Page 51 of Bound For You
Dimitri tries to grab my arm but he’s not quick enough. I smash my fist in Peter’s face, and blood spurts from his nose. He hits the floor, out cold. I turn, taking off in a sprint to reachAvery before she does something stupid. I can hear footsteps behind me, and I know instantly its Damian and Al.
When I get to the parking lot, I see Avery’s taillights.
“Fuck!” I scream, grabbing my hair tight. I link my fingers behind my head, breathing heavily. Al grabs my arm and drags me to the car Damian brought round. I get into the back while Al gets into the passenger seat. Phoebe’s already in the seat next to me. She grabs my hand and squeezes it as Damian takes us to Avery’s apartment.
Forty minutes later, no thanks to traffic, we pull up out front of Avery’s, and we all jump out and run inside. I grab my key and open her door, but it’s completely silent. My breathing picks up when I head to her room. Pictures of us are scattered on her nightstand and dresser. Nothing looks out of place. I head back into the living room and see Phoebe staring at a picture of me. It was from the beach, and I’m grinning widely at the camera, my black shirt unbuttoned. I rub the side of my neck, making Al walk over to me and grab my hand. I turn and furrow my brows at him but he’s not looking at me, he’s looking at the tattoo I got months ago, before Phoebe was attacked and everything was perfect.
“You got her name tattooed on your neck? How the fuck have I never noticed that?” Both Phoebe and Damian look at me in shock.
I sigh. “I got it about a year ago. Avery and I hadn’t been together long, but I knew she was the one. She never noticed it.”
Damian leaps from the sofa, declaring, “I found her.”
We all crowd around his phone, and I breath out, “Shit.”
Al furrows his brows. “Why has she booked a flight to Seattle?”
I rub my hand through my hair and reply, “She’s going home.”
I’m heading toward the door when it opens. Sofia, Dimitri, and Maria walk in, her eyes red and Dimitri states, “Basil picked up Peter. When he woke up, Basil tore into him. Look, son, she never wanted you to know about her past. She thinks she’s tainted and dirty, she thinks you’d leave her.”
I hang my head. Fuck.
twenty-six
Avery
I sitat my parent’s gravesite for the first time since I ran away. It’s drizzling. I’m gripping the letter my father left me as tears spill from my eyes.
“I miss you,” I rasp. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by. When I ran, I was adamant I’d return as soon as I hit eighteen, but then it got harder because, if I came back, it would mean you’re both gone, and I’d be alone.” I sniffle and wipe my cheek, keeping the unopened letter in my hand, gripping it tightly. “I’ve tried for years to read this damn letter, but I can’t seem to bring myself to do it. I don’t want a stupid letter; I want my parents back.” I let out a sob. “I c-can’t d-do this a-anymore, I-I don’t w-want to be a-alone anymore.” My body shakes with my sobs, and I’m cold from the drizzle. I’m only in a tank top and slacks that I wore underneath my graduation gown. I can feel myself giving up, I know I need to be strong and think of my twins, but maybe they’d be better off with someone who isn’t tainted. What do I know about being a good mother? The only one who mattered tome is gone. I lay down between their graves stones and close my eyes, letting the rain wash away my pain.
I whisper, “Everything was better with you two, now I just feel alone. Peter’s trying to be in my life when he denied me, and Sergi lied to me, threatened me, and cheated on me. I want my parents back, you made everything better.” My tears continue to fall, and the rain gets heavier, but I don’t move, I can’t.
I don’t know how long I lay here when the rain suddenly stops landing on my face. A warm hand moves my hair from my forehead. I slowly open my eyes to see beautiful, green, pain-filled ones staring back at me.
“Dragotsennyy…” he rasps, and my tears fall faster.
Sergi picks me up bridal style. Still clutching the letter, I grip his shirt as I sob. He kisses my head, whispering that he’s got me over and over, and walks over to a black Mercedes SUV and climbs in the back with me still in his arms. Dimitri sits in the driver’s seat, his eyes holding sorrow, and I close my mine, finally allowing my mind to drift off, feeling safe in Sergi’s warm arms.
I don’t know how long I sleep for but when I wake, I realize I’m in dry clothes, Sergi’s shirt to be precise, and in a warm bed. I don’t sit up, instead I turn to my right side, leaving my head on the pillow as I watch the rain pour down on the window of the hotel. The twins start to kick and move, and I smile a little, placing my hand on my bump. I hear the door open, but I don’t move, I continue to watch the rain while my hand roams over my babies in my belly. The bed dips and another hand splays over my belly, his musky scent taking over my senses.
Sergi.
He kisses the back of my neck and I feel him smile when the twins move against his hand.
He murmurs, “Our little angels are active.” I hum in agreement, and we both lay there for a while, watching the rainfall while feeling our twins move. Finally, Sergi speaks again, “I know you feel alone, and I know I’m mostly to blame, but you have a family, Avs. We all love you, me most of all.” I snort at his attempt at humor, and I turn in his arms. He places his other arm under my head so his hand can play with my hair like he used to before everything fell apart. I lift my hand to trace the letters of my name on his neck and smile a little.
He smirks and rasps, “I was wondering when you’d notice that.”
I admit, “I noticed it two days after you got it, you were asleep, and I cried because it made me realize…I’m loved.”
His arms tighten around me. “Youareloved, Avs, more than you realize. I just got lost somewhere along the way and forgot to show you every day.” A tear leaks from my eye, but I don’t stop tracing over his tattoo.
“I’ve missed you,” I whisper. He leans down and kisses me lightly on the lips, then rubs his nose against mine.
“Not as much as I’ve missed you,dragotsennyy.”
A sob gets loose, and I finally ask the question I’ve needed to ask for too long, “How c-can you t-touch me? I-I’m tainted, d-dirty.”