Page 42 of Wicked Vengeance

“No. We do this together. He’s running scared. We took out his home and most of his men with it. We outnumber him now. We’ll get him. You’re not doing this alone, Angel. That will never fucking happen, so just get that out of your pretty little head. This is our fight. And we fight it together.” Royal says, sinking down on the couch next to us, finding my eyes, he holds me hostage in his icy depths.

He’s right. On a deep level, I’m barely able to function amidst the terror wrecking me at the moment. I know he’s right. I can do this alone… I think. But I don’t have to. We’re in this together now, and that somehow calms my racing heart and chaotic thoughts.

I’m not alone.

I don’t have to face the Monster on my own anymore. We stand a better chance of success if we work together.

“Together?” I ask, searching his face for any doubt but not finding any. It’s not lost on me that I have trust issues– and a hard time accepting help. We’ll chalk it up to the trauma I’ve endured when not one single person even looked for me, much less saved me. But these men have kept their word. They came for me. I mean, I’d almost killed everyone before they got there, but that’s neither here nor there. They still showed up. They came. My breathing returns to mostly normal, and I lift my hand to cup Royal’s face. “We fight together.”

“There she is,” he replies, mirroring me and holding my face in his warm, tattooed hand. “We just got you back, Angel. We won’t be letting you go anywhere. Now, we’ve got a little girl to call and check on. Are you ready?”

My heart skips a beat and nervous excitement floods me and I smile. “Yes! Let’s call her.”

Sitting up in Alek’s lap, I run my fingers through my now dry, messy curls. I’m so nervous I could puke. All the ‘what-if’ scenarios flash through my mind, threatening to overwhelm me until Maddox steps into my view. His fingers play with the wild tendrils curled on my chest. His eyes meet mine.“You look beautiful. She’s going to love you, pretty girl. You’re her mother.”

Shoving down the fears and stuffing them in the lock box in my mind where things I can’t control live, I blow out a heavy, steadying breath, nodding at them. “I’m ready. Let’s call them.”

Alek taps something on his phone before handing it to me. My messy red curls and puffy eyes fill the screen as it rings. Before I can freak out about how shitty I actually look, my best friend's face pops up, and the dam breaks.

“Oh my god! You’re back. They got you. Holy shit– I mean, shoot! Rae!” Ella’s reaction makes me laugh through the tears streaming down my face, and I don’t even really care that I’m not alone and everyone is watching me lose my shit…again.

“Ella! I’m okay. Are you? Is she? Where is she?” My questions rush out faster than I can contain them. I need to see my daughter. Right the fuck now.

“Oh Rae, she’s perfect. We’re okay. She’s playing with Jasper– see.” The screen flips, and a picturesque scene from a storybook plays out on the screen. Snowflakes flutter all around them as Jasper holds her up to wrap a piece of black fabric around a lopsided little snowman. Emera giggles when they bump in the makeshift nose, and the carrot tumbles into the white powder that frosts the ground. “She’s absolutely perfect, Raena.”

Alek holds me tighter, tracing circles on my back as everyone crowds behind us to watch the two of them playing in the snow. I don’t need to look to know there’s not a dry eye in this room.

After a few minutes, Ella’s face comes back onto the screen. “Do you want me to call them over here so you can meet her?”

“No. I’m a mess– and I don’t want to confuse her. I just wanted to see her with my own eyes.” Even as I say it, a sob breaks free from my throat. I want to do so much more than see her through the screen. I want her in my arms. But I can’t. It’s not safe. And it won’t be until we’ve dealt with King for good.

“I’ve got her, I promise. Is he dead? Is it over?”

I don’t want to tell her this over the phone, but I can’t keep it from her either. I won’t. “No. And no. He escaped. Don’t worry, we’ll find him, but El, something happened here.”

“What happened? Is my mom okay?” Now it’s her turn to panic, but I shut that down before it can take root inside her.

“She’s okay. No, don’t worry about your mom. We’ve got her. It’s King. He’s on a warpath. Ella, he…he burned down Twisted– and Grams’ cottage. They're gone. I’m so fucking sorry.” My voice breaks, emotion slicing through me again like a knife. As much as Grams’ cottage means to me, Twisted means as much to Ella, if not more. It’s a piece of her father she will never get back. I know how that feels, but my heart still breaks for my friend, even more so now that I know this is my fault. She’s involved because of me. King wouldn’t have dragged her into this war if I wouldn’t have been there when they found me. Fucking bastard.

“Wh-what?” She asks after a second of processing what I said. “Was my staff there? Are they okay? Is anyone hurt?”

Royal speaks up, turning the phone to show his ridiculously handsome face on the screen. “No. No one was there. The place was empty.”

“And Gram’s place too? I’m so sorry, Rae. I’m so fucking sorry. That bastard!” Ella spits, angry tears spilling down her flawless cheeks.

“It’s okay. We’re all alive and that’s what matters most. No one was injured, and I promise, we will rebuild everything. We will get him. I swear it.” My anger is a tangible thing now, like I could reach out and grab it. Alek tightens his hold on me. Royal turns the phone back to me. “He won’t get away with this, Ella. You have my word.”

“I don’t care about that. As long as no one was hurt, nothing else matters. You are more important to me than that building will ever will be. We’ll rebuild. It will be fine. I just fucking hate he’s still breathing after everything he’s done.” She swipes the tears lingering on her face like she can wipe away the hurt I know she’s feeling.

“We’ll take care of him. In the meantime, just stay safe, and please…take care of my daughter. I can’t lose her again. I won’t survive.”

“Rae… she’s my only priority. I’ve got her. With my life.” Tears well in her eyes once more. “She is amazing, girl. She’s beautiful and kind. Despite everything she’s lived through, you’d never know it. She’s strong, like her mother.”

A watery smile breaks through the sob that spills out of me. “As soon as King is dealt with, I’m on my way. I can’t wait.”

“We’ll be here waiting. Hurry up. I miss you so much, bitch.” Ella laughs to break the heaviness of the moment. It’s too much. Seeing her and not being able to hold her. I appreciate the reprieve and smile back at her.

“I miss you, too. We’ll talk soon. I love you. Hold her tight and kiss her for me, El.”

---