ZANE

"I want to keep her" the words slipped from her lips laced with fear but also holding a commanding tone.

I could feel myself getting mad. My jaw locks as I run a hand though my short hair.

"Everybody out." I order standing slowly. "I need to have a few words with my wife."

The woman tried taking makayla from Moriah arms but after a death glare the woman gave up and quickly scrambled out the room.

After everyone had left I slowly walked over and shut the door. I lean my head against the doorframe and let out a long calming breath.

"What.are.you.thinking." I asked.

"Zane. Just please listen." She started. I turned swiftly on my head before making my way to the sofa, located in the corner of the room.

"Take a seat." I patted the spot next to me. "I promise I won't say anything until your finished talking."

An appreciated smile found her lips as she took a seat next to me.

"Zane, She has no one. Her parents died because of these horrible mafias. " she stopped to to run hand through makayla's hair. "When my parents were taken i remember that horrible feeling of loss, but I had my family to turn to. I had people in my life that would love me.

"Who is going to love her if we send her away? Who is going to hug her tight and let her know that there are people in this world that still love her. We could be those people. Please tell me that you know I'm right." she pleaded.

"are you done?" I press my lips in a tight line as she nods her head. I take a moment to consider what Moriah is telling me before I start. "your forgetting, Moriah, we won't be doing this forever. Our marriage is temporary."

Temporary...i used to think that was a good thing. Now I'm not so sure.

"i will take her. When we go our separate ways I will take full ownership. You don't even have to do anything with her. Please, zane, you don't know the pain of losing a parent-"

"its unbearable."  I whisper as memories of my father roll back into my mind. "i lost my dad when I was barely 16."

"zane I'm sorry I didn't know."  Moriah spoke laying her arm on my shoulder.  makyla sat quietly listening to our conversation.  Noticing moriahs action she stood being careful not to fall over. Her tiny little hand laid on my leg then she looked me in the eye displaying mischievous grin on her tiny lips.

Would it be so bad to let Moriah take care of this kid?

She seems like a good kid...

It would mean so much to Moriah.

"Fine we can keep her. But when we're over and done with you will be responsible. "

.....................

32 hours without sleep is rough on a person. My foot pressed the car's brake brining us to a stop outside our house. A side glance told me Moriah was out cold in the passenger seat. The same could not be said for the little brown haired makayla who kept trying to gain my attention.

I killed the engine Then exited the car. After opening he passenger side I helped makayla out  of the car. Placing the child on the ground I scooped up Moriah in my arms and started up the steps.

"Makayla. This way." I motioned with my head when I noticed she wasn't following. She dropped her head and made her way over.

After assisting makayla up many stairs we finally made it to the bedroom. After I lay Moriah on the bed, I move to the couch. I pull off the couch cushions and lay them on the ground. Once getting an extra pillow and a blanket i had finished a spot for makayla.

The little one stood a few feet away watching my every move. Carefully I lay her on the makeshift bed and cover her up.

"Goodnight makayla." I mumble and she nods sinking deeper into the couch cushions.

I change into some sweatpants and make sure to close and lock all the doors, including the bathroom and closet. I don't want her to get into anything that could be dangerous.

With one last glance I slip under the sheets with the intention of sleeping.
...............

I spring from my bed at the sound of a scream for the 3rd night in a row.

Moriah was already at the makayla's side trying to calm her.

Makayla flailed her arms and yelled as Moriah tried to hold her. Her screams echoed off the walls as her body thrashed against Moriah's arms.

"Makayla it's okay. Hey. Shhhhhh. it's okay." Moriah still rocked the child back and forth.

My eyes slumped closed from the lack of sleep. Makayla let out another shout making me spring back up.

"I'm sorry." Moriah whispered. Wether she was talking to me or makayla, I couldn't figure out.

The sounds of a shuffle then a door closing was all I heard before yells grew quieter. I shifted back into the bed and allowed myself some sleep.

..........................

Moriah stood in front of the stove as I slumped into the kitchen. The smell of eggs and bacon reached my nose making me grin.

Makayla sat on the floor modeling a shirt way to big for her while smacking a large pot. The pot that was turned upside down in front of her. The sound of her tiny fist hitting the pot brought a smile on her lips as she continued to play her own little beat.

"Where did you go last night?" I ask groggily taking a seat a the bar.

"I couldn't get her to stop so me and Makayla went to a guest bedroom." She explained as she placed the eggs she had cooked on a plate.

"Is this going to be an every night thing?" I yawn as I run a hand through my hair.

"I don't know." She mumbled pulling toast out of the toaster.

"I  have something to show you." She said lifting Makayla up and on top the bar.

She lifted makaylas shirt up and pulled it over her tiny head.

I took a deep breath as I looked over Makayla.  Several small bruises littered the girls body.

"They we're here before we found her." She whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me? It's been 4 days already."

"I didn't know how." Moriah said handing Makayla a piece of egg.

"that's why she's been hard to work with?" I asked looking over her again.

"She's been abused. So it makes sense she doesn't know how to be comforted." Moriah said handing me my food. I thank her before she continued talking.

"She's going to take some time before she understands."

"I ordered a bunch of stuff that you'll need. It should all come in today. If you find anything else you need tell me and I'll get it."

"I want to put her in the room that's closest to ours." She explains and I nod.

*ding*

I glance at my phone, reading the text from Joab.

"I've got to go." I mumble placing my empty plate in the sink. Moriah nods as she hands Makayla another piece of egg.

*.*.*.*.*.* MORIAH*.*.*.*.*.*

"Knock knock." Joab says as he enters the kitchen.

"Hey Joab." I stop washing the dishes and dry my hands.

"I have a special delivery for you." Joab coos motioning me to follow. I roll my eyes as he leads me to the front steps.

A large moving truck sat parked with the back open. Over a dozen Men were lifting items out of the back and up the stairs.

"My Queen." Joab addresses me. All of the men working freeze before looking me in the eye. "Where would you like makaylas bedroom at?"

"I-uh-" I look at all the stuff they were going to bring in. "Follow me."

The men all grabbed stuff as they started following me to the house. We walked up the stairs and down the hardwood hallway. I opened the 2nd door and ushered them inside.

I could barely hear them pass making me realize that they had all discarded their combat boots upon entering the house.

Once all them men placed there stuff down they went back to collect more. A small squeal caught my attention as a made my way to my bedroom. Makayla sat on her couch cushion admiring the room.

"Hey." I coo picking her up. "Did you have a nice nap?" Makayla didn't move in my arms but instead she froze. I hug her tightly then make my way back down the hallway.

"Hey princess." Joab says upon our arrival. Makayla offers joab a sad look.

"We're going to make you guys some lunch." I state.

I quickly threw together some food and layed it all out on the bar. I went back to the room and was shocked.

I look around the room. In less than and hour they had added a bed, couch, two dressers, a toy chest, and several boxes a clothes to the room.

A large man walked past carrying a giant princess castle. Following the castle was a smaller man carrying a clear tub full of princesses and princes. They positioned the castle in the corner of the room and even went to the extent of getting some dolls out and placing them inside the pink Castle walls.

The bed had been made and med were unpacking clothes into dresser drawers. One man was unpacking dresses and hanging them in the closet. Makayla squirmed in my arms so I let her down.

All eyes watched her as she waddled around the room. She ran her tiny hands along the bed sheets and over to the toy chests. She stopped at the castle in wonder before continuing on to the closet where the large box of dresses sat. She smacked the sides of the box Roughly with a large grin. The box toppled over and out spilled the frizzy dresses.

Makayla plopped down in the middle of the dresses and started playing peek-a-boo in the ruffles. Everyone laughed at her games.

She grinned an in ornery smile at all the guys before her eyes landed on me. Her grin faded as she stood and walked over. She stood between me and Joab looking around the room.

"Lunch is in the kitchen boys." I announced And with that Me and makayla left them alone.

.........................

3 weeks have passed. Makayla still won't talk. she doesn't like me holding her. She won't let me touch her. She can't sleep through a whole night without waking up and crying.

I have been sleeping on her bedroom couch while she slept in the bed just so I could hear her cries.

My eyes drifted shut just a little and for a moment I let myself rest in the quiet. A smoke alarm sounded through the house making me jump. Makayla screamed at the sound of the alarm.

Zane rushes in the room as I stood below the smoke alarm fanning the smoke away with a cookie sheet.

He chuckled as he took the pan from my arms and waved it I front of the alarm for me. Once the beeping stopped makayla stopped crying.

I sighed as I threw the burnt toast away.

"What's the matter?" Zane gave me a pointed look.

"Nothing's the matter." I offer him a smile then add more toast to the toaster.

makaylas fiat smacked the her pot as she grinned. Even with all the toys that Zane bought her ever morning she walks over to the cabinet and waits until I get out her pot and set it on the ground for her. She always took a seat next to the pot and began pounding the top right away.

I could feel Zane's presence behind me like a cloud. His fingertips brush over my arm as I stir the white gravy. "your hands are shaking." he whispers.

"they're fine." I mumble putting some distance between us.

"fine like those dark circles under your eyes? How long has it been since you slept?"

"i sleep every night." I shut the stove off.

"then let me rephrase that. How long has it been since you had a GOOD nights sleep."

"its fine zane." I turn to face him. His eyes flashed with uncertainty before glancing at Makayla then back at me. With a swift nod he took his plate of food and left.

..........................

I think apologizing is like way overdue at this point. I have so many ideas for this book but I don't know how or when to introduce them.

Anyone else having a horrible start to the school year? 😩