10 years later.

 

“Lia-Rose,” I warned. “Will you stop harassing your brother please.”

“But Mummy,” she whined, her beautiful green-blue eyes shined with innocence. “Ryder stole my doll.”

“Did you steal her doll Ryder?” I raised my brows at my handsome little devil of a son, who looked more and more like he’s father with every passing day.

“Erm,” a smirk broke across his face. “Maybe.”

“Give it back,” I told him. “Now.”

“Fine,” he huffed crossing his little arms across his chest. “But tell her to leave me and my friends alone.”

“Ryder,” I shook my head. “She wants to play with you guys, stop being so mean and let her.”

“Argh,” he threw his hands in the air. “Where’s dad? he’ll understand me, you never understand me.”

I bit back a chuckle, “Dad will be home soon. He’s picking up some tea now go play and be nice.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever,” he stomped out of the room and stormed up the stairs.

“Boys,” Lia sighed. “They’re pigs”

“Lia,” I laughed. “And you go play and be nice.”

“Fine,” she blew out a breath and ran up the stairs following her twin brother.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my coffee and went into the back garden of our beautiful home. I sat down on the patio and felt nothing but contentment.

I loved my life. I honest to god was a very happy woman. At twenty-eight years old. I had two beautiful children, both aged seven. A loving, caring, handsome as hell husband and a truly beautiful home, on the outskirts of London in the country side.

Out here it was wonderful and so peaceful, nothing but the sounds of nature and the smell of well, horse shit, but still I couldn’t complain.

Everything was how it should be. It was what I’ve dreamed of and much more.

Ten years ago. My life, it was a living hell. I had been through so much, endured more pain than I could think of, I never thought I would’ve survived. My teenage years were full of depression, hurt, hatred and pain, there was so much of that. Kaden had left me, and it nearly broke me, it did break me and then he showed up again, came out of nowhere and bombarded me with so many emotions, love being the main one.

For years we fought like cat and dogs, for years he was my best-friend, my home and my family all wrapped up into one. And now he was the father to our children and my husband.

If somebody would’ve told me at sixteen I would’ve had married my childhood torturer I would’ve laughed in their face. But hey here I was.

I fell pregnant at twenty-one. Some people might think that was too young, and yeah maybe it was. But I was so fucking happy and when I found out I was carrying twins, then I was overjoyed. Kaden on the other hand looked white as a ghost, and I’m sure I had heard him throw up in the toilet later that night from shock.

Nine agonizing months later. Out came a healthy baby girl and a healthy baby boy. Lia-rose Melody Bryant and Ryder Caleb Bryant.

My mum was nothing sort of thrilled with the name choosing. Callum and Josh however were jealous as hell of Caleb and ignored me for weeks because I didn’t use their names. However, I promised them, I would use their names in the future if I chose to have any more children.

At the moment I was happy with the two I had. They were already a handful, I didn’t think I could handle any more, although Kaden has demanded he knock me up again, that guy was incorrigible.

We moved into this beautifully large home when I had turned twenty, just after we had gotten married.

It was a wedding gift to me, so Kaden told me. My first thought was, this was too much. We didn’t need such a big home for two people, but Kaden wouldn’t listen, of course he wouldn’t, he barley listened to me when I say no.

Now, I would never complain about this home, it was gorgeous, open planned, modern, stylish and warm.

The garden was breath taking, but large. A set of swings were located at the back for our children, a trampoline a few feet in front and then space for our beautiful husky Luna to play in, she was two now, we’ve had her since a pup and our children loved her and could hardly leave her alone, I had to tell them off sometimes because they could be annoying little creatures.

It was like Luna knew when I was thinking about her, because she came over and brushed her body against my arm. “Hey girl,” she lied down and gave me access to her belly. She loved a belly rub.

I loved to spend time in the garden. It was freeing, and it was a place where I could think about things, it was what I called my solitude.

And an escape from my kids and husband when they get into one of their many disagreements.  For example, Lia had happened to make a new friend from school and it was a boy. Oh, her Daddy didn’t like that bombshell, told her she wasn’t allowed to be friends with him, that he was sending her to an all girl’s school and she wasn’t to leave the house till she was eighteen because she was grounded.

To say Lia wasn’t happy would be an understatement. She stomped on his foot, called him a butt head and said to never speak to her again, she even came up to me and I quote, “sort your husband out mummy he’s got issues,” and that’s when I lost it, full on belly laughing because that girl was a freaking spitfire and a complete nut, I wasn’t sure who she took after, her father or me, maybe even both.

I had to explain to Kaden later on that evening, that Lia was allowed to have male friends and he wasn’t to stop her. I got the silent treatment after that.

Our son Ryder. Now that monkey was a terror, and had his father’s temperament as you could imagine he was quite the handful. He was very popular at school, got into many fights, I shook my head at the thought and had even broken a girl’s heart already, he was seven for crying out loud, it was beyond ridiculous. I made Kaden deal with him, after all it was his fault and my three stupid brothers. 

I had to hand it to them. My brothers absolutely adored their niece and nephew, always spoiling them to death, always making them laugh, taking them out to the cinema or park. Lia and Ryder loved it when their Uncles came over. But they loved it even more when Nanny came over, my beautiful mother. She brought them sweets and homemade cookies, and reads them a bed time story. They loved their nana and there always on their best behaviour around her.

My best-friends Elaine and Liv visited me weekly, we had never grown apart, only closer over the years, especially when they both dated my brothers. I visibly shuddered at the thought, I still wasn’t use to the image of seeing Elaine with Caleb and Liv with Callum. I couldn’t be mad at them, I would rather it be them, then some bitchy arse lunatic, like they had previously dated in the years.

They were happy the both of them. I had never seen them happier. Elaine and Caleb were even expecting their first child, I was going to be an Auntie and I could barely contain my excitement.

I didn’t bother asking Elaine and Liv how they ended up with my brothers, I would rather those details left where they are, to themselves. At first, I found it strange, but deep down I always knew they had a soft spot for my two brothers, after all they had known them most of their lives.

I knew Josh was dating someone, I knew it, because over the past month he had been happier, there was an extra bounce in his step, something was different. But as soon as I mentioned it, I got shot down. I think he was afraid I would embarrass him, in truth I probably would.

Life was different it was good, and it was stable.

Kaden’s businesses were booming. He took on more staff because he wanted to spend more time with his family. I still worked at the café three days a week, but now it was no longer Johns café, it was mine. Yep as it seemed, I also owned a business. Apparently, the café had been under my name for a long time, but John officially gave me the lease on my twenty-first birthday. I didn’t think I had cried that many happy tears in my life, well apart from my wedding day, which was the best day of my life. Oh, and the day my children were born of course.

But my twenty-first was also the best day of my life. John had become like a father figure to me, he classed me as his daughter and now I classed him to be my father. He was the best kind of man I knew. Loving, soft and caring. He held a soft spot for my mum, I was sure there was something going on between those two, especially the way mum always blushed around him. It was adorable. They both deserved some happiness in their lives, god knows they had done enough to help me and Kaden.

Ten years ago. I would had never have thought my life would’ve ended up this way. But I was glad it did, it took many obstacles to get to where I am.

No more monsters and no more demons.

Those were buried a long time ago. Kaden and I had survived so much, it was unreal. I could write a book about our lives, it had been that crazy. I think many people would find it hard to believe our story. But all of it was true, very true.

Kaden was a part of a world that was beyond me. Violence, money, drugs, you name it, so much crime. I never once had judged him for it. Yes, most of the time I lived in fear that something bad would happen. But that life he didn’t choose, he had the misfortune of being born into it, but regardless of his parent’s history he still loved them and that I couldn’t fault him for.

A very vindictive, very revengeful man, named Anton had targeted him most of his life all over jealousy. He was a petty cruel man and when he didn’t get his way, well we all know what had happened after that.

I for one am glad he was no longer in this world, I didn’t find my words cruel and I wasn’t sad when Kaden had put him down, I was relieved because otherwise we both would’ve lived our lives in fear. The only thing I regretted was ever believing Ben was a good man. I couldn’t wrap my head around him being such a cruel person, to me he seemed so gentle and nice, then he turned out to be a complete monster. Even thinking about both of them, made me feel nauseous. I admit, I had the odd nightmare about those god-awful nights. But most of the time I felt safe and that was all because of him, Kaden.

He was truly the best man I knew. He was hot headed at times, he could piss me off a lot of the time, but I loved him all that more.

Kaden was a wonderful father to our kids and would do anything for them, including me. He had given us the world and I couldn’t be more grateful to him because of that.

He was the best husband. Each morning I woke up, he made it his goal to make me smile, laugh and be happy.

Each morning, I looked at his sleeping body and I felt pure warmth roll through me. Each night I fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe, protected and loved.

Our love is stronger than anyone could imagine. It was the type of love when that other person was not around you could barely breathe. It was the type of love, when that other person walked into the room and you could feel the electric current pull you together like magnets. That love, was what I lived and breathed. It was my oxygen and without it, I would be breathless, and my life support would be cut off.

“Luna,” Kaden growled, breaking through my trail of thought. “Get down you fucking pervert.”

I turned around and covered my mouth with my hand stifling a giggle. Because our dog seemed to be getting well acquainted with Kaden’s leg.

“Shit baby,” he raked a hand through his hair and sat beside me on the patio. “There’s something really wrong with that dog.”

“She loves you,” I pressed my lips together.

“She humps my fucking leg,” he deadpanned. “That shit ain’t right.”

“Oh, stop being dramatic,” I told him, “there’s nothing wrong with her, you love her, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do, but she’s gotta stop fucking doing that.”

I laughed. He glared at me, “sorry,” I muttered, still laughing.

“I’m sure you are,” he shook his head. “How’s your day been pretty girl?”

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “It’s alright, Ryder keeps stealing Lia’s doll though all because she wants to play with him and his friends.”

“I’d do the same if it were me, I mean come the fuck on who wants a girl f—”

“Finish that sentence and I’ll fuck you up,” I warned him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled “I’ll have a word with him later.”

“Good,” I smiled “How’s your day?”

“Better now I’ve seen you,” his was tone gruff, he pulled me onto his lap and kissed my hair “God I’ve fucking missed you,” he declared, “and you smell so damn good.”

“I do,” I said, “well I have ch—”

“Shut up and kiss me already.”

Shutting the hell up. I did just that. Grabbing his face between my hands, I crashed my lips against his. His lips devoured mine, in a hot and hungry kiss.

His hands were gripped tightly in my hair causing an ache to start between my thighs.

“Eww,” disgust was laced in Ryders tone.

“You guys are so disgusting,” Lia declared.

Kaden groaned into my neck. “They can’t just give us five minutes.”

“Nope,” I laughed, jumping of his lap.

“Fucking kids,” he grumbled.

“I heard that Dad,” Lia stated.

“You were meant to.”

“Mum,” Lia screeched, “sort him out.”

“Kaden,” I warned.

“Lia stop being such a grassy arse,” Ryder shouted.

“Ryder,” I growled. “Language,” then swung around to face Kaden. “Don’t you dare fist bump him Kaden, or I swear I’ll put my foot up your—”

“Butt,” Lia shouted.

“Yeah that’s it,” I laughed. A smirk broke across Kaden’s lips. He kissed my forehead, and grabbed the kids in each arm.

“Come on you monkeys” he squeezed them. “Let’s leave your momma to plate up the food.”

“Dad,” Lia rolled her eyes, “it’s mum not mom.”

“Jesus these kids are getting smart asses.”

Shaking my head. I turned around and as they left the room.

A huge smile broke across my face, god, I really did love my family.

 

The end