Cohen

I shoot my cuffs and crack my neck as we stand outside the Matthews mansion. “Let’s do this.”

“Taking back the world, one asshole at a time,” Knox responds.

Wave looks at the door like she wants to break it down. “I’ll kill the bastard if he’s messed with my Goddaughter.”

“We’ve got the money to bail you out,” I offer.

She rolls her eyes at me. “Amateur. I wouldn’t get caught.”

“Hot,” I mouth to Knox.

He flips me off and then we’re walking inside. Our parents come to our sides and we move forward as people part for us. I normally hate this shit, but tonight I’m embracing it.

Rick sees us first, smiling until he’s not. I’ve no doubt he’s spotted Waverly with us. There’s nothing hidden about her relationship with Knox, but I guess Ricky boy didn’t get the memo.

“Waverly.”

“Jackass.”

“Swearing in front of my daughter? Coming from her Godmother, no less. Just another mark against Quincy.”

“You really want to debate parenting skills with me?” she asks, smiling at him like she wishes he would. Damn, I’d almost forgotten how fierce Wave could be.

“Go away. You’re not welcome.”

It’s Knox’s mother who reacts first. “None of us are then. That’s what you’re saying, Richard?”

“No. Of course not. Just her. Surely you’re not happy about her association with your son.”

“I’ve never been happier.”

“I want to go home with Wave and Knox.”

Bianca doesn’t mention me, and I have to smile at that, because I love how smart she is. She’s trying not to antagonize her father even more, but what he does next forces my hand.

“Shut up, you little brat,” he whispers, grabbing her roughly.

She cries out and I’m on him before I even realize I’ve moved. My hand is around his throat and I’ve got him lifted a few inches off the ground.

“Impressive,” I hear Wave say from behind me. “I didn’t know he had it in him.”

I have a lot more than this in me, but my father pulls me off before I can unleash it. He leans close so only I can hear him. “Don’t give him a reason to call the police. You know he’ll do it.”

“He touches that little girl like that again, and I’m killing him. Wave will help me hide the body.”

“I don’t doubt it. But there are other ways to take him down. Ways that will be more painful and last longer than any physical damage could.”

“Did you all see that?” the bastard yells out.

“We saw you hurting the child you claim to love,” my mother tells him.

“She needs to learn her place.”

“Her place?” Knox’s dad asks. “I’m afraid I could never put my backing behind a candidate who would refer to his daughter in that way. In fact, I’m finding myself inclined to support anyone running against you.”

Rick’s cool façade crumples even more. “It’s just a misunderstanding.”

“I don’t think it is.”

Looking around, I see what I knew I would. The room has divided itself, with almost everyone standing behind us. Rick sees it too. His wife looks frantic.

“Take her,” she says. “Take the girl. Rick will sign over his rights.”

“What?” he asks, looking at her likes she’s insane. Be careful what you wish for, asshole.

“It’s too much trouble. You know the power these two families could wield. Plus, you said Quincy somehow got a job with the Corrigans. That means she’s in with the Griffins too. A great leader knows when to retreat.”

Oh yeah, this woman knows how to play him. Waverly just pulls a stack of papers from her clutch. The fuck?

“These are papers giving up all your parental rights to Bianca.”

“You just happened to have them with you?”

“Yes, Rick, I did. Sign, because it turns out your wife does have a brain. You don’t want the most powerful families in the world against you.”

He tries one last ditch effort to put a stop to this. Not because he wants Bianca, but because he wants to save face. “Don’t they need to be notarized? Where are you going to find a notary?”

She pulls a stamp out of that little bag, because of course she does. “Right here.”

He grabs the pen she hands him, signing the sets of papers where she directs him to. His wife happily acts as witness, along with Knox, and then it’s all over. Wave’s stamping and signing, giving Bianca her freedom.

“You ready to go home, B?” Knox asks her.

“I can. Really? For how long?”

“Forever,” I tell her.

“I don’t have to see him again?”

“Nope.”

She runs to me, and I pick her up into my arms. My eyes meet Rick’s over her shoulder and he looks shocked, then angry. Yeah, I’m close to having everything he foolishly gave away. Closer than he’ll ever be again.

* * *

Quincy

My front door opens, and Bianca runs in as I jump up. “Mommy, I’m home forever! Cohen said it’s forever!”

“Wait, what?” I ask as Waverly and Knox walk in after her. He’s in a tux and she’s in a gown and I’m really confused.

“We paid a visit to Rick’s campaign party tonight. He was persuaded to sign away all his parental rights,” Wave tells me.

“Seriously?”

“My wife can be very persuasive,” Knox reminds me.

“The best part was when Daddy grabbed me hard and Cohen pulled him into the air with his hand on his throat.”

“Cohen was there?”

“Uh-huh. His mommy and daddy are so nice. They said they can’t wait to meet you.”

“I am totally lost right now.”

“I’d like to explain if you’ll let me.”

I turn to see Cohen come into the apartment with Shane in his arms. He’s got on a tux too, but his tie’s loose around his neck with a couple of buttons on his shirt undone. Damn, I’d almost forced myself into thinking I’d imagined how sexy he is.

Shane speaks up before I can answer. “I did it! I told Daddy hows B had to go away. I’m a hero.”

“Thank you, Shane,” I say, walking over to kiss his cheek. “You are definitely my hero.”

“Whats about Daddy?”

“The jury’s still out on him, but we can talk. I fear I’m a little underdressed for it though,” I answer, looking down at my tank top and yoga pants.

“You look perfect,” Cohen tells me, and the iceberg around my heart melts just a little.

“On that note, why don’t we take B and Shane down to our place for a sleepover?” Knox asks.

“Call me ‘S’,” Shane tells him as we all laugh.

“Please, Mommy. Can we?”

“Yes, B. Grab your stuff.”

Cohen and I haven’t stopped looking at each other since he walked in. I know it’s rude and I should probably be embarrassed, but I can’t take my eyes off him. I don’t know how he and his family were able to help tonight, but I want to. No, I need to know.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he says after everyone’s left us alone.

“Do we?”

“Yes. There are things I need to tell you, but I also need you to talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling. If your feelings have changed.”

“So, just a light and easy chat, huh?”

“Not even close.”

“Have a seat,” I say, motioning to the couch across from the one I’d been sitting on when they came in.

“I need to tell you something before we start.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to fight for you, Quince. I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone besides Shane and my parents, and I won’t let that go. I’m going to fight to win.”

“What if I don’t want you to?”

“You do.”

“How do you know?”

“You’re sitting here across from me.”

He’s right. I’m not sure I’m ready for any of this, but I have to be. For me, for him—and for both of us.

“I’m going to be fighting alongside you, not against you.”