Page 64 of Awakening the Beast
“What do you want me to say, Arlo? That I’ll give up just because we have kids?” She replies softly. “Sometimes I feel like you don’t want me working with you. That you want me to just be at home with the kids.”
My gaze eases and I slide my fingers into her silky hair, grabbing handfuls while lowering my lips to hers, “I love you beside me.” She stays silent so I continue. “But…”
When I trail off, her eyes search mine, “Just say it, Arlo.”
I inhale deeply, “I just want our kids to have some kind of normality.” I breathe out.
“And they can.”
“How?”
“What happens in our home has nothing to do with the outside world, Arlo. You always made sure Cree was looked after and loved regardless of what you were doing.”
“Yet he was left with nanny’s because I was working so fucking hard.” I assert firmly and she contemplates my words before responding.
“But you’re not on your own this time. You have me. Our kids will always come first, they always have, but women are allowed to work too Arlo. I will be a Mom above all, like you’re a Dad, but I now like what I do. It gives me some time to breathe, some independence and I love being around you. I like knowing whats going on and I love balancing everything between workand home life.” She says and I just stare at her, conflicted. “I know you’re worried about me baby, because I worry about you as well, but we’re in this together. You have to trust me. We can do this.”
I sigh and lower my forehead to hers, closing my eyes. “I can’t lose you. We’ve already lost so fucking much because of this city.” I confess and she brushes her fingers through my hair.
“You won’t lose me. Do you know who the fuck we are?”
When she says that, my eyes open and she smirks slightly.
“All I am saying is, when everything is said and done, things will get easier. The threats will be lowered. Right now everything is fresh and on edge because we’re lacking in answers. But Arlo, we’re getting closer to the end, I can feel it. It makes sense that we’re in this together at all times. We can look out for one another and our family.”
I lift my head, my gaze dropping to her lips, and she continues, “I haven’t told you this, but during the grief, I was pissed at you because you never told me how serious things were. I had to delve into this dark world just to find some comfort in discovering who the man I loved really was and what he did. I wished I had been a part of it and maybe somehow helped stop what was going to happen. I won’t make that same mistake twice, Arlo and I will prove to you in time that I can still be what our kids need while also being what you need.”
I think about what she’s saying and how I also don’t want to make the same mistake twice. Bridge was never involved with the Elites; she never wanted to be, and I respected that. But maybe if we had been in everything together, we could haveseen the signs of betrayal coming toward us. Unfortunately, we didn’t fucking have that, and she was torn away from me in the most horrific way. I don’t want that for Wren. Yet, I have to take into account that she is not only protected by me, but she is also respected by the Elites. And above all, she is secretly the daughter of the highest Elite in the States.
I sweep my thumb down her jaw, my eyes taking in her every feature—how fucking beautiful she is, how innocent she used to be, but now, she radiates a beautiful darkness that I could probably, unadmittingly, be threatened by. I have to stop thinking of her as who she once was. I know more than anyone that this city shapes us in the harshest of ways, making us tough and in this moment, I see it in her. She can handle anything life throws her way and still stand stronger than I ever could when I lost Bridge.
She took my seat proudly, kept it cozy while being pregnant, grieving and destroyed anyone who dared try to tarnish my legacy. But above all, she mothered my son and loved him in the process when I couldn’t.
My phone vibrating on the bedside table beside us captures our attention and we both look that way. I snarl, reaching over to see the phone screen is lit up with Dominic’s name, and I reluctantly answer, pressing it to my ear.
“What?” I bark, feeling irritated.
“I got the results,” Dom says, his tone annoyingly casual, while I run my hand up the curve of Wren’s body and the silence hangs between us before he continues, “She’s not pregnant, Arlo.”
I inhale sharply, his words sinking in. I know this is going to stir up more shit than I’m ready to deal with today. Slowly, I pull away from Wren, feeling the loss of her warm body wrapped around mine as I stand and turn away from her.
“No problem,” I say, my tone steady but laced with irritation. “Thanks for letting me know.”
I stride toward the balcony, pulling the thick curtain aside, letting the bright sunlight flood the room.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you later today,” Dom adds.
“No,” I assert firmly, still gazing out at the blue skies. “Me and Wren are taking the day off. If it’s important, call me; if not, leave me the fuck alone.”
I hang up, tossing the phone onto the bed without a second thought. My focus returns to the endless blue above, but before I can lose myself in thought, Wren’s soft arms wrap around me from behind, her lips and tits pressing against my back.
“Anything I should know about?” she asks, her voice still heavy, barely recovered from the brutal fucking I just gave her.
I stand there, silent for a moment, thinking carefully. I know that the second I tell her Savannah isn’t pregnant, she’ll want to kill her—just like she didn’t hesitate to kill Izzy when she had the chance. Wren can be untameable and ruthless, no matter what I say, but I understand why. She’ll get her shot at Savannah, but today is not that day. Savannah can wait.
“Nah, not really,” I lie casually, not wanting to stir up any drama today.
I turn in her arms, and she tilts her head slightly, her gaze narrowing as she studies me. “You’re not working today?”
