Chapter 154 Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Four

Chapter 154 Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Four
I let myself get lost in his hold for a moment and then it struck me.

“The girls. We…”

“Xavier and the others were searching the rest of the building. They found them”

“Come on. Let’s go to them” I tugged his arm and he followed. At the doorway, I paused and turned around to look at Farron's lifeless body one last time. To assure myself that he was gone.

“Don’t look” Xander whispered as he pulled me away and I followed. 

The darkened hallway was easy to navigate with Xander leading me. 

I heard the sobbing of the girls and I walked faster and burst in through the only door on this side.

“Mama” both girls cried as they ran to me. I held them.

“Oh my darlings. Did they hurt you?” I asked as I checked them all over for any injuries.

Their tear-stained faces watched me with relief. 

“No” both girls jumbled at the same time.

“Papa” Freya shifted to Xander who crouched. Salem stared silently until he outstretched his arms and he went to her. I watched them for a moment and then I stood up. 

Val was in chains, glaring at me with more than enough hate to fill the room.

“All these years…” I paused and stared at her. I couldn’t find the words.

“If you were ever truly my friend…then you would never have done all that you did”

“Because I’m not! I hate you, Anna. More than anything”

I chuckled dryly and nodded. 

“Fair enough. Then you’ll die with all that hate in your heart and nothing to do about it”

“It’s not over” she growled at me and I laughed again.

“It is. Your plan failed. Farron is dead and you were stupid enough to believe a man who only chased after his selfish goals”. The light in her eye dimmed.

“Farron never loved you. You were only a means to an end. And deep down, you knew it” Her wail was loud.

“You had a child. You could have lived your life bit you chose this path. You have nobody else to blame for how your life turned out”

I ignored the look on her face and turned to Xander.

“Let’s leave”

I held Salem’s hands and together, all of us walked out, leaving behind the chaos. 

Xander led us up rickety stairs and into a stuffy room.

“I’ll take the girls” Xavier said as I looked around.

“Where is this place?” I asked.

“A tavern” Xander responded. 

“Farron frequently visited here whenever he came. Gabriel had him followed and found out he had disappeared for a while and reappeared hours later. My father used the underground bunker as a weapon when he was alive. Elderman knew about it, we connected the dots”

“How did you know Farron worked with Elderman?”

“It was merely a suspicion. I had a feeling Elderman’s minions were still operating. Farron was never my suspect though. Not until your patents came”

I sighed.

“I would never have suspected either” I said dryly.

“They had this fucked up plan in their heads. From my first kidnapping, they had been behind it”

“I’m happy it’s all over” I said and he opened his arms for me. I hugged Xander tightly.

“Baby…” he pulled back and stared at me deeply with those intense eyes that told me something was wrong. 

“What are we going to do about Salem”

I looked at him strangely. 

“What do you mean?”

“She’s her daughter”

“So?”

“She knew…” I cut him off.

“She didn’t. They didn’t treat her like their child. Only as a pawn to be used. And Salem will not be held responsible for their mistakes”

“I’m not saying that. I know you’re attached to the girl but I don’t think that she should be with us anymore” I shook my head.

“I’ll disagree with you there Xander. I’m not letting her go” he exhaled deeply but I didn’t wait for him to speak again as I pushed past him outside the tavern. 

I wasn’t going to have that discussion with him when that girl had just had the most traumatic experience at the hands of her own parents. 

I entered the carriage where the girls had been waiting. They huddled into my side as the carriage rolled away. 

My parents were waiting outside with Leo, Sage, and Zayn.

“Oh…” I cried as I climbed down and ran towards them at full speed”

“Mama” they all cried as they held me. I kissed each of them, holding onto them a second longer. Sage ran to Freya and Salem, holding them tightly. 

“I missed you all”

“We should get inside” Xander said as he arrived at the top of the stairs. 

Mama nodded. “You’re right” 

I allowed Xander to steer the children inside and I stayed next to my parents. 

“My baby girl….I thought I lost you again”

“I’m sorry for making you worry, Mama.”

“How could I not. Your niceness….I sometimes wish you weren’t so receptive when it came to strangers”

“I’m glad you’re okay” Papa brushed my hair and I hugged his arm.

“Go in and rest and we’ll talk later?” I nodded even though I wasn’t going to do that. 

I went to check on the children. Freya and Sage were curled up in their bed when I came.

They were asleep and I didn’t bother them. 

I headed for Salem and took the next. Leo was standing outside the door.

“Leo?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Sage was with Freya so…” he nodded at the door, avoiding my eyes.

“We can go in together” I suggested but he shook his head.

“I’ll see her later” he mumbled and walked down the hallway. I stared at Leo’s retreating figure and I couldn’t help the worry that rose inside of me.

He acted weirdly whenever it came to Salem and it needed to be addressed. As soon as possible.

I pushed open her door and found her sitting upright.

“Mama?” I walked over to her bed and drew her close.

“Are you okay? You should be sleeping”

“I can’t. I…” her doe eyes studied me.

“When are you sending me away?”

“Salem. Goodness, why would you think that?”

“I know that…”

“Shhh. I don’t want to ever hear you say that. I told you, you’re part of our family. I’ll never send my family away”

“But…”

“Never Salem. Never..” she looked at me with admiration and blinked away her tears. 

“Thank you” I hugged her tightly and stood to my feet and then I walked out of the room.

Xander was waiting in our room.

“Listen…”

“I was wrong to ask that” he said before I could finish speaking.

“She’s a part of our family. I shouldn’t have said that”

A sigh of relief escaped me.

“I was ready to fight you on that” he chuckled.

“I’m mad at you for leaving without telling me” he said a moment later.

“It was wrong of me to. But I wasn’t thinking. I’ll never do something like that again next time”

“There won’t be a next time” he said seriously.

“Nobody will ever come close to you or our children”

“Is that a promise?”

“It’s a vow” he whispered as his lips captured mine.