Page 1

Chapter 1

Love my green-eyed kitten. She brought all of us together and showed us what true love and happiness is. She’s giving me the children and family I have always wanted. Looking down at her round tummy, I lean over and kiss the top of her head.

“I love you, Kitten,” I whisper, and she looks up at me with her eyes so fucking bright as a smile traces along her lips.

“I love you too, Big Man,” she whispers back, placing a soft kiss against my lips.

“Ewwwww,” Jaxon yells. We pull away laughing as he points at us. Jade pops up from the couch, damn near dropping her bowl, but places it down on the coffee table and goes to grab her keys. I raise a brow wondering where she thinks she’s going, but Jameson beats me to it.

They all argue over who’s going to get fucking milk. We really should have it auto-delivered weekly because the amount of milk we go through now that we adopted Jaxon is insane. Getting up from the couch, I grab the keys to the Suburban and head to the front door.

Opening it, I yell behind me, “I got the milk,” and shutting it as I step into the cold night air. A shiver races up my spine as goosebumps litter my skin. I get this feeling that someone is either watching me or something bad is about to happen. I don’t like this feeling at all. Maybe it’s a me thing from how we grew up–constantly looking over our shoulders. All our lives we’ve been targets just waiting to be taken out.

Bare footsteps slap against the cobblestone behind me as Jade rushes after me.

“Rio. Hold on, baby,” she yells as I approach the side of the Suburban.

“I’ll be right back, Kitten. Get your butt inside,” I order, and she huffs.

“Come here, the babies are kicking. Come feel this,” she says excitedly. Her whole face is lit up in awe as she takes my hand, placing it on her belly. And there’s the kicks.

“Holy shit, holy fucking shit!” I shout in amazement. Feeling my babies inside her kicking my hand is everything. I wonder if they will recognize my voice?

Crouching down, I lay both hands over her stomach. “It’s your dad, kick again girls,” and they do right on cue. “Holy shit, they're strong,” I say, looking up at the mother of my daughters. Laying my forehead against her stomach, I whisper, “I can’t wait to meet you. I gotta run to get your big brother milk. I love you, Hazel. I love you, Haven, ” leaving kisses where I feel their powerful kicks.

Standing, I cup her face, kissing her sweet lips.

“Thank you, baby. I’ve been waiting to feel them. Now, get in the house. I’ll be right back,” I whisper, kissing her again. She takes a deep breath, looking up at me.

“Okay, hurry up. I love you, Big Man. Oh, and grab me a KitKat, please.” She smiles at me and I nod then, taking a step back, I wink.

“Anything for my girls, now get inside,” I say with a smirk, unlocking my truck and getting in.

Putting the key in the ignition, I hear a whizzing sound and I know, I know it’s too fucking late, that this is it. Jade’s screams don't help. There’s nothing I can do.

Meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror, knowing this is the last time I’m going to lay eyes on her, decimates me. I’ll never get to touch her, feel her, smell her. Nothing. Knowing I’ll never hold my babies shatters my heart as I see her take a step. I shake my head slightly at her and mouth “I love you” as she screams for me, and just like that, my vision goes dark as the impact of the blow pins me against the seat as fire and smoke fill what’s left of the truck.

I can’t open my eyes as pain laces through my entire body, burning the flesh from the bone. I want to scream from the pain, but I can’t as the smoke fills my lungs causing my chest to cease.

Am I dead? Does death really hurt this badly? Then, it all goes away as darkness consumes me.

Goodbye, my love.