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Destiny shaving my ass because I can’t reach anymore. Melody and Anna for always making sure I have a warm meal ready that is healthy for the baby and me. Kai for being the muscle and carrying me wherever I need, pushing my chair, and carrying it down the stairs.

I’m thankful for Linda because she became my mom, not replacing my own, but becoming another. She’s always been there, only a phone call away. Always a word away from beating either one of her sons for treating me wrong. Riot has one hell of a whooping to come back to.

And who I’m most thankful for, is Viktor. Not replacing Riot, ever, but stepping in when he can’t. Being there for the appointments, taking millions of pictures and videos for Riot so he can see once we find him.

Right here, all the people on this bed are my family. My found family. My chosen family. Not Harold. Always my mom, and nobody will ever take her spot in my heart, but these people make up for her not being able to be here, and I know I’ll see her again one day.

I’m thankful I was sold. I wouldn’t know any of these people if I weren’t. I would be dead by now if I weren’t sold. Riot was my savior, but he feels like my downfall at the same time. I just want him back, safe. Here with our baby, and me. I pray for the day it comes true.

*This book is an advance reader copy and is to not be distributed anywhere. [email protected]*

31

Chapter Thirty-One

Bruises - Lewis Capaldi

Penelope

The sun filters in through the slits in the curtains, casting a warm glow on Riot’s room. I try to roll over on my side, but the soreness in my pelvis and legs prevents that. Even though it was a very small fracture in my pelvis, it still hurts like a bitch and takes a ridiculously long time to heal. My arm healed just fine, my collarbone is doing great, barely causing me pain as long as I’m careful.

Leaning over to pick my phone up off the nightstand, I open mine and Viktor’s text thread, sending him a ‘help’ before tossing my phone to the side of me.

It takes him a few minutes before his response comes in. ‘Sorry, Сестра, I’m not home now. Sending Kai.’ It only takes a few seconds before Kai’s soft knock hits the empty air. He opens the door a crack. “Penny?” His head pokes around the door, and I give him a little finger wiggle.

“It’s a bad day today, I need help.” He nods, walking over to the corner of the room where I keep my wheelchair. Rolling it over to me, he sets it next to the bed before climbing behind me, grabbing my arms, and lifting me slowly. He positions me at the edge of the bed before climbing off. Leaning down, he picks me up bridal style, careful not to move me much as he sets me down slowly in the wheelchair, placing my feet on the little holders.

“Grab my phone, please?” I ask, pointing to where it lay on the bed. He does what I ask, handing it to me before going behind the wheelchair and pushing it towards the door.

“Where to, Penny?”

“The kitchen. If I go another minute without food in my belly, this baby might start eating my organs.” He chuckles at my response, taking us down the hallway. There are two small steps to get into the living room, which leads to the kitchen. Kai stops me at the edge of them, going down before lifting the chair and setting it down below the stairs.

When we get into the kitchen, Melody and Destiny are standing by the sink, food in their hands. When they see me, they squeal and run to me, kneeling in front of me.

“Hi, baby Penny!” They both crowd my belly, lifting my shirt slightly to kiss it and rubbing their hands all over it, which leads to her kicking everywhere the hands touch. I laugh at their faces, looking offended. “Not how this works, girlfriend. I’m your auntie, respect me.” Melody says, tapping my stomach. Kai laughs at her words, and she looks up at him, longing in her eyes. I grin at her, and she catches it, glaring at me in response.

“Again, I need food before she starts harvesting my organs.” They all laugh and get to work making me a plate of food.

Ten minutes later, a plate of steaming eggs, sausage, and a stack of pancakes is put in my hands. I dig the fuck in, not leaving even a lick or crumb on the plate. The others have gone on about their day, Kai and Destiny pulled for a mission, and I have no clue where Melody went, and I have no clue where Anna is to begin with.

Making my way back to the bedroom, begging some random man in the living room to lift my chair up the little stairs. It hurts standing up and crawling into bed, but I take it second by second, taking many breaks to breathe through the pain and collect myself.

After a few tears and groans of pain, I’m situated in the bed. Doomscrolling the day away on social media is my only form of entertainment since I can’t do regular activities or even walk.

At some point, I fell asleep because I woke up on my side, phone still playing the same video on Instagram. Drool is leaking out of the side of my mouth, onto Riot’s pillows.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts by a knock at the door. “Come in,” I holler, shifting my body to lean against the headboard.

A Mexican man in a crisp suit walks in, his hands clasped in front of him. “Ma’am, Viktor has sent a car for you to meet him at the penthouse,” He says, stepping out of the way of the door so I can walk out. I don’t think he knows my injuries, as I’ve never seen him before.

Viktor usually texts me before he sends a car, but there have been quite a few times he’s forgotten, so I think nothing of it, plus I told him I needed to go to the penthouse. “I need my wheelchair, or to be carried out. I have a broken pelvis and two broken legs, along with a broken collarbone,” I say, pointing to my wheelchair.

Realization dawns on him, and he comes over to the side of the bed, as if he’s going to carry me. Holding out his arms, he asks, “May I?” I nod my head yes, grabbing my phone before he lifts me and starts walking out the door, the soft click telling me he shut it.

He carries me through the hallways, careful not to jostle me too much. He has to know I’m pregnant, my belly is getting harder to hide now that I’m in the final two months.

When we get out to the car, he opens the door, setting me in the seat and helping me get adjusted.