My Sweetest Sin

Chapter 28

I've spent the next week in the hospital finally doctors were comfortable releasing me from the hospital. Kay and Pop as well as Stephanie and Jordan all stayed In Tribeca to help care for the girls since Joe spent everyday and night at the hospital only heading home to get the girls to bed and shower and change. I've began to withdraw and pull away I knew I was and I just couldn't control it. I couldn't process as tough as I was I couldn't protect our baby girl and now because of me she isn't here. Joe had told the kids as well as Kay and Tom, it devised Kay to the point she had a episode that lasted three days straight and it was all because of me.

Physically I was on the mend mentally I wish I was just gone and with our daughter. NYPD haven't found Austin neither has the crew. With ever passing day that no one has found him Joe becomes angrier angrier. He has hired private detectives to find him but what he doesn't realize Austin knows how to disappear. The day finally came when I was being discharged and going home, a relief to Joe to me A reminder of everything. How was I supposed to go back to that house and have daily reminders of what a fuck up I am.

We pulled up home it was 1 kids were still in school leaving Stephanie and Jordan at the house. I walked in the door to smiles and hugs but I just couldn't. Duke met me and the door full of excitement to see me back and truth of the matter if it wasn't for him Austin probably would have succeeded in killing me. He never left my side the entire day. Jordan and Stephanie were flying out the next day we couldn't hold them up any more than we have already. I found myself in the bedroom and I shut myself off to the world. Joe has forced to try to balance his career and the girls and a girlfriend that was so fucked in the head that I didn't know if I'd ever be right again.

This continued for three weeks. Joe came and curled up in bed with me "Bella""Yea""Listen this wasn't your fault""yes it was I should have been able to protect her""you did all you could""did I""Listen I got a phone call today""about""Austin""what about him""they got him". "Where""he went back to y'all old apartment and the neighbors called the police.""They caught him doesn't mean anything""Detective Finn says the DA wants attempted murder, agrivated assult, and Murder, Bella he isn't going to get out""that's if the can make the case stick""he admitted to everything""he did""yes now your going to have to testify when he goes to trial.""Joe No I don't want to see him""Bella you have too Ill be there so is Stephanie and Jordan Val and Victor to keep security you won't be alone.""Untill they start questioning me about my past and then what""let our lawyers handle that baby.""Joe I don't know I feel so useless and like I failed everyone.""No you didn't he did this""and this house is just a reminder of everything""then let's pack up the girls and Duke go stay at the condo for awhile""go stay at the condo and what make you not see your kids""I'll fly in back and forth it's not a long trip.""I can't ask you to do that""your not, how about this, you get in take a bubble bath then when you get out I'll give you a massage and tommorow I start making plans to head over to the condo""Fine", he leans in kissing my lips, "I love you Bella you know that right""I love you too."

I slide into the tub and just cry how did my life turn out like this. It was perfect for one brief second despite the drama. Part of me is still on cloud 9 Joey loves me at the same point I'm fighting every urge not to run. Joe walks in "want company""kids asleep""Yea", he strips down sliding in behind me and carefully pulls me back against him. " You wanna talk about it""No""Bella you shut down on me please, I love you we will get through this""get through it, I'm the reason she is dead""no your not""yes I am Austin came looking for me""you tried to protect her, he did it""and it's because of me."" Listen to me you didn't do it I don't blame you no one does stop blaming yourself""easy for you to say""I lost her too you know I'm just as devistated as you but I know you didn't cause it and now Austin will be put away for it and he never can hurt you again.""Maybe everyone would be better off if I just went back home""Bella don't even... This is your home now""Joe look at me maybe Katrina is right I'm just some hoodrat who your fucking.""Now wait a fuckin minute for fucks sake, your no hoodrat and I'm not just fucking you how could you even say that""because it's true what do I have that is so special you have thousands of gorgeous woman just throw themselves at you""you wanna know.. your beautiful,smart, sassy and as much as you try to hid it have a heart of gold. I have a connection with you that I never felt with anyone and I don't think I ever will again.""How could you say that""because I feel it when I look into your eyes, I know it when I kiss you it's you. It always will be.""Until the next one comes along I'm the one everyone's always replaces after awhile""there isn't gonna be a next one, answer me Bella""about""do you really love me""more than anything""would you spend forever with me""yes""then let's do it""do what""let's make it official""you can't be serious""I haven't been more serious about anything""Joe""think about it, I'm gonna hop out." He slid out wrapping a towel around his waist and here I sit stunned, did he real just say that.

I sat dumbfounded for like 15 minutes before I slide out of the tub and got dressed. When I opened the door and stepped into the room nothing could prepare me for what I seen. I stepped out Joe was on one knee, jewelry box in his hand, "so I'm not serious Bella""I also bought this when I was in LA""Joe what are you doing""Bella Listen I know we've gone through some shit and only been together physically 7 months but in that seven months It's proved to me that I can't and I don't ever want to be without you. I said it before when you know you know and I know for sure that I want you to be my forever. I realize that you only find that one once in a lifetime and I did and now I have I don't ever want to let you go. I'm in love with you all of you from that firey temper to the smart ass mouth to the way you crinkle your nose when you come. I'm in love with all of it, I love each of those girls like they are mine and I thank god everyday that he brought you guys I didn't know I could love someone other the kids as much as I love you but I do. It killed me when I found Austin on top of you hitting you I thought nothing could be worse then I came home and found you Duke trying to protect you and I thought I lost you and it broke me, you see Bella if it's not obvious by now I can't be without you. Marry me Bella I can't promise you perfect but I can promise you all of me and always and I'll love you till my last breath." I sat stunned tears sliding from my eyes, "Joe you mean it""I bought the ring well I was in LA so that should tell you something so Bella will you Marry me". I didn't know what to say so I just nodded "yes". With that he swoops me up in his arms and his lips crush into mine, "say it again my baby please""Yes Joe I'll Marry you!!".