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I don’t notice Cordelia returning because my entire focus is on Phoenix as she squeals my name and races towards me. She throws herself into my arms with an ‘ooof’ and I’ve never been so glad to see her, even all those months at a time I was away from her when she was younger.
I pull her away from my body so that I can get a good look at her and two things catch my attention at once. I see Cordelia has returned and I notice that Nix is hurt.
Over Phoenix’s head I shoot daggers at Cordelia.
“Nix! What happened to you?” I ask brightly, pointing to the bright purple cast on her arm.
“Do you like it?!” she beams at me, twisting the cast awkwardly to show it off to me. She’s super proud of it but dark emotions swirl inside of me as I force myself to stay calm and fake a smile for her.
“I love the colour! I bet everyone will want to write and draw on it for you.” I give a strained grin but she doesn’t notice. Behind her, Cordelia gulps.
“Will they?!” she asks, eyes wide as saucers.
“Yeah!” I promise with enthusiasm. “But how did it happen?”
“Oh! I fell over.”
“How?” I frown. I can’t believe that the woman who is professing that she can give Phoenix the best life has allowed her to get hurt. “Did someone hurt you?”
“N-no?”
I don’t believe her. “No worries, Nix. We can talk about it at home.”
“Home! Do I get to go home now?”
“Absolutely.”
“Baxter—”
“Don’t you dare!” I snap. “Nix, do you want to go and grab your stuff?”
She races off, excited to finally get to see her mum again.
“Baxter, you can’t take her! You said you were having her for the day. She can’t go home! I have the court order. She’s in my custody—”
“You think I give a fuck what I can and can’t do? You think there’s a single judge in the country that is going to go against me?”
I take a menacing step towards her letting a little of my psycho shine through, and she scampers backwards like a frightened hermit crab returning to its shell. I sneer at her cowardice, disgusted by her show of fear while also revelling in it.
“You have no idea who I am or what I’m capable of,” I warn. “You don’t know the connections I’ve made or the people in my pocket. It surpasses my grandfather’s reach even if he was on your side. Count yourself lucky that you’re still breathing right now. I am taking my daughter and we are going home. And if I find out that you have anything to do with her injury, I promise you, I will kill you in the most slow and painful way possible. And then I’ll bathe in your blood. With a fucking smile on my face.”
For good measure I flick open the knife that I always have on me and point it in her direction. She pales.
“Ready!” Phoenix calls, coming back into the room with her favourite teddy bear and dragging a bag that’s far too big for her. Wordlessly, I return the knife to its hidden spot and turn around to greet Nix with a smile.
I grab her bag with one arm and lift her up with the other, loving the way she buries herself into my neck. She smells of the sweetest strawberries and it brings a genuine smile to my face.
“Let’s go home and see your mum,” I tell her. “Say goodbye to your grandma.” I turn to walk out of the house, not putting Phoenix down.
“Bye grandma, I had fun!” Nix calls over my shoulder, content to stay in my arms and not attempting to go to the old bag for a hug or kiss. My grip tightens and I grit my teeth. If Cordelia hurt her…
Shaking my head, I clear away visions of sweet and bloody revenge. Even if she didn’t hurt Phoenix, Cordelia will get her comeuppance soon enough. I can wait. After despising the woman for so long, a few more weeks won’t make a difference.
At the car, I strap Phoenix into the car seat in the front and she waves happily out the window to Cordelia. I send a quick text in the guys’ group chat that the plan has changed slightly and then I pocket my phone, knowing it will automatically connect to the in-car system once the engine is started.
“Have you had lunch, Nix?” I ask, pulling down the stupidly long driveway away from Cordelia’s house. I hope we never have to return.
“No, we were shopping and grandma said she’d make some when we got home.”
