Bayley was making lunch for Milo, who happily sat waiting. The door opened and both turned. Melina walked in with Julian on her hip.
"Aunt Mel", Milo said happily.
"Hi baby, how are you? Did you grow? Seems like you're getting taller there big guy", Melina said.
Milo giggled.
"Mommy says the same thing", he replied, looking at Bayley.
Melina looked at her sister.
"How about you take Julian to the toys while mommy and I make lunch?", Melina said.
Milo nodded. She set Julian down and he took his hand, helping him walk.
"You missed my news", Melina started.
Bayley didn't acknowledge her.
"I'm pregnant again", Melina continued.
Bayley stopped and looked over at her with a smile.
"Congratulations. I know you didn't want to have your kids too far apart in age. Like us", Bayley said.
Melina nodded.
"How is Ronnie and the twins?", Bayley asked.
"They miss you, but don't want to disrupt your space", she replied.
"I just can't listen to her. I can't, look at dad", Bayley said.
"I get that, but none of this is their fault, Bay. Its Raya and her father who manipulated them.", Melina said.
Bayley sighed.
"I do miss him", Bayley mumbled.
Melina smirked.
"Dad misses you too. You know I hate to admit it, but you and Ronnie are his favorites", Melina said, making Bayley laugh.
"Glad you finally admit it", Bayley replied.
Melina smiled.
"I'm not saying you have to call her mom, because you don't. As a mother, I can't imagine someone taking Julian from me and him growing without me, even though he was within reach", Melina said.
Bayley looked at her.
"I can't imagine my life without Milo", Bayley replied.
Seth came down from upstairs and went over to the boys playing. He kissed each before walking into the kitchen.
He hugged Melina before going over to his wife and kissing her. Melina smiled at them.
"So, I have to go, but I hope to see you soon, Bay. We all would", Melina said.
Bayley nodded.
"I love you both", Melina said, before going over to the boys and lifting Julian.
"I love you too", Bayley replied.
"Say bye to your cousin Milo", Melina said to Julian.
Both boys waved. Bayley walked over and kissed her nephew's head.
"Bye bye aunt Bay Bay and uncle Seth", Melina said.
Her son smiled and again waved. She left and Bayley looked at Seth.
"So?", he asked.
After the twins were born, Ben never touched her again. Not even when she knew he was turned on.
He took care of it himself. She caught him once and when he finished, he shrugged.
"You will never carry my child again, and if you think about finding comfort some where else with someone else. I will find him and you will watch him die slowly.", he had said.
Her dad once again was disappointed.
"Two babies and you couldn't make one of them a damn boy", he had yelled at her when Ben left the house with Melina.
She was staying in the guest house. Her prison. He brought her Melina and the twins to visit, but he didn't let her keep them.
"Feed the girls", Ben said to her.
She was sure he was waiting for the twins to stop breastfeeding before he kicked her out or worse, killed her.
Then it happened, he brought home a woman she didn't know. Fucked her in front of the window where she could see them.
That pissed her off. He smirked as he pulled his pants back up and closed the curtains.
He didn't plan on bringing anyone home, it just happened. He watched Brie and Nikki sleep in their cribs. A smile on his face.
"You are the most beautiful twins I have ever seen", he whispered as to not wake them.
Melina waddled over to him and he lifted her onto his lap.
"Baby", Melina said, pointing at the crib.
"Baby sisters.", he replied.
Elena walked into the room.
"I'm so sorry sir. She moves faster than I thought. Learning how to walk was a bad idea little miss", Elena said, taking Melina from her dad.
He chuckled.
"Its okay. I was just admiring my work", he replied, pointing at the twins.
Elena smiled.
"They are beautiful", she nodded.
"Has anyone come to the house, Elena?", he asked, before lifting his beer and taking a long drink.
"No sir.", she replied.
"Good", he nodded.
He stood.
"I'm leaving town for a bit, business in China.", he replied.
She nodded. When he left town, Elena and her husband watched the girls. Which they didn't mind. They had a son of their own and they let him play with Melina.
"And remember, she is not to be left alone with the girls. Not even for a second.", he said.
Elena nodded.
"I know sir", she replied.
Elena couldn't understand how a mother couldn't love her babies. The girls were so cute and sweet.
"Dada", Melina said, reaching out for him.
He smiled and took her. She wiped her eyes before laying her head on his shoulder.
"I should enjoy these moments. Next thing I know, she won't want me to hold her any more.", he said.
"They grow so fast", she replied.
Elena had excused herself a second later. Ben took a sleeping Melina with him to his room. He laid her down, making sure she couldn't fall off the bed in the middle of the night.
The next day when she went over to the house to feed the twins, she was informed that Ben had left town.
She let her dad know. He was hounding her about getting pregnant again. Her body was exhausted, so she lied to him. Telling him the doctors had told her to wait a few years or her next baby wouldn't make it.
He didn't like it, but accepted it.
How could she tell him Ben had caught her cheating and didn't trust her anymore? That he vowed never to touch her again.
Maybe it wasn't so bad that he killed her.
Ben had come home a week later to find her feeding one of the twins. She might as well play nice.
Maybe she could get back in his good graces.
"How was your trip?", she asked.
"Fine", he replied, kissing Brie's head as she ate.
He went over to the playpen and kissed Nikki's head before crawling to Melina. Their daughter made a high pitched noise before crawling to meet her dad.
He attacked her with kisses and tickles, which made her laugh harder and louder.
It woke Nikki up. Raya sighed.
"Sorry, I got her", Ben said.
She nodded and watched as he lifted Nikki. How could he love them so much? Why couldn't she feel the same for them?
"Hi my girl. Daddy missed you so much", he said softly, rocking his six month old back to sleep.
"When can I come back? I know what I did was wrong. I cheated and I'm sorry. You got your payback, I don't know how many times you did though and god knows how many women", she mumbled.
He met her eyes.
"You broke my trust. I hadn't touched another woman since marrying you. So yes, I got a bit of payback", he replied.
She made herself cry. It was a neat trick her dad taught her.
"I know, and I hate myself for it. I miss being close to you, I miss the girls. You were hardly home, Ben. I needed some kind of comfort", she let the tears roll down her cheek before looking away and wiping it.
"So you're saying it would be okay for me to sleep with other women just because you weren't with me when I travel?", he asked.
"No of course not, I just…", she sighed.
He looked back down at his sleep daughter. He wanted to give them a happy family, even if he wasn't.
"You can move back into the house, but for now I think its best we sleep in different rooms. Until I can trust you again", he said.
She nodded.
"Thank you, Ben", she replied.
He nodded.
"So, want to talk about your trip?", she asked.
"There's this old man ruining one of the clubs. Apparently he is kidnapping and selling young girls.", Ben said.
"Sex trafficking?", she asked.
He nodded. She had learned a few things from Mark.
"And you want to stop him?", she asked.
She didn't understand what was so wrong about it. It was a good business, it made a lot of money. Dangerous yes, but he hadn't been caught yet.
She wondered how much she would make selling Melina and the twins. Not only were they young girls, but they were Garcia girls. Men who wanted to get back at Ben and his bloodline would pay a pretty penny for them.
"Of course. If I don't set order and soon, every club is going to think its okay. Drugs and guns, yes, but children? No. My dad fought hard to remove the sex traffickers out of our business. I can't let them return", Ben said.
Raya nodded.
"Anything I can do to help?", she asked.
He looked at her.
"Yes, actually you can. I have a few guest coming over next week. Make yourself pretty, maybe his new wife will spill his secret and I can kill him where he sits", Ben replied.
Raya nodded.
"I can do that", she replied.
"Thanks", he said softly.
She would find out what she could about him, then make him the offer for the girls. She could run and never look back.
Ben would be too busy looking for his daughters, he would forget all about her.
As the dinner approached, Ben had asked Elena to take the girls for the night. She agreed. He didn't want his little girls anywhere near this man, if he turned out to be who he thinks he is.
Raya came around the corner in a tight red dress and black heels. She did a slow spin.
"Good", he nodded.
Seeing her this way brought back the attraction he felt for her. She walked over and fixed his tie.
"So handsome", she said, before connecting their lips.
He didn't kiss her back. She pulled away before walking away. He didn't love her, that kiss proved it.
Till the girls were eighteen, he was stuck with her.
Someone knocked and Raya went to open the door. Two men stood there before more cars arrived.
"You must be Mrs. Garcia. Ben finally told us about you while we were in China. Young gun thought he could keep a pretty thing like you a secret, not for long", this man said, winking at her.
She smiled.
"Don't mean to be rude, I'm Rhodes", he said, holding his hand out.
"Raya", she replied.
She bit her lip.