Page 8 of Pope's Penance

Two days after that, I went to Frankie.Before I agreed to marry him, I needed him to understand some things about my kids.Frankie is great with them, but I never want to be the parent who lies to their children.They were still super young, but I’d been talking to them about Pope since they were in my belly.I didn’t need a dad for my kids—I just needed people who loved them.

After reassurances from Frankie that he understood, I agreed to become his wife.

We were married at the courthouse two weeks later.

Our marriage was good.It was full of love, laughter, and happiness.It was a soft place to land when I didn’t think I’d ever have that again.

If my love for him wasn’t as deep as it could have been, I ignored that.If I got an implant so we couldn’t have the kids he was already pushing for before I was ready, I ignored that, too.

For the first time since Pope had betrayed me, the twins and I were happy.So, it was easy to ignore the red flags that had been waving in front of my face.

Then, not long after the kids turned two, everything changed.

It was an outside play day, and the twins were excited.They ran out ahead of me and Frankie, squealing with excitement.Hearing their happiness brought a smile to my face because it let me know that I was doing right by them even if there were days that my heart cried out in despair.

My attention was so focused on my kids and husband that I missed it at first.

Missedhim.

It was that tingle that I always got in Pope’s presence that drew my eyes to the lone figure straddling a motorcycle across the street.

My chest tightened and my skin grew clammy as I watched him stare at my kids.

Hiskids.

Frankie’s arm sat heavily over my shoulder, tucking me into his embrace as the pain of seeing Pope again tried to break me.

Even from a distance, I could read the regret and sorrow on his face, but it didn’t change anything.

As much as I appreciated it, he still set us on a course that drastically changed our lives.

I didn’t hide that pain from him.I let him see the damage his betrayal had left behind and the scars I still carried even years later.

It wasn’t until Frankie’s arms tightened around me that it hit home for Pope, and I witnessed his face shatter.

We were over.

For good.

He gave me and the kids one last look of longing before he left.

I knew it was the last time I’d ever see Pope.

Until everything changed, and the monster hiding inside Frankie made an appearance.

“Think you can let us know what’s going on?We can’t help if we don’t know what we’re up against.”

Pope’s brisk words jar me from my thoughts, and my body goes into a fit of uncontrollable tremors at the thought of having to relive my most terrifying day yet with Frankie.

Chapter Five

Eyescrawlovermeas everyone watches me struggle to control my shaking body.They judge me, wondering where the strong, fiery woman from the past has gone.

If I could get my lips to move, I’d tell them she’s gone.

Long gone.

She disappeared the moment Frankie hit me for the first time.He beat that woman so far into the ground, I can’t even stand to look at myself in the mirror anymore.

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