Page 65 of Rockland

“Official,” she murmurs.

“That is the way of the family,” I say.

“I’ve never been here before. I was expecting something less… formal.” She cranes her neck to get her first look at the Hamlet.

“Kind of like you expected the Parish to be a backwoods hut-filled island?” I ask.

She sniffs in my general direction, too busy staring out the window to retort.

The streets are neat and tidy. Each wooded lot looks to be between an acre or two of land. Sprawling, beautiful homes dot the properties. Some stone, some brick, others wood siding. Each home has a carefully manicured lawn. Some have pools in the back, basketball goals in the front. We near the center of town and see the field. It’s a picture-perfect piece of land with lush grass, neatly cut into green lines. There’s a covered pavilion made of stone. An outdoor amphitheater with a stage.

To the right of the field there’s a few long, low brick buildings, each with a playground beside it. “That must be the school,” Tess muses. “Oh, and look they have their own medical center and even a library.” I look to where she points and confirm.

She muses, “It’s a town hidden in plain sight. Just like the Village. Only lots of kids and bigger houses. Do they ever leave?”

“There’s only one way in. But they have access to other towns. Each family has their own guarded exit. Though I’m not really sure what else one would need?”

“A mall? A real Italian restaurant? A New York Bagel?”

“Tess, you don’t have to tell me how you feel about the city. We all know nothing compares for you.”

She smiles and says, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be snobby.” Then a naughty glimmer flashes in her eyes and she says, “Why don’t you punish me for being such a snob? Maybe take this thing out and fuck me hard, right up⁠—”

“Such a foul mouth on a lady. I really must try soaping that lovely mouth of yours.”

Her jaw snaps shut and she squirms about in her seat. The cream should be wearing off soon—the brunt of her punishment finished—but that plug is still tucked nice and safe in her ass. Preparing her for me. I park the car in front of the building marked, ‘Bachman Family Center.’ Most of the Village is already here.

I look to Tess. “Ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Are you sure you don’t want to just⁠—”

My look stops her words and she sighs, waiting for me to come open her door.

“Good girl.”

Tess

It’s the first time I’ve seen Paige since hearing the news and the woman is positively glowing. She’s wearing a blush pink floral tunic dress and her hand sits on her small bump, blue diamond flashing beneath the lights. Her dark hair is freshly trimmed and even glossier than usual.

Bronson stands at her side. Having shed his business suit and tie, he’s wearing an informal blue button-down shirt tucked into khaki trousers. He has one hand in his pocket, the other slung around Paige’s shoulder. They’re conversing with a man and woman who are each holding a young child on their hip. Paige says something and Bronson throws his head back in a belly laugh. Then he leans down and kisses her cheek. The man couldn’t be happier.

The image is startling.

I’ve never seen Bronson so relaxed. So content. But I guess that’s what love will do to you.

I look over at Rockland, where he and Carter and John have formed a tight circle. They talk in hushed voices, John’s hands moving as he speaks. They must be going over the changeover for the Parish. A pang tugs at my heart at the thought of Rockland leaving his people, but I trust him and when he says he’s right where he wants to be, I believe him.

Rockland’s going to be the best head this family has ever seen, but my opinion may be a bit partial. He’s fair, just, and has a humble way of leading people, though we all know he’s deadly when he needs to be. They’ve taken to calling him the Hammer behind his back.

Dante, the man who helped me on my travels to the Parish, will be joining us. As well as Adrianna. I’m looking forward to getting to know her now that I know she’s not a threat to my newly discovered reason for existing.

I scanned my closet for an hour before we left, contemplating what to wear. My fingers glided over silk, linen, but nothing seemed… just right. I wanted to look elegant, but in a ‘come fuck me’ way. A dress that says, ‘farewell, good friends,’ as well as being one that Rockland would want to rip from me.

I stood in that closet, ass smarting around the plug, pussy burning and finally chose a simple—albeit low-cut in the front—burgundy dress. It’s classic, fitted, and accentuates that part of my body I know Rockland loves the most—my ass.

I spot Sasha and Mary mingling with some of the women from the Hamlet. They, unlike the other women, have a slight squirm to their stance that I’m now very familiar with. They seem to be changing weight from foot to foot, a blush rising in their cheeks. I’m just about to go over and congratulate my dear, plugged friends, when there’s a tug at my elbow. I startle and look over my shoulder. Rockland is staring at me with that half-cocked smile and a look that screams ‘sex’ smoldering in his eyes. He pulls me toward him and his breath is hot in my ear when he whispers, “I think you’ve been punished enough. Don’t you?”

I nod my head eagerly.