Page 15

Chapter 15

Christopher

The drive back to home is a blur, my mind still reeling from the events of the past few hours. The satisfaction of finally delivering justice, of making Evans pay for his crimes, mingles with a bone-deep exhaustion that seems to seep into my soul.

Pulling into the driveway, I take a moment to simply breathe, my hands gripping the steering wheel as I try to center myself. To come to terms with all of the shit that has happened over the months.

I make my way inside, the house quiet and still. I find Elle in our bedroom, curled up on the bed with Miracle sleeping peacefully in the bassinet beside her. She looks up as I enter, her eyes searching my face, a silent question in their depths.

I sit on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in mine. "It's done," I say softly, my thumb rubbing gentle circles on her skin. "He'll never hurt anyone ever again."

Elle nods, a shuddering breath escaping her lips. Tears well in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks in glistening tracks. I gather her into my arms, holding her close as she cries—tears of relief, of grief, of healing.

"Thank you," she whispers, her face buried in the crook of my neck. “Our daughter will never have to fear this monster.”

It’s like the weight of the world has come off her shoulders, I can see the relief in her eyes. “I’d rather die than see that fear and worry in your eyes ever again.” I kiss her cheek softly.

She’s exhausted. She yawns and I lay her down on the bed, bringing the blanket up to her shoulders.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, marveling at the strength and resilience of this incredible woman. She is so beautiful.

I go into the shower and scrub my body in a hurry, wanting to get back to my girls.

My mom and Elle’s mom are downstairs lying on the couch, and I know they’ll be heading home when Derek and my dad come to get them.

I make my way over to Miracle's bassinet. Our daughter slumbers peacefully, her tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. I reach out, gently stroking her soft cheek with the tip of my finger. In this moment, I'm overwhelmed by the fierce, protective love that surges through me.

I carefully lift Miracle from her bassinet, cradling her tiny form against my chest. She stirs slightly, her rosebud lips puckering in an adorable pout before she settles back into peaceful slumber. The weight of her in my arms, the warmth of her little body, fills me with an indescribable sense of awe and wonder.

I carry her into the nursery, the room bathed in the soft glow of the nightlight. The walls are painted a soothing shade of lavender, adorned with delicate butterflies and flowers. A plush white rug cushions my bare feet as I make my way to the rocking chair in the corner.

Settling into the chair, I gaze down at my daughter, marveling at the perfection of her features. Her thick lashes rest against her chubby cheeks, her button nose twitching occasionally as she dreams. I run a gentle finger over the wisps of dark hair that cover her head, silky soft to the touch.

"Hey there, little one," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft creak of the rocking chair. "It's your daddy."

Miracle's tiny hand wraps around my finger, her grip strong and sure even in sleep.

I promise you, baby girl," I murmur, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, "I will always keep you safe. I will move heaven and earth to protect you, to give you a life filled with love and joy and laughter. You will never know the pain and fear that your mama endured. I swear it on my life."

Miracle sighs contentedly, snuggling deeper into my embrace as if she understands the weight of my vow. I rock her gently, humming a soothing lullaby that my own mother used to sing to me when I was small.

As I rock Miracle, the soft creaking of the chair and my gentle humming the only sounds in the peaceful nursery, a sense of calm settles over me. The horrors of the day, the weight of the past few months, seem to fade away.

I don't know how long we stay like that, rocking and bonding, before I hear a soft knock at the door. Glancing up, I see Elle standing in the doorway, a tender smile on her face as she takes in the sight of us.

"Hey," she whispers, padding softly into the room. "I woke up and you weren't there. I figured I might find you two here."

I smile, shifting Miracle slightly so Elle can see her peaceful, sleeping face. "I just wanted to spend some time with her, just the two of us, and tell her about how gross boys are.”

Elle snorts out a laugh, and I love to hear that from her. I lift my hand out for her to take and pull her gently into my lap, holding both of my girls.

After a while, Elle speaks, her voice low and thoughtful. "I was so afraid, Christopher. Afraid that he would somehow find a way to hurt her, to take her from us. But now… now I feel like I can finally breathe again. Like we can start living our lives without that constant fear hanging over us."

I turn my head, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "He's gone, Elle. He can never hurt you or Miracle ever again. We made sure of that.”

I lift her left hand, staring at the ring on her finger. “I can’t wait until I make you my wife, for both of my girls to have my last name.”

Elle smiles softly, intertwining her fingers with mine as she gazes down at our daughter. "I can't wait either," she whispers. "To be your wife, to build our life together.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, the three of us snuggled together in the rocking chair. The room is filled with a sense of peace and contentment, a stark contrast to the chaos and fear that has dominated our lives for so long.

"You know," Elle says after a while, her voice thoughtful, "I never thought I could feel this happy again. After… after what happened, I was so sure that part of me was broken forever. But you, Christopher, you helped me heal. You showed me that I was still worthy of love, that I could still have a beautiful future."

I tighten my arm around her, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "You were never broken, Elle," I say fiercely. "Bent, maybe. Bruised. But never broken. You're the strongest person I know."

Elle shifts slightly in my lap, turning to face me. Her eyes search mine, filled with a depth of emotion that takes my breath away.

Elle

I look at him, truly look at him, and I know without a doubt that I shouldn’t have ever doubted his devotion for me.

I was so scared that he wouldn’t have wanted me, I was so broken.

"After… after what happened," I say, my voice trembling slightly, "I was so scared. Not just of him, of what he might do, but of what it meant for us. For our future.I was terrified that you wouldn't want me anymore," I confess, tears welling in my eyes. "That you'd see me as damaged goods, as something broken and unworthy of your love.

I can tell he’s fighting himself to not say anything back, letting me finish what I need to say.

“But then you showed me how wrong I was," I continue, my voice growing stronger. "You stood by me, every step of the way. You held me when I cried, listened when I needed to talk, and gave me space when I needed to be alone. You never pushed, never demanded anything from me that I wasn't ready to give."

I reach up, cupping Christopher's face in my hands, my thumbs gently stroking his cheeks. "You made me feel safe again, Christopher. Not just physically, but emotionally too. You created a sanctuary for me, a place where I could heal and find myself again."

Tears spill down my cheeks, but they're tears of joy and gratitude now. "You showed me that I was still worthy of love, that what happened to me didn't define me. You saw past the scars, both visible and invisible, and loved every part of me."

I glance down at Miracle, sleeping peacefully in Christopher's arms, then back up to meet his gaze. “I just love you so much it feels like my heart can’t contain it. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He shifts Miracle gently in his arms.

"Elle, my love, my heart," he says softly, reaching up to brush away my tears. "What happened to you… it broke my heart. Not because I saw you as damaged or broken, but because I couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting you.

“But, Elle, it never changed how I felt about you. Not for a single second."

Christopher's eyes burn with intensity as he continues. "You are the strongest, bravest person I've ever known. How could I not love you even more for that?"

He brings Miracle’s little hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. "As for Miracle… Elle, she's ours. In every way that matters. Biology doesn't make a family—love does. And I love that little girl with every fiber of my being, just as I love you."

Christopher's voice grows fierce, passionate. "I don't care what anyone else thinks or says. You and Miracle are my world, my everything. "You're my ole lady, Elle.

“You decided to keep this baby, you did something so selfless, and look at the gift you’ve given me? You made me a daddy.”

He leans in, resting his forehead against mine. "You've given me everything I never knew I needed, Elle. A family, a home, a purpose beyond the club. You've made me a better man, a man worthy of your love."

He pulls back slightly, his gaze intense as it locks with mine. "You are my forever, Elle. You and Miracle.”

A year ago, I never thought this would be my life, but I wouldn’t change a single thing, even the horrible parts.

Because I have everything I dreamed of and more.