Page 27 of Locked Souls

Sighing, I wait for him to speak. Tears drip onto my skin and he sniffles. Wrapping my arms around him the best I can, I hold him as he quietly breaks down.

Ash destroyed us by leaving, and now that he's back, I don't know how to move on.

Chapter 8

“Have you told her yet?” Bast asks me the moment I walk into the room. I am currently shirtless, and my sweatpants are covered in spit-up. Charity decided to regurgitate all of the breast milk Chas just fed her.

“No, I haven’t. I will, but there's no rush,” I grumble, as I move into the laundry room and strip off, before jumping into the shower.

“This house has such a weird set up,” Jonas comments, as he jumps up onto the counter so we can talk. I groan and put my head under the hot water.

If he wants to bitch about Ash again, it’s going to need to wait until I have had a solid four hours of sleep.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being a dad, and my kids are my life, but I also really like sleep, and since Eli was born, I don’t think we have had a solid night of uninterrupted peace.

Chastity was a huge fan of co-sleeping, since it was easy for her to nurse in the middle of the night, but four adults in a bed with a baby, even with her laying inside some portable bassinet, does not make for a good night.

“Does Jacob at least know not to say anything?” Bast mutters, and I can hardly hear him over the water.

“Yes. Now, can I have a moment to wash, or did y’all want to jump in here and suck my cock?” I grunt and Jonas laughs.

Rolling my eyes, I grab some of the citrus body wash on the shelf and quickly clean my neck and chest.

We may all enjoy fucking Chastity, but the only swords that have ever crossed are Ash and Jonas. Bast has been curious, but he loves our girl too much to venture out of his comfort zone.

“Fine, Daddy, we will wait for you in the living room,” Jonas snarks and my palm twitches. Just because I don't fuck them, doesn't mean I won't punish them.

Once they leave and the door shuts behind them, I close my eyes and think about all the things that are still to come, and my long overdue chat with my wife.

Chastity has been through a lot, and I don't want to add more stress to her plate.

Fuck, why did my dad have to fuck her mom? I mean… ugh, if she was anything like my girl, I can see the appeal.

All this does is complicate more shit. Rinsing off, I grab a towel to dry myself, and then I look in the dryer to find a change of clothes and tug them on. They are still warm, and all it makes me want to do is curl up and sleep.

I should have joined Jonas and Chas’ nap earlier, but when I walked by, I could hear her comforting Jonas as he finally broke.

I knew it was only a matter of time, and hopefully, now we can move on. Ash is back, and we should be celebrating. But according to Snake, they may have to leave again, and…

Just another thing to add to my plate.

Leaving the bathroom/laundry room, I almost run into Rome. Otto is chasing him down the hall as he squeals.

God, I wish I could be a kid. To not have any worries in the world, except when to eat, sleep, and shit. Life was good back then. Why did I ever want to grow up?

“Hey, Jacob just called, he and Grandma Cross are almost here. Bast and Chastity are cooking dinner. I was hoping we could talk?”

He gives me a sheepish smile and I groan. Tossing my head back, I rub my hand down my face and sigh.

“Yeah,” I grunt as I follow him into the backyard. It's not as nice as the one we have at home. But we're surrounded by trees here, and it's shady.

“Listen, I'll make this short. I love Jacob Cross with my whole heart, and you're breaking his. Learning about your father was just as much of a shock to him as it was to you, and you avoiding him… He's never told anyone, but Chastity wasn't the only one to be abused by Isabella. She has a taste for young flesh, and Jacob wasn't the exception.”

“Wait, what?” I look into Otto's brown eyes and wince. He's on the verge of tears, and I know what he said is the truth. I mean, look at how she treated Ash.

“Jacob always wanted a brother. He loves his sisters, and would kill for them, but he told me that when he was pledging The Society, before becoming The Dragon, it was some of the best days of his life.”

“Otto, you're a good man, and I know you're only trying to do what's best for the person you love, but I have to think about my wife, and how much this is going to upset her. I'll talk to Jacob. Okay?”