Melissa grabs my hand and gives me a squeeze before letting go and sitting back against my couch. “My sister Cori was like you. Never wanted kids, but she and her husband now have a kid and are pregnant with twins at the moment. And she’s loving every second of it.”
I shake my head. “That’s different, though, I legit don’t want them. Carson is the man I’m, apparently, going to be with, according to him, and I still can’t see us having kids. We fought last night over this shit, and he hasn’t replied to me since.”
“Don’t give up, my dad is stubborn as hell, but he’ll come around. Though, I wouldn’t put it past him to keep trying to change your mind.”
That’s what I am worried about.
THREE HOURS LATER, Melissa leaves after we promise to make plans this weekend and I get to work on my book, but not even ten minutes into writing my prologue, Carson comes in, with a key he stole from me, with Emily in tow.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Need your help, it’s my night with Em, but I have shit going down with one of my clubs and I gotta head out for the night. Do you mind watching her?”
My body locks up, and I look at Emily who is smiling sweetly at me, and back to Carson. “Um, yeah, sure. I’m not sure how much fun I’ll be but I don’t mind.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Justine. I’m ten, it’s not like I really need a sitter anyway,” Emily says, skipping to the living room.
“Come here, Justine,” Carson orders and I go to him. His hands grab my head and he brings his lips down to mine. “Stop pissing me off and open your mouth.” I open as his tongue slides inside, dancing with mine.
Pulling back, I look up at him and my heart stops. Holy fuck, I’m in love with him. “Be back soon as I can. Don’t know how long this will take but when I get back, be naked and waiting for me.”
“Dude, I ain’t gonna be naked with your kid here.”
He gives me a grin. “Thought you’d say that. Looking forward to punishing you.” With those words, he takes off, jogging to his house and hops on his bike.
“So, Emily, anything you want to do?”
“Nah, just do what you were doing, I’m okay playing video games on my tablet.”
“If you’re sure. There is a remote for the TV over on the table there,” I say, pointing to the end table. “And I do have a PS4 as well, with a few games you can get into if you want.”
“Thanks.” She gives me a smile and her tablet powers on. Alrighty then, I guess I’ll see if I can get some work done.
Chapter Thirty-six
Hangman
My phone keeps going off and I just grab it, even though we’re in the middle of church. I’m the only one allowed to still keep their phone on them, but this is fucking nuts. Who the hell keeps calling me?
I look at my phone and see it’s Justine. She wouldn’t call repeatedly unless it was important. Answering the phone, I put it on speaker, so my brothers don’t think I’m hiding shit.
“Fucking cunt!” is screamed through the line and I tense, so do the others.
“Justine?” I growl.
“Your baby mama is here, Carson, and she’s losing her shit,” she says, shakily.
“Carson? He lets you call him Carson?” Another scream. Fucking April.
I look up and see both Rage and Gunner getting out of their seats and heading for the door. Likely going to Justine’s house to help defuse whatever the fuck is going on.
“Justine, why is she there?” I ask.
“She just showed up about five minutes ago, screaming the house down about how her child isn’t going to be around your whore. Bitch, I ain’t a whore, but the same probably can’t be said for you.” April shouts at her again but at this point, I’m not paying attention and get up.
“I’ll be there in ten.” I hang up not bothering to wait for a reply and get outside, climbing on my bike and soaring off. It takes me slightly less than ten minutes to make it home, and what I see has me boiling. Rage and Gunner are already here, trying to hold an out-of-control April back from Justine.
Justine has an arm around Emily and is trying to defuse the situation. She looks up and sees me and quickly ushers Emily back into the house. “Give me back my daughter!” April shrieks.
“Bitch, shut up,” I say, stepping into the mayhem. “Did you forget today was my day with Emily?”
“Of course not, but—” she starts.
“Justine is watching her for me since we’ll be spending the night together anyway. I already told you, that if you cause me more problems you’re done. You’ll never see Emily again.”
April pales. “You already took my home away from me, what more do you want? All I ever wanted was you, Hangman.”
Shaking my head, I nod to Rage who loads April up in the cage—a brand-new Chevy Silverado. “Gunner, take her to the room. I’ll deal with her when I get there.”
“Got it, Pres,” Gunner replies.
I look to Justine who looks worse for wear. “You okay, babe?”
“Yeah, I just. Emily is so upset right now; she was so angry with her. You might want to get inside and calm her down.” She grabs my arm as I move around her. “She was yelling at her mom about wanting to live with you full time,” she says quietly.
“No worries, as of now, she will be. April’s been nothing but a thorn in my side since I got her knocked up.”
Justine rolls her eyes. “Maybe you should have kept it in your pants or in your wife, not some trash, sideshow piece.”
“You’re right,” is all I say and go inside to find Emily sitting on Justine’s huge leather couch, as if she’s expecting me.
“Dad, I want to stay with you,” she tells me quickly, then looks behind me, “And Justine.” Justine gasps but I don’t pay it any mind, not right now.
“Kid, you’ll be with me from now on. If I’m not available or Justine isn’t, we also have Melissa. You want to say bye to your mother at least before she’s sent away?” I don’t tell my kid that I’m about to murder her mother, she doesn’t need to know that shit.
“No, how she acted today in front of Justine and you, that is how she acts all the time at home. She’s obsessed with getting you back. But from what I’ve been hearing, she never had you in the first place.” My girl is wise.
“Come give me a hug.” I open my arms and wait for her to come to me. She throws herself into my arms and cries into my chest. I know she’ll eventually miss her mother, but that’s okay. I know Justine will be a great one for her to have around. Especially since I have no plans on losing Justine. No matter what stupid, silly fights we go through.
Tonight, after I deal with April, I’m taking Justine to the clubhouse and giving her my brand, it’s time.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Justine
Tonight, is the night. it’s been a month since the incident with Emily’s mom, and tonight, Carson said he’s making me his officially. And I can, honestly, say I’m excited for it. Despite our ups and downs since we started dating, I want to be his more than anything.