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“What is it?” I ask, moving to her, opening the screen door, and kneeling to her level.
“I didn’t answer the door. I just looked out the window in the living room to see who it is,” she says nervously.
“And . . .” I urge her to go on.
“It’s Mom.”
Well, fuck.
CHAPTER13
NOELLE
I watch as Cyprus stiffens at Bride’s announcement. I know his mother. I didn’t know that she’d had Bride, but I know her. She’s nearly as vile as my parents, if not worse than my mother.
The fact that she’s at the door can’t be good. I know this because she’s a junkie and gets her fix from my dad. How she pays for it, I’ve seen one too many times. She pretty much gives herself up to whoever will pay the price for her to get high. I can’t stand the woman. Never have been able to. Now, she’s here.
“Fuck,” Cyprus growls harshly.
“You know you shouldn’t cuss like that around Bride,” I couldn’t help myself from saying. It just came out.
“Well, the bitch from hell is standing at my door, so you’ll have to forgive me for what you’ll hear next because it sure as hell won’t be a simple ‘fuck’. In fact, why don’t you take Bride into the other room,” he suggests, straightening to his full height.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I shake my head, roll my bottom lip between my teeth, and stare at Cyprus. I give a brief glance to his sister and then back to him. I step even closer before whispering for only him to hear. “She’s here because of me.”
“Why the fuck do you think that?” he demands, his head jerking back ever so slightly, his eyes narrowing to little slits as his nostrils flare in frustration.
“Just trust me, please.” I don’t want to get into this part with him in front of his little sister. She doesn’t need to know the horrors of what her mother did.
Cyprus takes in my expression for a brief moment and nods. “Fine, but tonight, we’re talking about this shit. You hear me?”
I hesitantly nod, knowing there’s no way around it. It’s bad enough my head is swimming with what he said, but now, we’ve got his mother to deal with.
Cyprus wraps an arm around my waist and looks at Bride. “Go upstairs and play for right now, I’ll come up and get you when she leaves.”
“Okay,” Bride says, her voice far too soft. Since I met her yesterday, whenever her brother was with her or she was around the club, she was spunky. Now, knowing her mom is outside their front door, she’s closing in on herself. You can all but see it happening.
I watch as she turns and rushes away, going up the stairs. I wish more than anything I could take away whatever pain she’s endured because she’s obviously been through something. Maybe if I had known about her before, I might have been able to help her.
Cyprus takes my hand and I note the large size of his compared to mine. Where mine are soft, his are rough and callused, probably from working in the garage. His fingers tighten further when we get to the door and he opens it.
“Well, it’s about damn time,” his mother starts right in.
“What do you want?” The demand comes out gruff and his voice is filled with animosity.
“I want to see my daughter.” Eyes so much like Bride’s yet different come to me, and her nostrils flare. “Well, if it isn’t ‘I’m better than everyone else’ Noelle.”
“Carla,” I greet her, though I really don’t want to. Honestly, if I had the nerve, I’d plant my fist in her face, but I’m not a fighter.
Cyprus stiffens further and steps in front of me, blocking his mother’s view of me.
“You need to leave,” he all but snarls. “You won’t be seeing Bride. Not now, not ever again.”
I glance around Cyprus to see the other woman, and just the sight of her has my stomach knotting because I know she’s up to no good. She’s here for a reason. That reason not having anything to do with Bride.
“I want to see my little girl.” Carla plants her hands on her hips and looks like she’s ready to battle if need be. “You can’t keep her from me. I won’t allow it.”
“Knock it off, Mom.” Cyprus steps out onto the porch, blocking my view completely and also keeping his mom from getting inside. “What is it you really want? We both know it’s not to see Bride. You ain’t once come for her since I got custody. So, why now?”
