Page 62 of Locked Souls

“Hope.”

I know I'm not making any sense, but maybe one day she will figure it out. I pray she does, because without hope, there is no tomorrow.

My lungs are burning and my head spins as I cough up more blood. There is a bright light shining above me and I see her.

She smiles at me, offering me her hand, and I don't hesitate to take it. While I'm reuniting with my one true love, I leaving a piece of my heart behind.

Chapter 17

“Ican't believe it's come to this,” Bast mumbles, but I don't reply.

I can still feel the weight of my dad in my arms as he died. I can still taste the salt on my lips from the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

That was hours ago, and now I'm just sitting here numb as Jacob and Levi race around, making sure everything is in order.

Jonas is due to return soon, and then it's full steam ahead, so to speak. Snake spent his last few breaths telling us to find hope, but right now, I just feel dead inside.

Isabella has taken everything from me. My daughter, my family, my best friend, and now my father. It’s time to end her. I refuse to lose one more thing by her hand.

Jonas stumbles into the apartment and he rushes over to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“I am so sorry, baby girl,” he whispers into my neck, and that's all it takes for me to break. Loud keening wails escape my lips, and he rocks me, never letting me go. “She will pay, Chastity. We have a plan, and we aren’t leaving that compound until her blood is soaking the concrete.”

Strong hands pull me away from Jonas and into a firm chest. I bask in the strength of two of my men and wipe my eyes.

“When are you leaving?” I ask Jonas, looking into his gray eyes. He just came back to me, I don’t want to let him go yet.

“In the morning. We have two teams. The first one is going to storm the compound, while the second does retrieval and capture. We are in team two. Then The Elders will be doing clean up, gathering any intel they can from Isabella’s office.”

I nod, but I'm not really listening. All I can think about is how the men that own my heart are going into a dangerous situation, and we only have a few hours left together.

Life is short. I need to make every last second count.

Levi can feel my change in mood, and he backs away from me.

I catch Bastian’s eye from across the kitchen. He's holding Charity and gives me a sad smile.

I wave him over and he stumbles, trying not to race to me.

“Let me feed her. Why don't you guys spend some time with Eli and put him to bed,” I suggest, and I know Jonas can tell what I'm doing, but he doesn't complain.

Jacob and Otto leave to spend time together with Rome, and my grandmother walks over to me .Her eyes are wet and her face is tense.

“I don't know the man he was today, but I remember him as a boy. He cared deeply for your mother, and I'm sad to see him gone. If you want some time alone with your husbands, bring the kids to my place after they are ready for bed.”

She surprises me, pulling me into a quick hug, and I breathe in the scent of rose oil and incense.

“Thank you,” I whisper. She moves back and runs her hands over her habit, making sure it's perfect, then she leaves us alone.

The door closes and the silence is almost overwhelming. My heart is broken, but for tonight, I am going to put my dad’s death in a small box and shove it to the back of my mind.

I am going to love my men as much as I can because tomorrow is never promised.

The kids are over at my grandmother's place, but Romeo is still with Otto and Jacob.

He wouldn't leave them, and I can't blame him. His mom is still missing, and he's never been away from her for this long.

I can only imagine how hard this must be for her, and I bet she's struggling to handle everything. Ugh, my nose itches and I cover my sniffle with a cough.