Page 85 of Retribution

“Fuck me,” Oliver laughs. “Yea that wasn’t his fault, but it may be best to keep him away when he’s tired.”

“I completely agree. It’s also why we’re building him a lab on property, but away from the houses,” I reply.

“Fuck, you’ve been a busy bee,” he says.

“Is that why you’re not with Lucas and Isolde?” Alesso asks.

“She kicked me out for a variety of reasons,” I shrug. “I don’t mind being the bad guy today. I kept a secret of hers for too long, and another for not long enough. It’s complicated.”

“I don’t think it’s complicated at all,” Oliver says as we walk back to the mansion. “I think you were a dickhead to her and you got what you deserved.”

“I mean, she could have beat me with the bat but she didn’t. Instead, she shoved it into my gut,” I say.

“What gut?” Alesso snorts. “Your stomach has a disgusting amount of muscles. Since there’s no padding, I bet it hurt.”

“It did, but I deserved it,” I shrug. “Lucas needed to see Leila and Isolde.”

“What about you?” Oliver asks as the snow crunches under our feet.

I am so sick of this weather. I don’t care how long I’ve lived in it, I’m already waiting for spring to pop her head out.

“I can bide my time,” I say.

I’m good at it.

Isolde

“I’m awake,” I mumble as I hear a cry, struggling to open my eyes.

Pushing myself into a sitting position, I look around the room and find it empty.

“Lucas?” I call out, getting out of bed.

“I’m coming,” he replies. “I had to get her bottle.”

I haven’t made a new bottle, and I walk out of the room to find him. Lucas is shaking the bottle to mix the powder while crooning and talking to Leila. My heart.

He looks really good with her.

“She’s impatient,” I say, walking over to kiss her forehead. “It’s coming, I promise.”

“I initially got up to change her, and then she started to root and bounce her head in search of food.”

My lips twitch as I run my finger over her lips. She tries to suck on it, and by the time she realizes that it’s a body double like a stunt man in a movie, Lucas is ready to give her the bottle.

“What time is it?” I ask.

“One in the afternoon,” he winces. “We all slept hard. It’s no wonder she’s hungry.”

“I read that babies won’t starve themselves, and not to wake them,” I murmur. “I have no idea what I’m doing, honestly.”

“I think you’re doing just fine,” Lucas says honestly. “I have some thoughts I want to talk through with you. Do you want to sit on the couch or the bed?”

“Bed,” I say immediately. “It’s the most comfortable. I just have to make sure I don’t fall back asleep.”

“That bed is really nice,” he smirks, following me as we walk back to the room. “This is a really good house for you, have I mentioned that?”

“I don’t think you have,” I muse, wondering what he’s up to.