Reckless Regrets
Chapter 48

Marisol

Anyone who has ever had natural childbirth knows the overwhelming feeling of relief when you finally get the baby’s shoulder to pass. Once the shoulder is free, the rest of the little body slides out with no problem. After hours and hours of pushing, the shoulders are when you can finally breathe. It’s almost over now. You’ve done all the hard work, and the reward is around the corner.

Well, take that feeling and multiply it by ten, and that’s how I felt when I heard Tyson’s voice in my room. I’d been hoping and praying that someone would figure out where Gabby and I were, and that they would rescue us, but each day that passed made those hopes fade. But when I heard “Troublemaker,” a name that used to irritate the hell out of me, it relit the spark of my life.

I’d been going along with Matilda and her disgusting plan in hopes that I’d be able to work enough to get out, but that was foolish gullible immaturity. It didn’t matter how much my dad owed her; she would use me until I died, and maybe even after if she could make a dollar.

I didn’t trust her one bit, but this bear I trusted with my life. I’d do whatever he told me to do because I knew in my heart that it would get me back to my child and my mate. And he was right when he said money ruled everything here. $5,000 bought him an hour with me, but $50,000 bought an entire day—a day where I didn’t have to degrade myself to satisfy the deplorable urges of the masses.

I could just be a girl with a dream to reunite with her family. Another plus to the arrangement, I was moved to Tyson’s cell for the day, which was completely different from mine. It was clean for starters, had plumbing, running water, both hot and cold, a shower, and a window. Compared to where I was, this was a five-star resort. What the f**k?

“How is this your room? Have you seen this place? I’m pretty sure the infirmary isn’t even this nice,” I said after I’d fully explored.

“Madam Crispy said she was a fan; I’m inclined to believe her. Besides, she has to keep her best paying customer happy; otherwise, I might spend my money somewhere else.”

“Do you mind if I take a shower? Gabby’s sponge baths have been a godsend, but a real shower would be phenomenal,” I said.

“Help yourself. Clean towels and a fresh bar of soap are on the shelf,” he replied.

Clean? Fresh? I could barely remember what that even meant, but what I did know was that that was going to be the best shower of my life. I probably used every single drop of hot water in that place as I tried to rid myself of every trace of the men who’d used my body since I’d been there. My skin was raw and burned from the abuse, but I couldn’t stop myself from scrubbing; no matter what, I just couldn’t feel clean.

“Come on out, Troublemaker. Your body is clean; it’s just your mind that will take a bit of time to register it,” Tyson said from the door.

I knew he was right, but it didn’t make turning the shower off any more comfortable, but I did. I wrapped myself in a towel and stepped out of the room, realizing that I had nothing but my filthy gown to put back on.

“Take this shirt; as small as you are, it should cover you up enough for you to be comfortable,” he said, passing me a bright orange shirt he’d gotten at intake.

It was ugly and well worn, but it was clean, and that was all that mattered. Once I was dressed, I settled myself on the bed, ready to help with the plan, whatever it was.

“Have you run into any warlocks since all this s**t started?” Tyson asked.

“Yes. Warlocks and vamps seem to be the bulk of the customers. Either bears and wolves have no money, are we’re too hooked on our mates and partners to want to sleep with some random woman,” I said.

“I doubt it’s the latter. Who’s to even say that these people have mates or partners out there? It’s probably the cash. Vamps usually have old generational wealth, a perk of living for hundreds of years, and warlocks probably just conjure the s**t up.”

“That sounds right. So what’s up with warlocks?” I asked.

“I need you to replace one who’s not an a*****e, one that you can convince to give us a spell that will get through security.”

“If they could do that, wouldn’t they have just cast the spell and escaped themselves?”

“Maybe, but I doubt any spell they could conjure up would be enough to get them out. There are layers to the security here, and eventually, they’d get caught,” he replied.

“Okay, now I’m confused. If they’d get caught, what makes us any different? I think it’s easier for one person to escape than three, especially when one is you,” I stated.

“I don’t know how to take that, but what makes us different is me. I’m sure you know that Alaia is an Amethyst wolf?” he asked.

“Yes, I heard that.”

“Well, one of her powers is the ability to detect and block dark magic. It has no effect on her, and when she’s in the presence of it, her eyes glow; she shared that power with me.”

“She shared? Like someone sharing their chocolate? How can you share something like that?” I asked.

“It’s a long story, but I can get through the magical security with no problem. I should be able to get you two out with me, but just in case it wouldn’t hurt to have warlock backup,” Tyson replied.

“So, I need to talk someone into helping me escape someplace that they themselves can’t get out of? And how do you suggest I do that?”

“I don’t know how you women manage to do what you do. Just try, if it doesn’t work, then fine, but I’d like to have a ‘Plan B’ if things go south.”

I nodded in agreement. I’d do whatever it took to get a spell, even if I had to literally suck it out of the son of a b***h. I was going home, and nothing was going to interfere with that.

**

Morgan

“Hi, Ms. Morgan, what are we making today?” Cameron cheerfully walked up to me and asked.

I didn’t know we were making anything, to be honest, we’d just made turtle brownies the day before; what did this kid want from me? When I took too long to answer, his sweet little face dropped and threatened to break my heart. I had to think fast.

“How about the old classic chocolate chip cookies?” I asked.

“Awesome! Those are my favorites, and my moms too. Do you know if my dad likes them? I can make him one if he does,” he sweetly offered.

“Kade loves sweets, especially chocolate chip cookies,” I replied.

“Good. So what do we need?”

He went to the pantry and pulled out his step stool and sat it next to the island.

Next, he grabbed his apron, the large mixing bowls, and the flour canister. In the short time we’d been together, he’d become a perfect little helper, and I’d begun to enjoy our baking sessions.

As we moved through the recipe, he talked to me about absolutely everything from his not so favorite pajamas to the conspiracy that mushrooms were actually dirty socks in disguise. Finding out that he wasn’t Kade’s didn’t change too much in my eyes. Cameron was still a sweet little boy who could always make me laugh or smile. I still adored him even if we wouldn’t continue to be in each other’s lives.

When the cookies were in the oven, Nate popped in looking for one of the guys. I know he was looking for an update on Marisol, and since Kade and Xander were gone, he only had Matt or Alexi to go to. He looked nervous. Probably because he rarely dealt with those two, but little did he know that they were perhaps the easiest of the bunch. Anyway, when he kept fidgeting in his chair, I decided to do him a favor.

“I watched this crazy new show on TV last night called Into The Badlands. Have you ever heard of it?” I asked him.

He perked up when he realized what I was doing and played along.

“I’ve heard of it but haven’t seen it yet. What’s it like?”

“It’s pretty harsh if I’m being honest. My heart goes out to anyone who would ever be in a place like that,” I replied.

His shoulders slumped; he didn’t want to hear this.

“But, there’s this awesome good guy character, and last night, he infiltrated the place and found the wrongfully convicted girl he was looking for. By the end of the episode, he’d guaranteed her safety for at least 24 hours and gotten her away from all of the bad guys. It was awesome.”

“Is there another episode tonight? Can I watch with you?” he asked.

“We don’t have cable, Nate, unless it’s on Netflix,” Cameron butted in.

“Nah, not on Netflix. It’s an exclusive channel that only a few people have access to. But it does come on again tonight. It’s a 72-hour marathon, so who knows what’s going to happen next,” I said.

“It sounds crazy like you’d be glued to the TV, watching it all day. I wish I could see,” Nate said.

“Sounds boring to me. There aren’t even any superhero’s,” was Cameron’s reply.

We ignored the little guy and continued our encrypted conversation.

“I don’t mind telling you all about it. One of my favorite things from last night was that both girls were found safe and had a renewed sense of energy to replace a way out. They’ll survive; they have to for season two!”

Nate smiled and laughed. I’d successfully defused the situation, and he now knew that his girl was a fighter and that at least for now, no one could get to her. I sent him home with that knowledge and a big plate of homemade cookies. What in the world could ever be better?

***

Later that night, I FaceTimed Kade, and as soon as he picked up, I bit into one of the cookies.

“Oh, Sugar. That looks incredible. Did you make me any?” he asked.

“Cameron made sure one was saved for you, but it’s pretty small,” I said as I took another bite.

“I’m glad someone is looking out for me.”

“I’ve got to look out for myself these days. If Cameron keeps going the way he is, I’ll have four asses by the time you get back.”

“Hmm, really? I wouldn’t mind that at all. I am an a*s man.”

“Whatever. How are things going?” I asked.

He went over his day, the transfer of power, and his drinks with Simon. It was probably selfish, but the main thing I honed in on was the fact that I wasn’t anyone’s Luna, just the thought terrified me.

“Xander is having everything in Thorne’s office moved to the Elder Council so they can finish their investigation. Then we’re going to petition to let me kill him in a match,” he quickly said.

I have to admit I was distracted looking through the plate of cookies, but the words “kill” and “match” brought me right back.

“Please explain yourself. You want to go into a one-on-one fight with an alpha wolf? Willingly?” I asked.

“He’s an Alpha by name but little else, Sugar. And he’s responsible for the death of my mother. So yes, I want to fight him. And I want to be the person who forces him to take his final breath.”

“You said this was over and we could be together now. You convinced me, and now you’re taking it back.”

“I’m not, I promise. We will be together forever.”

“Forever? When would the fight be?” I asked.

“A couple of weeks at the latest,” he replied.

“Right. So our forever could be a couple of weeks long? You’d never even meet our child.”

“Don’t say that; I’ll fight and win. I have to because I have to spoil you and our princess. Please believe in me, you’ve always been in my corner, and I need you there now.”

I wanted to refuse, but he was fighting to avenge his family. I would have done the same thing. So, I decided to have his back.

“Fine, but I’m eating your cookie. And if you die, I will kick your a*s. You know I can do it,” I threatened.

“You’re my badass, Sugar Momma, and I love you.”

“Love you too, you dork.”