Page 125 of Wicked Deceit
“Think of your reward when you get home,” Carter whispers against my cheek, pecking it. “Be a good fucking girl and go ace your exam, then when you come home, I’ll lay you out and feast on what’s mine.”
“Jesus Christ, Grumpy. She has to concentrate on her test. Not fucking fantasize about what you’re going to do to her,” Seger gripes, waltzing into the kitchen. He stretches his arms above his head and yawns. “Morning, Angel, and little dude,” Seger rasps, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “Good luck and kick some ass,” he says, slapping my ass.
I yelp, glaring at him, and he smirks. “Thanks,” I murmur, rubbing the blazing spot on my butt.
“Bye, baby girl, good luck,” Zepp says breathlessly, waltzing into the kitchen fully dressed. He leans in, gives me a quick kiss before marching up to his bedroom, and gets to work for his father’s company.
He’s constantly zooming around here in his best clothes and attending virtual meetings with the board members of West Records. Once we’re all done here, we’re selling the house and moving back to East Point Bluff so Seger and Zepp can run the company in person. Does it make me nervous as hell to return to the town that tried to kill me off? Absolutely. But I’d do anything for these boys, and my therapist has reassured me that I’ll be okay.
We’ve gone through the scenario several times. The bad people who once inhabited East Point are dead or rotting in the deepest, darkest pits of jail, and the town was cleaned up four years after my incident. Even East Point Prep got a facelift, new staff, and new students. It’s not a prep school anymore, it’s what Dante Van Buren originally envisioned—a place every student could go to learn. So, only the good people remain.
We haven't been back since coming here. I've purposefully kept my head down, ignoring any news about the town, but after this, I have to buck up and face my demons head-on.
East Point Prep shut down for a year or two while Shaw's trial took place. Inevitably, Shaw took a plea deal. Three hundred years to life for several murders and many more crimes. The other townspeople involved in the cover-ups were tried and convicted for their part. The entire town suffered severe backlash for letting something so heinous go on under their noses.
We learned a lot during the trials. Thankfully, they didn't need our testimony in person. Only our statements were used, and we never had to face our nightmares again. Everyone involved went to prison for their crimes, except for Zoe Hart. Veritas would never have come to our rescue if it weren't for her and her efforts to get help.
She confessed Shaw had coerced her, manipulated her, and sexually assaulted her. After hearing her testimony, it was clear she had gotten in over her head. When Zoe joined, she had no idea what the organization would do. They promised her wealth beyond her dreams, and it was something she desperately needed. Despite being a famous rockstar, she went bankrupt and thought they were her salvation. Now, under a new name, Zoe still roams free. She testified against everyone and made powerful enemies. Rumor has it, she's safely studying in Ireland and attending college there under her new name, but we haven't heard a peep from her, not even musically.
I wave to Seger and Carter, who lean against the counters with their shirts off. They’re so damn tempting right now. If I weren’t in a hurry to get to class, I’d lay my ass on the table and beg them to feast on me—labor or not.
I take Chase’s hand and walk out the front door into the beautiful May sun. It beats down on us as a mild wind blows through the trees, blowing my hair, and my muscles loosen. I’m not sure what it is about the spring weather that eases everything inside me, but I love the walk to class from here. Of course, my boys always accompany me whether they have class or not. Everywhere I go, my psychos are on my ass, watching for any sort of danger. I honestly thought I’d get annoyed by their constant stalking ways, but I eventually got used to it. Not to mention how grateful I am to have four loving bodyguards protecting my every move.
Chase and I walk down the sidewalk, enjoying the walk toward campus in silence. He clutches my hand, walking as slow as my waddle will allow. I’ll enjoy the day when I can see my feet again. Not to mention I can’t wait to shave my legs and my lady bits. Ah, one day, it’ll happen.
“How about Axel?” Chase muses, rubbing his chin.
“Axel?” I snort with a shrug.
“Well, we’ve got Led Zeppelin and Bob Seger. Why not Axel Rose? They’re all rock legends,” Chase says through a snort. “Or Dash, I’ve always liked Dashel. Dare? Or Benjamin? Alexander? Shit. Chase Jr? Seger Jr? I could keep going, Sunshine.” He grins when we finally make it to the front of campus and start our trek toward the ADM building in the center of the quad.
I wrinkle my nose. “No Jrs. I can’t imagine trying to yell at two Segers or two Chases. Or heaven forbid, two Grumpies.” I shudder at the thought of having another Grumpy around to yell at.
Chase dramatically throws his hand to his chest with a gasp. “You act like our sweet little guy will be a heathen already. And why would you yell at us? We’re perfect little angels.” He barks out a laugh when I shake my head and stick my tongue out at him.
“Angels? Right, that’s what you’re calling yourselves now,” I quip, tilting my head. “The name will come to us. Maybe when we see his face, we’ll know what he should be called.”
“I can’t wait, Sunshine,” Chase whispers, pulling me to a stop. His palm cups my cheek while the other hand caresses my protruding stomach, rubbing it in circles. “We’re all seriously so stoked to be dads. You’re giving us the greatest gift we never thought we’d have. We love you… I love you,” he murmurs, choking on his words when he leans in to kiss my lips.
“I love you, too. Now, get me to my last class so I can take this test, and then we can have the baby soon,” I whisper against his lips, wanting to pull him in for more in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Yeah,” he sniffs, “let’s get you to class.” He grabs my hand again, trying to pull me along to my destination. But my body jolts and my muscles stiffen when another sharp pain tugs at my stomach, this time a little more intense than before.
"You okay?" Chase asks with concern etching onto his face. His lips pop open when he examines my face, and I know exactly what he sees. He sees the pain I’m trying to hide behind my fake smile and nonchalant wave.
I grit my teeth and nod. "I'm fine, just some leg cramps again." I offer him my best smile, keeping the pain of the tightening of my stomach to myself. It’ll be hours before I need to worry if it's contractions.
Chase frowns, shifting through his pockets. "Again? Do you want a banana? Water maybe?" His face lightens when he pulls out a whole banana and a small bottle of water and presents them to me with a grin. "Now drink," he demands in a no-nonsense voice.
Demanding ass boyfriends.
I frown. “But then I’ll have to pee halfway through the two-hour exam,” I grumble, snatching the bottle from his hand anyway. “But thank you,” I murmur, chugging the small bottle until it's gone, handing it back to him.
His lips tip down when he thrusts the banana in my direction and raises a brow, giving me that no-nonsense look like he’ll shove it down my throat if I don’t eat it. But that’s what got us into this situation in the first place, sticking things in places and producing this hungry beast inside me who wants to eat everything in sight and then throw it up.
“And the banana? It’ll help with the cramps. I remember reading about it online a few weeks ago. Good for your legs and the baby and….” I snatch it out of his hand and peel it open, earning a satisfied grin just to shut him up. Don’t get me wrong, they have all been saints since the moment I told them, but sometimes they’re too much for me to handle. “Good, Sunshine,” he praises, taking my hand, and we start walking in the direction of my exam again while I stuff piece after piece of delicious fruit into my mouth. I’d’ never tell him I was already hungry again, and the banana really hit the spot. That would give him too much ego.
When I told them I was pregnant, they went into ultra-protective mode. Zepp researched everything we needed. Baby equipment, what to expect at labor, and throughout the pregnancy. I swear, the man is a walking, talking encyclopedia on babies and birth. Carter stomped after me like a security guard, keeping everyone back with his scowl and growls. Seger and Chase walked me from class to class, eyeing everyone suspiciously. Even the small group of friends I’ve made got lectured by them here and there about my safety, and I swear I could have smacked them. Stupid, overprotective jackasses---whom I love, of course.
