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Taking a moment to regulate my breathing before I scratch her eyes out, I catch Cato’s questioning look. Nate hides behind him. In all the time I’ve known these kids, Nate has always been protective; nothing seems to scare him. Ever. Even when he should be. Like the snake he found in the pool last month. He snatched it up, tossed it into a bush, and didn’t bat an eye.

“Hester?” Cato’s steady tone is all I need to confront this woman in a way I ordinarily wouldn’t.

“You laid your hands on him. You left a mark.” I circle the desk, advancing on her, and fear strikes her eyes as she retreats.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she backpedals.

“Get out,” I growl. “You will sign all the paperwork our lawyer sends over in an hour, and you will disappear.” I fully intend to call Mr. Styles and have him draw up what we need for her to sign over her rights. She’s done traumatizing them.

“Or what?” She lifts her chin in challenge.

Getting in her face, the baby starts kicking up a fuss as my blood pressure rises and my ears ring. “I will make you disappear.” The threat booms through the room, and all eyes fall on me. It’s not until Nate’s hand slips into mine that the fog clears, and I see the tears in his eyes, conveying his appreciation for my support.

McKenna continues to sputter, but no words come out, and when Cato grips her shoulder, she jumps and screams before storming out.

Taking a deep breath to settle myself down, I turn to Nate and pull him into my body for a hug. He doesn’t hesitate to accept my comfort and sobs in my arms. “I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper.

Cato still doesn’t know what I’m so hot about until I subtly draw my fingers down the back of Nate’s head and neck. His eyes fixate on the bruises, and I know he’s plotting McKenna’s death. Whether he does it or not isn’t for me to decide or talk him out of it. She’d deserve it, though.

Cato’s gentle “Nate?” goes unanswered. The boy's head shakes; he’s just asking for a minute to calm down.

A few minutes later, Scarlett’s “Ready!” breaks the silence, and Nate finally pulls back as she skips over, gripping her brother's hand. “Did you tell them?” she whispers to him, and he nods. “Good. Daddy will fix everything.” Her belief is absolute and renews my faith that their mother hasn’t ruined them completely, because Nate is able to clear his eyes, hug his dad, and then help his sister grab the snack cart.

“That was fucking hot, wife. Seeing you threaten to kill someone nearly made me come in my pants.”

Turning into his body, I see the lust in his eyes, so I draw a finger up the bulge between his legs, grip and squeeze until he’s pulsing, then tell him, “I wish you would, Daddy, so then I can clean you up.”

He groans into my mouth as he holds me hostage and does just as I requested. Now, he must wait until we’re alone again so I can fulfill my promise.

“Fucking tease,” he growls at my retreating back as I join the kids for story time, feeling the love in my heart ready to burst as my kids trust me with their secrets and love.

Epilogue Two

CATO

Two Years Later.

Staring at my wife, she never ceases to amaze me. She gave birth two months ago for the second time. Our first was a boy, identical to his mother. Then came another boy, and a hidden sister. Not one scan showed she was pregnant with twins, but she was, and they’re here, and everyone loves them.

Especially me.

I’m obsessed with the fact that our daughter is the spitting image of her mother and somehow Scarlett, too; and our second son is mine and Nate’s twin. We’re the perfect family unit, and yet, I couldn’t help searching for Hester’s birth parents. She once asked if I thought it were possible, and I swore I’d do it, even if it weren’t.

Three months ago, I found both. I didn’t tell her until last month because I needed to gauge their interest in meeting her and learn why they abandoned her; then I’d decide if they would bring joy to her life or make it harder.

My own mother has become Hester and Chelsea’s mother. They even call her Mom, have almost since the wedding, and Ma fusses over them like they’re her daughters too. When I spoke to her about how to tell Hester what I’d done, I worried at first that she might be sad to have to share, but she encouraged me to discover more about Hester’s parents, and now here we are.

My wife is breastfeeding the twins, waiting for me to tell her when her birth parents are here. They were fifteen when they had her, abandoned her to the system, thinking she would get an amazing life, never knowing that wouldn’t happen until she met an obsessed older man who wanted to be her Daddy.

She has siblings: two brothers, also twins, only two years younger than herself. A fact I hadn’t told her because I thought it would cloud her judgment. Now, I’m reconsidering because they had them when they weren’t much older than when they gave up my wife. She’s likely to have feelings about that, justified ones too.

“Husband.” Her soft tone is filled with happiness, the only thing I ever want from her.

“I can send them away.” I don’t particularly like them, if only because they didn’t love her the way they should have. I know it’s unreasonable; I just don’t fucking care.

“Come get your daughter.” She always knows how to settle my mood, and caring for our infants does just that.

“Where’s Z?” She trusts very few people with the kids. Z somehow earned the honor, much to his chagrin. Crying babies and dirty diapers terrify the man. It’s quite hysterical.