Page 29 of Vengeful Pawn

“Yes.” No sense in lying. She nods and reaches for the bag of food. “Hungry?” I ask.

“Starving,” she whispers, not wanting to wake the girls. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in days, and peanut is making their displeasure known.”

“Mom said I was like that, too.” I hand her a muffin and a breakfast wrap, then open a small container of fresh fruit.

“You are beastly.” She winks to take away the sting; however, she’s not wrong. “The nurse has already been in. She said it’d be about another hour or so for the doctor to be on shift.”

“No rush. Do you want to shower before putting these on?” I hold up the bag of clothes. “I can help if you need it.” The bruising and stitches in her body might enrage me, but I’ll do anything for this woman.

Just as Mia finishes eating, the girls begin to stir. Hopefully, they don’t realize I was gone all night and ask questions. I don’t want to lie, but I’ll have no other choice, either.

“Do we get to go home today?” Coral asks excitedly as I hand her a juice and a container with bacon, eggs, and French toast, with a cup of fresh fruit on the side.

“Yeah, Cors, we’re going home today,” I tell her.

Both girls smile before digging into their breakfasts, chatting happily about home-cooked meals and family game nights.

I had no idea this was the life I would be gifted with when I met Mia all those months ago, but I couldn’t be happier about the end results.

CHAPTER 20

MiaBella

I’ve been out of the hospital for a month, still have no memory of what happened that night, and now we’re finally moving into the house Hendrix bought for us.

The first few days at his parents’ home were stressful and filled with pain. In the hospital, I’d been given medications primarily through IV, so I hadn’t realized just how bad my injuries were beyond waking up the first time. It took us a few days to figure out a routine that kept the pain almost non-existent. I’ve healed well. My ribs still hurt, I continue to get awful headaches, and the surgery site gives me fits at times when I overdo it. But overall, everything is on schedule.

Obtaining custody of Coral and Charlotte was challenging at first due to their circumstances and the presence of living relatives. It’s only because of my meticulous notes and recorded sessions with the girls that we were granted full custody a week ago after an emergency hearing, which included the judge in Alabama who testified for us.

“Don’t lift that,” Charlotte growls at me as I go to grab my suitcase from the back of Hendrix’s truck. A lot of his family hasbeen helping us move into the house and arranging things as I like, at the insistence of Hendrix and Castiel. They refuse to have a piece of furniture touch the off-white hardwood floors without my approval. I had to come outside to get some air because all I want to do is lie in bed and sleep for a week.

The baby has been growing like a weed, and the women of the family are taking bets that I’m carrying a boy because of how low he’s settled in my stomach and the heart rate. All myths, of course, but it's fun seeing a family unit bond this way. Coral and Charlotte have begun opening up more and more every day, thanks to the positive attention they receive and the help of their therapists.

“I wasn’t touching it.” My hands raise as she eyes me skeptically.

“Dad, come get your wife in line!” she yells, and Hendrix immediately rushes out to see what’s going on.

The girls don’t trust a lot of men, but Hendrix holds their adoration. Castiel, Bishop, and Saint have also been around so much that they no longer hesitate to interact with them.

He growls. “What are you doing, princess?”

“Sitting?” I smile sweetly.

He snorts, rolls his eyes, and picks me up to sit fully on the tailgate. Pointing at Charlotte, he orders, “Keep an eye on her.”

“Well, okay then,” I grouch halfheartedly. “What do you want for dinner, sweetheart?” I have this wicked craving for jalapeno cheese garlic bread loaded with hot sauce.

“Spaghetti?” Charlotte offers. Which also sounds fantastic.

“Why don’t you go grab your sister and Hadley, and we’ll hit the grocery store.”

Hadley has been amazing with both girls. She’s taken on more of a best friend role than an aunt, and I think they’ve needed that. They’ve done pizza nights and movie marathonswhile I recovered, and now that we have our own home, I’m thinking about a monthly backyard BBQ with the entire family.

Charlotte runs inside as I slowly get up and walk to my car. Luckily, I brought my purse out with me, so I don’t have to trek back up those steps to find it and get in someone’s way.

I insisted that the girls’ rooms were the first areas put together furniture-wise, and thankfully, that’s done. Now the guys are moving in the new appliances for the kitchen, so I’d rather not trip anyone up with how slow I can be.

“Dinner shopping?” Hadley says while she and the girls come bouncing out of the house. Hendrix stands in the doorway with a stern expression on his face.

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