Chapter 197: Keep Your Promise

Rachel's POV

Logan and I crashed out on the sofas in the living room. School was damn hectic today. I had to attend more classes than usual just to catch up with schoolwork I'd missed. I also had to meet up with my study group, a project group—God! Was I exhausted?

I sighed, letting relief flood me as I snuggled into the comfort of the sofa, my body submitting to the warmth of the cushion.

I turned my head to Logan as he collapsed into the sofa near me with a thud heavier than mine.

“Now, why is the classy Biancardi man not climbing the stairs to his room to relax on his bed?”

Logan grinned, turning around on the sofa that didn't fully accommodate his height and big body. “I’ll take that back, Rachel. I had no idea what I was saying then. Right now, this sofa is the only thing keeping my body and soul together."

I chuckled, staring at the warm, easy grin on his lips, while he stretched his body on the sofa as far as he could go. He’d followed me through everything today, and fortunately for me, he didn't scare away the few friends I’d managed to have, as Draco usually does.

My lips twitched to speak. But I threw my gaze ahead instead, at the sound of footsteps. Draco strode into the room with the power of his big body.

His eyes picked on me first. His lips clasped open and then shut instantly. He turned to find Logan, a little heat in his eyes. He grunted. “You know better than to do this here, Logan.”

Logan turned around to stare up at him. He flashed Draco a quick, forced grin. He sat up slowly on the sofa. “You have no idea what I went through today, Draco. My legs walked the whole damn world.” He joked, his eyes twinkling with the smile that stained his lips as he looked from Draco to me. “Schooling isn't fun again. Or perhaps it is that way because I happened to be bodyguarding an academic enthusiast.”

I chuckled, also rising from the sofa gently at his joke. But not even a smile managed to dent the scowl on Draco's face.

Logan stared into Draco's eyes for almost a minute. And he grunted, struggling gently from the sofa. “Just fucking learn to smile more often. Be flexible. Life isn't as serious as you take it.”

Draco made sure he was on his feet before he freed him of his hard stare. “Better,” he said. Then he turned to me.

I didn't wait for his hard, rebuking stare. I struggled up from the sofa myself.

“Uhmm, uhmm, Rachel.” He shook his head. “You are getting the special treatment,” he said. He bent low. Slipping his arm beneath my back and the other beneath my knees, he lifted me into his arms.

I looked up, staring wide-eyed at him, as he carried me onto his broad chest. This was the first time he would be doing it in a while—a pretty long while, the first time since Luca abducted me.

His lips stretched wide in a full smile at me, lighting up a twinkle in his eyes. The muscles of my face moved, lifting to return his smile. But I froze them up, remembering all the pain he’d made me go through these past months.

I struggled, shoving my legs and body to drop from his arms. I wouldn't forgive him this easily for his neglect. He doesn't deserve it.

But he grabbed me harder to his chest. He stared down at me, his amber eyes drilling straight into mine. I didn't know how or what he did. But I found myself relaxing back in his arms. “I am sorry, Rachel. I truly am. I know I have hurt you enough to not deserve you. But just for this moment, please stay. Let me carry you up.” He whispered.

But that wasn't the problem. The problem was he wasn't going to stay after. He would be leaving for Mom immediately. Then I’d have to remember this moment, wishing and hoping I’d gotten more of him.

I looked away from his eyes before he could glimpse the almost damp stain in mine. “Just let's go,” I said.

“Don't I get to be carried also?” Logan called from behind us.

“Perhaps the guards could help you out. Or better, make use of your legs.” Draco returned.

I heard Logan chuckle from behind us, just as Draco froze on his steps. I looked up at him now to find his eyes fixed on the stairs. I followed them to find Mom at the foot of the stairs. Martin, Briella's baby cooed gently in her arms. She’d been the one taking care of the boy since Briella died.

Her eyes met with Draco's. Their stare lingered for a long, torturous minute. Through which I kept whipping my gaze from one to the other, my heartbeat rising steadily beneath my chest. Just what was going to happen?

Well, I got my answer faster than I expected. Draco began dropping me slowly to the floor, just as Mom dropped down the stairs.

I turned away from him the instant my feet landed on the tiles, moving towards Logan. I should have known. I rebuked myself under my breath. It was never going to end well anyway. I could never compete with his love for Mom.

I don't know how fast Mom had walked, but she moved past me to Logan before I could get to him. She dumped Martin in his chest.

“Take him, Logan,” she snapped.

Logan just gaped at her. But then she shoved Martin in his chest again. He had no choice but to lean out his arms and grab onto the boy.

“He needs an evening bath, a change of diapers, and an evening sleep. I trust you can make that happen.” She grinned while her whole face snarled at him.

“But Mariah.” Logan screamed. “What do I know about changing diapers and stuff? I don't—"

“You should have thought of that when you were pumping your sperm into Briella. What did you expect would come out of her womb after? An apple! The baby is your headache, not mine. I am not your nanny,” she said. Then she pushed Logan in the direction of the stairs. “Go and change his diapers. Get fucking busy.”

For a moment Logan just stood still, his jaw hung in the air as his eyes moved from Mom to Draco. He stared much at Draco, as if wanting him to say something. Though Draco’s lips opened, they closed shut immediately.

Logan grunted, muttering indiscriminately under his breath as he stumped up the stairs.

Then Mom turned to me. The snarl in her eyes softened into another of her patronizing smiles that made my skin crawl once again.

“Cole is in his room, Rachel. I believe he is waiting to catch up on schoolwork with you.” She gave me another dose of her patronizing smile as she caressed my cheek with her thin fingers.

“Remember your promise to me, my princess,” she whispered. Unmindful of the tears that had begun to stain my eyes, she turned away from me to Draco.

“Mom,” I yelled at her, my voice thickened from every pain in my heart. But she just dragged Draco by the arm away from the room, and he followed willingly like he was her puppy.

“Cole is waiting for you in his room, princess,” was all she said while she walked away with him.