Living with my PORNSTAR sisters-Chapter 31: I Will Save You!

It was late night.

Raven was sitting on the floor of Leo’s room—back against the bed frame, knees drawn up, one of his cigarettes burning between her fingers. The window was cracked; cool night waves slipped in and carried the smoke out in lazy curls. She looked smaller than usual , hair loose and messy, eyes red from lack of sleep and too many tears she hadn’t let fall in front of the others.

Leo sat cross-legged in front of her close enough their knees touched—watching her face.

She took a long drag. Held it. Let it out slow.

"I had a Bastard husband before your fucker father," she started. Voice quiet, almost flat. "First one. Real one. He was a Navy guy. Good man—at least I thought so back then. Handsome. Funny. Loved me very much when he was home."

She tapped ash into an empty water bottle.

"But Navy life you know... he was months gone. Sometimes a whole year. I was alone a lot. Got pregnant with Sasha during one of those stretches. Didn’t tell him till he came back. He was happy not like others—he kissed my belly, called it our little miracle. Stayed three months that time. Felt like forever."

Another drag.

"Then I got pregnant again. With Blair. Didn’t tell him right away. Thought I’d surprise him when he came home next. But he got a letter instead. Dishonorable discharge. Some bullshit administrative thing, lost his rank, his pension, everything. Came home l, but it was not him, it was some angry. Broken person. Drunk half the time."

She looked at Leo then—

"I told him about the baby. Thought it’d fix him. Bring him back. Stupid, right?"

Leo didn’t answer. Just waited.

"He stared at me for a long time. Then he said..." Her voice cracked. "...he said she wasn’t his. That I must’ve fucked someone else while he was gone. Called me a liar. A whore. Threw a lamp across the room. I cried. Begged him to believe me. But He didn’t."

She exhaled smoke through her nose.

"Week later he calmed down. Acted normal. Held my hand. Kissed me. But it wasn’t the same. His mental health declined, Temper got shorter. He Started throwing things when he drank. Plates. Books. Once he put his fist through the drywall because I asked him to quit smoking inside."

Raven’s fingers shook, just a little.

"Labor with Blair was hell. Thirty-six hours. I thought I’d die. But when they put her in my arms... God, Leo. She was perfect. Tiny. Screaming. Beautiful. I looked at her and promised—whispered it right there in the delivery room—that I’d give her everything. Happiness. Safety. No matter what."

She stubbed the cigarette out against the bottle.

"He came, my husband he came, to the hospital. Stood in the doorway. Looked at her. Then looked at me. And he said clear as day—’She’s not mine.’ Then he turned around and walked out. Didn’t even hold her. Didn’t sign the birth certificate. Just... left."

Raven’s eyes were dry now. Empty.

"I never looked for him. Never wanted a dime. Never wanted him near my girls. I raised them alone. Waitressed. Took night classes. Did what I had to. Then I met your father. Thought maybe... maybe I could have normal again. Stupid. Again."

She looked up at Leo.

"I tried, baby. I swear I tried. But I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired. And now... with everything that’s happening to Blair... I feel like I’m failing them all over again."

Leo reached out slow—took the bottle from her hand, set it aside. Then he gently grabbed her face.

"You’re not failing anyone."

Tears finally slipped down her cheeks.

"I don’t know how to protect them anymore."

Leo leaned in—kissed her. Soft at first. Then deeper. She tasted like smoke. He kissed her harder, tongue sliding against hers—hands sliding into her hair.

She moaned, quietly, broken—against his mouth.

He pulled back just enough to speak.

"Fuck, you taste like cigarettes."

She laughed wet, shaky.

He kissed her again, intense this time—tongue deeper, teeth grazing her lip. She grabbed his shirt, yanked him closer. They overbalanced—fell sideways onto the carpet in a tangle of limbs.

Leo landed half on top of her—knee between her thighs, hand braced beside her head.

She arched up—rubbed against him, moaning into his mouth.

He broke the kiss—panted against her neck.

"I’ll take care of them," he said with an—manly voice. "Of you. Of all of you. I swear."

Raven nodded—tears still falling—then pulled him down for another kiss.

she was breathing hard—eyes shining.

"Go help my daughter," she whispered. "Please."

Leo stood, then offered his hand.

She took it—let him pull her up.

He kissed her once more.

Then turned for the door.

"Tell me what you know," he said over his shoulder.

Raven leaned against the wall—still catching her breath—smiled faintly.

"Not much. But I think it’s that damn taxi driver. The one from the airport. I’m not sure. That’s why I didn’t say anything earlier. Didn’t want to scare anybody."

Leo’s jaw tightened.

"That taxi driver?"

"Yeah."

He nodded once—sharp.

"If you’re right... I’ll find him." He looked back at her—eyes dark. "And I swear to every devil listening, I’ll fuck him up with a literal rod if I have to."

Raven gave a small chuckle.

"Go."

Leo left.

The hallway was quiet.

He walked to Blair’s door—1210 again.

Knocked soft.

No answer.

He leaned his forehead against the door again.

"Blair... it’s me."

Nothing.

He stayed there anyway.

Waiting.

Because that’s what you do when someone you love is drowning.

You wait.

And you don’t leave.