Beast, Part Two (The Church #5)

More Family

Chapter Thirty-Six

Summer

M alia and I dance around the kitchen as we prepare dinner. The house is quiet today. Fem and most of the guys are out doing surveillance for Evan.

Ever since they killed Micah last week, they’ve been trying hard to get to Evan. I know part of the drive to finish the siblings is so they can get to Corbyn. We are all ready for this to be over. I can feel the energy in the home shifting.

Ari, Many, Charlie, and Ms. Reese are with DOE. Ari had a doctor’s appointment with their doctor. She’s twenty-eight weeks now. Her and Many have refused to find out the sex of the baby. They want it to be a surprise. This was just a regular checkup. Ms. Reese volunteered to take them. They even took the animals with them to get them out of the house.

Me, Malia, Brooklyn, Gabe and Emory were the only ones home at the moment.

“It will definitely be outdoors. I’ve always wanted an outside wedding.” I answer Malia’s earlier question.

“Me too,” she hums. “I told Lucien and Seth that I wanted either an outdoor fall themed wedding or something under the stars.”

“What about you, Brooklyn? I know you’re already married, but you ever thought about renewing your vows and having a wedding?”

I look up to Brooklyn sitting on the stool across from me. I was dicing potatoes while Malia seasoned up some steaks.

Brooklyn frowns as she rubs her back. “I’ve never really thought about a wedding,” she says.

“Are you okay?” I ask putting the knife down.

She sighs. “Yeah, my back’s been bothering me all day.”

“Oh no,” Malia chuckles, joining me at my side. “Did you and Hawk have sex on the washing machine again?”

Brooklyn snorts. “Not this time.” She straightens up and smiles. “Although we did have a quickie this morning before he left.”

I laugh. I can’t say anything because I rode Gabriel’s dick for a while this morning. For some reason, I’ve been all over the man. My sex drive has skyrocketed. I know why he’s been so eager to have sex. He’s still chasing away his memories from that day, but I’ve taken it to a new level.

Suddenly, my phone vibrates against the kitchen counter. I don’t even have to look at it to know who it is. My sister has been calling me nonstop for the last two days. I have yet to answer her call. I stare at it until it stops.

“Girl, that phone has been ringing every ten minutes since you put it down,” Malia says.

“It’s my sister,” I groan.

“Oooh, sounds like family drama,” Brooklyn says. “Why don’t we like the sister?” She places her forearms on top of the island.

I laugh. I love that she immediately takes my side without even knowing the facts.

“Raina and I have never gotten along.” I shrug. “I used to think it was because I was an addict. But it started much sooner than that. My mom had a lot to do with it. The last time we talked, we had a huge falling out and I have no plans to speak to her again.”

“Do you think she is calling to make amends?” Malia asks, placing the seasoned steak in the fridge.

“I mean, homegirl has called you like twenty times in the last hour,” Brooklyn says, rubbing at her back. “There has to be a reason. I love Albany to death but, I’m not blowing up her phone like that unless it’s important.”

When I told Trina about the phone calls yesterday, she said the same thing. They all had a point. As much as I didn’t want to talk to Raina, there had to be a reason she was calling me back-to-back like this.

Suddenly, my phone rings again. I glance at the screen and sure enough, it’s Raina. Sighing, I put the knife down, dry my hands on the dish towel, and then pick up the phone. I walk into the hallway before answering.

“Hello?”

“Finally,” she huffs. “I’ve been calling you for two days.”

“I know. What do you want, Raina?”

There is a pause on the phone. It’s like she’s talking to someone else or just distracted.

“Hello?” I say, getting her attention.

“Sorry,” she says. “That was MJ. He uh…. asked about Gabe.”

Crossing one arm over my chest while I hold the phone up to my ear with the other, I walk further away from the kitchen.

“Gabe is fine.” I don’t say anything else. I wanted her to feed this conversation.

“Where are you?” she finally asks.

“Out of the state,” I lie.

She’s quiet again. “When are you coming back?”

“Raina, is there a reason for this call?” I pinch the bridge of my nose. After the talk with Brooklyn and Malia, I was hopeful that this was a call that could possibly mend our relationship. But she just seems to want to chat about mundane stuff.

“I’m sorry for bothering you,” she sighs. “I just wanted to know if you’re okay.”

Feeling slightly guilty, I change my tone a little. “Thanks for reaching out. I’m fine. Gabe is fine. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Maybe when I get back, we can—”

“Oh, Summer, I have to go,” she says cutting me off.

I’m shocked by her abruptness, but it could be something serious.

“Okay. Well, I’ll talk to you….” My phone beeps, telling me the call is disconnected.

The entire conversation strikes me as odd, but I shrug it off. I head back into the kitchen.

“How did it go?” Malia asks as soon as I walk in.

“Not how I expected.”

We go back to enjoying our time. I don’t think about Raina’s call or the abrupt way she got off the phone again.

After getting everything prepared for dinner, the three of us went out to the back porch to watch Emory and Gabe play.

Nealy an hour had passed since that phone call when Brooklyn gasps and grabs her belly.

“Are you okay?” I ask leaning up from my seat.

She nods, but quickly looks horrified as she looks down at her lap. The seat cushion beneath her is a dark gray color. The total opposite compared to the light colors of the others. She climbs to her feet and a gush of liquid hits the floor. When she looks up, her eyes are wide.

“Oh shit, my water just broke. It’s too soon,” she says before her words turn into a moan.

Malia and I rush into action.

“You’re thirty-seven weeks, you’re going to be okay,” Malia wraps one arm around Brooklyn.

Brooklyn groans as a contraction hits. “Fuck, this shit hurts,” she complains.

“We need to get her to the hospital,” I say.

“Emory, Gabe, come on,” Malia calls out to the kids.

Both run up to us.

“Mama, did aunt Brooklyn have and accident?” Gabe whispers toward me.

“No,” Emory’s computerized tablet voice says. “Her water broke. The babies are coming.”

“Yay, more cousins,” Gabe cheers.

We make our way back into the house and toward the garage. Thank goodness for all the cars left behind. Not long ago, we all sat down and went over the birthing plan for this situation. The guys told us who to call, what hospital to go to, and what name to give when we check in.

“Wait,” Brooklyn grabs my hand before we make it to the garage door. “I don’t even have a bag packed. I wasn’t prepared, we were going to pack this weekend.”

“Okay, breathe, Brooklyn,” I guide her. “Malia is going to take you to the hospital, I’ll pack your bag. I still remember what you’ll need.”

“Oh my goodness, thank you….aahhhhh,” she squeals as another contraction hits.

“They’re about seven minutes apart,” I tell Malia. “Call Hawk in the car on the way to the hospital. I will be behind you shortly with a bag.”

“I got it. I’ll take Emory with me,” she says.

Emory opens the door, and we help Brooklyn into the black Porsche Cayenne. I get her situated while Malia gets in the driver's seat.

“I’m right behind you,” I tell Malia. “Call Hawk.”

Malia, Emory, and Brooklyn pull out of the garage. I head back into the house to pack Brooklyn’s bag. Gabe helps me gather everything Brooklyn and Hawk will need, along with a few baby things. I load the two bags into the trunk of the Bentley Bentayga. I have never in my life ridden in a car this nice. But every car in this garage was nice. And although the Maserati and the Hellcat were appealing, this one felt like a safer choice.

I head back into the house.

“Okay, Gabe. Let’s go?” I call out to my son. However, he’s nowhere in sight. I walk into the living room and come to a complete stop. Sitting beside a man with the same face and eye color as Gabriel, is my son.

“Look mama, I got more family.”

My heart nearly drops to the floor. There are two other people in the room. A tall blonde-haired woman is standing behind the couch Gabriel and the man are sitting on. Leaning against the wall close to me is a younger guy with curly hair and caramel toned skin.

“So, you’re the daughter-in-law?” The man beside Gabriel asks with a smile.

He looks so much like Gabriel, it’s scary. Maksim shares features with Gabriel that lets you know they were related. However, this man is Gabriel’s twin. I know without a doubt, this is Corbyn.

“Gabe, come here, baby.” I say, instead of answering him.

Gabe goes to stand, but the guy places a hand on his shoulder, sitting him back down.

“I’ve been dying to meet you, Summer. Although, not as much as I was to meet this guy.” He looks over at my son and smiles. He glances back at me. “I didn’t get the chance to raise Gabriel, but you have blessed me with the opportunity of a lifetime. And to think, I would have never found you if not for your sister’s help.”

The phone call comes back to mind. She wasn’t calling to check on me, she was calling so they could track my phone. This was another sign that there was no salvaging my relationship with Raina. In fact, if I lived past this day, I was going to fucking kill her myself.

“Leave my son out of this,” I plead.

The smile that spreads over his face is not at all soothing.

“No,” he simply says.

The next few things happen quickly. The tall woman behind the couch pulls out a needle.

“What are you doing?” I spring into action, running toward my son.

The mixed guy in the room grabs me as the woman pricks Gabe’s neck with the needle.

“Noooo,” I scream. Gabe looks terrified before he collapses against the couch.

“Please,” I sob, staring at my son's limp body. “What did you do to him?” I shout.

The guy chuckles. “He’s just sleeping. This is my grandchild. My prodigy. Nothing will ever happen to him. You, on the other hand,” he shrugs. “You, I can do without.”

The mixed guy spins me around and backhands me across the face. I fall to the floor with a thud. He pulls out a gun and aims it at my head.

I cover my face as if that will help me.

“This time, my bullet won’t miss,” the mixed guy snarls.

“Easy Yohan,” Corbyn says, climbing to his feet. He walks over to me and peers down at me. “If it was up to me, I’d let him put a bullet in your head so that my son could find your lifeless corpse. It’s the least I should do after him, his treacherous brother, and his friends killed off my children,” he sneers as he leans down and grips my braids, pulling my head back. I cry out at the bite of pain.

“But I made a promise to someone. For some reason, they want you. And if I’m going to make my grandson the killer that my son is, I need this person on my side.” The man whispers down at me before letting me go and standing up straight. He tugs at the sleeves of his jacket.

“But you don’t have to be in top condition.” He grins.

Suddenly, blinding pain hits me in the side of the head. I remember nothing else after that.

Beast

Maksim, Hawk, Albany, Seth, Zel, and I all rush into the hospital. I pull out my phone and text Summer.

Me: Where are you?

I wait for a response. We were tracking Evan near an apartment complex when Malia called Seth and told him they were all headed to the hospital. We quickly dropped everything in order to be here with Hawk as his boys came into the world.

“Malia says they’re in room 412,” Seth announces.

Looking down at my phone, my brow pinches. How did Malia reply to Seth before Summer replied to me? I shrug my doubt away. Sliding my phone in my pocket, we rush toward the elevator.

“Relax, Hawk,” Zel jokes. “You’re not even doing the hard part.”

We all laugh at Hawk’s expense.

“I’m about to be a father,” Hawk replies excitedly. “I’m fucking terrified.”

I place a hand on his shoulder. “You got this. Parenting is the best job you’ll ever have.”

He smiles as he looks over his shoulder at me. “Thanks, Beast. You make this fatherhood stuff look easy.”

Shrugging, I reply honestly. “I had a damn good role model.”

The elevator goes silent as everyone reflects on the man that raised us. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t mourn Priest. Losing him left a huge hole in all of our hearts.

The doors to the elevator slide open and we rush out. Hawk and Albany head to the room while the rest of us find the waiting room.

We’re there for two minutes before the door opens and Emory runs in and straight to Seth’s arms. Her hands are moving quickly as she signs to him all the things he’s missed. Malia is right behind Emory. She goes into Seth’s open arms. He places a kiss on her head as he rubs her belly.

I watch in anticipation for Summer and Gabe to walk in. After about a minute and a half and no one entered, I turn to Malia.

“Where’s Summer?”

She looks startled, as if my question catches her off guard. She looks around the room.

“She didn’t come with us. She stayed back to pack Brooklyn’s bag, but she should’ve been here by now.”

The first inkling of caution hits my stomach.

“How long ago did you guys get here?” Seth is asking Malia, but I don’t pay attention.

I pull my phone back out of my pocket. Glancing at the unanswered text, alarm bells go off. Summer always texts me back.

I press her number on my phone and let it ring. It rings about four times before it’s answered.

“Hello, son. It’s been a while.”

My world tilts and everything starts to fade as the sound of my heart racing thumps in my ears.

“Corbyn,” I growl.

Everyone in the room turns and looks at me.

“I thought by taking your little daddy figure out of your life, it would put you in your place, but I see you don’t listen. I can’t fault you. You get that from me.” He chuckles.

“Where are Summer and Gabe?”

“Put him on speaker,” Seth urges.

Pulling the phone from my ear, I place the call on speaker.

“My grandson and your bitch are here with me.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The voices in my head are all talking at once. Mother demands his blood. Priest wants me to be smart and listen, and the demon wants me to skin everyone within arm’s reach. I have to fight to gain control.

Corbyn is still talking when I come back to reality.

“I caught on to your little plan before you could go after Evan. I hope you and your friends enjoy the little excursion he took you on today. I needed you away from your girl. I figured Yohan and Victoria would be the last on your list. The traitor would have told you that much.”

“Bring my fucking family back,” I roar.

“They no longer belong to you. The boy is mine now, and the bitch, well, she’s disposable. You chose the wrong side, Gabriel. Face it, you can never defeat me. Have a good life.” He laughs as the phone disconnects.

I roar out my frustration as I toss my phone across the room. It hits the wall. The two most important people in my life have been taken from me. I don’t know where they are or if they’re hurt.

“I can’t….I can’t breathe,” I claw at my chest as it feels like my lungs are shutting down.

I drop to my knees as Zel and Maksim try to hold me up. Malia is holding Emory to her chest as tears spill down her face. The sadness and pity in her eyes tell me she believes my biggest fear. They won’t keep Summer alive.

Seth runs a hand through his hair as he talks on the phone with someone. I have no idea what he’s saying.

Maksim gets on his knees in front of me. “Look at me brother,” I focus on his face. “We will get them back. I promise you will get them back. If I have to crawl to hell's door to do it, I will bring them back to you.”

The door opens and Albany walks in. Her eyes immediately fill with tears when she spots me. She rushes over to me and wraps her arms around me.

“We got you,” she promises. “We all got you.”

In that waiting room, with my family around me and my world shattered, I made a deal with the demon in my head. From here on out, he and I worked together. We were going to kill my father.