Page 28 of Kansas

“You mean it?” she smiled.

Fuck me. My woman was so starved for affection.

That sick fuck took everything that was good and wholesome out of her and squashed it. I knew it was going to take some time for her to learn to trust me. Fucker put my woman through the ringer. He systematically robbed her of everything she loved and wanted in life. It made sense that she would believe I would leave her, too. I just had to show her I was in this for the long haul.

I wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she.

Leaving the penthouse, we walked across the street and into the clubhouse to find Hellraiser and Trigger in an actual standoff. Neither one of them were saying a word as they both glared at each other.

The brothers were laughing and taking bets.

“Talia,” Kali softly whispered, causing the little girl to gasp and spin around. When Kali smiled, Talia ran for her mother, who scooped her up, giving her a big hug. Kali winced, and I growled. Helping to support Talia, I took most of her daughter’s weight from her. Kali knew she wasn’t supposed to lift anything. She was still healing, but I wasn’t going to take this away from her. She’d waited for months to hold her daughter in her arms again.

“Momma!” Talia squealed, then shouted, “Look, Tig! It’s my momma!”

Several groans around the room had some of the brothers smiling as they held out their hands. Apparently, Trigger won the standoff.

“Fuck,” Monk growled, reaching for his wallet. “That’s interference and doesn’t count.”

“Suck it, Monk,” Blackjack said, snapping his fingers. “Give me my money.”

Trigger walked over and kissed Kali’s cheek. “You look good, babe.”

“Thank you,Trigger.”

“Come on, Hellraiser. Let’s go find you some mischief to get in to,” he said, reaching for Talia, who easily went to him.

Seven

Kali

In the days and weeks that followed, Vivi kept me busy with purchasing everything I might need to make the penthouse a proper place to live. Though I was more than happy to stay in the clubhouse, Kansas didn’t want me there. Every time I brought it up, he would shake his head and say I was safer at the penthouse.

By the end of the month, the penthouse looked nothing like the barren shell it once did. Brothers painted the walls a soft cream color, with accent walls throughout the home. Furniture, tables, plants and lighting brightened the darkness that once loomed over the place. Now it had a homey, welcoming feel.

Walking into the living room, which now boasted three large sofas and a massive ottoman in the middle, the room felt welcoming. A massive hand sewn rug Vivi found at a flea market now lay on the floor, giving warmth and comfort to the once hard concrete floor. A large flat screen TV sat above the fireplace mantle. I placed small tables with pictures at each end of the sofas, while I draped the large glass windows in sheer white sheets, softening the bright sun.

In the dining room sat a table that could seat at least twelve with room for more. Strategically placed plants and flowers decorated each room, bringing the outdoors in.

The kitchen had every appliance I could ever possibly need, and the pantry was full of food. It was a real chef’s kitchen with marble countertops and soft white cabinets. There was a six-burner gas stove, a double oven, and two large side-by-side refrigerators, along with a dishwasher. My favorite part of the kitchen was the farmhouse sink. I’d always wanted one. The island separating the kitchen from the dining room had several bar stools lining one side, while the side facing the kitchen had so manycabinets I knew I’d never fill them.

Making my way down the hall to the right, I stopped and opened the first door and smiled as I walked into the twins’ room. A mural of fast cars and Harleys speeding down a dirt road was on the back wall. Plush carpet covered the floor as two twin captain beds, each engraved with a toy trunk at the end with their names, Jasper and Jaxon. Pictures of hotrods and motorbikes hung on their walls. I filled their closet with new clothes, shoes, anything my boys could ever want.

Across the hall, I walked into Talia’s room. Trigger painted the room in shades of pink and purple. Trigger had taken his time and painted a large Harley motorbike with a fairy princess, riding off into the sunset. The fairy princess even wore a cut over her flowing yellow dress with the name Hellraiser painted on the back. In the middle of the room sat a full-size canopy bed with pink bunting draped around the top. In the corner next to a window sat a small desk with a bookshelf packed full of new books. Like her brothers’ room, soft plush carpeting covered her floor. Unlike her brothers’ room, Talia had a double closet that led to her own private bathroom. The room was everything a little girl could want and more.

The room next to Talia’s was the classroom. Mrs. Worthington helped with this room, ensuring that Talia and her brothers had everything they could need, from crayons to computers. There was even a desk with a soft, overstuffed chair for Mrs. Worthington.

Heading back towards the main part of the penthouse, I kept walking until I came to Tanner’s room. Barely four months old, my baby’s room was perfect. Monk spent many hours in here, making sure Tanner had the perfect aquarium painted on his wall. Monk spent many hours making sure my baby boy would sleep under the sea, bringing colorful fish and sea life to life. His crib even had a fish mobile to keep him entertained.

The last room was the master. The one room I didn’t really know what to do with. I knew Kansas said he would stay with us and I wanted to make sure that he, too, was comfortable. There was a big California King bed against the far wall, draped with dark russet bedding and a black plush throw. Two nightstands on either side of the bed sat perfectly, mirroring each other with matching lamps. There was a tall highboy for Kansas, a dresser for me. The walk-in closet, packed full of new clothes, shoes, bags, anything Vivi could get her hands on, saying I would eventually need them. Kansas had yet to fill his side of the closet. The only thing there was a pair of new jeans and a few t-shirts folded neatly into their cubby and a pair of biker boots.

The master bathroom was enormous, almost as big as the bedroom. A large soaker tub sat damn near in the middle of the room, while a big shower stall with glass walls took up the back wall. There was a double vanity with a make-up station in the middle, along with a soft comfortable chair.

Everything was ready.

Vivi and I had thought of everything. Tonight would be the first night we all slept here and for the first time since I came to the Diamondbacks, I found myself second guessing everything.

“Kali!”

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