Page 76 of Locked Souls

Chastity runs her fingers through my hair as she nurses Charity. I don't mind it much when it's just the two of us in the bed, but Bastian ended up with a concussion during the battle, so he's also supposed to be resting.

I love the guy, he's my brother, but I have yet to have any serious alone time with our girl since I returned from that hellhole the first time.

Not that I'm really up to snuff in the sex department. I have to heal first.

Ugh, I'm so bored.

“I can hear you thinking. Your thoughts are very loud. You're supposed to be resting, Ash. You almost died.”

Charity makes some babbling sounds and I stare at my daughter. We have gotten better acquainted over the last few days.

“Life is short, Chas. I don't want to spend it in this bed. Can we at least go home? I still haven't seen the house you and the guys bought. Plus, we would have a lot more space there.”

I watch as she thinks it over, silently praying that maybe she will give in.

“I'll discuss it with the others, but my grandmother is having some separation anxiety, which is oddly comforting,” she mumbles, then puts her boob away and hands me the baby.

I take her, smiling as she gives me a gummy grin in return. Fuck, she's cute as shit.

“Burp her and I'll be back.”

Chastity leaves the room and I do exactly what she said. It's not long until Charity's eyes are getting heavy and she quickly falls asleep.

I shut my eyes and continue to hold her close to me. I almost lost this. The freedom to be a father, and to love my guy and girl.

Isabella took so much away from me, but she's gone now, and it's time to heal and move on.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” I mutter.

Levi opens the car door for me, and I fight not to roll my eyes at his princess treatment.

“Yeah, it's home, and there has always been a place for you here.”

I nod and carefully shift out of the seat, placing my feet in the grass. Jonas watches me worriedly, but I don't think he wants to be snapped at again.

I am fine. I'm alive, and I can handle my own shit.

We walk, albeit very slowly, up the porch steps, and Levi opens the door with a code.

“Fancy,” I mutter and Bastian snorts.

“This place is locked down tighter than Fort Knox,” he says as we walk inside, right into a huge living area.

Plopping onto the couch, he sighs. “God, I've missed you.”

Chastity laughs, shaking her head.

I look around, a little unsure about what to do, but when Eli crawls over to me, I risk the pain and bend down to swoop him up.

He gives me a big smile and I know that this is home.

CHASTITY

It's a sunny day, but I still feel like everything is all wrong. We are burying my dad today. It shouldn't be a nice sunny day.

We should have clouds and rain, tornadoes, or even hail. The way I feel inside, broken and barely keeping it together, should be replicated on the outside.

Tempest grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. I lean my head on her shoulder and sniffle.

---