Page 51 of Ours

Lifting a dark brow, he eyed the beautiful brunette next to him. He wondered if it would be bad manners if they cancelled their dinner plans with the neighbors. Not that he cared about the social faux pas.

“Oh, yeah?” he asked.

Nodding her head slowly, she made a show of licking her lips. He was so fun to tease. Especially lately, now that their sexual encounters weren’t nearly as frequent as they used to be.

“Very,”she replied. “In fact, I’ve been thinking about your naked dad bodallday.”

Narrowing his dark eyes, he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. It wasn’t fair that she had the ability to make him lose his mind with the tiniest bit of flirting. “Oh, you have, have you? My...aren’t you a naughty mommy. Can we put Loey in her jumper for a few minutes?” he whispered.

Shaking her head, she moved to take their daughter. Sitting the squirming baby on her lap, she let out a sigh. She would love nothing more than a quickie in the bathroom, but their time was running short.

“I wish we could, but they will be here soon. Why don’t you go get cleaned up?” she suggested.

Grumbling an annoyance under his breath, he slapped his hands on his thighs. Leaning in to give her another kiss, he reluctantlystood from the couch. It was worth a shot, he hoped they could have some fun once they were in bed for the night.

“Yeah, ok. I’ll be right back,” he replied, heading to the bathroom to wash his hands and face.

Admiring him as he walked away, she snuggled her cooing daughter. Things were as close to perfect as she thought they could be. Neither Demetri nor Nikki had made an appearance since the night they had fled. As far as anyone was concerned, they were just a normal, young family of three. Perhaps four, if the squinter of a line on the pregnancy test was right. She couldn’t wait to tell him the amazing news.

Losing herself in the excitement of possibly being pregnant again, she held Loey close. Despite the odds, she thought that they were excellent parents. They could handle another baby. Especially if he or she was just as adorable as their little fighter.

Kissing the top of Loey’s bald head, she jumped slightly as she heard a rapid knock on the metal front door. Standing from the couch, she placed her baby on her hip without a second thought. Lilly and Justin were always a little early, it was a good thing that at least the strew was ready to eat.

“Be right there!” she called out.

...

Splashing cold water on his face, Kade blinked at his image in the bathroom mirror. Grabbing the hand towel from the metal rack by the sink, he quickly wiped the water from his skin. Replacing the towel, he froze in place as he heard a feminine yelp piercing the air.

Registering the alarming sound, his eyes widened in fear. Bounding from the bathroom he ran through the small trailer. Finding Lexi’s limp body lying on the porch just outside the front door, he let out an anguished growl. As he came closer, he noticed that she was bleeding from her left temple. The wound reminded him of the one she had given him at the cabin. Looking at her torso, he took comfort in the soft rising and falling of her chest.Thank God she was still breathing.

Turning his attention towards the porch, his face dropped as he noticed four of his former Skulls standing with their guns drawn. In the center of the group was Cyris, who no doubt took over after Maddox’s death. Held tightly in his free arm was Loey, her little face scrunching from the confusion of the moment. Seeing the fear flashing in her eyes made him burn with rage.

“Hey, Kade,” Cyris offered smugly. “Long time, no see.”

Turning his gaze from his sweet daughter to the cocky meathead, he hardened his masculine features. “You fucking son of a bitch, give me my daughter!” he hissed, hunching his shoulders in anger.

Shaking his head with a sick smile on his face, Cyris pulled back the hammer of his handgun. It thrilled him to see terror crack through his hard exterior. Kade deserved every ounce of heartbreak for breaking a cardinal rule. He was honored to be the one who would send him to hell.

“She’soursnow, and so is your sleeping bitch. Don’t worry, though, we’ll takereallygood care of them,” he replied.

Balling his hands into fists at his sides, Kade couldn’t contain his fury. If this was how he was going to die, then he would go out fighting for his family.“I’ll kill you, you fucking prick!”he yelled.

Pulling his fist back, he lunged towards Cyris. Before he had a chance to contact his face, he was roughly grabbed by Toku and Jinx. Twisting his body to and fro to break their hold, his eyes widened as he watched in horror as Cyris carried out his orders. Turning his focus on his crying daughter, his chaotic life flashed before him. The last thing he heard was the rough, rapid sound of gunfire before his entire world faded to black.

Part Two

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Nearly 4 Months Later…

Clutching a bloodied bundle in her left hand, Lexi silently followed Cyris as he led her down the dark corridor. Keeping her gaze centered on the back of his tattooed head, she readied herself for the meeting that lay ahead. Although she dreaded seeing Bloodbayne’s deformed face, it was a necessary evil. Once he had his confirmation, he would let her see Loey. She hated his twisted game but hated herself more for playing it.

Don’t, Lexi,Nikki said from the back of her mind.Quit blaming yourself. I’m the one that killed him, yeah? I’m the one that kills them all. I do that so you don’t feel like shit. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with it.

Taking her alter’s words to heart, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. Never in her entire life did she think she would ever be grateful for the little bitch in her head. She had been her saving grace on multiple occasions over the past few months.

Reaching the end of the suffocating hallway, Cyris stopped his hulking body. Standing in front of the heavy metal door, heturned to look at Lexi over his leather clad shoulder. Arching a shaved brow, he motioned towards the cement floor.

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