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“That’s because they’re twins,” I tell her, tucking her back in bed. “Now stay here, we can have a picnic dinner on your bed when I finish cooking.”
Yet, I can’t help but think Casey is right, Casen would keep us safe, but after what I did, would he forgive me? Or would he take Casey from me and leave me to my self-inflicted fate? I deserve it if he did, I made a mess of this, and now Casey is in the crossfire. I get down on my knees to her, as I know Vince is listening.
I kiss the top of her little head and hug her, trying to reassure her. “Mommy has to make dinner, but we can talk about it later.” Nervousness is etched on her face, breaking my heart, she has to even live in a house of uncertainty.
I wipe the stray tear that escapes my eye before entering the kitchen. Before I even step completely in the doorway, my head is ripped backwards painfully by my hair.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Casen
Malik and I sit by the fire pit, the warmth and flickering light casting shadows on our faces. I want to tell him about the night I tried to kill Vince, but the words get caught in my throat. Even though I miss the good parts of my brother, I would have done the same thing again. Especially now that I know I have a daughter.
My mind drifts to that afternoon.
~Flashback~
“It's getting late, girls. We need to head back,” I tell Alisha, Matilda, and Rose. Lia is Malik's stepdaughter, and Matilda is his. They're like the little sisters I didn't know I wanted, as well as little sisters that damn near drove me nuts, especially Matilda. She and Rose were close, so I usually got stuck babysitting her. “That's fine; I have to head to work anyway,” Lia tells me, climbing out of the water.
“Can you make sure Tilly goes home? She is technically grounded for sneaking off with Rose the other night,” Lia tells me. Lia works at a local pub in a pack near ours. Black Creek pack.
“Seriously, and you let her come?” I ask Alisha, and she shrugs. “It's stinking hot. Mom and Dad won't be back for hours,” she tells me, and I shake my head.
“Don't worry; I will make sure she goes home.” Lia pecks my cheek.
“Thanks, bro....” I watch her leave, only to pause as she reaches the tree line. I roll my eyes, already knowing what she is going to ask.
“Nope!”
“Please, Case! I hate taking the bus,” Lia whines at me, batting her lashes. I grit my teeth. Lia smashed her car last week, when a drunk driver, from the bar she works at, ran her off the road on her way to work.
“Take mother's.”
“She has hers with Dad,” I sigh, knowing Malik banned her from driving his after she sideswiped a bus. The girl should not have her license. She is a liability.
“Fine!” I growl. Digging into my pocket, I grab my keys and toss them to her.
She snatches the keys from the air and blows me a kiss. “Love you.”
“You too,” I tell her, turning my attention back to the water, to find Tilly and Rose sitting on the bank across from me, whispering.
“Girls!” They both lift their heads to look at me.
“Out now!” I tell them, and Tilly rolls her eyes while Rose slips beneath the water. Matilda reluctantly climbs out while Rose, the damn pain in my ass, ignores me.
“Rose!” I growl.
“Oh, scary….” she taunts, and Tilly laughs.
“I will get your mother,” she scrunches up her face. “1…” Rose glares at me, but swims to the edge. She holds out a hand to me, and I grit my teeth, ignoring the sparks that rush up my arm as I grip her hand. Only the moment I do, I am shoved from behind. I fall into the water with a huge splash. The water steals my breath with how cold it is, and I swim up to the surface to find Rose and Matilda gone. Swimming to the edge, I climb out. Zyan laughs in my head, thinking their antics are hilarious. I swear, if I find Rose has snuck off with that little shit of a boyfriend she has, I might actually kill him this time. My thoughts manage to quiet Zyan's voice in my head, his thoughts turning dark.
“She's ours,” he grumbles.
“Not yet,” I tell him. She is too young, and I want her to have all the normal experiences a girl her age has, but that is so fucking hard when I feel him pawing at her. I trudge through the forest, my clothes heavy from being soaking wet. Breaking out of the tree line, I find the park empty, and see Tilly racing up the steps of her home. So where did Rose go? I checked her house first, then Malik's. “Tilly, where is Rose?” She shrugs.
“Matilda!” I snarl at her.
“Gee, what is your fucking obsession with her? It's sickening.”
