Page 91 of Awakening the Beast
We're a wrath of darkness and light that no one would ever understand, but that’s what makes it so unique. Our fucking love is rare to come by, and sometimes, although I might not say it out loud enough, I do, in all honesty, feel like the luckiest man in this universe to have her by my side.
When we're near my car, I open the passenger side door and gently place her in the seat. She hisses at the pain in her ankle, or ass, I can’t tell which of the two as she slips my shirt over her naked body. As she buttons it up, I close the door and head to the driver's side. I slip into the seat, keeping the door open as I light a cigarette.
Taking a deep inhale and settling back in my seat, I gesture with my fingers, “Let me look at your ankle.” She looks at me quickly, and I raise an eyebrow, “What? You thought I didn't see how you landed? Clumsy ass.”
She rolls her pretty brown eyes with a smile before swiveling her body. She rests back against the door, positioning her foot on my lap. As soon as I touch it, she winces again, but I continue to gently rub it with my fingers, “You're lucky you didn't break it from that height.” I draw another drag, letting it hang from my lips as I massage her skin with both hands. “Just twisted,” I say, my words muffled.
“Yeah, well, I wasn't going to let you to have me so easily,” she retorts, and I smirk. “How's your chest from being shot twice, by the way?” she asks, her tone full of amusement.
I turn my lowered head slightly, my eyes flicking to hers, and I study her, trying to contain my laughter. “I went easy on your ass, baby, and it still got filled with my dick and cum repeatedly, so stop your fucking backchat.”
She lifts her brow, a grin playing on her lips as she rests her head back. “Easy, huh? Do I have to start actually putting bullets inside you for you to be proud of me?” she teases.
I pause at her words, looking at her squarely, then motion with my head. “Come the fuck here,” I gesture calmly but seriously.
As she starts to move, I flick my cigarette away and close the car door beside me. She climbs onto my lap, curling her small body up against me, and I stroke her hair as I murmur against it.
“Who the fuck said I wasn't proud of you?”
She tilts her head back to meet my gaze, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, the world outside the car is non-existent.
“I see you, Wren,” I say honestly. “Every fucking part of you. And I'm proud of you, more than you'll ever know.”
She smiles, a genuine, soft smile that reaches her eyes.
“You're a beautiful force,” I continue, my thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “A wild, untameable little thing that no one else could ever control, not even me and that's why I fucking love you. Because you match my darkness with your own, and together, we're relentless. Also, how much of a great mom you have always been to our kids. It only adds to why I am utterly obsessed with everything about you.”
Her gaze eases, tears brimming, and she leans into my touch, her breath mingling with mine. “I love you too, Arlo,” she whispers against my lips, her voice trembling with emotion.
As she brings her hand to the back of my neck, I notice her engagement ring twinkle in the sunlight. Our mouths merge in a feral kiss, raw and intense, and in that moment, a thought forms in my mind: it's about time I actually married her for real and made her my wife officially. We need to complete our little family.
It’s the day Arlo leaves for his trip out of town, and my thoughts are razor-sharp, locked onto a single mission. My mom contacted me earlier, confirming that the key I found belongs to a small storage locker on the outskirts of the city. The need to uncover whatever Carmella is hiding scratches at my insides. I’ve already dropped Lumi off for an hour while collecting the key from my mom, so this has to be quick.
Pulling up to the ordinary building, I slide on my sunglasses. I step out of the car, then I stride into the spacious, brightly lit building, the sterile scent of metal and dust in the air.
With the small piece of paper in hand, I scan the long aisle, searching for the locker number that matches. My heart pounds with each step until finally, my eyes fix on the one I need. Without hesitation, I rush toward it, glancing over my shoulder to ensure no one is watching.
My handshakes slightly as I pull the key from my pocket, the small object suddenly feeling heavier in my palm. I push it into the lock and twist. The soft click of it opening makes my shoulders relax, but only for a second. My chest tightens as Ipause and for a brief moment, doubt creeps in—what am I about to find?
Pushing past my hesitation, I pull the door open slowly, and there, sitting side by side, are the only two things inside the locker: a USB stick and a small pile of documents. My brows knit together in confusion, expecting something more, but I guess sometimes, it’s the simplest things that hide the deepest secrets.
I carefully pick up the black USB stick, turning it over in my hand before hastily slipping it into my pocket. Then, I grab the stack of documents, shoving them into the inside of my trench coat.
Without wasting another second, I close the locker and lock it, dropping the key back into my pocket. My heart beats faster, urging me to move. I need to get out of here, fast. I glance around one last time before heading back toward the exit, my steps quick.
When I get home, I waste no time, entering the mansion and making a dash for the stairs, Lumi cradled securely in my arms. My mind races, focused only on getting the documents and USB stick hidden away.
“Wren?” Arlo’s deep voice echoes from the living room, but I don't stop, my feet barely touching the ground as I hurry past.
“I'll be down in a second! I'm going to pee myself!” I call back, trying to hide my urgency. Lumi giggles, finding it funny that Iam running, her small,happy sounds the completely opposite to the tight knot of anxiety coiling in my stomach.
As soon as I reach the bedroom, I move swiftly. I fumble through my drawer, making space. Then grab the USB and documents from inside my coat, shoving them deep beneath a pile of panties in my underwear drawer. My hands are shaking as I push it closed, my fingers gripping the edge.
Finally, my shoulders slump, a long, tense breath escaping me. The adrenaline that had fuelled me since I left the storage locker starts to fade, my body unwinding bit by bit. I didn’t even get the chance to tell my mom what I found—too wired to think clearly. The important thing was that they’re safe, for now.
I glance down at Lumi, her wide eyes blinking up at me with a happy, carefree smile. Her innocence brings a moment of calm, something pure during the mayhem. I press a kiss to her soft curls and turn toward the door.
“Let's go see Daddy before he leaves for the weekend,” I murmur with a smile.
