Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
Beta'd by HollettLA
PLEASE READ: Hasn't a guy ever driven any of you crazy? Like, literally? Gave you whiplash, made you totally OOC? It surprises me that PEOPLE are surprised about Amelia, that she's changed from when she was first introduced. If Damion was my boyfriend, I'd go nuts too. LOL.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following events play out in these POVs because . . . I thought about it for a while, and seeing these scenes from their eyes makes sense to me. It's not too heavy, although it could be heavy. Whatever.
And to that coward who continually insults me . . . I apologize for not being able to PM you, because you're scared and hide behind your anonymity, but...FUCK YOU! Don't like it? Stop reading. Read something else. Thanks.
Riders on the Storm
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Webs
KYLIE POV
As Maggie droned on and on about their new house, I stirred my coffee, leaning against the counter at the café; meanwhile, I was really scoping her driver—Gino. He's a total fucking fox, and I hated myself—that I was staring, especially since I dreamed of him last night. That shit wasn't cool. Gio should be the star of my dreams, not Gino.
"That'll be $6.50," the barista said.
"I got it." In my periphery, I saw Maggie pay for our coffees. "Kylie…"
"What?" I grinned, watching Gino check out some broad's ass. He was on his cell phone and damn near followed the petite redhead a pace. It was cute.
"You want a napkin for your drool?"
"Huh?" I snapped out of it, turning to my buddy. "What'd'ju say?"
Maggie giggled. "You're not subtle at all." She blew into the small hole on the Styrofoam cup.
I bit my lip, dread or guilt filling my gut.
"He's handsome. I get it." She shrugged, looking out to him as well. "He's like…dumb, though?"
Giggling, I couldn't believe Maggie said something bad about someone. "Dumb?"
"Like, short sentences and stuff. I don't know. He sounds like a caveman. Oh, like when I used to watch Transformers on the Cartoon Network? He sounds like Grimlock. 'Me drive car'. 'You sit back'." Maggie cackled.
I sighed, feeling a little better about the situation because that took away from his appeal. Joe was the same way, more muscle than brains.
"I remember…You said it was okay to find others attractive." She hit me with her hip. "That's not a bad thing. It's what you do with that attraction . . ."
I turned to her. "When'd you get so mature?" I grabbed her hand, shoving her rings in her face. "Is it this rock? Huh?"
Maggie giggle-snorted and smacked my hand away. "Come on. I wanna be home before Santino."
"Santino. Santino. Santino." I stuck out my tongue. "Why can't you call him Sonny like the rest of us?"
"Santino is sexier." She smiled brightly. "I love shouting it," she sang.
I hummed. "What the fuck do we know about furniture shopping? Sonny should do this shit."
It was Maggie's turn to frown. "I'll just—He seems like the leather couch and glass coffee table type?"
"You don't know?" I asked. "Look, we can call my mom—"
Maggie shook her head. "I need to do this. I need to feel like I've done something." She has all these insecurities about being a wife. She can't cook, although she tries to clean as much as possible, and it's all bullshit.
All Sonny needs her to do is be there—talk, listen, and lie on her back. My brother doesn't care about the rest of that shit. Plus, Maggie's in school and she refused to quit the tanning salon. It's not like she's staying home and doing nothing. "So…when's Gio coming back to New York?"
I smiled again. "Um…he'll be here next week. Wow. December's flown by, huh?" I couldn't believe how fast the past few weeks have gone by. "Listen…" I had an errant thought. "You can't tease me or talk about Gino around Gio—"
"Kylie, relax." She rubbed my back. "You're lonely, around all these couples, and he's single." She gestured to Gino.
"Why'd you say that?" I stomped my foot. "He's single. Really?"
"Kylie." She had a tone and walked toward the exit.
I pursed my lips, swearing to keep my eyes away from her driver. "He's thinking about coming home even earlier—right after his last final," I said, trailing after her. "His mother is like, nowhere to be found. It's totally weird."
Lauren supposedly went on vacation. But I heard that she gave up her apartment, packed her things, and left town. When we were kids, Gio used to get upset all the time. His mother wasn't like mine. She was cold, and she was never there for him. He adores his stepmom, my Aunt Lee-Lee, but his mother was never a mom, always keeping all of her children at arm's length unless she needed something, always taking off with different guys.
Her disappearance, or rather her taking off, doesn't surprise Gio. But AJ and Katie are going nuts. They've hired a private detective or something. I agree with Gio, though, as none of this surprises me either. I'm just grateful she waited until they were all adults. She could have left a long time ago.
Truthfully, I hate that this is all Gio talks about—whether he thinks she left of her own accord, or if something happened to her . . . 'cause that's a distinct possibility, too.
Gio hasn't mentioned that, but I have one of those feelings I get, even if I swore to forget about it.
"Well . . ." Maggie sipped her cappuccino, looking down, "that's his mom."
My stomach knotted up. "You know something."
Her eyes widened. "What about? She's away…we'd all worry about our moms if we were him."
I stopped her from leaving the coffee shop.
"Kylie, even if I knew something…I couldn't tell you anyway. What happens between a husband and wife is to stay between a husband and wife." That sounded like something Sonny would say, or what he'd tell her to keep her mouth shut. My brother knows everything. He's always in everything, and his telling her wouldn't surprise me.
Maggie walked out ahead of me, and I watched her go.
"Mags!"
The bell on the door dinged, closing, but I knew she heard me.
"Mag!" I ran after her. "What—"
"What's the matter?" She stared at me, concerned. "I don't even know what we're talking about anymore," she laughed…but she knew.
"Who are you?" I whispered.
Little by little, that shy girl who lived up the block from me was disappearing, too. Don't get me wrong. I loved this version of Maggie. She was just changing, like right before my eyes and shit. "You're getting too mature for me."
Sadly, I also felt myself making that transition.
Although I've been telling my parents I'm an adult for years now, I was finally realizing that I was.
Now I was an adult…Life was happening, and I had no idea how to stop it, how to slow it down.
"Kylie." She linked her arm with mine. "I have a bag full of money…" She made her purse dance, making me smile. "Let's go get furniture, and then whatever we have left over . . ." She trailed off.
I giggled. "Bargain racks at Century 21?" I waggled my brows, bopping my nose to hers.
She laughed and then nodded her head. "Just for you…You know I hate shopping." She was frowning again.
"Yet, you married Sonny."
"Ladies…" Gino opened the back door for us. Maggie was fast to slide in, and I felt my face get hot.
"Thanks," I whispered, and I didn't speak until he closed the door after us. "You never told me what happened on Sonny's birthday." It was last week, and the happy couple wanted to spend the day alone. I went with her to get his gift, and since it's cheesy to take Sonny's money and just buy him something with it, we used her check to get her some skimpy lingerie.
She flashed me a huge toothy grin. "He like…ripped it off. It was a total waste of money."
"I bet the look on his face was priceless, though." I nudged her with my elbow.
She almost choked on her coffee, but she agreed. "My…you know," she gestured to her lower half, "was sore for three days."
"Girl…" I raised a brow, knowing exactly how that feels. There was no need for her to elaborate, especially since Gino was paying way too much attention to our conversation. "Watch the road, busta'." I pointed out the windshield.
He stared straight ahead.
And I don't know what's wrong with me.
He's off-limits. I don't even want to be with him for real anyway; I just think he's crazy hot, but I can't seem to act normal around him.
So, I'm a total bitch instead.
It works.
Maggie and I didn't talk much more as we rode along the highway. We were going to Manhattan to this place Mom suggested. Today, she's spending the day with Dad, doing . . . each other, most likely. After he got over his cold, Dad went back to work, and he's been busy 'round the clock ever since. My mother has been doing loads of shopping herself to get ready for Christmas.
Last weekend, we put up the tree. It was awesome because we were all together, and there was no fighting. Mom made this huge feast, which Maggie and I helped to make. Damion and Amelia came by, although they seem miserable.
My mother told me that Amelia is pregnant. They haven't announced it yet. They don't want anyone to know. Along with getting ready for Christmas, Mom's helping them plan a wedding. Again, no one was to know that Amelia was pregnant, but Sonny knew, which means that Maggie knows, and Dad knows . . . and I told Gio.
It's really not a secret.
Nevertheless, I'm hoping Christmas passes without drama, too. My family's been on a roll, rocking along like pod people—regular people—no emotions shown, no fists thrown . . .
It's been a good few weeks.
Actually, it's been really boring.
My coffee wasn't doing anything for me. The car was really warm and quiet despite it being cold and wet outside. The sound of the windshield wipers nearly lulled me into a coma . . . I almost dozed off a few times. Gio had me up all night, just venting and talking about his mom.
"Hello?" Maggie picked up her cell, and I didn't even hear it ring. "What?" Her eyes became huge. "Oh my God!" She held her head.
"What happened?" I shouted, hearing Sonny's voice on the other end. "What's going on?"
Maggie faced me. "Katie went into labor—"
"Oh, shit. Really?" I was buzzing in my seat, and my first instinct was to dig for my own phone. "Yo, turn around," I told Gino, but he was a step ahead, leaving the highway to backtrack.
"No, I told you. I'm sorry . . . You understand," Maggie whispered. "Uh-huh. I love you, too. I'll call you as soon as I get home. I promise. Love you. Love you." Her lip quivered, and she ended the call.
"What's wrong?" I turned my whole body to face her.
She wiped under her eyes. "Nothing." She leaned forward. "You can just drop me off at the apartment…and then drive Kylie to Methodist?"
Gino nodded.
"Whoa…you're not coming?" I asked.
"I told Sonny…I mean, Katie might feel weird with me being there." Her gaze met mine. "This is her day, you know? I don't want to make her sad. Her father—Aro—might hate my presence, too. Sonny wants me to go—"
"Your husband's about to be a father."
"I know, but—"
"He needs you," I said.
"He doesn't. He'll have his mother and father, and I'll be home when he arrives." Her tone was hushed. "What would I do there anyway?"
"Who cares about anyone else? Or how they'd feel? You should be there for Sonny."
"He's fine—he'll be fine." She swallowed, licking her dry lips. "He said she'd been there for a while—at the hospital? But he just got the call now." There was fire in her eyes. "How could she not call him right when she went into labor?" She shook her head.
And I'll never get over how selfless she can be. That much hasn't changed. Like always, she was worried about Sonny—someone other than herself. She's worried about Katie being uncomfortable . . .
I'll tell ya this much. If I was her? I wouldn't give a fuck about Katie. Maybe that would make me insecure, needing to be around my man, but that's how I'd feel.
Current wife—love of your life—trumps baby-momma-ex.
And I bet Sonny didn't give a fuck about Katie's feelings either, wants his woman. I know my brother. He'd want to share the moment with Maggie.
"You can still come and stay out of sight." I nodded. "You can stay in the waiting room with me and everyone else. It's going to be packed."
She shook her head. "Her father, like, hates me—digs at Sonny every chance he has." She rubbed her stomach. "Trust me; it's best I just stay home. It'd open a whole new can of worms, and Sonny doesn't need that. He should enjoy it, not spend the day worrying about me or defending me. Then her brother stares at me . . . Gio's cool. I mean the other one."
"AJ? That goober?" I snorted.
"Sonny mentioned that I could order furniture online. He gave me a credit card—"
"What kind?" I asked but then waved a hand.
"I can do that—shop on the net." She nodded, matter-of-factly.
"But—"
"Just…" She was at a loss, too. Her nonchalance a total act. She wanted to go to the hospital—deep down inside.
I bit my lip, knowing Sonny would want her there, but then my cell started going off.
"Kylie!" It was my mother. "Oh my God!"
"I'm on my way," I giggled. She was going insane.
"Holy fucking shit—" She hung up on me, and I grinned down to my cell as Gio called.
"Hello," I greeted.
"My sister went into labor—"
Curious, I cut him off. "When did you find out?"
"I just got out of class . . . My father left a message for me an hour ago. Are you at the hospital?"
"No." I scoffed. "I just found out."
"Oh . . ." He paused.
"I'll keep you posted." I wasn't as jovial as others it seemed. I was actually pissed that I wasn't notified once her water broke. For all I know, she could have the baby before we even got there. "I love you—"
"That'll be us someday—having a baby," he sighed.
"Yeah." I grumbled. "I'll call you soon."
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Not really, but we'll talk later—"
"What—"
"What's Katie's problem?" I nearly shouted, upset about being the last to know, upset that Maggie's upset, and Sonny won't have his woman with him.
"I—"
"I love you." I slumped my shoulders, defeated. "I'm sorry I'm pissy."
"PMS?"
I ended the call, but he was fast to call me back. "What?"
"Christ, Kylie!" he hollered.
"I miss you," I said. "And I'm frustrated in general. It's not you."
"Okay…Call me." It sounded like he was smiling.
"I promise." When I stuffed my phone in my purse, I turned to see Maggie sobbing silently while she looked out the window. "Hey…" I rubbed her shoulder.
"I don't know why I'm crying. I'm happy and—"
"I get it," I said. "I can't imagine…I have no idea, but I understand." I leaned my forehead to her shoulder.
It must be an icky and yet exciting feeling. Things were going to change for her as well. Maggie was giddy the last time we got to talking about Baby Izzy. She couldn't wait to help care for the baby, although the concept of her having one herself scared the crap out of her.
Apparently, Sonny's hinted about starting a family with her. He knows she's not ready. Even if he rushed them to get married, he's not pressuring her, but she feels guilty denying him that. Yet, she thought it'd be awesome. When they'd have the baby on the weekends, it could be like they were a family. She knows more about babies than I do. She used to babysit for Mrs. Henderson on our block, who'd had Maggie babysitting her one-year-old a few hours a day.
"I do want to be there for him." She tilted her head, resting hers on mine. "But my presence will cause trouble. I know it."
"I love you, Mags." I thought she might need to hear that.
"I love you, too."
We stayed in an embrace until we reached Sonny's apartment.
"Make sure you call me, too," she said, leaving the car.
I saluted her. "You got it."
She grinned, turning for the door as Gino followed her.
I made sure to avert my gaze away from his ass.
And I hated myself again, throwing myself back onto the seat and groaning.
/=/=/=/=/
Gino was fast to walk me up to the maternity floor, and we didn't exchange any words. That elevator ride was awkward as fuck.
When I met up with Damion, saw him talking to Amelia in the hall, Gino left—had to go keep watch at Sonny's.
The waiting area was filled with familiar faces, except for my mother and father, and I walked up to Damion and Amelia.
"What do you want again?" he asked her.
"Um…a Sprite and a brownie—no, chips." Amelia nodded.
"What is this?" Damion sounded like he had the only attitude. "It's too early for cravings. It's all in your head."
I pushed his shoulder just for the hell of it—hard, making him fall forward—and he turned. "Hey!" His eyes became alight as he hugged me tight.
"What's going on?" I asked, waving to Amelia.
She smiled back.
Damion trailed his hand through his hair. "Katie's pushing—"
"Already?" My eyes were probably huge. "What do you mean she's pushing?"
He shrugged. "Sometimes it happens fast like that. She's been here since like…noon?" He scrunched his nose. "AJ brought her in."
My gaze went to AJ, who was laughing at something his girlfriend Melanie said. "Oh…Uncle Aro—"
"He's in there . . . with Sonny and Mom." He rolled his eyes. "Aunt Lee-Lee should be here soon. She was stuck at work."
"Where's Dad?" I looked around again, and I didn't see him.
Damion laughed. "He's pacing outside the room."
I nodded. "I think that's where I'll wait, too." Sadly, I still wasn't as excited as I hoped to be—as I thought I'd be. "I should call Maggie and Gio—"
Damion put his hand out. "Gimme your phone. I'll—"
"I don't think so." I gave him a look, and that's all I had to do.
He backed off, ducking down to kiss Amelia's cheek. "I'll go smoke and then be back with your snack." He took off toward the elevators.
For the time being, I plopped down next to my future sister-in-law. "Are you really craving things or just driving him crazy for fun?"
She smirked at me. "A little bit of both."
I snickered, staring at all the faces around us. Uncle Caius was here, along with Nunzio and Sonny's friends, guys I didn't know. AJ and Melanie were all smiles. Momo, that bouncer guy, was here too.
"Kylie Cat!" Caius shouted.
"Yo, yo!" I brought my voice octaves lower as I stood up to hug him. "C-bag!" I love his nickname.
He chuckled and kissed my hair. "How have you been?"
"Good." I nodded.
"I heard you'll be going to NYU?"
"Yeah." I sat down. "Gio's coming back, too."
Caius smiled. "I know your pops has been excited about that. My Stephanie still lives at home."
"Isn't she like thirty?" I asked.
He sighed. "Here's hoping she gets married soon." He toasted with his coffee. "You need anything, lemme know..." Caius trailed off, walking back over to Nunzio.
I waved, my eyes darting around. "How far along are you again?" I asked Amelia. With every secret I'd heard, no one ever mentioned how pregnant she was.
"Six weeks—"
"What? Um—" I thought she'd at least be at the end of her first trimester, with the way everyone keeps talking...
"I caught it really early—six/seven weeks, actually." She rubbed her stomach. "They can't even get a picture with the sonogram."
"But…you've like…known a whole month." I shook my head, remembering that "safe sex" talk, or scolding Damion gave me after my scare.
"What do you know about it?" She was snotty.
"A lot more than you, apparently…shit." I faced straight ahead. "Six weeks?"
"I just knew—"
"Were you trying to have a baby?" I asked, smelling something fishy, and it wasn't her snatch or anything. Damion is practically a doctor already; he knows his shit. I wondered if he suspected anything off with her pregnancy.
"What's with all the questions? First I had to go through that with your mother and then your brother—"
I put my palms out, defensively. "My name's Paul and that's on you-all."
"Hey…"
"Hi!" I was way too enthusiastic as I greeted Uncle Carlisle and Alex. They had been missing from the bunch.
"Are we too late?" Alex was out of breath, holding her chest.
"No." I smiled. "She's pushing…"
"Already?" They shouted in unison.
I nodded. "I'm gonna go . . ." I pointed to the hall. "I'm glad you guys came." I grabbed Alex's hand and got on my toes to kiss my uncle's cheek. It's been a while since they joined us for dinner, or just came over.
"We wouldn't miss it for anything," Alex said.
"Awesome." I waved, still facing them as I turned for the hall, only Uncle Carlisle wasn't smiling.
My father was exactly where Damion said he would be. I didn't even have to ask for a room number. Dad was massaging his forehead, pacing in front of the delivery suite.
"Daddy…"
He stopped mid-stride and faced me. "Baby." He kissed my forehead and hugged me way too tight.
"Dad…" I rasped, since he cracked my back. "Geez."
"Christ. I'm sorry." He wrung his hands together. "I'm nervous."
"Why?" I asked. "You're not giving birth."
He snorted. "A million things can go wrong, and—" He stopped, his eyes widening as we heard a wail—a baby crying. "She's out!" He grabbed me to squeeze the crap out of me again.
I hugged him back, feeling tears prick my eyes. "Loud-ass baby," I commented. Baby Izzy was screaming up a storm. "When can we…" I gestured to the room.
He shrugged his shoulders, turning away.
"Dad," I whispered, pulling on his sleeve.
He covered his eyes with his hand, his chin wrinkled, and the sight broke my heart. I knew he was crying happy tears, but I'd never seen the man weep before—not even slightly. It scared me and saddened me at once. "Daddy?" My lip quivered. Seeing him cry was going to make me cry.
He sniffled, chuckling and wiping his eyes. "I'm fine."
"It's okay to cry."
He peered up and down the hall. "Not for me it's not."
I sucked my teeth, rubbing his bicep. "Grandpa…" I smiled.
He grinned down to me. "Motherfuckin' grandpa."
I giggled and nestled into his side. "Next it'll be Amelia's turn, and then mine . . ."
"I'm not ready for that," Dad laughed. "Finish school…you're still a baby—scratch that. No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby—our baby."
"Good." I rested my head on his bicep.
"As long as you know." He reached to lightly smack my cheek.
I hummed, suddenly antsy. I needed one of them to come out and give us report, or I needed to see that damn baby. "How long?"
Dad shrugged. "Your mom always had the operations…I was able to see you guys right away, but then they do stuff."
"Stuff?" I scrunched my nose.
"Yeah, baby stuff. They check out the goods—wash the goo off and shit."
I nodded. "Sounds legit."
When the door to Katie's room shot open, I held my breath—excited and anxious—but I was surprised to see Sonny storming out of the room.
"Sonny—" Dad tried to catch his arm.
My brother lifted his hand, dodging him, and then practically ran down the hall—not saying anything.
"Sonny!" Dad looked panicked and went to run into the room.
Mom was in the doorway to stop him. She silently placed a hand on his chest, pushed him out, closing the door behind herself.
"What's going on?" Dad and I asked in unison.
Mom had her hand over her mouth. There were no tears. "Um…" She cleared her throat.
"Christ, Bella." Dad pulled his own hair. "What's up with Sonny? Is the baby—"
"Baby's fine—healthy."
"Then…?" Dad raised a brow.
That was when Uncle Aro left the room, face sullen just like Mom's, only my mother didn't look so stuck anymore.
"You gave my son hell for months!" She waved a finger at him.
"MC…" Aro shook his head, his mouth open. "I—"
"What the fuck?" Dad shouted. "One of youse start talking." He went to get into the room again.
Mom stopped him once more. "The baby . . ."
"She's tan." Aro shrugged, scratching his eyebrow.
"Tan?" Dad asked.
"Oh, no." I held my heart, suspecting the baby wasn't Sonny's. "How tan?"
All three of them turned to face me, and Mom had wide eyes, as if to say very tan...
"What?" Dad turned in a circle and then punched a wall. "Fuck!"
"Edward…" Mom soothed him.
"I'm sorry. I don't—I don't know what to say."
Dad grabbed Aro by his collar, slamming him back against the wall. "She took a fucking test!"
Aro was really calm, despite what Dad was doing. "All it confirmed was that Raul wasn't the father. I had no idea. I thought…Sonny and Katie were fucking around. She'd said—"
My father let him go, on the verge of tears again.
"We're Italian…Some of us are darker than others." Aro shrugged. "AJ was dark when he was born…She could still be Sonny's."
"Aro, come on." Mom chuckled without humor, wiping her eyes. "Tan is a stretch…your grandchild is obviously half-black—"
"That tan?" I shouted.
They all turned to me again.
I didn't care. I wanted answers. "What's she gotta say about this?" I jerked my thumb to the room. Whether she'd just had a baby or not, I wanted to go smack her.
"She's shocked—heartbroken and tired," Aro whispered. "She said something about a one-time thing…"
"Your daughter's a fucking whore—"
I screamed when Aro reached out and punched my father's jaw. Dad lunged at him, knocking him down to the ground, and Mom shouted along with me. She kicked at Dad's ass, telling him to back off. "Edward!" Mom clapped. "This isn't the time." It was like she was scolding him for spoiling his dinner.
"Daddy, stop!" I pulled on his sweater, but Mom pulled me into her side.
"Just…who gives a fuck?" My mother looked defeated, and that's when hospital personnel stormed the hall.
Security ripped them apart, and then it was like magic. For whatever reason, Aro and Dad ganged up on the security guards, like they'd done nothing wrong.
Needless to say, ten minutes later, our whole group was kicked out of the hospital. We congregated in the parking lot, as my head whipped every which way for Sonny. I couldn't see him.
"I'm gonna see if they'll let me back in," AJ told his father.
Aro held a bunch of paper towels to his forehead. "I'll be up soon."
"My dad got you good." I looked up to Aro. He was bleeding, but Dad didn't look like he had a scratch. I was proud of my pops.
"I'll live, Shortcake." He patted my shoulder.
"Are you guys still friends?" I asked, warily looking over to my father. He was on his cell phone, surrounded by my mother, Alex, Amelia, and my Uncle Carlisle. Damion wasn't around either . . .
"Of course…He's heard me call Sonny everything under the sun," he sighed. "My daughter was frustrated. She wanted a baby—didn't care from where. And Raul wouldn't get his swimmers checked out; meanwhile, everything was fine with Katie." He pled his case to me, or he was making excuses for his daughter. "And I always thought your family was dysfunctional—fuck. Where is Lisa?" He was about to start crying.
I rubbed his bicep.
"If that motherfucker just had his sperm checked." He shook his head.
Now I felt weird, listening to Gio's old man talking about splooge. "Right. So…you think Katie just picked up some random guy at a bar?"
Aro ignored me when his cell phone rang.
"Hey." Little Eddie came to stand by my side. "Where's Maggie?" He's another one, although I was glad his affections had transferred to her. I love my best friend, and I know she's special, but I don't know what's so special about her to all these dudes. She's a petite brunette, nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe it's her freckles? They're irresistible?
"Home, I guess." I looked down to my cell, wondering if I should call her or Sonny.
"I heard the baby had an Afro."
I sucked my teeth. "That's not true."
"She's tan," Aro said, catching that before he walked away.
"What'd I say?" Eddie asked.
I shook my head. "This sucks."
"I heard your brother was going to look for Sonny—I don't know." Eddie leaned back against a parked car. "You wanna go see a movie or something?"
"No." I scoffed, walking away.
"I didn't ask—like as a date or something. Geez!" he shouted after me.
When I turned around, I saw my uncle Carlisle shake him, asking him what was wrong with him, and I giggled.
"Hi." I stood next to my parents.
"You okay?" Mom asked, rubbing my back.
"Are you okay?" I couldn't believe she was worried about me. She was one buying everything, getting excited, and laying out clothes already.
"No." She sniffled, breaking down a bit. "I can't—"
"Shhh." I hugged her tight, swaying us. "It won't go to waste—all that stuff."
"It's not that." Mom leaned away. "I can't imagine what Sonny must be feeling. Maggie's home, right?"
I nodded. "She is."
My phone vibrated in my hand, and I looked down to see Gio's name flashing.
/=/=/=/=/=/
Maggie
/=/=/=/=/=/
After I ate a quick bite, stuffed an English muffin in my mouth, I sat down to stare at the laptop. My heart wasn't in searching for furniture, and Microsoft Word—that program was idle, staring me in the face.
With two clicks I had a document open, although I had no idea what to write. Sometimes, I just jot down my feelings, or I replay recent events, or I make stuff up. Sadly, I didn't have the enthusiasm to get lost in writing either.
So, I picked up my cell phone. I wanted to call Santino or even Kylie, but I didn't want to be a bother.
Restless and bored, I cleaned the bathroom. The kitchen followed, where I'd gotten down on my knees to scrub the floor. My mother always said it's not clean unless you get down there with a sponge, put some elbow into it. I'd done half the room before I realized I was in tears.
I cried for uncertainty—fear of the unknown. I cried tears of joy, just imagining the beaming smile on Santino's face, once he gets to hold his daughter. I cried because I was someone's daughter . . . I missed my parents.
My mother hasn't called or contacted me at all. My father wanted me to try and be her friend, something he could hardly do. Dad will acknowledge me, if I see him, but he doesn't seek me out.
Yesterday, Santino and my father went to lunch again. He tries so hard to get Dad to like him, and yet . . .
Well, Dad gave an inch. He invited us to Christmas Eve dinner, and then Midnight Mass. Then Santino had a better idea. My parents were to join us at his parents' house. I thought that would be awesome. Bella is amazing, and—good, bad, or indifferent—I knew she'd stick up for me, maybe help me get someplace with my mother.
Soon, we'll be living around the corner from both our parents.
Santino said my father was shocked we could afford such a huge house. But he told him it was a gift . . . I know my father had some remark about our money, even if Santino never said so. He's polite like that—my husband has class, has respect for my father even though he doesn't like him. That says a lot to me, how much he loves me.
A sweaty, dirty, disheveled mess, I dusted myself off, liking how shiny the tiles were before I sprinted to the bathroom. Running the shower, I thought I'd treat myself to a bath.
While the water ran and the bubbles formed, Kylie called my phone. Frantic, nearly naked, I picked it up right away along with my sweats—ready to run out if I had to. "Hello?"
"Is Sonny there?" she asked.
"Why—"
"Dude!" she exclaimed, sounding scared. I knew her tone.
"Kylie…" She was scaring me. "What's—is the baby okay?"
"She's healthy—ten fingers, ten toes, and…Look, the baby's not Sonny's."
"What?" I shouted, shocked, awestruck, and mortified. "What do you mean?"
"Homegirl did the nasty with someone else . . . I don't know. Her dad says that that paternity test? It was only tested with her husband's stuff—you know? And Katie assumed it was Sonny's, but she didn't factor…whoever the fuck she fucked. Get it?"
My stomach churned as I held the phone between my ear and shoulder, pulling my pants back on. "Um…Where's Santino?"
"I told you. You should have been here—"
"Kylie, please." This was no time for tears, not when I know my husband has a temper, and when he gets upset . . . I didn't know what he'd do, but he wasn't here. "Where is he?"
"I don't know. I was calling to ask you."
"Shit."
"Shit just got real if you said shit." She snickered.
I stepped into my slippers. "If you hear from him…call me. I'm gonna have Gino take me to Eclipse."
She gasped. "Come get me."
"No." I felt bad, but I wanted to hang up on her. "Let me go…"
"Girl, come get me!" she shouted. "I'll help you look for him. I wanna go to Eclipse—"
"Who you talking to?" I heard Mr. Cullen in the background.
"Crap," Kylie said. "Hello?" It was Mr. Cullen again.
"Hi," I said.
"Stay put," he said. "Sonny's probably on his way to you, or…No worries. He'll be more stressed knowing you're out looking. Just stay home, okay?"
I dropped my shoulders, knowing my father-in-law was correct, but . . .
"Maggie, you stay home."
"Yes, sir," I whispered.
"Call me or Kylie when he gets home."
"Of course." I nodded.
The line went dead, and then I stared at my cell phone. When I called Santino, it went to his voice mail. "Santino, it's me . . . I'm worried. I'm so sorry, baby." Again, I tried not to cry. "I love you . . . call me when you get this." I placed my phone on the towel, needing to listen to Mr. Cullen, but my heart told me I should be out looking.
Loudly, I screamed into a towel, hoping that would muffle the sound.
Needing to relax, calm my frazzled nerves, I undressed again to get into the bath. I would have taken a shower, but the water was already in the tub. Quickly, I washed my body, hoping to be clean and dry by the time my phone rang again.
As I took the washcloth to my feet, I heard footsteps. "Santino?" Nervous, my heart was in my throat; I grabbed a towel. "Santino, is that you?" I shouted louder, hearing those footfalls get closer. "Santino?"
"It's me." His voice was tired and low, but I still heard him through the door.
I stood to get out of the tub while he entered the bathroom.
He kept his head down, and he had a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniel's in his hand.
After tucking the towel around myself, I reached for it. "Can I have that?"
Santino handed it over without a fight. "It's not my baby."
I nodded, my heart breaking as I nonchalantly poured the booze down the sink. He didn't need any more.
"She's not mine." He sniffled, shaking his head.
I went to step toward him, but he stopped me—was fast to gather me into his arms. "I'm hurting." He rasped. "I just—I could kill her."
"No," I said, making him look at me. "Baby, you don't mean that."
"All the times she hurt me . . . I just—I can't—who does that?" he cried. "Tell me." He plopped back onto the closed lid of the toilet with me in his arms. He was drunk and upset, and the only other people I'd ever seen like this were his brother and my father—two males who kind of scare me, especially under the influence. But I didn't want to fear Santino, even if only for a moment. He was upset—got drunk, tried to drink his sorrows. It'd only been three hours since Kylie left for the hospital. How long had he been drinking?
"I don't know." I pushed his messy hair back.
"You'd never do that," he slurred. "You'd never hurt me like that."
I shook my head, 'cause I'd rather die than inflict that kind of pain on my Santino. "Never."
He whimpered and cried into my neck, hugging too tight, but I wouldn't dare complain.
"Come on," I whispered, leaning away and grabbing his hand. "Let's go to bed." I went to stand but he wouldn't let me.
"You'd have my baby?"
I nodded. "When the time is right . . . I promise." I've said this on more than one occasion. "I told you . . . I want a little boy who looks just like you." It was true—those green eyes, that handsome face, and the hair . . .
His mouth pulled into a grin, and he had his eyes closed. "I love you, Shaky."
"I love you, too."
"But I'm going to kill—"
"She's a mom now," I said. "You need sleep. You'll feel better in the morning…You need—"
"I just need you." He was drunk, but his words were kind of sweet, those that were directed at me.
I kissed his cheek. "You should eat something. I can make pasta—"
"You can't cook." He chuckled.
"But I make a mean mac 'n' cheese," I said, and I really was so happy he came home instead of running away. Truth be told, when Kylie said they didn't know where he was, I knew it'd be a toss-up—whether he'd come home or hide at the club.
He started to laugh but ended in tears. "Everybody's gonna know—I'mma be a chump, a joke."
"No." I shook my head. "No way. Not you—never you."
"They're gonna have jokes—"
"Maybe about Katie." I was honest. "You did the right thing. You trusted her, and it didn't work out, but you took her word—were willing to be a father, take responsibility. That's commendable, not something to tease you for."
"Right." He belched. "Sorry, baby."
I giggled, resting my nose to his cheek. "Can we go to bed?" I just wanted him to sleep this off, then I wouldn't be so worried.
"When-when the baby was crowning…I got so excited…I hugged my mom so tight," he sobbed into his hands.
With his arms weak, I managed to stand. "Come on. Let's go."
"When the baby was out—after they cleaned her up . . . She was big. I didn't know how many pounds, but I saw this bundle . . . but she wasn't mine. Katie must have slept with some black dude, but I don't know." He looked up to me. "Her eyes . . . she looked Asian, too. It's so fucked. I couldn't even say anything…I just left."
I wanted to say she was a newborn, and her eyes were likely that way because of that. "Santino—"
"Don't worry about me." He stood up, his legs a bit wobbly. "I have shit to do. I just—I wanted to come home and tell you . . . we weren't getting a baby."
My heart broke again. "But we will . . . one day." I grabbed his hand. "Whatever you have to do . . . you can do it tomorrow."
"I—"
"I'll pull the wife card." I smiled, even if I didn't mean it, to look happy.
He grinned. "Come here."
Santino's lips touched mine.
He cried into my mouth.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He stumbled into the hall. I jumped when he punched the wall. "Fuck!" he shouted.
I ran to him. "Santino—"
He punched the wall again and again, and I grabbed onto his arm. "Stop!" I shouted.
He broke down in tears, not fazed by his bloodied hand as he went for the nursery. Knowing he'd likely destroy it, I jumped to stand in the doorway. "No!" I hollered. "Please, relax."
Santino held his head, falling back against the hall wall.
"Let me look." I choked on a sob, gazing at his knuckles. "You need—"
"I need you," he cried.
"I'm here," I said. "But your hand—"
"Fuck my hand . . ." He cradled his face, walking toward our bedroom.
Wary, I quickly ran into the bathroom for peroxide, Band-Aids, and gauze. He had all three in the medicine cabinet, and I was fast to go to the bedroom. "Let me see."
He was on the bed, lying on his back, his feet on the floor. Santino's hand rested to his side while the other covered his eyes.
Sitting cross-legged, I went to clean his cuts. "This might sting," I whispered, blotting at the blood. He didn't flinch, and there weren't that many gashes. "I should see if there's ointment…"
"I'll be fine."
"You will be," I said.
He looked at me with sadness—anguish in his eyes. "What am I going to do?"
"I don't know…but I'm here." I scooted closer.
His hurt hand reached out, gently tugging on my towel. "Can I see?" He sniffled.
I leaned back, letting him open it.
"There's a reason to smile." His gaze met mine.
"Sonny…" I palmed his cheek, and if there was ever a time to use his nickname…ever a time to reach him emotionally . . .
"Just…" He kissed me deep once more, quick to hover over me.
I placed my arms around his neck, squirming below him to get comfortable. When he kissed down my neck, I said, "Maybe we shouldn't." It just didn't seem like the right time to make love, not when there was so much sadness in the air.
He groaned, rolling over. "We're not even married a month, and you're gonna hold out on me?"
"What?" I didn't want to fight fire with fire. I didn't want to fight at all, not now, not when he was drunk and wounded so badly. "Santino—"
"I'm being a dick." He lifted my hand to kiss my palm before he rolled to face me again. "I'm tipsy…then I'm angry, and then I'm sad…and now I see you." He nuzzled his nose to my nipple. And my traitorous body responded as I tried to keep my breathing even.
"Baby…"
"Shhh." He bit it, licking it between his teeth, while he nudged me onto my back. I went with it, instinctively widening my legs.
"Stop…This isn't going to—"
"You still want me."
"Of course I do." I convulsed when his hand trailed down, his fingers sliding along my slit. "I always want you," I admitted.
"I know that." His nose touched mine as he got between my legs. "I love you . . . you're the best thing that ever happened to me."
I swallowed as I started to unbutton his shirt, and I didn't see the harm in this—not anymore, not when I had the chance to show my husband how much he meant to me, how much I wanted him, how much he was needed right here. "I love you, too." I went for his pants as he kissed down my neck, licking, biting, his finger twirling around my clit.
"Fuck."
I grabbed his dick, which was already hard, and stroked it. "You like that?" I asked.
"Love it," he said, his mouth coming down to claim mine.
He nudged my hand away, holding himself before I felt him enter me. I gasped—my initial response is always to do that. I can't help it, always forgetting how amazing he feels inside of me.
"I was so happy." His face crumbled, his chest heaving. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." I hugged his head to my chest, while we were still connected.
Our bodies rocked together gently as he cried, and I wished he wouldn't—my heart breaking right along with his. I was weeping, too, although I tried not to let him know, kissing him and looking away when he'd kiss me elsewhere. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why he wouldn't stop, why he'd still want to make love while he feels this lousy. It seemed he needed this—to make love to me, to feel in his own way, cope the only way he knows how.
He moaned, picking up the pace a bit, his hands tangled in my hair, and I hit him back—meeting his thrusts harder.
And then he went deep, groaning, which surprised me. Usually, when he's drunk, he lasts a crazy long time. Sadly, I was kind of happy it was over, and I didn't care about my own release. I wanted him to be better, feel better, but I knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon.
His cock left me, and he was fast to gather me into his arms. "I'm sorry if I scared you." He panted, kissing my bare arm.
"You didn't," I lied to my husband for the first time, yet I reveled in his embrace. "You should sleep."
He hugged me tight, resting his cheek to mine. "I was excited to be a dad."
"You will be." I squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry I'm not ready now." My stomach was in knots. "I mean…we can talk about it again."
"I don't—I don't want to rush you, but then I want this." He palmed my stomach. "Meanwhile, I live to make you happy, and that might make you miserable. It'd kill me."
"I want you happy."
"You already make me happy, and I should count my blessings," he cried.
"Shhhh." I rubbed his forearm. "It's okay to want things—to want more. We're human. Right?"
"I hate her," he said, leaving me to grab the blanket. He covered us, holding me tightly again.
"Santino, you can't—I mean, you have to let this anger go. Feel what you feel now, cope, let some time pass. You can't say things like that." I turned to face him, searching his eyes. "You can't do that."
"I want to."
I shook my head, holding his jaw. "You can't. I'd be so disappointed…" It was true.
He lowered his gaze.
"If she disappeared, I'd kind of know . . . and then her father would be looking for you, and then her baby would be an orphan," I sighed.
"I won't—I won't do anything."
"Promise?" I asked.
He kissed my forehead. "You're so cute—with your promises." He placed his arms and legs around me, and we didn't say much more.
Santino's breathing evened out quickly. He fell asleep and by some miracle, I did too. But I only managed to doze off for like twenty minutes. I woke up sweating to death within his embrace, and he was out for the count—snoring loudly, and he didn't stir when I left the bed.
After dressing in some sweats and a t-shirt, I went to grab my phone from the bathroom. That was when I heard a creak. It sounded like someone else was here.
"Santino." I'd run back to the bedroom. "Santino…" I shook him, but he didn't wake up. "Shit." Whoever was here was coming closer, and I grabbed his nine from the nightstand. It's not in my nature to be this wary. But my husband has broken a few things down for me these past few weeks. His job is dangerous, can be dangerous, and he has enemies. I've never been that trusting, but I'd never lived in fear before either. "Who's there?" I poked my head out of the bedroom.
"It's just me." It sounded like Damion.
Unfortunately, I still held the gun. "Why are you here?"
"The door was wide open." He turned the corner, facing me.
"Oh…" I said. "Why—"
"Sonny must have been twisted. I saw Marty from the corner bar walking him to the door . . ." He shrugged.
"How long have you been here?" I asked.
He turned away from me. "Long enough to hear Sonny take it out on the wall." And long enough to hear us making love, I thought.
"You should leave." I was angry, when I wished I wasn't. The last few times I saw him, he was so nice, polite, and that . . . him sneaking in, able to hear us during our private moments…It made me sick to my stomach.
"I wanted to make sure my brother was okay…I didn't want to disturb you guys. I was waiting for him to come out." He shrugged. "Can you lower that?" He smirked. "We both know you'd never shoot me."
I narrowed my eyes. "What you don't know could fill a book."
"Touché." He took a step toward me.
I backed up a step. "I'll scream first."
He put his hands up. "I'm not doing anything wrong."
"This is my apartment, too, and you can't just sneak in…even under the guise of checking on Santino." I was pissed, frustration and annoyance in my heart when it comes to Damion.
"My brother has no idea how tough you really are? Does he?" he chuckled. "You're adorable . . . I'm sorry. There are things I shouldn't say, should go to hell for, but you hafta know." He was rambling or ranting.
"I don't care to know…I don't care what you think of me."
"Right." He nodded.
But then we both turned to the door, hearing someone come up the steps. "Who's here now?" I gripped the gun tighter, swearing I was about to have a heart attack. "Santino!" I shouted.
"Relax," Damion said, opening the door.
On the steps stood Mr. Cullen. His eyes widened when he saw me, and I lowered the gun. But he wasn't angry with me. That much was apparent when his eyes landed on Damion. "Get down there now." He pointed. "Amelia's in the car."
Damion didn't say another word, silently running down the steps. As he passed his father, Mr. Cullen squeezed the back of his neck, grasping and pushing. "Go get in the car." He looked back up to me.
"Sorry." I put my head down.
He approached me, stealing the nine out of my hands. "You even know how to use this?"
I nodded. "Santino showed me, sir."
"Bet." He pursed his lips. "It works better when it's loaded, though . . . slide the mag back." He showed me. "To disarm, you just." He slid it forward, pushing the safety on.
"I was—"
"You were nervous… But he calls you Shaky?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Sonny's hand was shakier than yours the first time he held a Glock." He grinned. "This one step out of line?" He jerked his head.
"He scared me. Santino and I, we fell asleep, and then I heard someone here. It was Damion." I rushed out. "He didn't do anything—just scared me."
"Sonny's here?"
"In the bedroom." I pointed. "He's still asleep."
"If I was able to hear you shout his name, he should have woken up . . . Sonny?" He called for him.
My husband left the bedroom, a smirk on his lips. "I was curious." He shrugged. "I'm sorry, baby . . . you are a toughie." He kissed my cheek.
"You were awake?" I heart sank again. "Why…?"
"I woke up when—forget it. What's up?" he asked his father. "Dame's lucky I got a headache and bigger problems…that's all I'm saying."
"You okay?" Mr. Cullen looked just as sad, if not more so.
Sonny shrugged his shoulders and then grasped my hand. "I will be."
"All right." He handed Santino the Glock. "Watch this one."
"We'll stop by the house tomorrow—we can talk." Santino waved a finger between them. "But right now…I just…I don't know."
"I can't even imagine," Mr. Cullen whispered. "I'm sorry this happened."
Santino waved a hand.
Mr. Cullen palmed my cheek. "You did good." He turned for the door and closed it after himself.
Confused, I looked to my husband. "I tried waking you up . . . you left the door open?"
He sighed, locking and double locking and clasping the chain. "I fucked up . . . My head is pounding."
"That's no excuse—"
"Christ. Really? You're goin' to get on me now?"
"I—" I just didn't understand. He's upset, fine, but to listen while Damion was here . . . Just listen and not come out.
"If he did anything, I would have killed him." He nipped my lips. "Okay? I saw and heard most everything. Next time I see him, fuck. He'll be scared to sneak in here ever again . . . Besides, I thought you wanted me to forgive him, so we could all get along and be happy." He rolled his eyes, but then groaned and covered his face. "Can you get me Advil?"
I gritted my teeth, annoyed. "I get that you're upset. I understand, and my heart breaks for you even if you wanna be an ass. Okay?" I shouted. "I love you…and I'll be in our room if you wanna talk . . . but get your own damn Advil!" My body stiffened.
He pointed down the hall. "Get me the fucking medicine."
"Ha!" I snorted, stomping down to the bedroom, but then I turned around. "Why are you being like this? I know you're hurting…"
"My head's hurtin' . . . listenin' to you." He walked past me.
I followed him. "You don't mean that. Stop it."
He grabbed the pills out of the cabinet, took some out, and then swallowed them down dry. "In this moment . . . Don't you have homework to do?"
Santino was so mean. His whole demeanor . . . I didn't know him right now. Like he said, in this moment . . .
"I don't want to fight with you," I whispered, blinking back tears.
"Fuck…" He hung his head. "Come here."
I shook my head. "I'm here." I pointed down. "You decide if you need me. I'm here for you. We can talk, nap…we can even make love again if you wish. But I won't do this."
He nodded, walking toward me. "I'm sorry. I'm just…I don't know what I am." He gulped loudly, looking away as tears filled his eyes again. "We can go back to bed…My head really is pounding."
"Yeah," I agreed.
Thank you for reading
Our boy Aro is up next! Gah! I still love him. LOL. We'll get to see what he's been up to, and how his family life is. Hey, you might even find yourself sympathizing with Katie. No? Ah, well, you know I always try ;)
There will be plenty of Skip, Sonny, Eclipse . . . and whatever other trouble Aro gets into
CH30 will be Aro POV.
Anyone still reading? I know quite a few probably miss E/B POVs on a regular basis. But I stated from the start that I'd be flipping points of view. My only hope is that you guys enjoy it, and stick around until the end. In chapter 32, we flip to Bella, and I'll be focusing on them for a while.
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