Page 21 of Agony of Our Regret (Sorcerer’s Society #11)

TWENTY-ONE

Not unlike a prisoner, I was allowed release time once a week.

For an hour.

Supervised.

No strenuous activities, like walking more than a block.

No risk taking, like walking more than a block.

No lifting or holding anything over ten pounds.

I didn’t care that it was freezing out or that my feet barely cramped into my fuzzy boots.

It was an hour outside of the apartment I was beginning to loathe. Who picked out modern, boring furniture? Who chose gray? For everything? Whose bright idea was it to put the bathroom so freaking far from the bed?

The guys parents took turns coming by to keep me entertained or distracted. I appreciated the company, and the gifts of snacks and beauty goodies. I was getting quite skilled at applying face masks without a mirror.

But today was Gwen’s turn, and she was springing me out of this place!

I was ready on the couch, coat and boots on, thirty-minutes before she was supposed to arrive.

“Are you sure about this?” Gavin asked.

“Yes.” I tried not to let my annoyance into my voice.

“I was talking to Luca.”

I glared at them.

“She’ll be fine,” Noah assured the two of them. “They’re going to and from the office.”

“We’re not even walking,” I grumbled. Three blocks was way too far in my condition. Their words, not mine.

I felt fine.

Mostly.

Nervous, anxious, and slightly insane, but fine.

Physically, I was great. No more bleeding. Lemon was moving as much as she could in the tight space.

Bedrest was working.

Unfortunately.

No. It was a good thing. I was just slowly losing my mind.

“I’m here!” Gwen burst through the door and zeroed in on my, ignoring the grumpy trio. “Let’s go, Momma!”

She helped me up and took my hand, leading me out of the apartment with a quick wave. “Have her back in a few!”

“Bye, love you!” I called, before she shut the door.

She laughed on the way to the elevator. “You looked like a caged cheetah.”

“I feel like one,” I admitted. “I’ve been counting down to this all week.”

“Since you got to go to the pharmacy last Sunday?” she teased.

“Exactly,” I sighed. “It was wonderful.”

Sky escorted me to pick up a prescription at the corner drug store and even bought me a king-sized chocolate bar.

“Girl, this baby better come soon,” she laughed as we stepped outside, and I sucked in a lungful of fresh air. It was bitter cold and burned my chest, but I didn’t care.

Her car was parked in front of the building in a loading zone. Unfortunately, the drive lasted less than five minutes before we were in the parking garage under the Society headquarters.

I ran my hands over the white marble in the elevator with a smile.

“Stop,” she laughed. “You’re being weird.”

“I’ve missed this place.”

She shook her head as the doors opened to our floor, “I’ll let you touch all the surfaces on the way back. I need to get those copies sent over immediately.”

I followed her out and down the hall to her office. Our big outing was for this one task. There were physical plans for a wing of the school that didn’t have digital copies, and the general contractor needed them, like yesterday.

“Oh hi, Beth.” Gwen waved as we turned the corner toward our offices.

Beth gave us a tight smile, looking me over. “I thought you were too frail to work.”

I grinned, hoping my annoyance showed. “Your concern is heartwarming.”

She ignored me and went back to the file cabinet she was searching.

“Is there anything I can help you find?” Gwen offered.

“No.” Beth didn’t bother with the pleasantries she forced during our meetings. Without Daniel or Bruce, or anyone else, around she let her animosity shine.

Gwen and I have known since the first time we met her that she didn’t like us. I didn’t take it personally. She didn’t seem to like anyone she didn’t directly report to.

Or anyone under the age of thirty.

Why she was heading a project helping teenagers made no sense to me, especially since she shared her opinions on the youths freely.

To her, they were ungrateful and spoiled.

My complaints about being split up after the farm in South Dakota was a huge mark against me. I should have been happy the Society cared about my wellbeing at all.

Gwen went to her desk and pulled out the blueprints we were here for. “This should only take a minute,” she told me, as she pulled out her phone and started taking pictures.

I sat at one of the empty desk chairs and swung back and forth, watching Beth go through the next cabinet.

“I helped organize those a few weeks ago. I can probably point you in the right direction if yo––”

“No,” Beth cut me off.

I rolled my eyes in Gwen’s direction, and she smirked before flipping to the next page.

It was unusual for the woman to be here on a Saturday afternoon. The rest of the floor was completely empty. The two of us only came in because of the emergency. If there was anything else needed, Daniel would have told us since he knew we were coming in.

So, what did Beth need?

I picked up my phone and sent Gwen a text.

Me: Ask her what she’s doing here

Gwen hesitated and turned her phone vertical from taking a photo and glanced at me with a raised brow then typed.

Gwen: She said she doesn’t need help

Me: It’s weird she’s here

Me: Use your ability

Gwen went back to taking pictures and I thought she was going to ignore me, but really, she was just way more natural than me.

“You should tell us what you’re doing, Beth.”

There was nothing unusual about her tone. Gwen’s ability to influence people to do what she said was as discrete as she needed it to be.

Beth looked toward her with a glare. “I’m looking for the list of past teenagers we’ve hidden.”

“Why?” I asked.

“None of your business,” she snarled.

“Tell us why you want that information,” Gwen stated.

Beth tilted her chin; she might have caught on to what Gwen was doing but she couldn’t fight it. “I need to add them to the list of our members.”

“Tell us why.”

“So I have a complete list,” Beth was getting around the question, but Gwen grinned. She knew.

“Tell us why you need a complete list.”

“To have the names of all the Society members with their abilities.”

That wasn’t necessary. That already existed within our database, but it was secured. Protected.

I tapped my screen and selected Luca’s name.

Me: I’m going to call. Mute yourself and listen. Don’t speak

Whatever Beth was going to say needed to be heard by more than the two of us, and Luca’s hearing would ensure he caught everything in case my phone wasn’t close enough.

Luca: Okay

I hit the call button and he answered, but I set the phone down, not alerting Beth to anyone listening.

“Tell me why you need a list of all the members and their abilities?” Gwen demanded.

“To send to James.” Beth started backing away. She was onto her.

“Tell me who James is.”

Beth turned and started walking, but couldn’t stop the compulsion. “My contact at the AS.”

I gasped and stood, needing to make sure Luca heard as Gwen followed Beth.

“Tell me everything you’re doing with the AS.”

Beth slammed the elevator button. She couldn’t take the stairs. She called me frail, but she was much too old to go down thirty flights to the lobby.

Beth spun, swinging her purse at Gwen. “Leave me alone!”

“No!” Gwen grabbed the bag and ripped it away. “Tell me!”

“I’m feeding them names, addresses, and abilities of our members. Those stupid brats are going to be the first to go! So many wasted resources on spoiled teenagers!”

Beth looked between us and ran at me, she tried to shove me, but my shield shot up and shoved her back.

She gasped as she was flung against the wall.

I couldn’t fight her. I couldn’t pin her down like I would if I wasn’t pregnant, but I tried something else. I pushed my barrier out, letting the shimmering glow grow around me until it pressed against her, holding her in place.

Gwen stood at my side, “How dare you try to touch her! You fucking rat!”

I grinned as she shimmied her shoulders, failing to move. “You’re going to stay right there.”

I lifted my phone to my ear. “You get all that?”

Beth’s eyes widened.

Luca was panting. “Yes, we’re on our way.”

Gwen pulled out her phone and called someone.

“Daniel? Who’s the closest to headquarters?” She listened. “Call them in. Beth is a mole.”

She repeated what Beth admitted while I kept the liar from moving.

By the time Daniel was updated, the elevator doors opened and my men came rushing out.

“Avalon1” Gavin ran toward me.

I hugged him tight while keeping my attention on my shield.

Vince ran straight at Beth, “You traitor!”

I tensed, ready to stretch my shield to push him back, but Luca caught him. “Don’t man. She’s not worth it.”

“People’s lives have been destroyed because of her!” Vince roared.

“We know, but you can’t be the one to get justice,” Luca gripped his shoulders and forced him to take a step back. “Let the proper authorities take care of her.”

I could practically see smoke coming from Vince’s ears but he listened and stayed just out of reach.

“I’ve got her, Vince,” I reassured him.

“Are you okay?” Sky looked me over while I nodded. He kissed my cheek and moved to stand guard in front of Beth with Vince while Noah and Gavin stayed near me and Gwen.

The elevator doors opened again and three men I recognized from the security team stepped in, their eyes locked on Beth. They surrounded her, the one in the middle finally spoke. “You’ve betrayed your people.” His voice was harsh and full of anger. “This will not be forgiven.”

The man to his right held up his hand to reach for her and I lowered my shield so he could turn her around and cuff her wrists.

They took over, thanking us, as Wes and Stanley arrived.

Gwen and I sat down at the nearest desks while going over what happened before Luca joined to repeat what he heard, and the betrayal and hurt finally sunk in.

One of our own, someone I knew, set out to harm the people I cared about most in the world. I was never so grateful to be surrounded by other people that could take charge. I put my hand over my bump and relaxed at the gentle press against my palm.

“It’s time.”

I stared back at Dr. Gracie, not sure I understood.

“Finally,” Gavin cheered and squeezed my hand.

“I don’t want to risk you going naturally since the placenta hasn’t moved, so we’ll get this baby out tonight.”

“Tonight?” My voice squeaked. I’d spent the last week with my feet up, trapped in bed by the guys, their parents, and what felt like the whole world hovering. As ready as I’d been for the baby to debut, bed rest cranked it up a thousand notches.

Discovering and detaining Beth had been more excitement than the guys could handle. After they arrived, and our security guards showed up, she was taken away. Last I heard she was facing criminal charges and Gavin’s team was undoing the damage she caused.

We thought we were in the clear after the AS’s take down, but Beth was loyal to them and wanted to keep the few remaining free members as much information as she could to help them continue to attack Society members.

She was the unauthorized user trying to hack into the systems.

Fortunately, for us, she wasn’t skilled or trained. Just a delusional, desperate woman set on making us pay for wasting so much time and money protecting teenagers.

With that behind us, all I had to focus on was keeping Lemon inside me, safe and healthy.

But it was go time, I was freaking out and couldn’t beg for one more night.

“Yes, go home and get your bag, and plan on staying in the hospital for up to four days.” Dr. Gracie offered a reassuring smile.

“Four?”

“Yes, we’ll release you sooner if you and the baby are doing well, but if there are any complications, you may stay four days or longer.”

“Longer?”

That wasn’t a part of the plan.

“Are you just going to repeat the last word she says?” Vince teased.

I shook my head. “I thought we had another week.”

I was now thirty-nine weeks and one day, but I had mentally prepared to go all the way to my due date—even glued to my bed.

“The risk of bleeding is too high. I’d much rather have a calm scheduled C-section than an emergency one.” She gave me a warm grin. “I’ll see you all later.”

I nodded, and she left us alone in the room.

“We’re having a baby.” Gavin leaned over and kissed me before pulling back with one of the largest smiles I’d ever seen on him.

“We’re having a baby,” I repeated, but the words didn’t sink in.

“Is she a parrot or is there an echo?” Vince asked.

“I think she’s in shock.” Gavin helped me off the table so I could pull my pants up and my shirt down.

I stood there, staring at the poster of a baby upside down in the womb.

“We’re having a baby,” I repeated.

“Tonight,” Gavin confirmed.

“I’m not ready.”

“Um, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but you don’t have much of a choice, babe. Baby has to come out.” Vince cupped my cheek and kissed my temple. “You’ve got this.”

“But the apartment,” I trailed off. While on bed rest, the nesting thing I’d read about kicked in, but there was nothing for me to do. All the baby items were being stored at the Castellos’ house, awaiting our move into the new house after the baby came.

“The house isn’t done.” I blinked up at Vince. “Where will the baby sleep?”

“Don’t worry about that.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “All you need to think about is how amazing it’s going to be to meet our baby in just a few hours.”

Hours.

The baby I’d been carrying, protecting, and nurturing would be outside of me.

How could I keep Lemon safe if they weren’t inside me?

“Ave?” Gavin asked from next to me. “Hey? Are you okay?”

My eyes were watery.

My head was spinning.

I put my hands over my bump. “Lemon is safe in here.”

He nodded. “And soon, Lemon will be safe in our arms.”

Not with me. Not all the time.

That wasn’t okay.

“Something could happen.”

“Oh, babe.” Vince swept his thumb over my cheek. “Something can happen at any time. We will do everything to keep Lemon as safe and happy as possible.”

I nodded, but it wasn’t enough.

“We have all the monitors and sensors on the market,” Gavin reminded me, even though I was the one who demanded we buy them all.

Reading about SIDS had been the worst day of my life. Babies passing away for absolutely no reason with no warning.

I couldn’t imagine.

It might not be something completely within our control, but I wanted to do everything we could to prevent it.

But Lemon would always be safe in me.

“Remember what the doctor said.” Gavin lowered until we were eye to eye. “If we wait and your water breaks, you could bleed out. Waiting puts you and the baby in jeopardy.”

I closed my eyes. He was right. I knew that, but knowing it in my head didn’t stop the anxiety and fear in my heart.

“Everything is going to be fine. With six of us, plus our parents, Lemon is likely to never be alone,” he quipped.

“There are so many people waiting to love on our baby. You’ve kept them safe and healthy for the last nine months, all by yourself. Now it’s our turn to help, okay?”

His words pierced the fog that descended over my brain with the doctor’s announcement. The safest place for the baby wasn’t inside me anymore. I knew that.

And I wasn’t alone in this. Lemon would never be alone. It was time for our family to take a turn holding them and loving them.

I nodded, and they both relaxed.

“Let’s go home.” Vince wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side while Gavin opened the door and led us out.

The next three days felt like a dream.

The C-section went as smoothly as possible without complications, and Lemon was healthy and beautiful and the most perfect baby girl. She didn’t need any time in the NICU. The nurses took her to the nursery each night, so I could rest and recover—not that there was much for me to do with five dads around vying to hold, feed, and change her.

If not for the determination of the lactation specialist to help me breastfeed, I might not have gotten much time with our sweet baby.

“We can only keep calling her Lemon for so long before it will become her official name,” Gavin said, staring down at her in Sky’s arms as he rocked her.

She was sleeping and wouldn’t have noticed if he stopped the movements, but it seemed to be natural for him now.

All of them were fantastic. Complete naturals despite three of them not having younger siblings. Maybe it was all the reading, classes, and videos. Maybe it was because they were meant to be fathers.

Either way, it made my life incredibly easy.

With all of them to help, I had little to no pressure to hurry up and bounce back. As well as it had gone, the surgery was still a massive trauma to my body. Only time would heal me enough to lift anything or sit up on my own.

“We can’t take her home without filling out the birth certificate,” Luca stated. It wasn’t a law. Vince checked after the first debate that ended in a stalemate, but we agreed to have it decided before we left.

I didn’t want a family name, from my side or any of theirs. It wasn’t fair to use any of theirs, and I wanted a fresh start with no ties for my little girl.

I also didn’t want anything too trendy. Growing up, I loved that I was the only Avalon in any of my classes and didn’t want our daughter to end up being one of four in all of hers and either have to go by a nickname or always use her last initial.

Which was another issue we hadn’t discussed until now.

A last name.

With six options, there wasn’t a clear answer. Since we weren’t married, it defaulted to Bradley. The guys taking my last name would be easier than figuring out which one of theirs we should use.

“How did your parents figure out what last name to use?” I asked Noah and Sky.

“Vays is my mom’s last name, so my dads changed theirs to hers.”

“Bishop is from Michael. He was the last man in the family line. He didn’t have any male cousins and even checked generations back. My parents all agreed on it so it wouldn’t die out,” Sky answered.

“Gavin and Luca, are either of you the last in the line?” Vince asked.

“No, I’ve got several boy cousins. Alder isn’t in jeopardy.” Gavin grinned.

“There are plenty of Castellos back in Italy. That line isn’t going anywhere either,” Luca confirmed.

“Then Bradley?” Vince asked me. “Or do we make up a new name to start our family?”

“We could combine our names.” Sky stared up at the ceiling while his mouth moved, “Br-, Ad-, Ca-, Bi-, Vay, Rod-?”

“Bradcabivayrod?” Noah repeated. “No.”

“We’re not going that route. We’ll end up with from Frankenstein-ed last name,” Luca interjected.

“What about Bates for your mom?” Gavin looked at me.

I shook my head. “No, that counts as a family name. I’d rather pick something entirely new.”

“I’m not mad about Bradley,” Sky offered.

“What about Bravo?” Vince tried. “It represents all of our last names.”

I cringed. “It sounds fake. Like a stage name.”

“But I like where you’re going.” Luca narrowed his eyes.

“We’re getting off track again,” Noah pointed out. “We’ll put Bradley for now. After we get married, we can decide on a last name.”

“After we get married?” I mimicked. “I don’t remember anyone asking or me agreeing.”

He smirked. “Don’t act like it isn’t happening.”

I broke, releasing a laugh. “Fine, but I expect a proper proposal.”

“Okay, fine. Back to the list?” Gavin pulled out his phone. “We left off with Aspen, Harlow, Emersyn, Willow, or Charlotte.”

“I don’t want a name she’ll spend the rest of her life explaining how to spell,” Sky said. “I’m against Emersyn.”

Noah’s shoulders dropped. That was his top choice.

“Should we rank them, and the highest is the winner?” Vince offered.

Sky peered down at our daughter. “This isn’t us picking what to have for dinner. It should be thought out.”

“Fine, what would be the nicknames, good and bad, for each?” Vince redirected.

“Ass for Aspen,” Luca stated.

“Then it’s out,” Sky grunted. “No one is calling her ass.”

I liked that one, but it was a fair point.

“Harlow?” Gavin offered. “Har–har?”

“Harry?” Luca offered with a thick British accent.

“Eww, I hate that now.” Vince, the biggest advocate for the name, shook his head. “Cross it off.”

“Okay, Willow?” Gavin started and immediately cringed. “Will. Willy.”

“I don’t hate that,” I offered.

“Willy?” Luca cocked a brow. “Like a dick?”

I closed my eyes and sighed.

“Hey, if he thought of that within a few seconds, so will children. They’re ruthless.”

“Fine, so Charlotte?” I glanced around the room.

“Charlie for short?” Gavin offered.

I waited until each of them agreed. We got to this point last night before Noah started his fight for Emersyn again.

“I like it.” Luca turned to Vince, who nodded.

“Me too,” Noah finally conceded.

“Charlie?” Sky whispered down to our girl. He nearly jumped. “She smiled! I swear she just smiled!”

Gavin laughed. “It’s all reflexes at this point, but he’s right. She did.”

“Then that settles it.” Vince beamed. “We should have just asked her from the beginning.”

“She knows who she is and what she wants.” Luca winked at me. “Just like her momma.”

They all turned and smiled at me before their eyes fell back on our girl, all except for Vince.

“Are you ready to head home?” he asked me.

I nodded. “As nice as it’s been to have nurses to help, especially at night, I’m ready to sleep in my own bed.”

“I second that.” Luca stretched his neck. He stayed here with me last night and got to experience the cramped nook Gavin and Noah complained about the first two nights.

“Did you get the bassinet set up at least?” I asked, not sure who was coordinating with our parents.

“Yes, it’s all taken care of.” Vince grinned.

“I’m sorry she came early,” I told him, “Kind of put a kink in your plans.”

“Actually, she helped them speed up.” He glanced at the others. “Can we just tell her?”

“She’ll figure it out within about a minute of leaving here,” Gavin pointed out.

“Fine,” Luca agreed. “Frankly, I’m shocked you made it this long.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked Vince.

“The house is done.” He beamed.

Pregnancy brain had been one thing, but post-delivery brain was a whole new level of fog. “Which one?”

He moved to sit on the end of my hospital bed and rubbed my calf. “The new one. The renovations, painting, moving in. It’s all done.”

“But you said it would take close to two months. It’s only been…” I tried to remember. “A few weeks.”

“Five, but as soon as the word got out about you being on bed rest and the baby coming ahead of schedule, help showed up in droves.”

“When the Society finds out one of their own is in need, they come in and take over. When they found out it was you, with everything you’ve been through and how much you’ve still done to help, they wanted to return the favor.”

“That’s so nice.” It was all I could think to say. I was too stunned. There was so much work to be done to get it to where we wanted. “Everything on our list is finished?”

“Secret passage, hot tub, and all.” Vince winked.

“Really?” I hadn’t wanted to bring it up before, but I was a little stressed over how we were all going to fit in the apartment and how long it would take before the complaints from our neighbors came in from the crying at all hours.

“Yes, babe. Your home is ready and waiting.”

“It was part of how we kept people from visiting you.” Gavin smirked. “We told them we needed help at home, and they were more than willing to head there. Everyone wanted to help all of us, and once they found out there was a way, more than bringing over meals, they jumped on it.”

“I’m pretty sure we had about fifty people there every day,” Vince added. “The crew I was working with in Santa Fe oversaw things while I was here.”

“So, we’re going to our new house?”

Sky laughed. “We are.”

“She’s more sleep deprived than I thought,” Noah added.

“Yeah, it’s time to take her home and let her rest.” Luca leaned over and kissed the top of Charlotte’s covered head. “I’ll go check with the nurse about getting released.”

He left the room, and Noah went to my bag. “Do you want to shower here again?”

“Absolutely not.” As much as I appreciated the nurses for helping me get through the last few days, I wanted nothing more than to leave and be in my own space, even if it was unfamiliar. “You guys can help me tonight.”

He nodded, pulled out a new set of light blue loungewear, and tossed it to Vince. “Help her change.”

Vince stood and put his hand on my back, helping me sit up before lifting me to stand next to him. His strength was incredibly useful since I couldn’t use my core for several more days. I might get spoiled with him carrying me around.

He helped me change into fresh clothes, and Noah moved behind me to unclip my hair and brush it out before twisting it back up into a claw clip.

“You guys are the best.” I kissed his cheek before moving to the recliner where Sky was still holding Charlie. Using her name felt so natural. It just fit. “How is she?”

“Perfect.” He smiled down at her. “I can’t believe she’s here. Even holding her and seeing her, it feels surreal.”

“I know,” I agreed. “I’m sure it will set in once we’re home.”

“Well, once we adjust to a completely new home that none of us have been in since it was finished.” Gavin rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “This is a lot of change to take on at once.”

“Might as well completely flip our lives upside down all at once.” Noah smirked. “Not like we ever did anything the normal or easy way.”

“Fair,” Vince chuckled. “We have each other, and that’s what matters.”

Luca pushed open the door and revealed a nurse and wheelchair. “Who’s ready to get out of here?”