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I looked down at Alexa and smiled at her, she smiled right back but I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about her. It was not her usual bright-eyed smile full of life; it felt like she was just smiling at me for the sake of it.
I tugged at her hand that was in mine, "What's wrong?"
She pouted slightly, "Max is going away. I'm going to miss him."
Even listening to his name coming from her mouth twisted something inside of me. Violent emotions coursed through my veins faster than my blood. I had no one to blame for this but me, if I hadn't left them alone that human trafficker wouldn't have gotten hold of my family... my daughter, and Chloe.
I could hear Chloe's heels resounding against the shiny floor as she came closer to us, she took Alexa in her arms and smiled at me, "I'm gonna put her to bed," saying that, she didn't even wait for a second as they both disappeared into Alexa's room.
Before I could follow them, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I dragged it out and picked up Valentina's call.
"What?"
"Sir, would you mind stepping out of your apartment for a moment? I have something I need to tell you."
I glanced at Alexa's door, "Can't it wait?"
I needed to talk to Chloe. I needed to know why she was with him and where the hell is he going away. What was she planning? What the fuck was going on? That man should be behind bars for what he did.
"No, sir, please, it's urgent."
I sighed before putting my phone back into my pocket. I made my way out of the apartment and saw Anders and Valentina right outside.
I raised an eyebrow, "What?"
They both glanced at one another before Valentina decided to speak up, "This morning when Ms. Jones left the apartment, she gave me a message. An important message that I was supposed to give you if she didn't make it back home until midnight."
My frown deepened, "What is it?"
"Sir, I apologize that I went through your stuff but I needed to know if it was true and..." she glanced at Anders who pulled out an envelope from his jacket and handed it to me.
I stared at it, the name of the hospital printed over it, "What is it?"
"It's better if you see it for yourself."
The envelope was already opened, I pulled it out and read its contents.
Name of the Child
(Alexa Jones)
Name of the Alleged Father
(Axel James King)
And then I read the bottom of the page...
In all analyzed PCR systems, Mr. Axel James King does show the genetic markers which have to be present for the biological father of the child Alexa Jones. The biostatistical analysis of the PCR systems was performed according to the method of Essen-Möller.
The probability of Mr. Axel James King being the biological father of Alexa Jones is > 99.9999%.
Conclusion:
Based on our analysis, it is practically proven that Mr. Axel James King is the biological father of the child Alexa Jones.
I put the DNA reports back into the envelope and stuffed them into my jacket. I glanced at Anders and Valentina.
"I know..."
Her eyes widened, "You do?"
I nodded, "Yes, but Chloe doesn't know that I know and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Why, sir? Don't you want to accept her... as your... as your daughter?"
They both seemed confused, but they didn't know anything about us. I had no right to barge in there and demand to be Alexa's father. I had to earn that right and I will, I want Chloe to tell me about this herself. I want her to consider me worthy enough to be Alexa's father. "Of course, I do but I want Chloe to tell me about it herself."
"What if she doesn't?"
I thought about it a lot. The fact that she might never forgive me, that she'd never let me be a part of my daughter's life but it wasn't an option for me now, not after I had met Alexa, spent time with her... fallen in love with her. I don't think I can go back to my life without them acting like everything is normal.
"She will..."
I hope...
"You're a father..." Anders said, a smile forming on his face.
I smiled too, "I know, still can't believe that."
"I apologize in advance for being this candid with you, sir, but you need to get your act straight now. No child in the world wants to see their father and his personal life being treated as tabloid fodder."
I sighed, the way I have lived my life for the last six years was anything but fatherly behavior. My behavior was far from being fatherly or respectful. Looking back, I can't believe how much of a jerk I was, not just in my personal life but also my business. I treated my employees and even my family in a disrespectful manner. It wasn't just them, even when I met new people, I never tried to make a good first impression or put on a facade of being a gentleman.
"The women and everything... that needs to stop." he trailed off.
I frowned, "Have you seen me with a woman in the last few months? Heck, I hadn't even looked at anyone since Chloe and why would I? She is everything I ever wanted and now she's here. I don't want anyone else, Anders. I never have."
They both stayed silent after that and I didn't add anything more. I turned and made my way back into my apartment. Our bedroom door was opened and I walked straight into it, closing it behind me as I saw her standing before the mirror, taking off her earrings.
I watched her through the mirror, she seemed relaxed and happy. I strolled to her and stood behind her, "Where were you?"
She glanced at me from over her shoulder, "What?"
"Where were you?"
"I was at my apartment with Maxim."
"Why?"
She sighed, "What happened at the club?"
I jerked my head to the side, "You wanna go see for yourself?"
Her eyes widened, a smile on her lips, "Can I?"
I completely forgot about what we were talking about as I saw that smile, "You can. I was going to take you there in the morning but if you want to go now—"
"But Alexa—"
"Valentina and Anders can stay here with her."
She nodded eagerly completely turning to me. I grabbed my car keys and her hand as we both left the apartment. I opened the car door for her and then made my way around the hood to get to the driver's seat.
I slowly started to drive, Chloe's hands were resting on her lap, and she kept fiddling with her fingers, and one of her legs continuously fidgeted. I don't know what got over me but the sudden urge to calm her anxiety crept up. I placed my free hand over her knee and gave it a squeeze.
Her head snapped in my direction, and I cast her a sideway glance, "It's okay, It's over now."
She managed to give me a small smile and the fact that she didn't pull away from my touch made me feel something... something I hadn't felt in a long time. A warmth in my chest. A strange satisfaction. Peace in my mind.
I stopped outside the Anarchy building, I wanted her to see. I wanted her to see that the place that imprisoned her was now nothing but covered in crime scene tape, the entrance was now barricaded, the whole building was sealed, and the neon signs were dead, broken.
A feeble gasp left her lips as she stared at the building, she blinked and took deep breaths in and out. A gloss shined over her eyes before she looked at me and again smiled. It was full of gratification and I suddenly didn't want it. I don't want her gratification, I hadn't done anything to deserve it. Undoing my own mistake doesn't make me a saint. It was just a tiny step in the right direction, in her direction.
My family...
She leaned her back against her seat and exhaled loudly through her nose, it was an exhale of relief, of contentment, of being free...
I started to drive again. I had to take her to the station. I wanted to show her the cell that they were temporarily keeping Andrew in. I parked outside the precinct and we stepped out. I made my way to her and held her hand once more, she let me, I don't know why but she was allowing me this moment and I was going to take it.
I met Lachlan on my way in, I had texted him, alerting him that I was bringing Chloe there and he had prepared everything. He first took us straight to the other side of the interrogation room. I saw Andrew sitting there alone, handcuffed to his seat from the other side of the two-way mirror. Chloe held my hand tighter.
"What do you want to do with him?" I asked, it was a whisper but she heard it.
I couldn't bear to look at that man without thinking of ripping his head off but she fixated her hateful gaze on Andrew. Her narrowed eyes spoke volumes of the disgust she was feeling, with her lips tightly pressed together in a fit of rage. I knew better than to interrupt her, I could sense the anger brewing inside her.
"I hope that scumbag rots in prison for the rest of his miserable life," she seethed through gritted teeth.
"I'll make damn sure he gets life imprisonment without parole," I replied, mirroring her hatred.
She inched closer to me, her gaze fixed on Andrew, her hatred and rage palpable. "Can you arrange for chemical castration? I want to see him suffer," she spat.
Her gaze pierced through him, and I shot a glance in her direction. I didn't care a damn about the law or the consequences; all I knew was that I would stop at nothing to make it happen. I was ready to get my hands dirty, bribe the guards, the police officers, or anyone else who stood in my way. Andrew Masino was hers, and I was determined to fulfill her foul desires. There was no stopping me.
With unwavering determination, I declared, "I will make it happen, I promise..."
Her gaze finally met mine, and with hope in her voice, she asked, "Really?"
I responded with a resolute nod, emphasizing my commitment, "Yes, I will make it happen, no matter what."
"Ms. Jones," Lachlan's voice resounded around us, breaking our eye contact as she turned to him, "There are some people who'd like to meet you."
She glanced at me, a question in her eyes asking who they were but I think I'd rather show her, we walked out of the interrogation room, hand in hand. Lachlan took us to the cells they were holding all the other victims. We passed the cell of unidentified children and then we stopped where the adult women were kept.
She gasped as her eyes fell on her friend, "Roxy?"
Roxy's head snapped to her, "Rosie?"
Lachlan unlocked the door of the holding cell. The reason for their presence in the cell was to ensure that all the necessary documentation related to the victim's case, including their testimonies, paperwork, and other crucial information, was organized and in order before they could let them go.
Chloe left my hands and practically ran in their direction. I stood outside and watched them, they all formed a big group hug, they were crying and laughing and so was Chloe.
"You saved us?" one of them asked and Chloe shook her head before she whispered something and all the heads turned in my direction.
Her friend Roxy took a step closer, "Thank you, Mr. King," she said as tears trailed down her face and she wiped them off with a big smile.
I shook my head, I didn't do anything. I didn't feel worthy enough to accept that gratitude. My chest felt so heavy, it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to get her back. It wasn't enough to earn her back.
As she stood amidst the crowd of women, her gaze fell on me. For a moment, our eyes locked and all I could think of was how much I yearned to hold her in my arms again. My heart was filled with longing for the girl I loved, for every single aspect of her that made her unique. At that moment, I realized that I wanted nothing more than to have Chloe back in my life. I wanted to experience the love we once shared again.
I was tired. I was done. I was done with this life. I just wanted her and my daughter and nothing else. I wanted to settle down and just live...
Over the past six years, I have been constantly tearing myself apart and causing havoc in the lives of those around me. At the moment, all I crave is tranquility.
And she was my peace...
"I think he has a thing for you..." one of them elbowed Chloe and she frowned at her in panic, giving her a scolding wide-eyed look and that finally made me smile.
Lachlan elaborated to her that the US Department of Labor is extending support to the victims by providing programs that include job search and placement assistance, as well as counseling services that cater to employment. The victims are also eligible to access educational and training services, as well as referrals to supportive services like transportation, childcare, and housing through the American Job Centers, once they receive HHS certification. Chloe spent an entire hour with all the women before eventually leaving the cell.
"Better?" I asked once we stepped out of the station and instead of an answer, I got something so much better.
I felt her soft touch on my shoulder, and as I turned around to face her, her eyes locked onto mine. In a swift motion, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me in closer. Her sudden action left me stunned for a moment. My heart raced as I felt her chest against mine and her breath on my neck and I knew that this was the kind of embrace that would stay with me forever.
My hands went around her waist in a second, my heart skipped a beat, and I felt a wave of warmth spread through my entire body. It was a sensation I had been longing for, for what seemed like an eternity. Something stung at the back of my eyes, fuck, Chloe was hugging me.
Me?
"Thank you, Axel, thank you so much for everything..." she whispered against my cheek.
As I held her fragile body close to mine, a flood of memories rushed in. Her touch felt both distant and intimately close, like a melody from a long-forgotten love song that still lingered within my heart.
It was as if I was transported back to a time when everything was simpler when our love was new and fresh. And yet, even after all these years, I could still recall every detail of her form, the way she moved, the scent of her hair.
I slowly closed my eyelids, I felt her soft tresses brushing against my skin. My nose automatically buried itself into her fragrant locks, and I couldn't resist the urge to inhale deeply.
She was a feeling of warmth, an urgent need, an endless comfort, and a tranquil peace, all wrapped up in a single person.
And that person had a name - home.
She was the home to my heart, the place where I belonged, and the only one who completed me. In her arms, I felt like I found the solace of a lifetime.
For what felt like an eternity, I wandered aimlessly through life, I had been lost for so many years, and now I felt like I was finally back home.
She was my home.
♡♡♡
A/N
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