“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he grumbles in his sleepy state, and I look up at him. His eyes are still closed and a small smile falls on his lips. He opens one eye looking down at me.
“Sorry, Rock, I didn’t mean to wake you,” I whisper, and he opens both eyes, staring into my soul.
“Never apologise for waking me, Red,” he says as he leans down and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Waking with you in my arms is one of the best feelings in the world.”
I pat him playfully as I roll my eyes, moving out of his grasp. He leans up on his elbows, watching as I make my way to the bathroom. I look over my shoulder at him and tease, “You should take a picture. It lasts longer.”
“I don’t need a picture. I’m gonna be watching this every day for the rest of my life,” he shouts as I close the bathroom door behind me.
We’re sittingin the bar, waiting for Rochelle to come back with Meli, when we hear a commotion outside the clubhouse. Rochelle is shouting and screaming at the top of her voice, and my adrenaline automatically kicks in as I run out the doors with Rock and Drifter hot on my tail. Rochelle is standing just before the gates with a vice-like grip on my daughter’s pushchair. I can hear the bastard before I see him, and I sprint across the car park.
“Get your dirty fucking hands off my daughter,” I shriek, closing the distance between us. Drifter and Rock are a few steps behind me as it takes them a moment to catch up and realise what’s transpiring in front of them.
“She’s my fucking daughter as well. I’m entitled to see her,” he yells. I would usually recoil at his tone, but knowing Rock stands proudly behind me, I’m no longer afraid of Darius. I stand between him and my daughter’s pushchair as she wails behind me.
“When it fucking suits you,” I spit at him angrily. “You know as well as I do you can’t just show up here and take her.” He steps closer into my personal space and smirks at me. I feel Rock there within an instant, and I put my hand out to stop him. His nostrils flare as his eyes turn black with anger.
“I’ve got this,” I say as I place my hand on his chest. I need to show Darius that he can’t intimidate me anymore, that he can’t throw his weight around and expect me to shatter into a thousand pieces like I once did. Rock looks at me, then looks right past me and glares at Darius. He nods, taking a slight step back, but not too far that he can’t take a swipe if he needs to.
“That’s right, get your little pit bull under control,” Darius says with a smirk, and I know exactly what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to push Rock’s buttons, to provoke a reaction. I look over my shoulder and mouth ‘I love you’ to Rock, then I watch him visibly relax.
I inch forward into the space between us a little more, and we’re almost toe-to-toe. I don’t want him to know I’m intimidated. I want to show him that right now, I have the power and I hold all the cards.
“Darius,” I say calmly, my mouth dry as I swallow hard, “go fuck yourself.” I throw a grin in his direction, and before I know it, he’s raised his hand back to slap me, but Drifter grabs hold of it before it can connect.
“You heard the woman. I think it’s time you left,” Rock spits.
“One week with this bunch of scumbags and you suddenly think you’re big enough to take me on? You fucking whore.” I smirk at him, knowing I’ve rattled his cage, and it gives me great satisfaction. I turn to walk away, grabbing Rock’s arm and pushing the pushchair into his grasp so he can’t get himself into any more trouble.
“Oh, and Darius,” I say as I turn around, everyone pausing, the atmosphere tense, “I think you need to get yourself a lawyer. If you want to see your daughter, you’ll have to fight for access.” I turn on my heels and walk away, Rock pushing Meli with one hand and placing his other at the small of my back.
“You fucking bitch,” Darius yells from behind us, but I don’t stop. We keep moving until we’re back inside. My whole body is shaking as the adrenaline begins to subside. Rock leans in and kisses me on the head.
“You did good, Red.”
ROCK
WatchingRed stand up to that prick had me beaming with pride. The scared Red who he tried to drag out by her hair was no more, and instead, standing in her place was my feisty fox with the same sass that had me the moment she stumbled into my life.
She exhales loudly as we enter the clubhouse, and I grab her round the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine, parting them with my tongue, showing her with everything how fucking turned-on her sass makes me feel. She pushes gently against my chest, breaking the connection and releases a long breath.
“What was that for?” she questions as a grin spreads across her beautiful face.
“That,” I indicate to outside with my thumb, “was the hottest fucking thing I’ve seen.” She bursts out laughing and the tension radiating from her moments ago dissipates into the room. Her eyes light up, and in that moment, I’m reminded that she’s my queen. I’ll protect her with my life, of course, but she isn’t some damsel in distress and she doesn’t need saving. She needs someone by her side, guiding her to happiness and showing her what it is to be loved.
The moment is broken when Meli lets out a little squeal. I bend down in front of her pushchair, and she arches her back and stretches her arms out to reach for me.
“Is someone getting jealous?” I tease as I tap her little nose, then unbuckle her from the seat. She lets out a little giggle as I lift her up into the air.
Red laughs. “She’s got you wrapped around her finger already.”
“Just like a certain someone else,” Rochelle interrupts, and I put my middle finger up at her and roll my eyes. This pair together are going to be fucking lethal.
Our friendly judgehas gone very quiet over the last couple days, and even though I should feel relieved, it actually sets me on edge wondering what we should be expecting next from him. Drifter bangs the gavel on the table, notifying everyone to the start of church and bringing my attention to what’s in front of me.
“Our good friend, Judge Darius Parker, has gone quiet over the last few days, but I’m sure he won’t stay that way for long.” He looks across at me trying to gauge my mood. “You,” he points at me, “be on your best behaviour. Don’t let him goad you intoripping on him cos it won’t end well.” I roll my eyes at him with a smirk.
“Would I ever, Prez?”
