4×09 “Brace Yourself”
Written By: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain language, sex and violence.
Theme Song: dvsn- Excited

Nicholas strolled down the hallway that had so many memories. His mind wasn’t full of childish memories of the past. It was a time long forgotten and never to be reclaimed. Innocence was lost and it couldn’t return. When he was eighteen he worked at DGI and there he saw limitless possibilities but he also saw how cut-throat people could be. He learned humanity could be corrupted and coming after the people of Atlas Falls would be the ultimate corruption. His heart was full of contempt and his mind was clear. To watch it all burn and place him as king of the kingdom. Many people wanted the title but he was the one who had figured out how to get it. As he strolled into the English department of Atlas Falls Prep. He saw him standing at the table surrounded by young girls. All fawning over him. It was absolutely repulsive but he knew that he could use Carter’s hate for his own doing. A pervert and he knew it but why should he care? This was all about the throne. Lowell Devonshire taught him well and the throne was all that mattered. He’d worry about his soul when he was at the top. Every body he stepped over would mean he was closer to his salvation and dreams. He didn’t want DGI, he wanted the legacy. Losing something so precious to him had changed. He blamed the hierarchy, not the killer. Privilege got them away with their sins and he understood more now than then. Power was the only thing that mattered. 

Clearing his throat his eyes glassed over in a coldness. “My brother in fire, I need to speak with you.” Nicholas said, sliding his hand in pockets and nodding his head to Carter’s classroom. He knew which one was because he knew everything about his disciples. As he walked into the classroom he froze. That’s where he spoke to Cassandra at first. That’s where he met Hunter. That’s where Devin befriended him. That’s where Nicole first spoke to his brother. Dancing with Max underneath the makeshift stars. The memories weren’t supposed to be flooding back but here he was and all he could think was revenge. Making them all pay and how dearly would they. Leaning on his desk, Nicholas picked up a perfect apple. Throwing it in the air and then catching it with one hand. When Carter entered the room he closed immediately and the other man extended his hand. Showing a branding on his wrist then he took him by the wrist. Not a normal hand shake but it was one he built in the fire. Shaking of the wrist to wrist linking each of the identical markings. “Tell me Carter, who were those young ladies that surrounded you? None of them looked like Maddie.” Not releasing his hand and just staring in Carter’s eyes.

Carter stood shaking at the man before him. He knew the rules and he knew that he was only here for one thing. Madeline Devonshire and since California, Nicholas had implicitly instructed him to be about his mission. “They just wanted to hear me speak. They are nobodies in the scheme of things. Just silly school girls much like Maddie.” He said as the intense glare and gaze chilled him. He had to believe him. He had to understand he was just being the most popular teacher. “This is all a ruse to make me more desirable to Maddie because if all the girls wanted me then she’ll want me more.” Carter explained to his boss. This man struck fear in his heart. Two years ago, Nicholas arrived at his school with video proof of him sleeping with a student. After that he was at the beck and call of the sadistic figure in front of him. He stared for as long as he could as his eyes fell down. 

Finally letting go of Carter’s hand he didn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth. He knew that he was having a ball entertaining those young girls. He wondered how many of them he bedded? “I don’t give a damn about those little girls. It’s only one girl that I find intriguing and I need you to do what I’ve told you Carter. You don’t want to go into the eternal flame do you? What about the kings board? If all the high ranking members find out you aren’t focused on your target what do you think they’ll do to you? I’m not trying to be a tyrant but you understand how pivotal you are to my plans? You understand that I will never and I mean ever stop until I get what I’m after? I have a job to do and I’m not here to keep questioning if you are doing the correct thing. I believe in you brother. Now look at me.” Nicholas asked calmly. “I suggest you find a new hobby, Carter. You see if you touch one of those other girls I’ll slice your throat because it’s only one girl you should be after. You know your place and part so I shouldn’t be here even fishing for information. It’s one girl you should be interested in.Just one because if you’re exposed as a pedophile then it doesn’t benefit me. I have no problem turning you in and then the brother’s behind bars will show you. I remember when you first showed up and Max left me.” He chuckled as he shook his head. “You are disgusting but a needed evil, there are no excuses anymore are we clear?” 

“Yes sir.” Carter said swiftly looking at Nicholas. 

“Do you have any idea how the Devonshire’s will combat Tess? She’s foolish if she thinks she will hold onto DGI but I need to extend it a little longer until I install my Trojan horse. I’m sure you can tell me something. What is the princess pillow talking about.” 

Carter stood thinking about his first time in Atlas Falls. He was only twenty-two and a teacher. A gifted teacher and Max was his star pupil. Things went too far and to be honest whatever age Max was he’d still want her and it killed him that Nicholas made him make a vow to stay back. He wanted her for himself and that was clear. She however was his from the moment they saw each other. How was he supposed to get with Maddie when he was obsessed with Max? She was what he wanted and his heart was pumping deeply. Gritting his teeth he shook his head. “Listen, I can’t push too much. I believe that Maddie Devonshire could be much smarter than you are expecting.” 

“Then don’t and I mean don’t get caught. She can be a fucking astrophysicist but I want her head so screwed up that she’ll never see me coming. So if you can’t do that then the string of young girls all across California. Wow they’ll be revealed and you’ll lose everything again. Carter, don’t push me and I won’t ruin you. Maddie is the key and you are going to juice her for every little bit of information.” Nicholas adjusted his peacoat. Walking back into Carter’s personal space he grabbed him by his throat. “And I won’t have to end you.” Nicholas walked out of the classroom with a swiftness. 

Carter hand raised to his throat and he felt a chill shiver through his spine. He had seen what power this man wielded and what he could do. All he could do was do as he said because his chances with Max would be null and void and his future would be over. Carter sat at his desk and picked up his phone texting Maddie for a secret rendezvous. That kid didn’t know it but she was already a pawn in the game that was being a Devonshire. 

*****

Monique smiled at Jackson and Dani across from her, the hand holding and the closeness relaxed and comfortable with her. She had to judge by the body language that the exercise had gone well for them both. She had decided after their first visit they needed help with communication, most couples did. In their case she didn’t think they would need her services long term perhaps on and off as needed. They both seemed to have well thought intentions and had the woman not entered as their nanny she honestly wondered if they would have had the issues at all. The hope was the next time someone did or tried this again they would see the warning signs and stop it before it began. They’d both talked about their responses, her with the tape and him with the uncertainty of using. Though they both expressed mutual regret about how things played out when the tape had been released and before. Dissecting those answers would be the key to restoring the intimacy both clearly wanted back.

“I’m very glad you both came today. By the body language I assume the exercise went well? Expressing fears can be difficult but I take hand holding and closeness as a good sign. Last time we started with Dani so let’s change it for a week. Jackson, how did you think it went? Do you feel closer and more at ease?” Monique asked, seeing Dani rubbing her thumb over his finger that was laced with hers. A positive sign that maybe they were ready for the next step being physical again. She smiled warmly at them both they really did love each other and just needed help to untangle things. “You said you were upset about the snowball that you couldn’t control and it got out of hand. You expressed the same when Dani was hurt at the crash. I would assume you felt that when Dru drugged you. How are things in that department?”

“Once Jon and Devin arrest her I think things will be better. Who admits to drugging someone in a temper tantrum.” Jackson said as he looked at Dani whose eyes glassed over. Anytime someone mentioned Dru she looked like she was ready to rip that girl apart. That look honestly scared him; he wondered what his wife had up her sleeve for Dru. She wouldn’t be leaving unscathed that was for sure. “We have discussed it and both of us came to the conclusion we let Dru and other factors come between us. We stopped talking openly and honestly and that was the mistake. I can’t believe I’m saying this but if I would have just shown my wife more respect by telling her what was going on we might not be here. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping Dani away from Dru’s shenanigans but it turned out to drive a deeper wedge between us. Just like her going to Zach instead of me did the same thing. We have decided from now on Monique we will express ourselves and won’t hold back. We are a team and she needs to know everything as I do. Well not everything but we won’t be letting someone else slither into our lives. The deception that Dru did haunts me. How she gaslit Dani and how she made me out to be a cheater. I just want you to know Dani, I would never burn us down like that.” There were plenty of ways they could break but this wasn’t one of them. 

Picking up her hand he kissed it and looked at Monique. “I’ve been ready to get physical since David cleared her but it wasn’t time to be fair. She needed time to heal physically and mentally. When she went into that car she thought our marriage was over and I had cheated. She woke up and found out that her sister orchestrated an entire scheme to infiltrate and ruin her life. That’s a lot to process. But baby whenever you are ready I’m ready. That’s a promise. I guess what I’m saying is we finally are united again. It feels good to tell her my thoughts and try to piece together what we accidentally broke. Hell we maybe should have started therapy after she was kidnapped and I left for rehab.” He confessed as he looked at Dani. “I apologize if you felt abandoned during that time.” 

Monique jotted down a few notes on her pad looking between them both, it was a good start. Dru was still a factor for them both but it seemed that more so Dani than Jackson, that had to have been hard to navigate. “That’s very honest of you Jackson. Clearly you guys did your homework and it worked or helped open up that communication. Dani, you said you felt betrayed by the tape and how you left that night. Why?”

Dani looked at Monique and then over at Jackson the fake tape had shaken her. She wanted to hurt Dru and destroy her for what she did. “I know going to Zach was wrong. I should have told you about my phone and what was going on. It was jarring to see you on that tape and it messed with my head. I should have known it wasn’t you on the tape, not the real you. The one I know in that regard. The way you were stumbling on it, how you moved. But when I saw it I just felt betrayed about it, like you wanted her in that way which I know isn’t true.” Dani said she knew that about him the way he needed that in the bedroom at least with her. At the very least he would have been in more control in that regard like he was with her. But at the time she had been so upset and blindsided at it. “I was angry and upset and just needed space, but I was wrong to leave like that and I’m sorry I put you through that. I had just found the coke that she likely planted in your coat and I said some awful things to you at home. We were fighting. No, I don’t think you used it. I know what I said in the moment but deep down I know. Hey, we worked through Kendrick. You needed help, you got it.” She said touching the side of his face she knew he still felt some guilt for that.

“I should have come to you first instead of Zach, you’re the priority our family is. You and the kids that’s what is important. I lost sight of that with everything that Dru was trying to do. I let her take over with the kids, I got caught up in the fundraiser stuff and I thought we were good. I didn’t realize I was there but not in the way you needed. That’s on me too. I’m still mad at her for what she did to you. But not you. I never want you to feel that way that you can’t come to me, Jackson.”  Dani said looking at him, seeing that hint of a gleam in his eyes and inwardly melting. She had thought about picking things back up before their session. She just wasn’t sure he was ready for that but it seemed like he was at least open to the idea. Which was maybe a good thing given her attire that she left the house in. Her fingers traced his arm for a bit squeezing his hand back. “I want that back. too. Honestly since the entire ordeal we’ve both been wary about leaving the kids alone. Both my doctors cleared me this week. We tried the other night Jolene woke up, needless to say I think the mood was halted so to speak. We had a good week at work with everything at the company and it feels good to be back at that place together again.”

Monique looked between them both honestly it seemed both of them wanted to at least try to get back into marital relations and the swing of things and she didn’t see a reason why they couldn’t. She had raised her eyebrow for a moment between them discussing the tape she may as well not have been in the room which was a good thing. 

“That’s good. I think given what she did to you both having that sense of intimacy back can deepen the bond again. Do you both have someone that you trust to have an evening together? Sometimes kids can dampen things in the moment and in your case that may be what happened. So my assignment is to take an evening and enjoy each other and we can talk about it next week.” She rose from the couch and walked them both to the doorway shaking their hands, before closing it with a smile as they walked out. She looked at her watch she needed to get to Zeke’s game.

Dani walked out of the office and honestly it felt like a weight had been lifted at least for her while they walked down the hallway. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before the elevator opened and they stepped inside. She waited till the door was closed before she leaned up pulling him to her and kissing him. She grinned against his lips feeling him pin her against the metal before she broke apart from him. “I like her a lot and it was good to talk like that. Maybe we should do what she recommended tonight. I know you have to go home and make a few calls, we could ask your mom to watch the kids tonight or mine.” She said looking up at him not sure what was going through his mind with it all and she rubbed the back of his neck. “We should play unless you aren’t ready or don’t want too. I need that back with you, please.” She said softly, her lips parting while she looked at him not sure what he was going to say or do.

“Were you not listening to me in there? I definitely want you Dani and I have wanted you since the moment I saw you. You are just as beautiful and ravishing.” He pulled his wife to him and kissed her again. “You are like everything I wanted and more in a wife and partner. You are my friend, you are the best lover, and an amazing mother. I’m not going to pretend we have a lot more to go through. But right now I want to fuck you in a elevator, I want fuck you in our mansion, I want to fuck you.” The elevator door opened. A elderly woman walked on and he just began to snicker until he couldn’t help but laugh. “Woman I want to fuck you in front of this granny, we can make love anywhere and anytime because you are my lady. You are the apple of my eye and I plan on spending all the next fifty or sixty years showing you how much you are the only thing I need in life.”

“Honey go fuck your husband he seems like a good one.” The elderly woman said as she exited the elevator. 

Dani looked up at him pretty sure her entire face flushed at him at least they were on the same page again. She knew they had more to work through and she was willing to do whatever it took, she loved him. He’d never been shy about wanting her. They did after all let the psycho watch them at her cousin’s wedding  but the woman on the elevator with them just made her smile and she almost laughed. 

“I think we can make that happen.” She said looking up at him while the elevator moved, watching him look at her and she let her fingers trace his belt before leaning up to kiss him. “At home I’ve definitely missed this on my skin. You should definitely bring that.” She finished whispering the last part in his ear while she turned around when it reached the floor to go to the parking garage barely holding herself together from jumping him on the garage while she texted her mother in law to see if she wanted to watch the twins for the evening.

*****

Madeline finished breakfast with her grandmother and got ready for the rest of her day which consisted of a riding lesson and polo practice for an upcoming match. Though frankly she would rather be at school with Mr. Black after the atrocious little spat that she and Dylan had in English the other day she was realizing that teenage boys were just not her thing, they were so stunted it wasn’t even funny. Though at one point she had thought Wyatt Kincaid and she were meant to be looking back now she was aghast at it Wyatt was still a boy who liked to party, throw his name around and be immature. She was ready for something more and she fluffed her hair back in the mirror in her room.  She had no idea where her father currently was likely conspiring about the DGI or hopefully consulting with the lawyers about his divorce from the wicked step mother. The sooner that Natasha was out of her life and her father’s the better. She had time and left her room in the mansion to see what everyone else was doing, her grandmother had gone to the country club, Rory was moping since he had moved back in. Though honestly him getting rid of Aspen was not a shocker, she had gone to head downstairs when she spotted Belle inside her room getting ready.

She honestly had no one else in the family to talk to or even pick their brains about Carter, no one would really understand but Belle? She had dated David and had gone after Atticus too so she had to know what it was like to want to be with someone older and mature. She went into her aunts room seeing Belle look at her and then she shrugged before flopping back on the bed. “So are you and Jamal excited for the royal wedding? I hear it is going to be an event to remember everyone is talking about it, Wyatt said Brooke can’t be quiet about it. I mean I would too if I was marrying a prince.” Maddie said, folding her hands on her stomach and strumming her fingers, she was honestly trying with Belle who seemed to be the only one she could relate too since they were so close in age. She looked over at the vanity and saw a picture of her grandfather and Belle and for a moment a surge of jealousy washed over her for all the time Belle had with him before he had passed. That was something she wasn’t sure she could ever forgive Tess for the lie with Zerick and her grandfather just going to live with Tess and Belle over staying at the mansion with her and her grandmother. “In all seriousness do you have a moment? I feel like I can’t talk to anyone else and I could really use someone.” She asked, hoping that Belle would say yes.

Belle was prepping for her day, after all you don’t get to run the same bitch out of Atlas Falls twice. She had to look her best if she was going to run into Connor accidentally today. A piece of her always wondered if she chose Connor over David where she would be at? What could come of a Hessington and Devonshire being together but trouble. A political scion with an heiress it sounded like a bad Hallmark movie. Flicking the mascara on her eyelashes she smiled seeing her niece come into the room. This was why staying in the mansion was paramount. One she wanted to retain her connection to Lowell and secondly someone had to keep a eye out for the kid with an unlimited credit card. For all the love the Devonshire family had they never recognized when someone was drowning. They let Chauncey marry Natasha, Max was a mess right now, Jackson many drug benders, Rory was depressed and miserable, Zerick was doing God knows what and Bliss was blissfully pregnant and aloof to anything that didn’t say goo-goo gaga. Maddie was always placed in the backseat to their personal problems, something she hadn’t said but did notice. Turning around in her vanity she nodded as she got up and walked to her closet picking up a vintage Chanel two piece set and Tom Ford provocative little black dress. “Of course I have time for my favorite niece. Well you’re the only niece I have time for because no offense Jolene just cries and throws tantrums with me. I am not good with babies but a stunningly smart and wicked teenager is much more my speed.” Flopping on the bed she immediately tickled her belly. 

“Is it a boy?” She said wide eyed. Between Dylan and Wyatt she always favored Dylan. He was sweet and that red head thing he has going on was very Archie from Riverdale. Seeing Maddie’s expression she lit up. “It is a boy! Oh okay so when is the date? What are we wearing and where do you think you should go afterwards? Club XES has a teen night your uncle throws that is amazing. I actually think it’s more fun than the regular nights. So who is it? Tell me everything I need all the details and you better not leave a thing out. Maddie I’m so happy you’re home. As much as I love Rory he gives me the energy of Eeyore right now and although he likes I’m happy with Jamal he doesn’t seem to be happy I’m with Jamal if that makes sense. Come on, you little vixen tell me all about him.”

Maddie didn’t disagree with the Eeyore assessment of her youngest uncle Rory was such a bore over what breaking up with Aspen Sinclair? As if that girl was ever going to fit into their world in the first place? She could see that Belle was caught up with it all, especially seeing how she was also dating her other uncle which was a bit weird. Her aunt was dating her uncle, not that Belle and Jamal were blood related or anything. “Rory is up in his feelings about Aspen. If he was wise and smart he’d get over that quick, good riddance. Could you have imagined if they actually made it down the idle we’ve been more than welcoming in this family already.” Maddie said thinking about Dani joining the family, she didn’t dislike her or hate her but right now she was pissed at Dylan. Dylan and his little comments in class and she laughed when Belle tickled her, it felt normal. Things hadn’t been normal since her grandfather died. “Maybe he’ll stop moving now that he got dumped.”

She sighed when Belle asked if it was a boy, well yes but it was a man more importantly an older more sophisticated man. Age was just a number that is what the tabloids and media said and what was she supposed to do? Be stunted by the immature boys in her grade and school? Plus it wasn’t like Belle hadn’t chased older men too and who cared if Carter had been married and divorced? “Boys in my grade aren’t exactly up to my standards. Like have you met Wyatt and Dylan, they are so focused on immature things like sports or what college they’ll get into. Wyatt is all about being immature and thinking his parents are going to make it another year. Dylan is just all about school and being the perfect kid. Neither of them know what a stock profile is or how to run anything, I guess I just want someone with a little more maturity? Can I ask you a question? Did you ever date anyone older than you when you were my age?” Maddie asked, she wasn’t exactly going to shout out that she was secretly seeing her English teacher but she was trying to gauge if she should take that next step with Carter or not.

Belle paused completely at a loss at this very moment. She always wanted to be the cool aunt but hearing that Maddie was interested in someone older made her blood run cold. Being with David was a thrill but the truth was Belle was an adult. She might only be a few years older than her niece but she was older and those years meant something. Sitting up she stared at Maddie with a concern she’d never had before. “Well yes and no. Atticus was older than me but I was eighteen, and you know about David. It wasn’t the best idea to date fathers doctor and I hurt your grandfather. It’s dangerous Maddie not because these men don’t care but emotionally they are beyond your own comprehension. I know that it seems fun and alluring but it’s really devastating and manipulative. You see no matter how mature you seem they know you’re still a child. I think dating Dylan or Wyatt or some boy in school is always better than dating some older guy. Then I also have to ask Maddie how much older? Atticus is Jamal’s age and Rory’s but that’s not that far from me. David was a grown man who used me to make himself feel better about whatever midlife crisis he was going through. I did manipulate him but I also missed out on a potential relationship with a guy who I think could’ve been way better for me.” She paused thinking about Connor. 

“It’s not a good idea Maddie and you are smarter than this. If he’s a college student then okay but if he’s older than that then he is using you Maddie. He’s not a good man and he’s not banking on your maturity, he’s banking on you being immature. It’s not glamorous or intriguing to feel used and I don’t want that for you. So you care to tell me exactly what’s going on because if he’s too old, I’m cutting his balls off and I swear to God I’m going to feed them to your dad’s dobermans.” Belle grabbed Maddie’s hand. “You are one of the few people who welcomed me when I first arrived and I care about you so much but this is actually concerning Maddie.” She knew that she would have to say something to Jackie, Selina, or Chauncey if she said the wrong thing. “So spit it out tell me who this guy is, how old is he and how long has this been going on?”

Maddie nearly rolled her eyes at her aunt so over dramatic, besides why did Carter’s age matter that much? It wasn’t like they had done anything yet, she was thinking about it boys her age were so boring and bland. She needed someone more mature, more her speed though she knew the age difference was a lot to take in. “No one cared that Atticus was older than you and only prudes in the family cared about you and David. Though I think you leveled up if you want my opinion a boring pushing near mid forties doctor is so beneath what you can aim for. An up and coming record executive seems more your speed.” Maddie said looking over at Belle before looking back up at the ceiling, there were two options that she could choose: admit how old Carter was nearly the same age as her own father or lie and fib it just a little bit. She knew everyone would freak out if they knew Carter’s real age, but on the other side she could fib certain facts about him. He was her teacher, but he was also at the college, as a professor part time for one class. She picked up her hand looking at her fresh manicure pretending to brush off Belle’s questions. When Belle just kept looking at her she picked absently at one of her nails, age was just a number and she didn’t think Carter was using her or grooming her or any other weird things she had been told or heard about.

“He’s in college and we haven’t really done anything other than talk yet and a few kisses, I met him when I visited California. Small world when we both learned that he was already in Atlas Falls at the University. Since my dad doesn’t seem to want to know or care about the boys I date and we aren’t exactly sympatico at the moment I can’t exactly talk to him about it. My mother would flip the fuck out, have you look at Max? Yikes.” Maddie said looking at Belle it was a simple lie that she could work with, when it came to her situation with Carter. She saw Belle’s face and the disappointment on it and maybe even a hint of disgust but she was almost eighteen, it wasn’t like she was a baby anymore and she and Wyatt had done some stuff in the past. She just wasn’t sure she was ready to give up her v card to someone like Carter yet. “I am definitely not going to discuss this with Jackson or Rory. I figured you were the cool, hip and chill aunt. Did you know that most girls my age have at least had sex with a few boys by the time they are seniors? None of them sparked my interest if you want the truth, maybe Wyatt but he seems to be more into partying than forming a real connection. Like when did you first know with your first?” She honestly had been thinking about it for a few weeks, it felt if she didn’t with Carter he would lose interest other girls at school were already talking about him, wanting him.

When she said college relief eased over her. He wasn’t some older creep. Maddie was smart enough to know that a man that much older than her wasn’t good for her. “No one cared because I was seventeen about to turn eighteen. Maddie, Atticus was only twenty-one or two. It’s creepy when someone that much older goes after a kid. No matter how you put it in your head but he’s a college boy that’s not bad. You’ll be in college next year and I honestly think Selina and Chauncey won’t mind that. Okay? I was just worried that you were looking at someone like thirty or forty. That’s not good, okay? We have always treated you more mature than you are. But you are still a kid Mads you are still the princess and I don’t want some gross older man taking advantage but a cute college guy isn’t crazy okay. I’m down for that with you. I’ll even smooth the waters if they get rocky okay that’s a promise.” Belle said, taking a deep breath because this aunt shit was becoming taxing. “Sex is something I don’t know if your parents would want me of all people to be talking to you about however.” She grinned mischievously at her niece.

“You are becoming a woman and I think you deserve to have these conversations with someone. So when you know, you know. You feel it in every piece of your being. You just follow your heart and pray that the man you give your body to the first time is worthy. Not just sexually but emotionally. He has to be more than just an expectation, he has to be special. You never can get it back once you give it away. So if you want to have sex I think I have to do the aunt thing and say protection, and be smart. Don’t just disregard your instinct. If he does one thing that sets off an alarm or gives you any red flags honey he isn’t it. So you need to be sure that it’s not your money, clout, fame or even him getting over a vapid blonde model.” She said referring to Brooke and Atticus. “I lost my virginity to Atticus and it was a mistake because he never loved me and you need to be sure that man loves you and will continue to love you and treat you special even when he has a piece of your body. Okay?”

The lie would suffice for now she could see that with her aunt and she wondered if everyone in her family was good at lying to people, or at least deceiving them. What her grandfather said a few times, people wanted to believe what they thought they knew; it made it easy to manipulate and get what you wanted from them. She had done it before with both of her parents many times, a new horse or two, she wanted to not be grounded so she would negotiate. Even when she and Wyatt were kinda seeing each other, she could easily let them know that they were going to study and they would do that but also fool around. She had been a little paranoid that Wyatt’s parents or god forbid his drunk grandmother would catch them, but thankfully that had been averted. “I feel like that is the same with me. I’m going to be eighteen soon you know and off to college in the summer. I’ve always been more mature is a good word for it. The other day in class Dylan literally started an argument with me in LA for the hell of it talking about how we were a bunch of rich snobs. It was so immature and I can’t see myself just latching onto that when I have this older more mature guy.” Maddie said she knew Carter was older; he was also divorced but Belle didn’t need to know about that either.

Honestly she couldn’t imagine talking to anyone else about wanting to have sex with Carter. She just didn’t have that openness with her parents or even her grandmother and she was certain if her grandfather were alive he’d be turning in his grave. Did Belle honestly think she was starry eyed? She definitely wasn’t her and she honestly didn’t know why she felt it was a slight. “I’m not that stupid to sleep with someone that doesn’t love or care about me. Unlike others in this family I was raised by grandfather himself while others simply knew him for about a year or two tops. I do thank you for your advice but don’t think I’m going to repeat your mistakes.” Maddie finished sitting up on the bed looking at her aunt wondering she had been a little too bold and outspoken. But it wasn’t like she was dumb besides there was nothing that she said to Belle that wasn’t true, her grandfather had raised her to be smart and not make dumb mistakes.

Belle smiled at Maddie, as she stared at her she grabbed her hand. She looked at her niece and sucked her teeth. That little jab about her father was uncalled for. Maddie proved how immature she was but she wasn’t Lowell Devonshire daughter. She was his grandchild and practically raised by Lowell or not she wasn’t his direct heir. A part of her wanted to slap the shit out of her but she understood how she must have felt. Here she was once living with Lowell and then here she comes and spent the last two years with him. Unlike all of them she didn’t turn her back on her father. “Hey just promise me when you are ready you’ll come to me first. I’ll give you protection and make sure you are on contraception. I know Jackie and Selina might not be happy with me but I think this is the best choice. I don’t want to limit you but I will need to meet this mysterious older guy as well. It’s what I think any aunt would do. Also one more thing Dylan and Wyatt are teens just like you. You’re mature but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t still a kid Maddie. You have no idea the ramifications that can come with sex and life in general because you’re spoiled rotten. You’ve had everything handed to you and I have as well. I thought giving my body would make people see me as a woman but I wasn’t. I was still a little girl trying to be a woman. I haven’t figured it all out because I’m still young but I know this. Men who are older always have an agenda. If it’s sex, then beware. Your heart won’t recover. Now get out I have to figure out how to run this skank out of Atlas Falls.”

Maddie knew that she had struck a nerve when Belle looked at her and had taken her hand. It was just the truth Belle barely knew her grandfather while she had been practically raised by him and her grandmother, it wasn’t like her father had ever actually tried to parent her he was too busy and too ambitious. She cast her eyes cuttingly at her aunt for the remark about having things handed to her, of course she had what she was supposed to do apologize for it? Right now she sounded exactly like Dylan did in class and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Carter didn’t have an agenda with her did he? She took her hand back from Belle’s forcing a smile on her face she could tell the room had become frigid.

“I’ll of course take your advice, you clarified a lot for me actually about what not to do. I’ll leave you to try to remove the skank from Atlas Falls but the rumor mill says she bagged Connor and he’s moved on.” Maddie said as sweetly as she could hoping the dig stung a bit, honestly she had no idea where her attitude was coming from lately but she mainly blamed it on her father’s failures, her grandfather dying and having a man like Carter in her life. They were going to be together and there was nothing that was going to come between them once she was eighteen. She rose from the bed tossing her hair back over her shoulders, gave her aunt a final glance before walking out.

Belle folded her arms, picking up her phone she sent a text message to Selina. Maddie liked to throw jabs but she could throw them back. She was a child and maybe it was time to put this one in it’s place. 

Hey Selina, please give me a call Maddie is going down a very dangerous path.

“Checkmate you little brat.” Belle said walking to her door closing it. 

*****

The Royal Palace hotel was in the middle of Scottswood and it was the lowest of the low. A few months ago she was staying at Jackson and Dani’s lakeside estate and now she was here. Looking at her body she felt instantly disgusted. She would get stretch marks, her hips would spread, and worse she would get fat. A woman like her was never meant to be a mother. Damn birth control didn’t work and condoms broke so here she was. She would never abort a child but at the same time she wasn’t suited to be a mother. That was for certain. So unlike Brenda she’d have this baby and make sure it was in a loving home. She wouldn’t just hand the kid over and forget about them. She’d leave information on it’s eighteenth birthday if they wanted to, they’d be able to find them. Something she wasn’t allotted but she found them and made them pay that was all that mattered. Dru had sold all her designer garments she purchased to fit in and made a cool three thousand. This money would get her ahead for a short amount of time. Tonight she would leave Atlas Falls and move forward. Maybe even have this baby and keep it. Wondering whose eyes would be looking back up at her. Ronan and she had sex, Lex and she had sex, Zerick and she had sex, and Philip and she had sex. Each of those men could possibly be the father and that alarmed her. Each of them could be a problem. Zerick and she honestly were friends, Ronan was a mobster who blew up a boat, she thought Lex cared but he couldn’t care less, and Philip was much more dangerous than anyone thought. Zerick was a Devonshire and he would want nothing more than to live out a fairytale she wasn’t ready for. Ronan would take her child no doubt. Lex and his family would do the same and claim her baby as theirs. While Philip would manipulate this child somehow as a weapon against any and everyone. 

As she paced around the room she knew she wasn’t going to give this child up for adoption. She couldn’t do it. She was just furious with Brenda and Walter. How could she do her baby like that? When she heard a knock on the door she instantly jumped. Was it Jon and Devin who she’d been told were looking for her? Who had located her? She used one of her many fake ID’s and she wasn’t above faking losing her baby to get out of all of this. She wasn’t going to jail. A girl like her always had nine lives. Wearing nothing but a crop top from H&M, a pair of low ride jeans, and a flannel shirt she felt normal in fact average. Walking to her purse she pulled out her gun and pulled the curtain back just to see who it was. When she saw him her entire stomach dropped. What was he doing here? How had he located her and somehow did he know she was pregnant? Opening the door she looked at his handsome face. How had she gotten so far away from him? They were friends at one point. “I didn’t expect to see you here? Especially on this side of town. What do you want? Here to chastise me and tell me I’m a bad girl like everyone else? Or here to do your cousin’s bidding?”

It had taken him a few months in order to track down Dru Price. She was sneaky about it using fake identities and everything but as one con to another he had been around the block a time or two. As much as he knew that Jackson and Dani were angry at her he knew all too well that blowing up someone’s life due to revenge could often leave a hole bigger than the one that began. He had no idea what he was actually going to do once he found Dru sheltering her would ruin any good leeway that he had made with his cousins and his aunt, the woman drugged Jackson, gaslighted her own sister and did other awful things to people he knew and had had come to care about. But she was still a human being and one that he would like to think got him in ways that not even Talia ever could understand. Which was when a contact of his has tracked down one of her many aliases to the Scottswood neighborhood he had taken a discrete car and made his way to the Royal Palace which was more like a Royal Dump that would give you bed bugs or worse. He stepped over the few addicts in the hallway while he made his way to her room knocking and then putting his foot in the doorway while he came face to face with her flaming red hair.

“You’re hard to track down Dru Price luckily for you I know people with far reach that can unearth a little thing like fake ID’s and alias’s though yours were impressive. I’m here because I thought you could use a friend. Listen I’m just here to talk and no Jackson doesn’t know I am I’m pretty sure he’d kill me if he knew. He wants you in a jail cell and so does his wife.” Zerick said, looking at her and entering the room seeing the suitcase laid out clearly she was getting ready to run. Honestly he wasn’t sure he was even going to tell his cousin about visiting Dru not till he knew what her actual plan was to stay in town or leave, he knew what she was going through though with it all. The need for revenge that would never quite be satisfied in the lie she had told herself, he lived that for years it was why he did all those things when he came to town. Regret filled him for a moment about Gideon and Rachel Morrison and he shook his head. “This won’t help you know running away? You and I aren’t so different. I’ve been where you are, I’ve done worse things but I came out on the other side you can too.” Zerick said, looking at her wondering if she was even open to the idea of them talking.

She folded her arms as flashed him her phone screen. It was a one way ticket to California. “Running away? Who is running? I’m leaving because the police have been hunting for me for months. I don’t do jail cells. So am I supposed to just allow them to take me down when I have only gotten revenge? You came out on the other side because you weren’t a Devonshire of Lowell’s bloodline. I’m actually Walter and Brenda’s kid and I’m not about to explain what that all means. I don’t have to explain a damn thing to you. Sitting here pretending you give a fuck when you just what? Here to tell me I can do better? I don’t have to do a damn thing but continue to breathe and protect myself. You aren’t some Yoda for me. Where were you the last six months? Huh ghost. Gone doing whatever it is you do? Cleaning up after Jackson and Chauncey and all the rest get out of my face. Boy you’re comical telling me I can turn a corner. What if I don’t want to turn a damn thing? What if I love that my mother and father hate me? What if I enjoyed every moment of fucking up Brenda and Walter’s life? You don’t know me and just because you came into this city thinking Lowell was your daddy I’m supposed to identify with you? No I don’t Zerick! I only want to protect myself and my self interest not this entire we aren’t so different. Yes we are. I’m not budging, they threw me away and you’re crossing the line by hunting me down like some love sick puppy. Well go fetch and find someone to obsess over.” Dru said, flopping on the bed. 

Having this baby was exhausting and she saw him looking at her sadly. Here she was lashing out at the one person who had tracked her down. Shown some sort of love for her. Her emotions were all over the place. She hated how mean she was being. She knew if Zerick figured out she was pregnant he’d demand a DNA test and if it was his baby she’d be forced to stay in Atlas Falls. Something made her want to touch him. She grabbed his hand. “Thank-you for reaching out but I’m not available anymore. I’m tired of being this girl. I’m tired of having so much hate in my heart and I can’t let it go, Zerick. I’m so angry and I’m tired of being angry at this point. Brenda hates me, Walter couldn’t care less because he’s said it so many times. I have burned every relationship with my siblings. What is left? You did something horrible, Zerick but you didn’t do what I did. I systematically burned every bridge so you can’t say we are the same. You had a place to eventually land and I have none.”

Zerick notated the departure time and bus number in the flash of her screen to memory, honestly getting a bus was smart of her there was less security at the bus station versus the airport. He knew that his uncle had taken pity on him for everything that his father had done to their family and his aunt of course wanted to redeem herself in some way, that was why he came out on the other side. When deep down he, like any other person, should be in a jail cell or worse, he had been fed the lie about who he was for years from Forbes and Tess, he knew that ten but back when he began? It had sent him down a path of irremediability in his mind first killing Steven and then absently poisoning Gideon, unfortunately Rachel had been an innocent bystander that had been caught in the crosshairs. “I kept my distance from you because you seem to want to push everyone away. Seems we have that in common. I did the same thing to Greer and later Talia, even you to some extent. It wasn’t like others weren’t keeping your bedsheets warm. I wanted to help you because I don’t think orange or grey is your color and despite the police sometimes bungling cases we both know when money and rich people are involved they seem to want to do a better job to make it all go away.” He looked around the room again, this was no place for her to be.

When she turned her body he then noticed the bump though she was clearly trying to hide it and his heart beat in his chest was it his? His mind flashed to his mother and how she must have felt when he was conceived, how in fear she must have been at him growing inside of her and what he was a product of. He shook his head. He didn’t think that Dru’s child would feel that, possibly his child, he had never taken advantage of a woman like that and from his understanding the others she had been with didn’t seem to be monsters. “I killed Steven Kincaid, Gideon Morrison, along with his daughter Rachel at the time I had no idea she was going to do what she did. So you, what ruined a few lives? I’ve taken them. I would like to think that makes me more the monster than it ever will make you. I want to help you navigate your next steps and if that means running to California it means doing that but I think deep down Dru you are running from the fact you have an entire family here in Atlas Falls. A father, sister, brothers and sisters even if they are step and you don’t know how to navigate that, it’s why you want to run and take that child inside of you with you. To spare it whatever you think might happen if you stay, to hurt them all even more perhaps even me. Were you really going to leave without telling me about that?” He asked, pointing to her stomach, his eyes darkening. He had a right to know if that was his child.

Hearing his confessions she sat stoic because him just saying that meant he cared. He just told her his darkest secret and he was standing here still ready to be in her truth. He understood all her ugliness and all her flaws. Zerick Davis was the man she should have been banking on all along. She felt stupid because he was for so long the last one in her mind. When Zerick should have been the man in her world. Hearing that he had killed before didn’t scare her because she was destructive and she wanted Brenda dead. It did make her feel all the more Dru wrapped her arms around her belly trying to figure out what she could say to him. As she looked him in the eyes. “I don’t know whose it is. Zerick I didn’t want to burden you. I don’t know who the father is but we only slept together a few times. I just think it couldn’t be you. I didn’t think you would want to be the father. So why stress you out with that worry. Look, it’s a possibility and I won’t lie to you about that. I can’t lie to you.” For the first time a man was showing concern and care. Not just for her body but the actual person beneath the veneer of who she pretended to be. “I made so many bad choices last year starting with admitting I drugged Brenda. I just want me and this child to be safe and happy. I can’t be happy here.” She said her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think Jackson and Dani will allow me to be happy here? What about my mother? I know that woman is gunning for me. I’m not exactly invited to the royal wedding. If I stay I have to face all of the ugliness and call me a coward but I don’t want that. I don’t want the sins of the mother to be placed on the child.” 

Dru walked to Zerick and stroked his face. “If I wasn’t so blinded by revenge I would have seen you were actually in my corner. That you were a man that really cared but I wanted revenge now I’m pregnant and I have no one. So California doesn’t sound too bad now does it? Come with me, Jackie is a big girl and she has many people to protect her. If I tell the other three men about this baby each will want to take it. Philip is controlling and powerhungry, Lex is a daddy’s boy who only thinks about Dani, and Ronan well we know what Ronan will do, I might never see my child. I do know one thing though all four of you have the money and influence to take my child and I’m not risking that. I’m not losing this baby to any of you so that leaves me one choice to get the hell out of dodge.”

Zerick tried to not be jealous as she listed off all the men that she had been with. It wasn’t his place to judge and they weren’t together but part of him was livid that other people had her, it was an odd feeling. He did have to remind himself that she was being honest with him now though and that had to count for something and he nodded his head at her. He never actually had thought about having kids, he wasn’t even sure he was wired that way in order to care for a child he had a very screwed up childhood, going between homes. Being mentored by Forbes on and off, then later being prepared and prepped by Pierre as this weapon against his uncle. He had been lied to most of his life about his origins, about how he came to be and an anger burned inside of him at the people that had yet to pay for it all. Tess and Forbes were still living their best lives after all the lies and deceit. He honestly had no idea if Jackson would ever forgive the woman in front of him or be at peace with her.

“I can’t speak for Jackson or Dani, but whether they want to admit it or not you are her sister. Brenda should want to get to know you, if I had a chance to reconcile with my mother I would. I would think she would want the same, even if it took time. I probably should have let you know from the get go that we could have been more so I can’t be upset at the men. I mean Philip really? I certainly am not sure that I am ready to be a father, I’m in a bit of shock.” Zerick said he wasn’t going to force her to stay but in this case until he knew if that was his child or not he needed her to stay in town. He wasn’t going to skirt around his responsibility if that was his child and she had plans of keeping it, she most certainly would not be doing it alone.  He touched her hand gently as she touched his face and looked at her. “I cannot leave yet, my aunt does need me. I made a promise to my uncle that she and the company would be looked after. Until DGI is back in our hands she needs me. What you do with the child is your choice but I would think you are going to keep it. You could run a test and then decide, you don’t have to run but I can’t force you to stay. There is still time but only if you stay.” Zerick said stepping back from her, not sure how else to put it, ultimately it was her choice.

“I’m leaving.” She declared to him knowing he wasn’t going to like that response. “Just go Zerick.” She walked to the door and opened it to show him she wasn’t going to be talking about this anymore. “Thank-you Zerick for coming to see about me. Thank-you for your concern but I’ve been living by myself for a long time and I don’t need a friend. I need a get out of jail free card and you can’t provide that without destroying your relationship with the Devonshire’s. So go.” She told him watching Zerick walk out she closed the door on what could have been. “It’s me and you peanut.” 

Zerick wasn’t going to fight with her so when she announced that she was leaving he took that as his cue to leave which she confirmed when she opened the door. He stepped out into the hallway watching as the door closed behind him and inwardly his blood was boiling. He was not going to abandon her while pregnant especially when the child she was carrying could be his own. He knew that he was not going to get anywhere with her though and he also knew that Walter was looking high and low for her, if anything and anyone could reach her he knew it would be the mayor of Atlas Falls, her father. He took out his phone stepping over another body as he made his way towards the exit of the seedy motel. “Hello, I’d like to speak to Mayor Fraiser if I could. I don’t care if he asked to not be disturbed let him know that Zerick Davis is on the phone. I have some information that he is going to want to know about regarding the fugitive Dru Price.” He paused as the person on the other line began to scramble. He could hear the rustle of the papers in front of them. “I’ll hold and wait.” He waved to his driver as he got back into his car while he waited for Walter to speak to him.

*****

Glory Road’s sexual tones echoed throughout the hallways of their home. He swirled the whiskey in his glass. Damn it if the Fraiser clan didn’t make the best whiskey in the country. Jackson wondered where his wife was after all his children were at the main house with Lauren and Jackie decorating the multiple trees all over the mansion. Since Maddie was too old to bother, the next generation had stepped in. His niece seemed distant from them all which wasn’t like her but she was getting to that age to be honest and he wasn’t sure it was anything they could do. Walking around the house he looked for his wife who wasn’t in their bedroom, or any other room. Could she be inside of their playroom? It had been months since they had been intimate and she went in there. He assumed that they’d maybe do some light fun but if she was inside of the room then tonight would be much more fun for them. As he pressed the code which was their wedding date along with the twins birthday. The door slid open and he gasped a little. She was laying completely nude with chains on her wrist, and ankles. His eyes grew dark as he walked over to her and picked up the bottle of the whiskey. Pouring himself another drink, then he placed one of his fingers inside of the glass. He traced her lips with the whiskey letting her slurp on his finger. 

“I’m going to be honest with you Dani, I don’t think that I can be vanilla with you chained up like this.” His eyes darted around it was a treasure trove. Jackson saw a crop, electric breast clamps, and even a dildo. “You went all out and without my permission, I may forgive that or I may not but I don’t think tonight I can play nicely Dani. I’m going to show you how much I’ve missed us and I missed what we can do to each other. I want to drive you crazy and if you are hungry for my dominance then I will happily oblige you.” He said walking to the chains tightening them to stretch her body out in an X shape. “So tell me what do you want?” His head lowering on the nape of her neck and his head trailing down to her breast. Roughly slurping on her nipple and using his teeth to bite on it as it protruded and expanded in his mouth. “You want me baby?”

Once they had arrived home she was antsy was a good word for it, eager to get back into the swing of things to the point that while he made phone calls she had taken liberties to go to the playroom. She had been serious about that after their therapy session, sure she could have met him in the bedroom but that seemed so blase after everything they had been going through. It took her mind off everything with Dru and what she kept hearing in her head with Greer, she had thought about leaving the clothes on and opted not to. She wanted to be on display for him, knowing how much he enjoyed it, how much they both did. She’d taken her time with the chains and picked out toys that she knew he’d like or approve of then waited pouring herself a glass of whiskey while she leaned back on the chaise. She had stared at the glowing fireplace and even set music on the sound system while she waited. Everything had changed for her family. Zach was gone, Brock had married Greer had BJ, Lucy was home and Braden was moving. The only stable thing was him, therapy had been healing for her in that way he was her rock and she needed to turn to him first.

She watched him eye the toys she laid out and did her best to shrug at him biting her lower lip as she did, she knew she broke his rules but the punishment she knew would be worth it. Her lips parted for his finger when he traced her lips with the whiskey and she gently sucked on his finger biting it softly when he pulled it out of her mouth. “Well thank god you don’t want to be vanilla. With everything going on with Brock, Lucy and Braden it feels off kilter. But with you I need this back I need you.” Dani said wickedly at him while she took a small sip of her own whiskey, relaxing even more she almost thought that she had misread the invitation. When he asked her what she wanted while he spread her out. She already knew her body easily gave it away when he leaned down to kiss her trailing his lips on her skin before he took her nipple into his mouth and she let out a moan at the action arching while he bit it. “Do you like the ones I picked out?” She asked to see him looking up at her and she let out a breath feeling his lips on her skin again. “I want you Jackson.”

“I do like the toys you’ve picked but next time I’ll be in charge are we clear?” He said commandingly. “I’ll make you remember that I am in charge but I believe you’ve forgotten that. That I make the rules and well you’ll see.” He picked up the dildo and slid one finger inside of her warmth. Taking his finger out of her body he slurped up her juices. Running the dildo up her leg he immediately felt himself getting hard from her body shivering. He slowly inserted the tip of the dildo inside and his eyes darkened as he pushed more and more inside of her. He roughly pushed inside of her then when he saw she was getting too much pleasure he stopped. Jackson grabbed the clamps and immediately twisted her nipples and attached the clamps onto her breasts. He immediately clicked on the electricity and saw her shivering in pleasure. “Say my name. I want to hear you scream it Dani.” He said unfastening his belt. Letting his trousers fall to the floor. He kissed her neck. “Do you like that pain or do you want pleasure?” 

His penis was erect and strong and powerful. He climbed on the chaise and looked down at Dani wrapping his hands around her throat squeezing passionately. Leaning down he stuck his tongue in her mouth and plunged inside of her. “Look at me and what did I say? Say my name Dani!” Jackson said, commanding her knowing that she was going crazy. He began to thrust with intensity as his eyes locked in on hers. “I missed this pussy baby.” He growled again. Gripping her hip he just pushed deeper and longer inside of her body.

She couldn’t help the small smile that came on her mouth when he said that he was in charge, she knew she just had wanted to push him a bit. Honestly she missed that with them, it made her feel secure like she could do anything and she didn’t have to overthink things, she also knew it drove him insane. Her hips arched greedy into his finger while she watched it move in and out and she let out a groan when he stopped. She felt the dildo move up her leg and she couldn’t help the shiver her legs shaking in anticipation and she glared up at him for how spread she was. When he put the tip inside she rolled her head back letting out a moan trying to pull it in deeper only for him to inch it inside before it was buried into her hard. She let out a whelp at the action and arched against the chains. She was still in that state when he put the clamps on and turned them on and she writhed against the chains, while she stared up at him desperate. She had barely heard his instructions; she wanted both; she needed both to feel so full around him that it pushed her to her limit.

When she watched him take off his pants and climb on the chaise she was still feeling the shocks on her nipples going to her core and wondered if she should piss him off more often if this was the punishment. Instead she leaned up to meet his mouth with her own while she watched him press his fingers into her throat and she arched her neck back to allow him, taking his tongue with hers while she watched him plunge into her. “Jackson!” She cried out at the sensation of him gliding along her pinned, her hips eagerly trying to take in him deeper, her arms stretched out. She let out another cry at the action meeting him halfway waiting for him to release her legs so she could pull him in further, her eyes scanned the room not sure how long she could keep up where they were at. “Fuck me Jackson, hard. Till I can barely breathe and all I feel is you inside me while you claim me anywhere you want. Front and back.” She breathed, eying the dildo and her eyes went to the plugs by the bed too. Either one would be fine with her. Even him pushing her to a limit but she wanted to do that and give that to him.

Jackson gripped her waist and began to push as deep as he could. Working just his pelvis he began to thrust as wild as possible. She wanted him to fuck her and he would. Gripping a handful of her hair his eyes became possessed with lust. She loved to tease and test him thirsting for her punishment and tonight he’d oblige her desires. He’d make Dani see that he was in control. He was going to make her know he was the dom and she was the sub. He stopped as he looked at her, pulling out with a loud plopping sound. She was so wet but he wasn’t going to let her cum yet. He wasn’t going to let her feel the pleasure of an orgasm without understanding the rules again. “We haven’t done this for a long time and I think you’ve forgotten the rules.” 

He began to unchain Dani letting her catch her breath removing the clamps seeing how red and hard they were turned him on more. As he picked up the crop and then walked to the other side of the room with his dick swinging. He pulled out a drawer and removed a cold shiny metal paddle. “You are about to learn to not jump ahead of daddy.” He said with a dark growl. Flipping Dani over he began to spank her with the paddle over and over again. Seeing her shiver in pleasure. He whacked her again. Then stopped as he picked up the crop and spanked each ass cheek. Seeing her writhing in pleasure and pain he hopped behind her gripping Dani’s hair. He entered her from behind and began to wildly fuck her from the back. Thrashing into her hearing his pelvis slamming into her perfect ass which was pink from the spanking.

She’d learnt there were certain things that drove him insane and her pushing him was one of them. The way he looked when he went to that space sent her heart beating wildly that she did that to him, he could easily hurt her if he wanted to but he never did. She arched her neck back for him while he thrust into her. Her hips eagerly meeting him while her eyes looked at him. She let her moans and cries fill the room since they’d sound proofed it, she was so close to going over and she pouted at him playfully when he stopped and pulled out. She watched as he undid the chains and took a few breaths relaxing while she watched him and before she knew he walked back over paddle in hand turned her around and began to spank her. Her hands gripped the back of the chaise, her nails digging into the leather, her feet on the ground as she let out a moan at the action.

The metal was cold against her skin and she didn’t realize how much she needed this part till her ass hurt and her cries turned to whimpers, she was pretty sure her ass was thrown back eagerly waiting for him. The crop hit her and she let out a soft moan into the leather before she felt him enter her again. “Jackson.” She managed to get out her hips against his lost in the sensations while she tried to pull him in further only for him to pull on her hair she tried again and she felt him stop, she grinned at him over her shoulder, her right hand lifted from the chair to meet his hand that was in her hair, while she dug her nails into his arm leaning back against him seeing them fucking in the mirror in the room. “I’ll make sure not to jump ahead next time.” She managed to get out wanting him fuller, deeper and she moaned. “More please.” She said the last part begging while she released his arm.

Jackson gripped a handful of Dani’s long luscious hair as his hips pushed deeper and inside of her. Arching her back more by pulling her back he could feel her legs beginning to shake against him. He knew she was close, her pussy was getting wetter and wetter and he was sliding inside of her touching the deepest part of her body. Sweatbeads rolled off his body as he began to growl. Her eyes were rolling in the back of her head. As he leaned down he felt himself collapsing onto her when he heard her begin to cry out in pleasure he knew he could finally release. He wrapped his arm around her neck and pushed all his weight down on her and began to become animalistic and before he knew it his cock swelled to the point he was was exploding inside of his wife. “Fuck!” He screamed out as another powerful blast spewed out of him. His body jerked involuntarily as he shook pumping into her while she shook and came against him.

Jackson rolled off of Dani, pulling her with him back into the chaise and snatched her body to lay on top of his own. Wrapping up inside of her their bodies intertwined and he looked at her beautiful face. “That was amazing. We can’t let our sex lives go, it’s part of our connection and I think Monique knew that. You were amazing and we have to continue to reconnect.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I missed this and us.” He kissed her hand. “Let’s go upstairs, we can grab something to eat. I’m famished. Then we can work on Jackson Junior again and again and again.”

Dani felt him pull her hair arch her lower back more and closed her eyes letting out a moan as she did so letting in take over, her body relaxed to the point he was buried deep hitting her where she needed. Her legs began to shake and she knew even if she wanted she wasn’t going to be able to stop it. “Jackson I’m going to.” Her words were cut off when she came hard moaning and convulsing against him while her vision blurred and he wrapped his arm around her neck. She felt him lurch them forward and braced herself against the leather of the chaise while he fucked her rubbing her clit against the leather, feeling him swell and spilling into her sent her over again. She heard him growl and let out a content sigh against the leather while they both rode out the waves. When he pulled her to him her head was still spinning while she laid against him content. “Thank you for this. I needed this. I missed this too. She was definitely right about this and we both needed this. I have to tell you something.” She said softly, looking up at him.

In truth she was famished but could go another round if needed but she also knew she needed to tell him about the headaches and what she and David talked about. She had been afraid to do it mainly because honestly she didn’t want to blow up Brock’s life but it was gnawing on her constantly even though she had no idea what it meant. Her hand tracing his forearm looking at the claw marks she had left they seemed to compliment the marks she knew she would have. “I know you’ve been worried about me waking up in night sweats and headaches. Kelsey removed the other issue; she says it had nothing to do with birth control. If you want I can go back on it, but I thought after we talked, we both seemed to want to try.” She paused, taking a breath to steady herself. “But David thinks I’m having nightmares from the crash. I keep hearing the glass and the tires, Greer calling out for your brother. I know it sounds crazy why she would be calling out Chauncey’s name? David wants to run more tests to make sure it’s not something else. I don’t think I’m going crazy, maybe I am. Or maybe I’m just projecting based on her getting my grandmother’s ring and marrying Brock. I wanted you to know I don’t want us to have secrets.” She didn’t know how he’d react, honestly it sounded crazy which was why she had talked to David about it.

“No I don’t think that you are going crazy, David is running tests and together we will figure out what is going on. I don’t like you hearing things from the crash in fact I believe that maybe Greer might have some secrets. What if she told you whatever her secret is that night and you don’t remember or something like that. Let’s stop always jumping to crazy. You aren’t crazy Dani, you are completely fine and my wife. They cleared you and I can’t help but feel like maybe Greer is the key to why you are having nightmares. Let’s try to figure this out together.” He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her. “Look at me your family has a history of mental illness but that hasn’t affected you and I hate Dru has made you feel like you could go crazy.  You aren’t crazy, you’re a mother, CEO, and my wife.” Jackson touched her face. “We will figure this out.”

*****

Walter looked around the train station checking his watch to make sure he had the right time, Zerick had been very insistent that this was where Dru would be, if anything the man was perceptive enough to see the ticket on Dru’s phone. He had meant what he said when he and Brenda had talked he wanted to help Dru the faster he found her and told her to turn herself in for questioning the sooner as a family they could move forward. He was certain that Braden would come around, eventually Dani would too, Dru was after all their sister and Fraiser’s stuck together. It took him a few phone calls and taking some money out to bribe a few of the security guards at the station to alert him when she arrived. He waited patiently and when he saw sitting on a bench near the departures he checked the picture on his phone it was her. Her disguise could easily not be recognized by the police. He walked and sat down beside her when she went to move. He placed a hand on her shoulder putting her back in place. They had some things they needed to work out and talk through and at the end if she wanted to leave he would let her.

“Kendall or is it Dru, what would you like us to call you? You’re quite difficult to track down but luckily for you I know everyone in this city and the people I don’t know. Well, they like me as mayor. Why are you running?” Walter asked his child, looking at her. He knew she was a grown woman but a part of him wanted to protect the child inside of her that never had what he felt she deserved growing up. His eyes went to her stomach. She was clearly in trouble if the belly was any indication. Thank God it wasn’t Jacksons’ she had admitted to drugging his son I law at the hospital and not sleeping with him. It would be hard enough for him to convince Dani and Jackson to drop the charges against her, but perhaps if they knew her condition they were after all parents. “You caused quite the mess. I’d like to inform you that your sister is fine by the way, if anything she’s stubborn like that. Brenda is fine if anything perhaps the wreck got her a new liver sooner rather than later. She may be willing to wash her hands of you, I’m not ready to do that just yet. You’re in trouble, I can help.” He said quietly not sure she would take the offer but wishing she would so they could talk and work on healing as a family.

“My name is Dru.” She said, rolling her eyes. “Kendall died the moment that Brenda handed me off to the nuns.” Leaning her head on the wall as she slouched down in her seat. “I can’t wait to call Zerick and tell him he’s an asshole for calling my daddy on me.” She said with all the twang she could muster. When she heard that Brenda wanted nothing to do with her, that was fine. She never cared anyway and she hated her for it. That was a half truth she thought she’d be right here trying with Walter. It stung as much as she didn’t want it to, it hurt. Playing with the zipper on the coat she couldn’t even look at him. “You know I used to dream about my father coming to save me from that trailer park. From the moment I could talk I knew I was different. I didn’t belong there and some people can work hard to get out but I wasn’t going to do that. I knew I was pretty and smart. Those two things can get you far in life. So I plotted and planned and cried and then plotted some more. After all I am Brenda and Walter’s kid I would have to have a drop of duplicitous nature in my blood. By the age of twelve I truly saw that I was all I had in this world and men only wanted one thing out of me, my body. So I realized that my daddy would never come and get me and I was on my own. I clawed my way to get my revenge and I got it so why stick around.? Why continue to pretend that everything can be the Brady Bunch? I don’t believe in that and if I was Jackson and Dani I’d want me gone and behind bars as well. I did almost destroy their marriage.” She said proudly looking up.

The silence in the air felt like a dense fog. “What do you want, Walter? I mean you should be comforting Dani, she’s your daughter more than I. She finally deserves your attention because as I recall you never gave it to her. I share blood with you but you didn’t raise me and you can’t raise me now. I’m grown and I do what the fuck I want. So I’m not having you bail me out. Oh I know about you. I’ve read all about you Walter, how you treat Dani, how you favor Braden and how your ex-wife let my sister die. So what do you want a cookie for being here for me? I don’t want you in fact I resent that you are even here. You are the same man that told me to stay out of your life so I’m doing what you wanted. I’m obliging you and agreeing with you. I’m gone and you can go back to your perfect life with Brenda once I’m gone. So leave me alone and let me get out of here undetected.”

Walter looked over at her leaning against the wall. He knew her childhood had been less than ideal and she had every right to feel that way but he also knew that he had no idea she even existed. Everyone had lied about it. Lauren and Lowell had likely conspired to help Brenda leave town without telling him. Brenda had left Steven, Anderson and Hunter at the time to leave to help a family member or so he had been told. But did anyone tell him about her no, they all lied and kept that from him. “ Zerick was worried about you and wanted me to know where you were, better me than the police. I know I am not perfect Dru but to be fair I didn’t even know you existed, you’ve never given me a fair shake in any of it. Lowell made sure with Lauren that they helped Brenda leave town, she never told me she was pregnant so why hate me so much? Why hate your siblings so much that they didn’t even know of your existence?” He honestly wanted to find out the whys with her because to him it made no sense, if she should be angry at any parent it was Brenda not him. “When I found out you existed I hired someone to find you and you went to the lengths of lying to him and bribing him to tell me you were dead does that sound like someone who doesn’t care. You truly have no remorse for what you did to Dani or Jackson do you?” He asked, looking at her already knowing the answer.

When she called him out about Dani he honestly wanted to scoff, Dani had always been strong and had always been able to stand on her own two feet. Honestly it was one of the things he admired the most about his middle child, she didn’t need to be coddled in his mind. “Is it so wrong of me to want a chance to get to know you and try with you? Why is that so awful to accept? If I wanted to hurt you I could have called Jon and Devin and had them meet you here to arrest you. I chose to not do that. Does that mean that I don’t care?” Walter asked if he could have easily turned her into Jon and Devin but he had chosen to try with her first and then decide plus he did want to talk to Dani and Jackson to see if they could change their minds. “I didn’t know who you were at the time, now I do. For the record I ended things with Brenda over you, she made me choose and I chose you. We can figure this out Dru I can negotiate something with the police and a judge.”

When he said he ended his relationship with Brenda her eyes glimmered a little with tears. For the first time she didn’t have her walls up. He did it for her? Nobody had done anything for her like that. He sacrificed the love of his life for her? Lowering her head, tears began to fall. “You shouldn’t have done that. You should have just let me be thrown away.” She said in a voice above a whisper. As she gasped her hand shaking she grabbed Walter’s hand. “I have nobody. I have always depended on me and yes I did all of that. I wanted you all to hurt but hearing that Brenda hates me enough to end her relationship with you. Walter, where am I going to go from here? You want me here for what? Some type of redemption story? Look, I need to be free from all of this. I snapped, I went lost in revenge and I can’t keep swallowing all of this pain.” Taking her dad’s hand she placed it on her belly. “This is the reason I gotta go. I gotta get out of here because all of the men that I slept with aren’t going to let me be free. I want to raise this child so badly so it can have the love and life. Zerick didn’t even know I might be pregnant with his child. But three other men could be as well and I’m not some princess like Dani. I’m reckless and I’m not some trophy child. I’m poisoned.” She finally said as she gasped knowing she shocked him with her revelation that one of four men could be the father of her baby. 

“I’m not a good person and I don’t know what you want from me Walter. You’re trying to know me and I only know how to hurt people. I don’t even know who I am. I’m not Kendall and if you want that little girl she’s gone. You can’t fix this Walter because you’re mayor. You are going to get yourself impeached or something. Look, just let me go because I don’t want to face all of this. I don’t want to face my life because I crashed out on everyone and I don’t think these people will forgive and forget. You gotta stop trying because you have a family and life. What is Braden going to say? You work with Hunter! You have waited your entire life for Brenda and here you are throwing it away. Stop trying with me. Please I’m not worth losing your life and family for. Listen to me because I know this much about myself I’m going to do more horrible shit and I’m protecting you I guess. I’m not going to lie because I’ve never been a good person. I just need you to let me go.” Dru pleaded to Walter for the first time. “Please Dad.” 

“No one deserves to be thrown away Dru and that seems to be what you don’t want to hear from me. I never knew about you until recently. I would have fought for you because that is what parents are supposed to do for their children.” Walter said it hurt that he and Brenda had said goodbye on such bad terms but she had asked him to make a choice between their love and the daughter that was sitting next to him and he knew the answer was unfortunately from Brenda, his children. Yes he was hard on Braden and Dani, he missed Victoria greatly but Dru was just as much his child and he knew how precious that was to the point he needed to pick her and be there for her for all the times she didn’t have anyone. “I want you to give me a chance, give your family a chance. My own mother has defended you from everything that you have done. You have to understand once she draws a battle line the family either rallies or they don’t.” When she moved his hand to her stomach his heart dropped. He instantly felt a connection to her child, his newest grandchild no matter their circumstances. No one was asking her to swallow all her pain anymore. Honestly he thought she needed help to deal with all the pain she did feel. “No one is asking you to keep swallowing your pain. If anything, we want you to let it go. I want you to let it go.” He said softly seeing her face she was so scared like a child.

She kept saying that she only knew how to hurt people and maybe that was true but she also had made him see that she was hurting and alone and that it was Lowell, Lauren and Brenda’s fault they had placed that onto her. He knew that Kendall was long gone, though he doubted that his mother would see it that way only Dru was there now. “I have pull here Dru. Pull to help you out of your mess. I would use my name and my office to do it. I’d likely go against your sister and Jackson in order to do it, now more than ever knowing my grandchild is at stake. Though I’m hoping your sister will be reasonable given the circumstances” Walter said honestly Dani wasn’t awful she was a mother now that had to account for Dru’s condition. Besides it wasn’t like she and Jackson weren’t still married and his son in law hadn’t relapsed. “Braden will come around. Hunter and I aren’t close. Tell me who all that baby’s father could be, be open with me Dru and I can help you. You keep asking me to let you go, I simply can’t do that this time. I’ve let everyone tell me what to feel about Brenda for years. I won’t let them tell me how to feel about my daughter and I know you don’t want to hear that. But you are my daughter no matter what you have done.” He finished looking at her should this fail he would have no choice but to call the police and turn her in to keep her from leaving the city.

Was this what unconditional love actually felt like? She had nearly killed her mother, the woman that was the love of his life and here he was. She had pushed away so many people and for the first time someone was in her corner. A small gasp came out of her mouth as she released years of fears, anxiety, and abandonment. The tears didn’t stop for at least five minutes because she just sat crying in Walter’s arms. It wasn’t one of those dramatic cries that she had seen on television; it was a quiet release rolling out of her body. For some reason at this very moment she believed Walter. She believed the man in front of her would fight anyone to ensure that she wouldn’t be going down. The manipulative side wondered what she could get out of all of this. How far she could push Walter’s love to get what she wanted. Which was to be safe from every last man that she had slept with. It was ironic she was ready to run and here she was with a true trump card up her sleeve. “Alright, I’ll stay but you have to promise me one thing. They won’t take my daughter or son. I was thrown away and this baby needs to know that it’s mother would never do what my mother has done to me. I need you to promise me Walter. That none of those men will just be able to take your grandchild and my child away.” Dru said sternly, wiping her eyes. 

“Lex Hessington, Ronan Madden, Zerick Davis, and Philip Montgomery.” She could see the color draining from his face as she named her child’s potential father. “I didn’t say it would be easy nor did I say this would be a walk in the park. Your pull better be strong as hell because each one of them will say I’m unfit to raise this baby besides maybe Zerick. The other three well, they’ll do whatever to get what they want. I’m ashamed that I have to tell my father who I’m fucking but you wanted to know and there it is. I was careless and this is what happens, you know that or I wouldn’t be here right now. So tell me Dad how in the hell are you going to get those four men off of my back? Each one of them is more powerful than the other in some way or form. Lex has political pull and if it’s his baby Charles will try to take it. Ronan will use every corrupt official in his pocket to have my baby in his arms. Zerick cares about me but he’s a Devonshire so even though he cares he will have no mercy if I choose to not have him involved and Philip is devious on another level not to mention his father. So tell me dad how are you going to help me weasel out of this one? I haven’t even thought of a solution other than running. So since you’re forcing me to stay then you share this burden. Tell me how to fix this.” Dru asked as she saw him catching his breath. “I’m not as virginal as Dani huh? She was perfect, never disappointing. She was engaged to Lex and married a Devonshire. I must look like the nastiest slut to you.” A bit of shame slipped out because who told their father that they had a potential of four men to be the child’s father? “Bet you don’t want us now.”

Walter had no idea that she would break out in tears and it had been years since he had comforted a child of his own, Braden had been so strong after what happened with Tamara he had leaned on Lauren. Dani never seemed to reach out to him for comfort and could he really blame himself, for a moment he was reminded of the conversation he had with Jackson before he married his daughter. He had resented her, when Dru mentioned that Dani was perfect and not a disappointment he silently reflected, the plan had been she would marry Lex and he never wanted her to marry Jackson. In truth, Dani had her own mind, but he had been blind to the fact that what he saw as disappointment was her wanting his attention; he knew that was not proud of it. He rubbed her back, letting her cry and show a side he was pretty sure that Dru had not shown anyone, and he was pulled even more to his daughter and her plight over it. He felt needed and when she named all the names of who could be the father he was pretty sure it registered as shock and a bit of disgust at some of them namely Philip and Ronan.

“Let me worry about Dani and Brenda. Not everyone hates you Dru they just need time, my mother for one would very much like to get to know you. She did afterall ask Dani to forgive you and the rest of the family.” Walter said he would speak to Dani, he had tried with Brenda and it fell on deaf ears. He may not have had the power or the pull that others did in the town but he had made sure that Dylan had remained with Braden. There was no way in hell he was going to let Ronan Madden get his hands on the child that his daughter was carrying, especially not after what happened on the boat and how Zach had died. Forbes was a darkness in the town, a leech and he was certain that his son was no better. Charles was a bit of a wild card, honestly Dru would not be the image that he would ever welcome and he had made sure that Whitney and Ryan had gotten Jon’s child. Zerick was not an awful option but he was a Devonshire and his loyalty would always be to Jackie and by extension her children. “I am not going to let anyone rip my grandchild from you Dru, mark my words on that. They’d have to kill me first. So do you have more than one bag, you’ll come home with me and we’ll make a plan. Eventually you will need to speak to the police. I happen to know a few lawyers.” Walter said he wondered if given circumstances Lex would be willing to represent her given he may be the father of her child.

Dru stood and nodded her head about the bag. Her things were all there. She had sold all of her designer clothing she bought to fit into the lifestyle of Atlas Falls. She was scrapping to get by and to have a warm bed where she didn’t have to worry about who was coming after her put her mind at ease. She wasn’t going to say much about the police but she also understood his position. He was the mayor of the city and he couldn’t have an active fugitive in his home. She nodded her head. “Just make sure I’m not having my child behind bars, Walter and this child is my second chance at a lot. This child is my chance at finally showing my mother what it looks like to handle your responsibility and not pawn it off. She gave me away and I’m going to show her what it’s like to look your problem in the face and don’t worry I’m not running anymore. In fact I think it’s time for me to place my feet down. Atlas Falls hasn’t seen the last of Dru or Kendall.” She took his hand wrapping her arms around his. “You know I could get used to this daddy and daughter thing. You’re a little more cutthroat than I thought.” She sneered seeing him smile. Dru looked at the bus starting to fill and knew that from now on the game and rules had changed. She was playing a new game and it was keep away. She was going to have Walter Fraiser all to herself.