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“Which is?” she asked.
“That we’re a united front from here on out,” Ryker said. “And there is nothing he can do to stop that from happening.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, snuggling into his hold.
“For what?” he asked.
“For having my back,” she said.
“Always, honey,” he promised. “And you never have to thank me for that.”
* * *
She wasn’t sure if letting Ryker come back to her meeting with Craig was a good idea or not. She’d had over a week to get him to change his mind and Ryker wouldn’t budge on the matter. He was determined to come to her little showdown with her ex and present a united front, as he liked to call them. Honestly, her ex was a loose cannon and could say or do anything, but it felt good to have Ryker by her side. She knew that deep down, he would forgive anything she was about to say to her ex. Harlow would do or say just about anything to keep her little girl safe from Craig’s family, even if that hurt Ryker in some way.
They were led back to one of the prison’s holding rooms and when they were let in, she spotted Craig sitting behind a big, metal table. He was wearing the orange jumpsuit that she’d seen on so many crime shows, and his left hand was handcuffed to the chair, his right hand left free. He couldn’t hurt her now, but her gut was telling her brain to run as far away from him as her legs would take her. Seeing him again did that to her.
The last time she saw her ex was when she testified against him in court. She didn’t even show up to hear the verdict read or for the sentencing. Harlow worried that if things went unexpectedly and he walked, she’d end up doing something stupid. So, she stayed home with her mom and Iris and waited for the phone call to come in from the prosecutor’s office to tell her that he was behind bars. Harlow was upset to hear that her lifelong scar and the terror she still felt every time she looked in the mirror would only get Craig five years in prison, but it was at least something. His being away gave her a chance to move forward with her life and start over without having to worry about him showing up on her porch. She just never imagined that his mother would be the one acting as his mouthpiece to try to ruin her life.
She walked into the room, Ryker right behind her with his arm around her waist. He was sending her ex a clear message and she wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. “Have a seat, please,” the guard ordered. She sat down across from her ex and Ryker sat next to her.
“Who’s this?” Craig asked, looking Ryker over with a sneer.
“I’m the guy who has her back now,” Ryker challenged.
Craig laughed and looked back over to Harlow. “So, the rumors I’ve heard are true. You’ve found yourself a new boy toy. You’re fucking him and he’s here to hold your hand while you talk to me. Why did you bring him?”
“I brought him because I’m in love with him. Ryker has asked me to marry him, and I’ve agreed. So, when you speak with me now, you’re going to have to talk to him too. We’re a team now—him, Iris, and me.”
“He has nothing to do with my daughter,” Craig shouted. The guard behind him took a step toward where he sat, and her ex had the good sense to back down. “Iris is mine.”
“Wrong,” Harlow said. “She’s mine. You’re in prison and that’s just where you’ll end up again if you show back up on my doorstep once you get out. I will fight to make sure that you never see your daughter again. I’m only here to deliver the news to you that your mother is now in the women’s correctional facility across town. She won’t be able to deliver your disgusting messages anymore and she’ll never touch Iris. The courts won’t allow a felon and his jailbird mom access to my daughter.”
“You’re lying,” Craig said. “I would have heard if my mother was in prison.”
“Well, I guess that your snitches aren’t up on their game right now. I’m betting that my MC buddies would love to have a little chat with them; help to curb their enthusiasm to run back to you with information,” Ryker said.
“No one is talking to you scumbag. This isn’t your business,” Craig shouted. The guard cleared his throat, letting Craig know that he was getting out of hand again.
Ryker threw back his head and laughed. “That all you’ve got?” Ryker taunted. “Everything having to do with Harlow and Iris is my business now. You show up at our home or send someone else in your stead, they’ll have to deal with me—just like your mom did.”
“What did you do to my mother?” Craig asked. “If you laid one finger on her—”
“Oh, he didn’t have to,” Harlow shared. “That would be my mama who put your mother in prison. She showed up to my mom’s house, demanding to see Iris and when my mother refused to give into her demands, your bitch of a mother attacked my mom. My mother is testifying now, and your mother won’t be getting out of prison any time soon, Craig,” Harlow said.
“We’ll sue you and your mother for battery and abuse,” Craig threatened.
Now it was Harlow’s turn to laugh. “Well, that’s rich,” she said. “The abusive husband who gave me this is going to sue my mother for abuse.” Harlow held back her hair and he looked her scar over, his smile mean.
“You deserved that one, bitch,” he said. “You attacked me with that knife. I was just defending myself.”
“Bullshit,” Ryker growled. She placed her hand on his arm and he instantly calmed.
“Don’t let him get under your skin,” she almost whispered. “He’s not worth it.”
“So, you two just came here to rattle my chains?” he asked.
“Basically,” Harlow said with a shrug. “And to give you these,” she slid some papers across the metal table to him, and quickly pulled her hand back. He took them and looked them over.
