Page 39 of Angel's Forever

A man like Vincent never changed his ways. They said a leopard never changed his spots, and that was Vincent to a tee. The number of times he had apologized to me and told me it would never happen again, then beaten the living crap out of me just a couple of days later… I had lost count of the times it had happened.

For now, I was just glad that he was leaving me alone and letting me drown in my own tears. He knew every time he came in here that I had been crying, but I never let him see me do it. I didn’t want the satisfaction of letting him see me at my worst. Every time he came into the room, I held my head high as a sign of defiance toward him. But that was as far as I would take it. I wouldn’t answer him back or show any other form of insolence against him. I knew far too well the consequences of what that would bring me.

I had to be clever. I had to think things through before I said or did anything. The longer I kept him happy and away from me, the more chance I had of someone finding and rescuing me and my child. I wouldn’t be able to face my guys again in the knowledge that because of something I had said, I’d lost their son or daughter. I could never live knowing that.

The problem was, keeping Vincent happy might mean doing things that turned my stomach. The thought of having sex with the guy was something I didn’t want to even contemplate. Would I be able to forgive myself knowing that I had been unfaithful to my men just to survive? Would they ever forgive me, or would they forever look at me in disgust?

I didn’t want to think about it anymore. If and when the time came, I would make my decision. For now, I wanted to try to stay as positive as possible and think about my men. I allowed my thoughts to go to the night of Hudson’s birthday celebration. The night we first all came together as a true relationship between four people in love.

I remembered that night as being a major turning point for Hudson and especially Gino. He had brought out a part of me that I could never have imagined: the role of a Domme. I had always been happy as a sub, but on my first night with a very nervous Gino, I had felt the need to tell him what to do, and I’d liked it. I wanted to learn more from Hudson about how to use a flogger so I could be more dominant and have an impact play scene with Gino. I was certain it would be an invigorating and liberating feeling, one that both Gino and I would enjoy.

Seeing Gino with Hudson was a memory I would never get out of my head. It had been a scene like no other for both of them, and it had aroused me so much that it wasn’t long before I was coming with both of them. It was something that none of us had ever expected – not so quickly, anyway. We all knew that Gino had wanted to try impact play with an experienced Dom, but none of us thought it would be Hudson, and definitely not on the first night he joined us in the playroom together. It was a pleasant surprise to see them enjoying it together. And their kiss was as hot as hell.

However, what surprised us the most was how it had affected Hudson. I have been with plenty of Doms in my time, but I have never seen one suffer a drop before. It was pleasing that for once, I was the one who had to care for and comfort him after a scene. To know I was providing the compassion and understanding that Hudson needed to get through the rest of the evening. I knew I would always suffer a drop after a scene – it was just in my makeup that I got so passionately involved, I would feel empty, lost, and emotionally drained at the end of it. But to know that Hudson could feel the same made it feel so normal. Just spending those moments caring for him in the bath was an experience I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. Then having us all in bed together showing him how much we loved and cared for him…well, it was one of the most memorable times in my life. Even more than the night of the auction, when I first got a taste of what Hudson could do for me.

The way we had all come together that night was truly amazing, and I hoped in my heart that it wouldn’t be the last time it happened. I had to hold on to that hope because it was all I had right now. Hopes and dreams of what I wanted for the future. One where I knew I would always be safe and I never had to keep looking behind me to see if Vincent was there to take my life and dreams away from me. A future where I would finally have children of my own with the men I loved. A life where I had committed myself to the men I loved, and they had committed their lives and love to both me and each other.

It may have seemed like a utopian life, that was unobtainable. However, to me, it was a realistic life that was possible. If I got out of here alive and finally knew that I was safe from Vincent, it would be a future that I would make come true, because I didn’t want to waste another minute of my life wondering about what-ifs. I wanted to make them happen.

I lay on the bed with my hands on my stomach and decided to tell my baby all about their daddies. I wanted him or her to know everything before they were born, so I started to speak to them.

Hey, munchkin.

I need you to know how amazing your three daddies are. Daddy Hudson is one of the most wonderful men in the world. He never gave up on finding your mommy. He was always waiting to get me back, and now that he has me, he won’t let me go. Once you come into his life, he will love and cherish you as well. He will spoil you rotten, despite anything I say. You will never want for anything with him around.

Then there is Daddy Nico. He is the joker of them all. He will be your fun daddy who will probably always get you into trouble, but because we love him so much, he will get away with it. He will teach you to be strong and look after yourself if you are a boy. If you are a girl, then you’d better not bring any boyfriends home because you will probably never see them again. Either way, he will love you more than life itself and will always protect you.

Last, there is Daddy Gino. He is the most caring and gentle man I have ever met. He will always be there for you when you are upset. He will be the one you will always talk to when you need a friend or just want a hug. This doesn’t mean he is soft – he will protect you as much as Daddy Nico – but he will do it without you realizing it. You will never know he is close by unless you need him.

We will find out who your real daddy is, but I want you to realize that no matter what, you will always have three protective papa bears looking out, caring, and loving you and your mommy. Also, remember your mommy loves you to the stars and back. I’m going to say goodnight to you now, munchkin, and I can’t wait to meet you. Remember, I will always be just here thinking about you.

I love you, munchkin.

I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. With visions of my little munchkin in my arms, I allowed my fatigue to take over my body and fell into the peace and darkness of sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Two

VIKTOR

IT HAD BEEN THREE days since Vincent had taken Gabriella. Seventy-two hours waiting for any news on their whereabouts. I was sitting in my office waiting for my contact to call me. He thought he was close to finding the area that Vincent was staying in, but didn’t want to message me until he was certain that he hadn’t moved on.

My head was going around in circles with what we could have done better for Gabriella. What could I have done to stop Vincent from getting to her? The short answer was nothing. I could have put her under twenty-four-hour protection and surveillance, but I knew she would have hated that. She would have felt exactly how she had while living in Detroit with that monster.

Nico had known everything and had put enough precautions in place. It would have been enough had it just been Vincent we were dealing with, but he couldn’t have come up with that plan to get her. It must have been the traitor from my own ranks, Nikolai Makarov.

I didn’t know that much about him when Aleksandr came in and told me that Gino had woken up and remembered his attacker had said his name. Nikolai was a low-level foot soldier who hadn’t been with us for very long. He had been recommended by one of Mikhail’s men, which was how he had come to know Vincent.

I had Aleksandr out looking for him now on the pretense of giving him a job to move him up the ranks. Part of that was he had to come and see me, and when he did, he was going to regret ever turning traitor on the Koslov family. I would see to that personally.

I didn’t usually get my hands dirty. However, anyone involved in my malyshka’s kidnapping was going to find out why I was head of this family, and it wasn’t because my father was before me. I had worked my way up the ranks like the rest of them. Proven my worth to the family. Killed who I was told to. There was the blood of a hundred men on my hands. Soon, there would be two more.

My personal phone started to ring, and I saw it was from my contact.

“What do you have for me?”

There were no pleasantries, and no names ever mentioned between us. Even though I knew this phone was safe, we never took any chances.

“The target and his guest have stopped somewhere in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They must be staying somewhere remote or hidden away because so far, I have been unable to trace them. We know they are in contact with someone in New York. If we could just get the number they are contacting, then I might be able to trace them and pinpoint their location.”