Speak For Me

Cathedral

*Corbyn POV*

"Hush, it's okay baby." My hands tighten to fists as I watch the bitch try to console my crying daughter.

"Who the fuck is Bruno!? And don't fucking lie to me again."

I point an accusing finger at Gabriel as Zach and Daniel stand behind me, with Jack sitting at the coffee table, doing all the research he can on Jayden Bruno.

Gabriel let the man's first name slip, and I've had Jack trying to find out anything and everything since. So far, there's nothing worth mentioning, all we got is that he's a model citizen, and donates to the local animal shelter.

"Jayden Bruno, leader of some fucking gang just on the state line. Wants revenge on you, for killing his.." I drown out the sound of Gabriel's voice as I focus on my daughter, whose face is red with sadness, and tears trickle from her eyes.

I take a step towards Dayana, ignoring the voices swirling around the room, I reach my arms out to take Charlotte but Dayana takes a protective step away.

"Give me my daughter." My voice holds venom, but the soft look on my face doesn't fade as I keep my eyes on my little girl.

"No." Her voice holds anger towards me, as she tries to shield Charlie, as if I'm some sort of danger to her. And maybe I am, but right now, all I care about is that she's back with me.

"Daya, give him the girl."

Dayana hesitates at the sound of her husbands voice but she nods, whispering something lightly to my little girl, then willingly handing her over.

My hands grab under her armpits, almost in urgency, and I bring her tightly into my body. Holding one arm under her bum, and the other resting lightly behind her head, I begin to bounce her slowly, and her cries begin to settle.

I don't know if it's because she remembers who I am, if she remembers our sleepless nights, if she remembers my constant need to be around her, or maybe she just finds comfort in me, but she begins to fall asleep in my arms almost instantly and my cold heart begins to melt.

I'm grateful to have Charlotte here with me, but I'm still wishing that Cassidy and Elizabeth were here too. I still miss my wife more than anything, and I'm still craving to hold my newborn daughter.

I still can't believe that I let them go.

"I got his address, how much do you wanna bet he's keeping Cassidy there?" Jack tilts his laptop screen so it's in view to me. His house isn't a far drive, but it's still longer than I would've wanted.

I turn to look at Zach, giving him a slight nod.
"Call in more Indefinite members;" I no longer want Gabriel's help. "Have them here by tomorrow morning, we're getting Cassidy back by tomorrow night."

"Yes sir." Zach is instantly on his phone, ready to make whatever calls he needs as he walks away from the small group.

"Daniel, I need you to get the layout of his house, I want to know of every room, and every person that lives there. I want pictures of every face that's been in and out of that house in the last two weeks." Daniel nods, grabbing Jacks laptop off the table as he takes a seat on the white leather sofa, instantly getting to work.

"Jack, I need you to watch Charlie for a bit;" He gives me a questioning look but instantly holds his hands out to take the sleeping girl. "I won't be gone long, maybe an hour or two, I'll try to be fast."

"Is everything okay?" Jacks voice is hushed as he cradles my daughter close, swaying her softly as she begins to stir.

I know what he's asking. He's asking if I'm going to a bar, or if I'm going to get high but I'm not, I'm not even thinking about that right now. Not a chance. I'm only thinking about getting Cassidy tomorrow night, I'm thinking about getting Elizabeth tomorrow night, and I won't do anything to ruin that.

"I'll be back in a bit."

~

Stepping out of the black, rental car, I grip loosely on my black leather jacket, that covers my thin white tee shirt. It hasn't stopped snowing since I got Charlie from the park, and I hate this weather. I miss the warmth of California, I miss the warmth of my home outside of San Jose. I miss the warmth of my family.

I stomp my feet just outside the large wooden doors, getting the snow off my combat boots before I enter the white brick building.

The door creaks as I enter but it doesn't take away the attention of the people sitting by themselves in search for peace. I take a large breath as my feet begin to walk along the red carpeted floor, and I walk further into the building.

The high ceilings cause every move of mine to echo and the bright lights make me squint my eyes as I take a seat in the very last row of pews.

My eyes bounce around to the back of peoples heads, they're far enough away that they won't hear me confess my sins, but they're close enough to make me want to whisper.

"Forgive me, it's been a long time since I stepped in to a place like this." My bottom lip trembles as a stare at the large cross at the front of the room, along with grabbing the cross that has rested around my neck for the last nine years.

"I don't know where to start, I haven't been here since my grandmother dragged me here after my first suicide attempt."

The last time I stepped foot in a church was when my grandmother thought I lost my path, when she thought Jesus would save me, that I just needed to let him into my heart and soul, and I would be okay.

My hands begin to shake, and I blame it on the cold weather, even though my body is sweating. I clasp my hands together tightly, and I stare down at my black boots, keeping my sight focused on the streaks of melted snow, flowing to soak into the carpet.

"I'm not here for me, I'm not here to ask for forgiveness or for clarity, I'm here for my wife and my daughter;" My voice cuts as I hear a body walk past me. I don't need anyone to hear this.

"I wasn't able to protect them, and that's a mistake I'll have to live with for the rest of my life, but I'm begging you to keep them safe until I'm able to get them back."

My shoulders shake as I take in a deep breath. I rest my forehead on my hands, trying to keep my breathing steady, but it's hard with my racing heart.

I don't know why I came here, I've never really believed in god, sure, my family went to church when I was a little kid, but once I got older, we stopped going. Maybe I'm just that desperate, maybe I'm just that scared that something will go wrong tomorrow.

"Please, I'll never be able to survive without them, I realize that now. I need Cassidy back, I need Elizabeth... And if you can't willingly do that for me, do it for Charlotte.. Charlotte needs her mom, she needs her sister.."

I wipe my watering eyes on my shaking hands as I slowly lift my head from my feet. My eyes search around the room, almost in a craze, looking for any type of threat.

No ones ever seen me this vulnerable, besides my family, Cassidy, and a few of the boys. I'm not letting anyone else see me like this.

"I'll never ask for anything again, as long as my family is safe."

With one last deep breath, I push myself up and out of the seat. Respectfully, I make a cross along my head and chest before giving a slight nod. It's only a few steps before I'm leaving the aisle and I'm pushing open the church doors, with my game face back on.