Cash shifted her to one arm, reaching for the diaper bag with the other. “I’ll walk you guys out,” he said as I waved thanks to the girls who ran the childcare.
From the moment Margo was born, Cash had been hands on. From midnight feedings to diaper blow outs, there wasn’t a thing he couldn’t do as well as me. Hell, sometimes he was even better.
Like when Riley had fallen three months ago and knocked a tooth out. He’d been the definition of calm, putting the tooth in milk in case we needed to save it and whisking her off to the dentist without a trace of worry on his face.
He put Margo in her car seat, making sure she was secure before he pressed me against the side of the car, kissing me deeply. “Round two tonight, chief,” he murmured with delicious intent.
My core liquified in response as I nodded, all too happy to comply. Impossibly, I wanted him more than I ever had. Lucky for me, the feeling was mutual.
“Drive carefully,” he instructed as he opened my car door for me.
When I arrived home, I moved through the routine of feeding Margo lunch and putting her down for nap. As I often did, I admired the house, reflecting on all the changes we’d made to it through the years.
We spent many summer nights in the pool and grilling on the back patio, hosting members of both the Riders and Knights fairly often.
But it was inside that was arguably the biggest change. Cash, his pop, and nearly every member of the club had worked for months to fully gut the kitchen, tearing down walls and replacing old cabinetry, appliances, and flooring. It had completely changed the house for the better.
Nan’s old sofas had long since been replaced, though Cash had saved a square of floral fabric and framed it. It now hung prominently in the living room, and I smiled every time I walked past it.
Every surface had been repainted, windows replaced, and furniture updated. But the feel of the house remained the same. It was love that had welcomed us and love that kept us.
My nan would have been proud of her home and of me.
I made a quick lunch for myself, settling in my office to complete my latest project. I’d gained a reputation in the area and had steady work with local businesses in Hawthorne. Bigger jobs took me to Reno and even Vegas, but I didn’t want to travel farther than that. When the girls were older perhaps, but for now I was fulfilled with my work, and my priority was to spend time with my family.
When the doorbell rang, I looked up in confusion. I’d been lost in my work and was surprised that it was almost time for Margo to get up from her nap and to get Riley from school. I hadn’t been expecting anyone, and though the kidnapping had happened years ago, unexpected guests still put me on edge.
A look at the security camera Cash had installed didn’t make me feel any better. An unfamiliar man stood on the stoop, a ball cap pulled low over his face. My heart rate quickened in response, and I reached for the phone just as I saw Cash’s black truck pull to the curb.
I sighed in relief, moving to the front door, curious now. When I opened the door, I was shocked by who stood on the other side.
Charlie.
When my brother turned to face me, his face aged well beyond his years, for a moment I was stunned speechless.
“Go back inside, Layla,” Cash growled, his eyes narrowed on Charlie as he moved to stand in front of me, guarding me and the house.
“I want to see her,” Charlie demanded, his eyes bloodshot, nose red. “I’m her father.”
“I’m her father, asshole,” Cash snarled, stepping in to his space. “This is my family, and I will not allow you to come here and disrupt any part of that. Now, I’ll give you two choices. Either you leave here now and never come back, or you figure out what kind of justice I’ll dole out if you ever step foot on my doorstep again.”
In all my time with him, I’d never seen him as fierce as he was right now.
Charlie took an unsteady step back, holding up his hands. “I just wanted to see her,” he repeated.
Though I’d dreaded the thought of this moment, of Charlie reemerging into our lives, I hadn’t realized that on some level I needed it. I stepped out from behind Cash, earning a growl of warning from my man. I shot him a look that I knew he’d understand. This wasn’t an opportunity for Charlie; this was closure for me.
“Years ago, you left me and Riley,” I began quietly, looking him square in the eye. Though of course I recognized him, it was as though I was looking into a stranger’s eyes as I continued. “And that little girl became mine. I’m her mama. And this man,” I gestured to Cash, “from minute one he accepted us, took care of us, and protected us. He’s her father, my husband, and the man that will kill you if you ever so much as threaten the beautiful life we have. You don’t get to make the choices you did and decide on a whim to change them. I’d never put Riley through it. And besides, you don’t deserve it. So, before my man does something I know he wants to and may only potentially regret later, I’d advise you to get gone and forget our address.”
Charlie stared at me as though shocked I’d responded so harshly.
Cash grabbed him by the collar. “You don’t get to see my daughter. Hell, you don’t get to breathe the same air. And you don’t get to utter another word to my wife. You gave up that right. Now, get your ass off my property.” He shoved him back roughly with one hand, his other arm curled toward me protectively.
I put my hands to his shoulders, feeling the tension there as we both watched Charlie stumble over to his car. After a few false starts, he eventually drove away and out of sight.
For a moment I stared after him, feeling an odd peace come over me. To some extent, I’d always known he’d show up. It hadn’t felt over, not really. After all these years, I’d finally been able to say my piece. It had lifted a weight I didn’t know I carried. And somehow I knew he was really gone this time.
“I need to check on Margo,” I murmured.