Page 84 of Shattered Souls

“This, Rayvn, is what I’m living for. To see you dripping us from every hole.” She mumbles, but I’m gone. It’s her from now and forever.

“Ours,” Hayze grumbles against her.

“Ours.” I agree, stroking her damp hair.

Rayvn

FOUR YEARS LATER

The bell chimes as I enter the small tattoo shop.

There’s music blaring in the shop, the base of the song pumping into the soles of my shoes.

“Rayvn!” Hayze puts his tattoo gun down and comes over to me. His client waves at me with a massive smile plastered on his face. He’s a regular now, coming in once a month for Hayze to give him some new ink.

“Hey, I was just in the area and wanted to stop by and give you this.” I hand Hayze the small coffee cup, knowing he’s not crazy about the bitter liquid.

“You should be resting.” He pins me with a knowing look, placing a hand on my swollen belly.

“He’s making me restless.” I whine.

It’s been seven months since I showed them the two pink lines on that pregnancy test. My hands trembled as I turned the test over and saw that bold second line. It was a tough decision, deciding to have a baby or not. But, at the end of the day, Synn let Hayze and I come to our own conclusion, knowing how sensitive kids were for us.

It took us a year to decide.

I thought there was going to be animosity between the brothers knowing that Synn was the father. But instead, Hayze said he didn’t care, because that meant he got to be the one to marry me, since I couldn’t legally marry both. Synn happily agreed.

“He is the reason you need more rest.” He bends down and kisses the bump. Jett kicks against Hayze’s lips, making him laugh.

“Hey, Evan!” I look past Hayze and finally greet the regular customer.

“Rayvn, nice to see you as always.”

“What are you getting today?” Hayze takes his coffee, taking a small sip. He leads me over to his stool and pushes my shoulders down to make me sit.

“A viper.” I look at the purple stencil on his rib cage, the bottom half of it already covered in ebony ink.

“Dammit, Rayvn!” Synn comes into the shop, shopping bags slung over each arm.

“Ah, should’ve mentioned that I went shopping for Jett, with Synn.” Synn glares at me, the look holding no sustenance. “Sorry, handsome.”

Synn comes over and greets Evan while placing his hand on our son. The three break off into a conversation that goes right over my head. Instead, I watch my men as they speak to each other without lifting a hand.

Hayze spent two years in speech therapy after we settled. His speech has improved tremendously, so much that you’d never guess he was mute just four years ago.

“Still don’t understand you three.” Evan teases. Those close enough to us know the strange dynamic, but strangers simply see man and wife. With the twins being identical, it’s easy to fly under the radar.

“What’s there to understand?” Hayze asks, reaching into one of his drawers to produce gummy worms for me. I happily accept them.

“Which bed does she sleep in?”

“I’m right here, Evan, you can at least ask me.” I remark. “And we all share a bed, if you must know.” Evan’s eyes narrow, and I can taste the next question lingering on his lips. “And no, I don’t know whose baby it is.”

Synn and Hayze both break out into full belly laughter while Evan stares at us with reddened cheeks.

“Come on, Rayvn, let’s get you home.” Synn helps me up, and Hayze holds a hand out for my gummy worms. I sneak another one, biting it in half, before handing it back to him.

“I’ll see you later, little scarecrow.” Hayze leans down and kisses me, quick yet passionate. I crinkle my nose at him and follow Synn outside. He offers his arm to me and I immediately lock mine into his.