Page 62 of Buff's Reign

“There’s not a lot of stairs, Granny. I can ask one of the men to carry you up.” I snickered to myself.

She gasped. “I can do it myself.”

“Of course, you can, Mom. You’re only seventy-one.”

“Don’t talk about my age, Alondra. It’s disrespectful, especially since I birthed four babies. You were the hardest.”

“Mom, you make it sound like it was intentional.”

Granny waved her off.

I wouldn’t dare tell her Lady M had six children. She’d find out eventually.

At the top of the stairs, we all breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t take half as long to get up here as I thought.

Karma and Nova exited the bathroom. “Tell everyone goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Reign. Goodnight, Mrs. Rochester, and Granny.” Nova waved on her way to her bedroom. Her dark hair was braided, and she had skulls and rainbows on her pajamas. Interesting combination.

“Goodnight,” we all said at once.

“She is precious.” My mom stared at Nova.

“She is.”

“Boy, climbing the stairs has taken it out of me.” Granny shuffled into Jonah’s room.

“Well, you can sleep once we get you in the bed.” Mom dug into Granny’s bag.

“If you don’t need any more help, I’ll go downstairs.” I was anxious for Jonah and my dad to get here.

“Okay. I’ll be down shortly,” Mom replied.

“Goodnight, Granny.” I kissed her head and left before she tried to question me.

Karma stepped out of Nova’s room and shut the door.

“You look exhausted,” I said when she yawned.

“I am, but it’s too early to go to bed. I’ll just lie there awake.”

“I’d love to be in a cozy bed with nothing to do. I’d binge a show or read a book. Keg controlled everything he could in my life, even when I went to sleep and woke up.

“Oh, Reign.” Sympathy filled her eyes. “The guys will make him pay with his fuc—”

Commotion downstairs interrupted Karma.

“What the hell?” She quickly went down, holding onto the rail. I followed nervously into the kitchen.

“I need to go with you,” Lady M cried, appearing distraught.

“No. Now I don’t tell you no often, Margaret,” Ben said in a firm voice.

She hit his arm. “Those are my babies.”

“What’s going on?” Karma asked.

I was too afraid to speak. The air in the kitchen, the look on everyone’s face, and my gut told me it had to do with Jonah.

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