All this pain could have been avoided if only his father hadn’t demanded that they go into hiding! And for nothing.
All it had done was cause more deaths and more wreckage.
John still hadn’t come out of his rat hole, but his men were not smart one bit. There were text messages, some in great detail even, about where upcoming meetings would be and where John would be handing over their payments for the jobs. Chase was sure that was what his father was doing. He was playing John by his own means. John would come out even if the Marcel men had to pull him by his teeth.
"She’s just been worried, and rightfully so. The stress has taken its toll on her,” Kayla said sadly. “So, please, don’t make her any more upset. I’m sure seeing you will make her feel better. Don’t you dare yell at Asher,” she then pinned him with a hard look.
“Yes, mother,” Chase said, ducking his head. He had missed being home.
Kayla followed her son into the house, and Chase saw just how much it had changed in his absence. Although the furniture was left untouched, it felt different. There was nothing out of order, nothing left alone at the same time. He knew that it was because Summer wasn’t here. She was somewhere safe, and somewhere that John would never look.
“She’s in her old bedroom. It’s the only place she was the most content,” Kayla’s soft voice startled Chase as he gazed around the room. Without saying anything, Chase made his way to the room, his heart was heavy with each step.
What would he find? Whatever it was, he knew it was his fault. And he’d fix it.
All but one door was closed, and as Chase took measured steps, he could hear Asher talking, but otherwise, there was no sound. Stepping into the doorway, Chase came to a stop, seeing how small Clare looked. He never vi
ewed the girl to be so . . . . she looked like she was thrown under a bus. He knew she was pregnant, but she looked like hell.
She laid on her side, half turned to him, but her eyes were on her iPad that was propped up. Her eyes blinked tiredly, but Chase could see that there was fight still there. He couldn’t help but smile at her. So determined like her sister, even when she was stuck on bed rest.
Asher was the first to spot Chase. His dark eyes widening, a smile upon his face. He mumbled something into the phone before ending the call. Chase took note that he did look older. Maybe becoming a father would do that. Clare just needed someone strong to help hold her above the water as she drifted until she was strong enough to get something done on her own.
“Chase!” Asher said too loudly. Before Chase knew what happened, he was in another stronghold as Asher hugged him like his life depended on it. Awkwardly, as his hands were pinned, Chase returned the hug, watching Clare. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, a smile gracing her face. Her hair was braided off to the side. Pregnancy suited her well, Chase noted with a returning smile.
“Hi,” he said, once Asher let him go. He wasn’t sure what to say now, though. Clare kept her distance, but he could see that she wanted to fling herself at him just like her boyfriend had. ‘
“Took you long enough,” Clare said, fighting her emotions. She was mad, happy, and sad all at once.
“Had to take a detour,” Chase shrugged, braving to take a seat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll let you two talk,” Asher said, making his way out the door. He was gone before Chase could tell him he didn’t need to leave.
“How are you?” Chase asked after a moment of silence.
“Okay,” Clare was able to get out before flinging herself into Chase's arms.
He gave out a small ‘ooph’ as her body fell against his. Nonetheless, he wrapped her into his arms, holding her tight as tears leaked against his shirt. Chase held her, letting her cry it out. She had missed him, more than she ever thought possible. She hated being emotional but was so happy that Chase was back.
She wanted her sister, knowing that she was the glue that held them all together. She’d help Chase get her back, even if she was stuck in bed and not moving around much. Her mind worked just as well as ever.
Finally, after five minutes of clinging to Chase, Clare pushed herself back. She wiped away her tears, sniffing a few times for good measure too. She was a mess, but he had seen her at her worst.
“Better?” he asked in concern, handing her a Kleenex to blow her nose.
“Much, actually,” Clare laughed, feeling so much better now after having a good cry. She had held it in, mostly for Asher’s sake. He had no idea how to handle tears.
“That’s good,” Chase said, seeing that it was the truth.
“Did you find Summer?” Clare blurted out.
“Kinda,” Chase said. “Just give me a few weeks to get her home. She is safe. I may have seen her.”
“Really?” Clare said, sitting up straight, fully looking at him with her undivided attention.
“Yes,” Chase laughed slightly. Clare hadn’t changed one bit. She may have been worried because two of her family members were missing, but she would come out of it just fine. “She was going into an office building with another girl. She’s safe. Healthy, and happy. After I get John taken care of, I will bring her home.”
Chase had seen her, as Gabriel had sent him a picture. It was as good as anything. He had felt better now that he knew she was okay with his own eyes, at least in a way. He would have loved nothing more than to be there himself, but it would suffice for now.
“You better,” Clare said, sending him a glare.
"I will," Chase said in a promise. "I can’t change things without her here. I will do everything I can to get her back home before you have the little one.”
“Just two more months,” Clare said, laying a hand on top of her stomach. She was able to feel the little boy kick. “He’s not the most active, but I love him.”
“Do you have a name picked out?” Chase asked.
“Of course,” Clare said with a smile. How could she not? “But no one will know until he greets the world.”
“Of course,” Chase said with a nod of his head. Clare loved to surprise everyone. “How are you really doing?”
“I’m living, Chase,” Clare said in truth. “On bed rest until I’m closer to the due date, which I hate. But I’m doing as well as I can. What about you?” She left out her pre-term scare fearing it would disappoint the man she viewed as a brother. It was the closest she’d ever have to one.
“Hanging in there,” Chase said, looking down at the comforter. “Just want to get everything over with. I’m more than ready to move on.”
“Aren’t we all?” Asher asked, entering back into the room. “Where’s Ivan?”
“Not entirely sure,” Chase answered with a shrug. “But I got to set a fire,” he smirked happily.
“I heard of that,” Asher laughed, almost upset that he wasn’t able to help. “Drugging is always better.”
“Not when you have to clean a place,” Chase laughed. “John will be pulled out of hiding soon, so we need to make sure we have everything under control as much as possible.”
“Already on it,” Asher said, taking a seat next to Clare, who leaned into his frame with a tired sigh. “Valerie has been released, per Trent’s command. She’ll show her face eventually. In turn, she’ll go looking for John, thinking we aren’t keeping tabs on her, and that alone will bring him to our neck of the woods, so to speak.”
Valerie was released only because Chase knew for a fact that she’d go crawling to John. That alone would give up his location, and also whatever he planned. Of course, John would not be happy, but he’d life was coming to an end as it was. Chase had enough of his men going behind his back on everything.
“Seems too easy,” Clare said, looking at Chase.
“It is, which is why we know John will walk into this plan without a second look. He knows we want him, and will keep a lookout for anything that comes his way,” Chase replied. “He’ll walk right into our plan, and we’ll play him step by step.”
“I can’t wait,” Asher said, rubbing his hands in front of him, then wrapping his arms around Clare. His look was hungry, knowing he’d get a helping hand in bringing John down once and for all.
Chapter 25
“Wow,” Sebastian whistled as he took in how Summer looked. He couldn’t deny how Fayth was always able to make a masterpiece out of so few items. She really did know how to do things, and not just half-assed either.
Summer’s hair was layered and trimmed. The underside of the hair was dyed a lighter color and blended in nicely. It was definitely not what he had expected, that was for sure. Summer could just about pull off any hair color when done nicely.
“Do you like it?” Fayth asked, pausing in her styling. She was working on curling the ends into large spirals. Summer couldn’t help but turn her head towards him, watching for his reaction.
She had yet to see what Fayth was doing, as they were in the kitchen next to the sink. Fayth demanded that there could not be a mirror within sight, wanting to wait for Summer to see herself. She wanted it to be a surprise.
Sebastian walked farther into the kitchen, setting his red coffee mug onto the counter before answering. He took his time in doing so.
“Sebastian?” Summer asked, wringing her hands in her lap. She wasn’t sure what to make of his silence. She waited with bated breath. Her blue eyes were wide and slightly hopeful. She wanted, almost needed, his approval. She was starting to want his opinion on more than a few matters, now that she was beginning to trust him.
He broke out in a wide grin, showing his slightly crooked teeth, “I love it, Princess.” His words were spoken with truth.
Summer released a breath she was holding, relieved.
“Don’t doubt my work, chica,” Fayth said, tapping Summer on her shoulder. �
�My dogs are wonderful to practice on.”
“Do you really do that?” Sebastian asked with a tilt of his head, his voice appalled at such an idea. He wouldn’t put it past her. She had done a few questionable things over the years, and he preferred to not know a few things.
“No,” Fayth burst out with a laugh. “I wanted to go to beauty school, but my father didn’t think I was suited for it.”
She had fought him, and remembered like it was yesterday, "That same night he was murdered.” Her voice was strong, but her eyes were filled with fury. She couldn’t understand why her father out of everyone had been murdered in such a fashion, had been the only one who kept his nose clean, for the most part.
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