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"I will not calm down." My hands twitch under the imposing man’s rage. "She's not telling us the truth! Something is wrong, Marcus. Can't you tell?" If he doesn't quiet down, Bug is going to come over here.
A tear scorches my cheek, and my shake has traveled up my forearms. The muscle spasms started after the first few times Mason hit me. Now it feels like a trauma response or like my muscles are preparing for the fight.
I don't think they will hurt me, but the force of their rage and dominance is beating all my nerves into a frenzy. Their voices turn muffled while I move away from the table, trying not to draw attention to myself.
A cool touch to my shoulder has me sucking in a harsh breath and jumping away. "It's just me, babe." At the sound of Gabby's soft tone, my tears run freely.
"Mom?" Layla's small hand tugs on my dress, but it's her small, steely voice that has me swallowing back all my fears. It's time to go.
"Do you want me to drive you home?" The guys are still arguing around the table, not noticing Gabby guiding me to the front door. I decline Pixie's offer, pick my little girl up in my arms, and scramble for my keys. "Text me when you're home. I'm so sorry they are acting like this. I'll talk to them. Love you."
Before the front door closes behind me, I lose myself in the ocean-blue depths of an understanding gaze. Leo gives me a solemn nod, and another tear is released from my lashes when I turn my back and leave with my daughter in my arms.
ChapterEighteen
LEO
"Iwill not calm down," JJ hisses.
Knowing Marcus and Jude are focused on Jackson, I allow the subtle shift of Rylee's body to take my attention.
"She's not telling us the truth! Something is wrong, Marcus. Can't you tell?"
Rylee's hands twitch and contract while her forearms twist and flex. The response to Jack's rage makes me want to pummel him, but I want to soothe her more. Marc will kick his ass, and unfortunately, that's the energy that my copper-haired beauty is currently inching away from. Tears track down her cheeks, making my chest thunder with the need to make it all better.
I drown out their arguing that is bordering on yelling, flinching in time with Rylee when her friend touches her. Gabby's words are too quiet for me to hear, but I make out Layla's, "Mom?" I have never heard Layla call her mom that, and her strong tone of voice makes me cringe.
Whatever happened to them in the past, the sweet girl knows her mother’s exact tells of when her trauma is getting the best of her. Layla's frown when her eyes flick over to the table makes her look far older than she is. My insides fizzle and twist uncomfortably.
The girls are standing in front of the door faster than I can blink. The red-rimmed eyes of Rylee and the accusing glare of her little one are the final stab to my heart before the door closes.
"Jackson, do you even hear yourself? Shut up!" That's Jude, his annoyance huffing out of his chest as he runs his hands down his face. How they have not noticed the girls leaving is beyond me.
"You are all idiots!" Gabby's screech of outrage makes us jump in shock and turn to see her fists placed on her hips. A stormy look of complete disdain distorts her dainty features.
Having been snapped out of the argument, Marcus finally looks around the room. His dark eyebrows furrow in confusion when he doesn't see what he's looking for. "Wait, where did they go?"
Gabby tosses her hands in the air. "They left! You freaked Rylee out so much she was crying and shaking. Not to mention, Layla was about to go full Hulk mode if her mom didn't get a hold of herself!"
"What?" Jude looks like he's not comprehending shit right now. I love my men, I really do, but this is fucking ridiculous.
"They. Left. Because you alpha-assholes are dipshits. Jackson, are you so out of touch with humanity that you can't read any kind of signal? She was shaking before you even stood up, and what did you do? You snapped and towered over her like a dominating douchebag!"
True.
"You, Marcus—"
"What about me? I was trying to get him to calm down!" For those who don't know Marcus, he seems similar to Jude in that he is our family jokester. But he is the most protective man I have ever met. It's not often those two fight for real, but when they do, it's explosive.
Gabby sees red. "All you did was egg him on! You and Jude helped absolutely nobody. Instead, the three of you kept raising your voices and making everything so much worse."
I grunt. Fair.
She rounds on me, pink bob and red dress swishing around her. "And seriously, Leo? You watched Rylee the entire time and did absolutely nothing to help her. I don't care if the rest of them were fighting. You could have at least been her lifeline. And Iknowyou noticed her tears and quivering arms. You. Did. Nothing."
With that, Gabby turns on her heel, snatches her keys, and slams the front door behind her. What she leaves in her wake is a whole fuck load of guilt, shock, and anger.
It's silent for a few moments, each of us still standing around the table. I feel properly chastised, my gut protesting our dinner and swirling with dread. Normally, being the quiet one keeps me out of trouble. I did not participate in the fight, yet it feels so much worse to be the one that didn't doanything.Gabby is right. I saw Rylee's anguish, and all I did was watch it happen.
