Chapter Seven
MADISON
T he walk to Bianca’s was quiet. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about Jonah telling his club everything I went through. Nobody knows all the details besides my parents and in just a moment, a room full of people will know the deepest darkest moment of my life. As we walk the trail, I see nine homes ahead. One looks like it’s still in the process of being built. Each one is two stories, but the styles are very different.
“Wow, it’s like you guys have your own little community.”
Bianca laughs and nods her head. “In a way, we do. We’re not a commune or cult by any means but we enjoy the privacy and the safety of the compound.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you guys aren’t at all what I expected.”
Bianca giggles and I sigh in relief that she doesn’t take any offense to what I said. “Believe me, I understand. For four years, I believed Blade to be some heartless psycho who was willing to kill the mother of his kids.”
I gasp and look over to her in shock. As we walk, she tells me all about a woman who pretended to be Blade’s wife when Bianca found out she was pregnant. The woman told her the MC would kill her if she came around, so she raised her three little girls alone. My heart breaks when I hear how much time they missed out on. Kind of like me and Jonah.
Ever since we left the creek, I can’t help but think about all the what-ifs. If that night had never happened, we probably would be married with kids and a dog. Those feelings I thought I buried a long time ago came rushing back to the surface when I learned Jonah played no part it what happened that night. It might be foolish of me to feel this way, but the man has always held my heart. I have no clue how Jonah feels about me, so I do my best to tuck those feelings back to where they were.
“Do you mind if we go to my mother-in-law’s instead? I haven’t seen my babies for a week because I’ve been on my honeymoon.”
“Congratulations. And no, I don’t mind, but will Jonah be mad if we go there instead of your place?”
“No. Crystal lives in one the family homes as well. As long as you stay on the compound, he won’t care. I’ll even shoot him a text, so he knows.”
Bianca pulls out her phone, sends a text, and leads me to one of the bigger homes. I can hear what sounds like an army of kids inside. “How many kids do you have?” I ask, turning to Bianca and staring down at her body in disbelief. This woman looks like she hasn’t given birth once.
“Only three are mine. I have a set of triplets. But there are twelve kids in total on the compound. Four of them are in school right now.”
I let her lead me inside the home and it is absolutely stunning. It looks like an interior designer came in and worked some serious magic in here. The artwork on the walls looks like it cost a pretty penny, but I notice nothing is made of glass. With all these kids running through here, I would say that is a smart move.
“Mama!” three little girls screech and run to Bianca. They tackle her to the floor while she peppers them with kisses. I can’t help but smile down at the scene. I’ve always wanted kids but with Thomas lingering in the background, it’s not possible.
A short woman who looks like an older version of Cara, minus the gold eyes, approaches us with a smile. “Hi, I’m Crystal,” she says, offering me her hand.
“Madison. I don’t want to assume but are you Cara’s mother?”
Laughing, she says, “Yes, and I won’t be held responsible for whatever she has done. I love my child, but she’s a bit of handful from time to time.”
“Is that what you’re calling it now?” Bianca asks, smiling over at Crystal.
Crystal huffs and heads toward the living room. “Well, come on in. Don’t be shy.”
The living room is beautifully decorated with a huge gray sectional that is probably custom made. It looks like it can seat about ten to fifteen people. The colors in the room are red, gray and black. Despite all the décor, it still has a family feel to the room. It’s not overdone to the point where you feel scared to relax.
Taking my seat in the sectional, I spot two small little babies in rocking chairs, chomping away at teething rings. They’re so darn cute with their chubby little cheeks and feet. My ovaries are exploding just looking at them. “That’s Chase and Elena, our newest additions to the family. If I have it my way, I’ll have at least three new grandbabies on the way before the year is up.”
My eyes bulge and Bianca growls at Crystal. “Listen here, lady, you need to remember the genetics running through your family is not normal. Two of your children have already had triplets and Cara was pregnant with Chase seven months after giving birth to her three. And Cara and Sara were pregnant at the same time, so you got double grandbabies with that. Every time Cam hears you talking about grandbabies, he jumps me, trying to deliver, so please, have mercy on me.”
By the time she’s done with her rant, Crystal and I are hysterically laughing with tears in our eyes. I think back over what she just said about Cara. Doing the math in my head, I realize she has four kids under two. God bless that woman. That cannot be easy.
When the babies begin to get cranky, I offer to help feed one. Crystal hands me Chase. He is seriously the cutest little thing. The only thing he took from his mother was her caramel skin. Chase looks like it was Viper who created him all by himself right down to those stormy gray eyes.
I don’t know how much time passes with me getting to know the ladies, but Jonah comes striding in the living room followed by Sara and Cara. As soon as Chase gaze lands on his mother, he hurriedly abandons me as he reaches for her. Cara happily scoops him up, raining kisses all over him, making him squeal. I watch them with a smile, hoping one day I’ll be able to experience motherhood for myself.
Jonah sits next to me on the couch and opens his mouth to say something, but two little boys come flying into the room, heading straight for him.
“Tor. Tor. Tor,” they call as they slam into him. One seems extremely happy to see him and the other one looks like he’s on the verge of tears.
“Ahh, my little warriors, you have got to slow down. You almost took me out,” he teases. One of them giggles and I notice he has a necklace on that says Khai. After a few tickles and jokes, Khai takes off but Liam snuggles in with a sniffle.
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Thor asks him.
“Miss you,” he says, sniffling a bit more.
Thor sighs, pats the little guy’s back, and looks over to Cara with remorseful eyes.
“Thor, don’t. You were going through your own thing.”
“But they’ve never gone a day without seeing me since they were born.”
Cara gets ready to say something, but Thor shakes his head and starts having a hushed conversation with Liam. After ten minutes of talking and soothing, Liam is fast asleep in Jonah’s arms.
“I’m gonna go lay him down and then we can go outside to talk,” he says to me before getting up.
“Sure, no problem.”
When he walks out of the room, I’m still staring at where he disappeared, completely speechless to what I just witnessed. Not going to lie, I think I started ovulating. Cara chuckles and I turn around.
“When I asked him to be the godfather to my kids, I didn’t expect him to take his role so seriously, but he’s the best.”
Judging by what I have just seen over the past ten minutes, I would have to agree. Jonah comes back into the room and holds out a hand for me. I take it and he leads me outside and takes a seat on the porch swing. I sit beside him and nudge him with my shoulder. “You were really great with them.”
Jonah smiles and appears genuinely happy. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile since the night of the party. “I love all my godchildren, but Liam has always been the closest to me. I guess maybe because he was the first one I held when they were born. I don’t really know how to explain it.”
“I get what you’re saying. I’m sorry I caused such a mess that you went days without seeing them. I can tell Liam really missed you.”
“Maddy, no. That’s on me. I’m glad after everything you still came to me for help. I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”
“Thanks. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Oh, right. Umm, what do you think about moving onto the compound until we get things figured out? I’m not saying you have to stay with me. Cara and Sara both offered a room for you or, if you don’t like that, we can figure something else out. It’s just the compound is the safest place for you. It’s surrounded by cameras. Even if he did figure out you were here, he still wouldn’t be able to get to you.”
I sit there and think over everything he said, and it would be nice to sleep in peace, knowing nobody is going to be kicking down my door. I’m nodding my head before I can stop myself. Jonah looks shocked at first and then he gives me that smile that made me fall for him all those years ago. Lord, help me. I am in so much trouble.