AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They both have blonde hair and gorgeous green eyes. Only Isla has Tori’s red wavy hair and fierce temper. Isla is fun to wind up at six years old, because she explodes easily.
“Want to come hang out with me and let your dad go to bed?” I ask. “He’s really tired…”
I play up how tired Link is and he rolls his lips in to hide it. I need to distract myself from what’s happening in Kentucky, and the drugs I have hidden in the vent in my en-suite bathroom. They call to me, and I need to drown their sweet enticement with something productive.
I can’t escape while kids are awake in the house, it’s a line I draw for myself. I keep finding excuses why I can’t use the drugs that were handed to me, even if they’re thin at best. The truth is, as much as my mind is screaming at me that I need them, I also want to feel the pain right now.
Because my beautiful Valkyrie is suffering and I can’t do a goddamned thing about it.
The twins glance at each other before they grin. “Horsey Ror!”
I sputter out a laugh as I realize they want to ride me like a horse.
Link claps me on the shoulder with a grin. “You’re in for it now. If you need me… don’t for at least an hour,” he says with a wink.
Grinning, I shake my head as I realize he’s going to go fuck Tori into the mattress. “You’re getting old if you only need an hour,” I tease him.
Link’s jaw drops in horror. “You take that back!” he hisses as he leaves the room.
The kids look perplexed as they watch me and I hurriedly change the subject. These kids are way too damn smart for being two.
“Horsey, then?” I ask bemused and their eyes widen as they cheer.
Thank God this house is sound proofed for the most part. The few rooms that aren’t are the kids rooms and the one Turner and I are in. It’s in a newer addition to the house, and Link said since it used to be one of the kids’ rooms he hadn’t done it yet.
It doesn’t really matter because there’s zero sex happening lately. Neither one of us is in the mood since we found out Xav used Turner’s blow job in the club against Lennon. We’re both drowning in guilt that we could have ever caused Lenny to doubt us. I’ve taken up running until I pass out from exhaustion because meditation isn’t working anymore. I’m trying to outrun my demons, but after Derek’s call earlier tonight, they’re nipping at my heels.
Forcing myself to stay in the present, I drop to my knees to play with the toddlers because they’re adorable and the perfect way to stay in the present.
* * *
Two hours later,the three of us lay on the carpeted floor of the living room. Aiden and Nadia are snuggled in my arms and they passed out about twenty minutes ago. I’m not coordinated enough to get up and walk them upstairs to their bed right now, so this is the best I can do.
Tesa walks in with a chuckle as she looks down on me. Griffin and she realized they were over so often, it made more sense to live here. So Link bulldozed the cute cottage style house they were in when they first got married and extended the house.
This house is massive now, but still feels like a home because of the love in it.
“My hellions have actually been asleep, so I came to see if the twins were taking advantage of you,” Tesa laughs. “Dios mio,I think you broke them, Roark.”
Glancing down at them in alarm for a second, I realize she’s joking. “They played hard,” I concede with a smile. “I’m stuck though, they’re heavier than you’d think.”
Tesa chuckles. “I’ll grab reinforcements,” she teases as she walks quickly into the hallway. “Mama! Come help me, please?”
Mama Rodriguez, Tesa and Miguel’s mother moved in last year after she had a fall. You’d never notice she went through months of physical therapy now, and I think that’s because Greg took charge of her recovery.
Mama Rodriguez still says he’s the devil under her breath when his name is mentioned. I have to cover my laugh whenever she does, because I don’t want her to think I’m laughing at her.
Apparently she and Tesa have an affinity for herbs that can make you shit for days. No thank you.
Mama Rodriguez pops her head into the living room and chuckles. “You’re such a good boy, Roark,” she says as she scoops Aiden up carefully into her arms.
Slowly rocking back and forth, she sings softly to him as she walks out of the room.
“My mother adores you,” Tesa giggles as she lifts Nadia up.
My arms feel empty after holding them, so I sit up and wrap them around my knees. “I’m going to ask her to adopt me,” I tease her back with a small smile.
Tesa shrugs. “My mother wouldn’t be opposed. Y’all are family, even if we don’t get to see you often. I don’t know your history, but you always have a place in Georgetown. I’m going to put this little one to bed. I see Tori and Link didn’t leave their bedroom?”
