“What do we know about the nanny? I thought she passed all the checks?” I ask, struggling to understand how the fuck this even happened.
“She did,” Leandro says grimly. “There was nothing in her background to indicate she’d turn… I will personally find out how she was flipped though.”
I bite back the words about how that doesn’t help us now, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. With a sigh, I nod. “Thank you. But…please make Cole your priority. We need him back.”
The ping of a computer has both him and Hollis stiffening. I want to demand answers, but I can’t say a fucking word. When Hollis shuffles back to his computer, he curses, before glancing over his shoulder. “Everyone out.”
“What? What is it?” I demand, unwilling to leave that easily.
“They have sent us a video. Let Leandro and I watch it first. If…if you need to see it, I’ll let you know,” Hollis says delicately, and I know he’s trying to spare me, but I can’t allow it. Not with my son on the line.
“Play it,” I snap tersely, not moving.
Hollis shakes his head and I move to crowd him, but a firm voice rings out, “Enough!”
I whirl around and face a shaking Lio. My jaw drops, as I hadn’t noticed him in the corner, with Roman wrapped around him like an octopus, but he holds up a hand, stalling me. He takes a deep breath, glancing at the faces of each of us gathered here.
“Here is what we’re going to do. You may stay and watch the video with Hollis and Leandro. Soren, Doc, and Javi will help move Marcus and Carter to your suite. You can meet them there when you're done. Roman and I will return to the medical wing under Sarah’s supervision. There…there are things that don’t need to be seen by everyone.”
Grudgingly, I nod. I hate it, but he’s right. Carter’s already way too pale, and with Marcus down… They need help. But I will stand here for my son.
“Yes, Boss,” I grit out, waiting as people make their way out of the room. I snag Carter for a quick kiss before passing him off to Javi, who gives a muted “oomph” on taking Carter’s weight.
Lio waits until the rest have cleared out before addressing me again. “Don’t think I won’t remind Marcus of the rules when he’s awake. I was very clear, wasn’t I?”
“Yes, Boss, you were. But…”
“But nothing. Leandro made an error in the past—one he’s going to be punished for. You know, as does Marcus, that after a punishment, things are forgiven and we move on. If you can’t do that, we need to have a larger discussion. For now, I’m going to take Roman and myself back to where we should be, but that conversation will be coming…”
I incline my head, offering what respect I can. I know he views Leandro as his, and despite the chilly formality between them at the meeting, it appears the rules are still very much in play about leaving the kid alone. Which is fine, but right now? Right now, all that matters is Cole. Thank fuck Lio understands that, because he leaves, towing Roman with him.
As soon as the door closes, I stare at Hollis. “Play it.”
It’s a short video, with not much to tell me where our son is, but fuck is it devastating. Those images will haunt me forever, and the sound of my sweet boy…who is always good for his daddies.
Fuck. What have I done? How did we miss that bitch getting into our home and taking our child? Is this what Marcus felt like when we held him captive? Because if so, I have no idea how he ever forgave me enough to fall in love with me… Even if I had no control over that situation.
My heart feels frozen and I rub at my chest, desperately needing air, but I can’t seem to find any. I stare at the screen that has finally gone black, and promise myself that we’ll get my sweet Cole back. And when we catch those responsible… Well, Tennant isn’t the only one who excels at torture. No, their names are written on my list. They want to see Mayhem in action? Here’s their fucking chance.
Hurt my lovers? Hurt my son? I’ll gut every last person in my way… And that’s only after I make them pay for their sins.
Soren tucks the blankets around me and Marcus after he, Doc, and Javi get us into bed. I can barely move, my fight against the sedatives is quickly fading, leaving me so I can’t do anything but stare at Marcus. Even in a drugged sleep, he’s beautiful. My heart hurts, the pain of my failure reminding me that once he’s lucid again, I’ll lose him.
Tears roll down my cheeks, but I can’t wipe them away. I don’t deserve to cry. Don’t deserve to feel the loss of Cole…not when I proved I’m such an incompetent father.
“I do mean he’s ours—yours, too.”Keegan’s words keep playing over and over in my mind, but how can they be true? I’m not…I’m not worthy of their love, or their trust…
My eyes get heavier as the drugs work harder at trying to pull me under. With Marcus in my sights, I finally give in, trusting the men I love to do what I wasn’t strong enough to…
Blinking my eyes open, it takes a moment for me to focus as my head is foggy. Marcus is still deeply asleep next to me, but now Keegan is sitting on the bed, on the other side of him. Seeing him…it brings too many things to the surface. The memory of earlier is distant, the feel of his fingers on my chin is barely a ghost of a touch, while his words don’t seem true.“I do mean he’s ours—yours, too.”
I so desperately want to believe it, but if there’s one thing the situation with Cristian has taught me, it’s that I don’t deserve a forever love.
More tears fill my eyes and my breath catches in my throat as I realize the common denominator in all my failed relationships is…me.
A wounded, distressed noise escapes my throat, and Keegan flicks his fog gray eyes to me. He tries for a smile, but it falls flat, the pain in those gorgeous eyes clear to see. “How do you feel, Love?”
I flinch.Love. A four letter word that causes as much pain as it does joy. An emotion—a place—I don’t deserve.
