Page 52 of Retribution
Bella comes up beside me and puts her arm around me.
“It’s not a permanent fix. Maybe on hard days you can cover it up. He had no right to do this to you, and you shouldn’t have to stare at this every day. You don’t need a physical reminder for something you’ll never forget. The control is yours in this little bottle.”
Tears fall from my eyes as I look at her reflection in the mirror.
“Thank you. This is a gift.”
‘The control is yours.’
Words my men have said to me so many times. Some words have an impact that never decreases. These are those words for me.
All three of our heads lift with the faint sound of a baby crying nearby.
“Are you ready to see your niece?”
I nod in response, and Athena goes to get her.
“Do I look okay?”
Bella giggles loudly.
“She’s a baby. The girl has no fashion sense yet.”
Pointing to the rocking chair, she says, “Sit there. She loves to rock.”
I take a seat and tap my foot anxiously while I wait.
Athena finally comes in and I stare at the little life my sister created, unsure who fathered her. She puts her in my arms and hands me a bottle of formula.
“We will give you a few minutes alone. If you need anything, just yell.”
After I say thank you, they leave us alone, closing the door behind them. I stare at her tiny face and sparkling blue eyes as I gently rub her head. Her hair is several shades darker than mine, but she looks like Abigail's baby pictures.
Her eyes stay on mine as she drinks her bottle like she’s starving, and it causes a pain in my chest.
“I’m sorry your life started out this way. I promise I’ll find a family that will love you the way you deserve. What things should we look for? A big backyard? I want you to have love and space to grow. Number one on the list will be two wonderful people.”
I sigh audibly as the tears fall heavy as rain.
“I can’t keep you. I wish I could, but you deserve better than me. I’m not a good person. I’d probably ruin your life, and since it’s my job to protect you, I can’t choose myself.”
She finishes her bottle, and I set it on the small table beside me before lifting her over my shoulder and patting her back.
“It’s a shame because I know how to care for a baby. I’ve done it with my younger siblings all my life, but this would be different. When you get older and start asking questions, what would I say? I took your mom from you. Your entire family is dead because of me. I think I prefer the way you look at me now. I’ll find you a family and disappear from your life. You won’t remember me, but I’ll remember you. It was you all along. I wanted to protect you before you were born. I swore to your mom I would. I just didn’t know you’d need protection from her. I’m sorry.”
Killian walks in and immediately turns the monitor off. It’s at that exact moment that I realize everyone may have heard my private conversation with my niece. He kneels beside me and confirms my worst fear.
“It’s okay, baby. We are all family.”
I know he’s right but the majority of the people here have been known to me for about five minutes. I feel bare and exposed.
A few moments later Carter and Knox enter the room, closing the door behind them.
“You all heard.”
The three of them take a seat at the foot of the bed.
“If you want to keep her, we will support you. This decision is yours and yours alone. Tell us what you need and it’s yours.” Knox says, sitting between his brothers.
