Chapter 13

 

The world keeps spinning and my world is completely on its axis, but I’m enjoying it. Ev and I talk all the time. Haylee is a sweetheart and loved by everyone here. I know that once this calms down, there will be hell to pay. There always is.

“You look so far gone,” Devil says as he sits next to me. I look out over the pool. It’s so peaceful here.

“Just wonderin’ what’s gonna come next.” He knows this life all too well. It’s all we have.

“We kill that son of a bitch.” That’s what is bothering me. That’s the part that’s making me rethink everything I’ve done.

“That’s just it, Devil. He’s her father. What kind of person would I be to take that part away from her?” Shaking my head, I don’t know anymore. I don’t know what’s right and what’s not. She has a father; I don’t know that I can take that part away from her.

“He hit her, Dragon. Look what he did to her mom. He doesn’t deserve either of them.” I know deep down that is the truth. I also know that I may regret it if I do, do it.

“You care about her—I can see that much. You know, Maggie would want you to be happy,”  he says. My eyes move to meet his. My stomach flips inside of me.

“I know she would.” Devil’s eyes move to something behind me. When I feel her hands slide around my neck, I know it’s her.

“Hey, I was cold,” Ev says as she leans down, pressing her lips to my neck. The smile on Devil’s face is genuine. It’s not one he has all the time.

“You need me to come keep you warm?” I walk with my arms around Ev’s waist, pulling her back into my chest.

“Can I ask you somethin’?” Running my lips down her neck. Her body shivers at my touch.

“Of course you can.” She’s breathless already, and I love it.

“Why did you wait so long to come into my life?” Ev quickly turns in my arms, looking into my eyes.

“What do you mean?” There’s the fear that she always keeps bottled up inside of her.

I can’t speak, though. I just smile at her.

“Let me rephrase that. Why didn’t you leave that fucker sooner and show up on my lawn?” I say. Everleigh looks at me strangely before gripping my shirt in her hands.

“I was scared. I didn’t want anything to happen to Haylee. I thought that if I just stayed out of his way, everything would calm down. It did for a while but then he went back to his old self.” The way she latches onto me, I know she remembers something.

I have to ask, “You said he tried to kill you. What happened?” Her fingers tighten even more.

“I had just put Haylee to bed. I knew he was in a mood, but I didn’t care at that point. I already had a black eye, and my mouth was bleeding. I went into the bedroom, and he came straight at me. He said I was a disgrace. I wasn’t good enough to be his wife. He plunged the knife into my chest. He missed my heart by an inch. One fucking inch and my life would have been over.” My hands clench at my sides when she continues.

“At one point, I wished I did die, but I knew he would turn to Haylee next. I guess he didn’t want to have to be bothered by her, though. He cleaned it up. He covered his ass, and made it look like it was an accident.” My chest feels like it’s going to explode inside of me.

How could anyone do that to her? 

***

 

My fingers skim up Everleigh’s thigh. I can feel her body shift, wanting me to get closer.

“I’m awake! Mommy, are you awake?” As if Haylee has perfect timing, she wakes up. She starts to jump up when she sees me lying next to her mom.

“Dragon! I didn’t know you were spending the night!” Her eyes widen, but the smile on her face melts me. She’s as beautiful as her mom.

“I didn’t sleep over—I got up early.” Winking at her, she laughs before reaching up, touching the necklace I gave her. Ev’s eyes follow her hand before she does the same.

“Where did you get this?” She sits up a little, moving closer to her daughter.

“Dragon gave it to me. Isn’t it pretty?” Haylee leaps off the bed and heads into the bathroom.

“Why did you give that to her?” Her head jerks around, her eyes intently burning their way through me.

“I wanted her to have it. She reminds me a lot of my own daughter.” Ev smiles before leaning in closer.

“She likes you, too.” Everleigh presses a kiss to my lips before I pull away smiling.

“I need to go out on a run. The girls will be around, though. Anything you need, let them know. Trick’s stayin’ back also.” She looks torn. She’s afraid to be left alone.

“Look at me, darlin’. You’re safe here. No one is gonna mess with you. I’m only one phone call away.” Brushing my lips over hers, she pulls back.

“I think we should leave,” Everleigh says as Haylee comes out of the bathroom as if she was cued in with music. “I’m hungry.”

My eyes stay on Everleigh’s. She wants to leave?