Chapter 189: Hanging at the compound

River POV

"You girls have fun. Lunch will be brought up soon and I might have added a treat to come if all you girls eat your lunch" he says booping Annie's nose again.

He takes my hand "River it's a pleasure meeting you and I hope you'll visit again under easier circumstances. Thank you for being a friend to my children." He kisses my hand and then Annie's as he turns to Flame and kisses her cheek saying something in Italian to her.

"I love you Papi. Please be careful and let the boys take lead" she looks really worried.

"Of course my Fiammetta. I love you too my beautiful daughter, my little Flame" he kisses her cheek and hugs her tightly again before he turns and heads out the door.

She puts a beautiful white gold twisted bracelet on my wrist and whispers "Your safe word is orange" we start heading up the stairs. There is a huge hallway with doors on both sides and it opens up to a huge living area but it also has games and what looks like a small library. There's a pool table and pin ball machines and those stand up machines with Pac-Man.

She leads us towards the back part and there's some couches and on the coffee table there a baby doll and some little toys and a play kitchen set.

Annie's looks around excitedly. She looks at me and then Flame.

"Annie you play with what ever you want" Flame says smiling at her. She hurries and grabs the baby doll and puts it in the little highchair by the kitchen and starts pulling stuff out and making food in her little kitchen.

Flame looks at me and smiles "She's doing really good. He did good with her." She says looking from Annie to me. "Flame are you okay?" She takes a breath and looks at Annie, she looks back at me "I'm trying. I'm really trying but I miss Ryder. I'm still mad at him and I don't want to be but I am."

A tear runs from her eye before she wipes it.

She looks really good though she looks like she's been at a spa and not a mental health faculty.

I take her hand "You guys will work it out. I've forgiven him and maybe when you ready you can too." She nods and then smiles "anyway let's do something to keep us busy till we hear something. Come play dance off with me it's so much fun" she says yanking me up and dragging me over by the games.

"Is Carter just coming back tomorrow or is he going to help the boys?" I ask after our third round. "His job is you, he's not going anywhere and Pickle will be okay his brother's will find him and bring him home" she hugs me "I was wondering how long it would take for you to find a reason to bring the boys up"

"I'm scared. This is the longest he's been gone from me and he hasn't even called me. I know something wrong and I'm scared for him" a tear falls down my face as she pulls me in for a hug.

"Mommy I hungry" Annie says breaking our hug.

"Lunch will be here any minute Annie Bear" Flame says. "Why we are waiting, let's make food in your kitchen" I say walking over by it.

"Mommy makes smoke. Annie make food okay" I pick her up and tickle her "Who told you that?" She giggles and says "daddy"

I'm going to smack him when I see him what a ass. I mean he's not wrong but what a ass.

I'm freaking out and my anxiety is getting to me bad.

"Can you keep a eye on her for a minute while I go to the bathroom?" I ask Flame.

"Of course" she says.

"Do you need to go potty again Bunny?" I ask Annie. She shakes her head.

"I'll be right back"

I get in the bathroom and lean against the door. I slide down the door to the floor as the tears run silently down my face.

I stay this way for a minute or so then I try to take a breathe. I wipe the tears of my face and stands up. I stare at myself for a minute in the mirror, I look like crap. I have dark circles under my eyes, I splash some water on my face. I pull my flask out of my back pocket and take a few good swings. I brush my hair a little with my fingers and swish my mouth out with some mouthwash that's in here.

I need them to be okay. I can't think about anything else other then them both coming back safe or I'll lose it again. I have to hold myself together for her and for them.

Flame looks up at me when I come out and gives me a light half smile. I nod to her letting her know I'm alright.

"Mommy look pasghetti" Annie says sucking in a noodle. I smile at her. I walk over and grab my camera really quickly and take a few pictures of her with sauce on her face and a noodle hanging from her mouth.

I'm laughing when I finally sit with them. I pick at my food a little not really hungry.

Annie yawns as we sit on the couch watching a movie she picked out. I hold her to me tightly as I feel her little body start to relax. I lean back waiting for her to be sleep for a minute or so longer before I get up and try to call Pickle again.

I must have fallen asleep, I jump a little as my phone buzzes on the table. I reach over and grab it. I just answer it quickly.

"Hello" I say quickly.

No answer. I look at my phone to see who it is.. Blocked number.

"Hello" I say a little louder this time. Then I hear what sounds like heavy breathing. "Who's this?" I ask.

Flame looks over at me. I shrug "Hello!" I say as loud as I can without waking Annie.

The breathing gets heavier "Who the fuck is this?" I say again moving Annie so I can get up.

"I love when you get mad" A deep voice says.

"Who is this?" I ask again "You know who this is and I can't wait to taste you" the deep voice says before hanging up.

Flame's on her phone talking low to someone. She puts her hand out and points to my phone.

I hand it to her. I'm shaking, who the hell was that. If I didn't know my dad was really dead I would think it was him other then the taste comment. My dad was a sick bastard but he never touched me like that. I used to think that I was lucky that he didn't touch me. No he just sold me instead and let someone else rape me.

I jump when Flame lightly touches my shoulder.