I stand facing Ted with my arms crossed. The first thing I notice is how dishevelled he looks. His sandy blond hair looks dull and dirty. He has dark rings underneath his eyes, and his whole body seems to twitch. He doesn’t take a step towards me; he stands rooted to the spot.
“What do you want, Ted?”
He looks around. “No boyfriend today?” He spits out the word boyfriend as if it personally offends him.
“Again, what do you want?”
“I already told you what I want. If you don’t give me some money to go away for good, then I’ll take from you what belongs to me as well.” He nods towards my stomach, but this time I’mprepared, because I already sought help from Clive, the family’s lawyer.
“Good luck with that. It’s illegal for you to try to ‘sell’ your parental rights away, and, because we aren’t married, I don’t have to put you on the birth certificate. The only way you can claim your parental rights is through the courts…so.” I shrug and feel like I have the upper hand with this sleazeball for once.
He laughs, not a kind or funny laugh, but the type of laugh that has goosebumps skittering across your skin. He takes a step towards me. “Do you honestly think I meant that I would take away that kid legally?” Another step.
Move, Lacey, run!
My body finally listens. As I take a step back, he moves one closer. Just as his hand flies out, I’m lifted into the air. When I look back, four huge, furious brothers are staring at the scene in front of them while the other brother hauls me away.
Chapter 23
Lacey
Archie hauls me back into the yoga studio, as if I weigh nothing, and sets me down, then stands in front of the door like some goddamn guard.
“Archie! Let us out of here right now!” I don’t know why I want to get back out there, but I do. Part of me is pissed that Ted dared threaten my Peanut, but the other part of me wants to know more - what else was he going to say?
Archie shakes his head. “Sorry, sis, I like my balls where they are and, if I let you go back out there”, – he throws his thumb behind him – “then my life won’t be worth living when Cole gets back. Also, I refuse to put you and my little niece in harm’s way, so deal with it.”
I throw my hands in the air and settle for watching through the window. What I see has me partly afraid and partly thankful that I have these brothers in my corner.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I see Ted slink back like the coward he is, and Ialmostfeel sorry for him. He must say something colossally stupid because Rafe steps forward, coiled like a snake, ready to strike.
Ted doesn’t shut up. His mouth still moves, and he stands to his full height, which isn’t anywhere near Rafe’s. Rafe snaps his arm out and back so fast, it’s a blur, and sends Ted careening backwards. I gasp along with Emmy and Daisy as Ethan and Nate practically jump on either side of Rafe, each grabbing an arm to hold him back.
Hayleigh, being Hayleigh, doesn’t gasp but instead proclaims the scene ‘hot’.
I watch Ted scramble to stand back up, falling onto his backside before finally being able to get up and run off. Ethan says something in Rafe’s ear, and the latter nods. Nate and Ethan let go, and they turn to walk into the studio. I’m at the door by the time they walk through. Rafe stops short when he sees my face.
I tap my foot on the floor, hands on my hips. “Want to tell me what that was about?” None of them looks directly at me; they’re all looking anywhere else, guilty as hell, like naughty little boys. “Well? You could have gotten yourselves into trouble for that. He isn’t worth it.”
Finally, Rafe looks up and meets my eyes. “He was…” He sighs. “I won’t repeat what he was saying. But Lacey, you’re our family, and I won’t stand by and let that sleazy prick run his mouth off. I’m not sorry for hitting him.”
I soften at that and walk to him, hugging him tight. “You could be in big trouble if he calls the police, Rafe.”
His arms wrap around me. “I’m a big guy, I can take it. Plus, it was worth it.” I slap my hand on his back. “Ouch”.
“Serves you right, but thank you.”
“Did you get it?” Archie asks someone, so I let go of Rafe and peek around him to see he’s talking to Cas. Cas is looking at his phone and nods while doing something on it.
“Lacey, are you ready to go and buy some snacks for our sleepover?” Emmy drags my attention away from a very suspiciously acting Cas.
I smile at her. “Sure, but no sad films. I’ve had my fill of tears for today!”
Daisy clicks her fingers. “Ooh, what about an action film?”
Ethan does a double-take. “You watch action? Had you down as a Disney fan.” He shrugs as he walks out.
Daisy rolls her eyes as she mimics him, “‘I had you down as a Disney fan.’ Pompous idiot.” She walks off after him.
