Page 31
“Okay.”
We walk back inside and Remi finds her shoes then heads out to the school to pick up my son. My son.
Over the years I’ve learned to hide any nerves from bubbling to the surface but the thought of seeing my own flesh and blood for the first time puts me on edge.
What if he hates me?
What if I don’t live up to the image of what he thinks a dad should be?
What if something happens to them because of me?
A heavy hand lands on top of my shoulder and my body halts. I’d been so in my thoughts that I didn’t realize I’d been pacing.
“Take a few deep breaths,” Stone says to me, as if he can read minds.
“Last thing you want is for the kid to think you’re a bumbling wuss,” Brass calls out while raiding Remi’s fridge.
“I’m fine.” I shrug off his hand and the nerves twisting in my stomach. I look over and see Bulldog eyeing me, like he’s sizing me up. “Got something to say?”
His eyes narrow as he props his feet up on the coffee table across from where he’s lounged out like he owns the place. Technically, he does own the house and is renting it to Remi.
“Nope,” he responds, then crosses his arms over his chest like a douche.
“How’d you meet Remi?” Hawk asks, coming into the living room with a stick of cheese and a bag of chips. I’m thankful he asked because I’ve been dying to know but refused to ask him.
“Was coming through Butte one evening and stopped in at one of their strip clubs we like to hit up. Saw her dancing there,” he says with a smirk and it makes me want to knock all his teeth down his throat to choke on. “Stayed ‘til she was done and asked for a private dance but she refused.” My fists ball up. “Something ‘bout her made me stick around, so I finished my drink then walked out to the parking lot. Heard some distressed groans in the alley so I went to check it out. Found a man beating her and tearing at her clothes.”
All the air leaves my lungs and a wave of nausea threatens to come up.
“Took care of the guy and left him behind the dumpster. Got his wallet so that I could finish him later then got her some help with a local doctor. Turns out the guy had been stalking her and that’s the reason she refused to do private room dances.”
“See, this is why it’s not just about a man’s pleasure going to strip joints. We’re there to help the ladies out too,” Brass comments before biting down on a celery stick lathered in peanut butter.
“Got patched up and offered her a better place to live and work once I found out she had a kid,” Bulldog says with a shrug.
“Ohhhh, I’m sure it had nothing to do with how hot she is,” Brass taunts as he rolls his eyes. “And everything to do with how you’re such a standup guy.”
Bulldog gives a knowing look then spikes up his eyebrows a few times in a suggestive manner. “The view ain’t bad.”
I’ve had enough of this prick and I lose it.
Am I thankful he saved Remi from the guy in the alley? Yes.
Do I want to hear him brag about being the hero or how amazing she is? No.
Reaching down, I pull him up by his leather cut then smash my fist into his stomach. He doubles over but doesn’t stay down long before throwing an uppercut to my chin. It pushes me back a few steps and then I counter with a right and left jab. Bulldog bends and tries to take me down on the floor but the room isn’t big enough for us to have a full-blown fight and I’m sent into the wall by the back door. I feel the sheetrock give and when I lurch out Stone has me in a hold and Brass has Bulldog in a tight back hug.
“Jesus, calm the fuck down, both of you,” Stone orders in a loud bark. “Last thing we want is for Ryder and Remi to come into a broken house because you two can’t be in the same room together.”
“Oh, shit, there’s no way to hide that,” Hawk says and points over at the wall.
There’s an imprint of my body framed in the wall.
“Just cover it with a plant or something,” Brass pops off.
The sound of the garage door opening has me shaking Stone off and I walk over to the center of the living room. Do I wait here and let him come to me, or do I go and greet them at the garage door? The door opens and in walks Remi. She sees me and gives a soft smile and nod. Right behind her, a tall kid with dark hair and the darkest brown eyes that match mine looks up at me when he enters.
My heart is in my throat and when I try to swallow, my dry mouth makes it impossible.
