Page 30 of But I'm Still Standing

“What are you thinking about, angel? You have that look.” Sin grins up at me. He has had his head in my lap for the last three episodes of The Originals, constantly turning to kiss my belly and tell us he loves us.

“Well, even though I can’t exactly torture the fuck-twats, I could watch and instruct, maybe? I don’t know it was just a thought!” I try to explain what I’m ultimately asking for.

“So, you want to be the queen for a change?” Sin smiles wide and I can see the reels turning in his head.

“Yeah, no! I want to be the executioner. Yeah, I kind of want toshow her what a queen really is.” I look down, exasperated by the thoughts going through my head, as I wring my hands, intertwining my fingers, making them red as they swell more.

Sin sits up, placing his hands on mine to calm them from torturing themselves, “Angel, what do you need? To be whole again? You know I’ll give it to you. Whatever you need. If you want me to put a camera down there and stream it to your tv so you can watch them burn, I’ll do it. Just tell me what you need.” He cups my cheek, making me look up.

“I want to be down there, and I want to watch them torture each other. We can make them do it, then when it’s time, they will watch each other torture Max as well. It’s beautiful if you think about it. Everything he did to me he will watch Mark do the same to his precious Jill. I haven’t figured out all the specifics, but I know the girls will be more than willing to help me come up with another torture plan. They can make popcorn and watch with me. I think it will make me feel better to see them suffer, at least some until Elijah Kohl is born.” I smirk, looking down at my husband who has been amazing. I want him to have this. I had a dream the other night that our next two children will be girls and I’m pretty sure I’m done after that. I don’t want to spoil it for him, but for some reason, I know I’m right.

“Wait, what? You changed the name you want? Why?” His eyes well up with tears, and I know I’ve made his day.

“Because I like the idea of our son being named after both of our favorite characters, for all the reasons, for both of us. Elijah Kohl Devereaux also sounds way better than Kohl Elijah Devereaux, but I get to name our daughter.” I bargain now before he wants to give her a hideous name thinking it will deter boys from fawning over her.

“Deal! I can’t believe you really want this! Thank you, I love his full name. I can’t wait to meet him. I hope he has your eyes.”

“I just hope he is kind and smart, I already know he will be handsome like his daddy.” I grin down at this perfect man that I get to call mine, as he sits up, giving me a sweet kiss. I cup his face, wanting more. I’m so horny, but sex is off limits until I hit at leastthirty-six. Doesn’t mean I can’t get off, just no strenuous activity. A knock at the door makes us jump and Sin pulls away completely, getting up to open the door.

“I hope you’re hungry!” Cami shouts as she bolts into the room carrying a huge carving block full of different meats. Abby, Mia, and MJ are quick behind her carrying trays of food.

“What are y’all doing?” I laugh at how bouncy they all are.

“We decided we are all in need of a girl’s night! Since you are on restrictions, we thought we would bring the party to you!” MJ plops on the makeshift bed couch they put together for me as she wiggles her left hand up in front of me grinning from ear to ear.

“Holy shit! That is huge, and gorgeous! I’m guessing Alec finally gave you the proper proposal that you deserved!” I squeal, looking at her, at least four carats, princess cut diamond on her wedding finger.

“He took me to dinner last night at Revolution, don’t worry we had security all around us. The chef even came out and congratulated us. Apparently, he and Alec are friends and he agreed to cater for the wedding! I think that was Alecs plan all along, because we tried nearly everything on the menu, and he proposed with dessert! He had the ring put on top of my Maple Bread Pudding Crème Brulé.” She is still swooning with hearts in her eyes. I love this for her!

“Thank God she finally chose a caterer, I was getting worried we wouldn’t have food at her reception!” Mia belts out laughing as she starts making us all plates, “These are some of the options for the menu. MJ wanted our opinions on what we should serve.”

“I can have cake samples ready by Friday if you and Alec want to have a tasting.” Cami offers.

“Alec said that I should pick some type of chocolate for the groom’s cake, and he would be happy with whatever I chose. He wants me to have the wedding of my dreams. I love all cakes, but I was thinking, maybe a pink champagne cake with buttercream frosting and light pink and white roses and pearls, I love how classic pearls are! I also have a favor to ask all of you. I need brides’ maids, and you are my only friends. Alec has three and wanted Sin to walkwith Savvy to show The Saints they are a united front and doing well so I need Savvy and three more. Will y’all do it? You can pick your own dresses as long as they are the designated colors of pink.” MJ blabs out everything, looking like she thinks we might say no, and we all start laughing.

“Of course, we will! Apparently, baby Elijah will be coming sooner rather than later if they can’t keep my blood pressure down. Either way I should be able to, just not sure what dress size to get.” I reassure my adorable niece.

“Dress sizes won’t be a problem, Shelby is bringing the whole shebang next week and she has reassured me she can adjust sizes up to three days before the wedding but if there is an issue, then Shelby has agreed that she will come fix it.” Mia is on top of her game as usual. Shelby is Nicks friend who owns the bridal place here in NOLA and helped each one of us find dresses for our weddings. We all adore her. Mia and Shelby hit it off working so much together.

“Sounds like everything is coming together nicely. I’m so happy you are here with us MJ.” Abby comes over with a platter with a little bit of everything, setting it in the middle of the couch, while Mia hands out plates with appetizers.

“We are rating everything on a scale of one to five. One meaning it sucks ass and five meaning orgasm in your mouth.” Mia announces as everyone settles in, snickering.

“I give the filet a five! I can’t stop eating it!” I say as I take another bite, moaning at the flavors hitting my tastebuds.

“Mom said your iron is low, so eat all the red meat Sav, you both need it!” Cami replies, adding more meat to my plate.

“Hey, since we are all here, I need to ask a favor as well?” I start off the conversation slowly.

“Whatever you need, we got you.” Abby replies, placing her hand on my shoulder. Everyone nods in agreement.

“I want us to go down to the caves and give back to the fuckers who took from us. We will not be the ones handing out the torture though. We will watch them torture each other. I have a plan and Ithink with some of the things we ordered we will be able to control them. I’m guessing the guys went out on a lead about Max again?” No one tells me when they are going out or any leads they get about him. I know he is here in NOLA, biding his time. Waiting for me to come out. I wish they would just let me use myself as bait to draw the mother fucker out.

MAX

I can’t hide out here in this little loft apartment forever, any more than Savannah can hide from me. I’m so close to her that I catch glimpses of her when she comes out on the balcony. Sin now has the Saints on his side and they both keep that fucking place on lockdown. I can’t get to her if she doesn’t come out. I know there are tunnels that I can get through to make my way in, thanks to that stupid cunt Jill, but not knowing what I will be up against if I go in is the only thing keeping me from my girl! It’s funny, I never wanted Savannah until I couldn’t have her anymore. She was my consolation prize since I couldn’t have Lottie. Mother had her tucked away for me when I was ready. She just never appealed to me the way Lottie did. Savvy is beautiful, but there is something about your first love that no one can compare to, no matter how much they look like them. I let Savvy be because she was a reminder of what I couldn’t have, and I didn’t want to play with her when the time came. She wasn’t good enough to be my covenant. Sure, Bash trained her, unknowingly for me. Mother knew that he would want her the moment he saw her. I just didn’t! Until she came to town and fucked everything up because Sebastian just had to have her. Then she moved on to Christian. The selfish bastard was always the golden boy, always doing the right thing, and always got everything he wanted, including Charlotte. She chose him over me, I begged her to leave with me the day of her wedding. It was my last-ditch effort to save her life. If she had accepted my proposal, she would still be alive, with me. I understood why she didn’t want Bash, but she loved me,and still chose Christian. Well, Savannah is mine and she doesn’t have a choice.

Not only are the Saints now looking for me, but Sin and his army of idiots have gotten closer than I would like to admit. I have been blacklisted. I have a hefty price that was put on my head by the people who were supposed to have my back. Five million if I’m brought in alive and two million if dead. That’s just what sin threw in, The Saints are doubling it. They want me alive so they can make me tell them everything to make it worse for my mother. She has always put her needs above everyone else. She wouldn’t listen when I told her we didn’t have time to get the girls. Should I have dropped her at the house, taken Savvy’s journal, and left knowing she would be caught? Probably not, but she wouldn’t listen to reason and Savvy wasn’t in her room. Mother still wanted her revenge using MJ and Savvy. I don’t want a family; I just don’t want Sin to have that happiness. I will have a nanny raise our son and Savvy will be my plaything forever, giving us multiple heirs as it should be.

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