Part 9 (2/2)
When I enter the living room, Paige is on the ground, holding her cheek and Brady's on top of the piece of s.h.i.+t. ”Get off him, Brady.” I come alongside of him, my voice surprisingly calm because I'm about to go MMA on the man, and there's no tapping out in my ring.
Brady hears the anger in my voice and places his hands on my chest. ”Let's just talk to him. Calm down, Rob.” My fists clench at my sides and my blood is pumping so fast, I'm afraid I'll pa.s.s out. I haven't felt this way since that night long ago when I was trying to save another girl from something extremely different.
When the middle-aged man wobbles to his feet, I punch him in his face and he stumbles back down. ”Who is this, Paige?” I keep my eyes glued to his, waiting for one of them to answer.
”Matty's dad, Carl.”
”Carl, huh? Tell me Carl, why the f.u.c.k do you think you're allowed to come into my house?” I glower down above him for an intimidation factor. I'm younger and a h.e.l.l of a lot stronger than him.
He scoots back on his hands and feet until his back hits our wall. ”I'm here for Matty.” He crawls up the wall and I see now, I have a few inches on him, too.
”If you're here for Matty, why on Earth are your hands on Paige?” I step chest to chest, peering down on him once again. It's taking everything inside of me not to beat the s.h.i.+t to a pulp.
He leers over to her and I punch the wall next to his face. He startles, eyes wide, focusing on me once again. ”Don't look at her. Look at me, dips.h.i.+t.” I point to my eyes.
”I don't know.” His face is pure white.
”You don't know?” I huff and I catch Paige standing now from the corner of my eye. ”Well, then why are you here for Matty?” I cross my arms across my chest and Brady sits on the edge of the couch, remaining close in case I need him.
”Linda told me to come and get him.” He shoves his hands in his pockets.
I glance over to Paige and her eyes fall to the floor and she shakes her head. I guess I'm not the only one with a f.u.c.ked-up family. ”Well, Linda should have called Paige.”
He nods. ”And you should have kept your slimy hands off of her.” He nods again. ”Tell me why you didn't?” I egg on because that guilt is already embedded in me that I didn't stay with her to keep f.u.c.k heads like him away.
”What do you want me to tell ya? You have me cornered with a second guy in the wing. I need the money.” He peers at her through the corner of his eye.
”Money?” I c.o.c.k my head.
”Well . . . yeah,” he stutters and I so want to cold c.o.c.k him.
”Why would you come to Paige for money?” Paige stalks over, placing her hand on my arm. When Carl doesn't answer, I inch forward. ”Why?”
His head rears back, hitting the wall. ”Her dad.”
My head spins to her and her eyes widen in surprise. The Infiniti, nice clothes, movers. ”Your dad?” I question and she nibbles on the inside of her cheek and nods.
”You don't even know who her dad is?” Carl scoffs and my hand lands on his throat, pinning him to the wall.
As Carl's nails are scratching at my hands in an eager attempt for air, I keep my focus on Paige. ”He supports me. Carl seems to think since we are related through Matty, he deserves some of the money I get from my dad.” She steps up to him, her hand on my forearm. ”He's the reason I left my last apartment.”
My arm falls and she links my fingers with hers. d.a.m.n, she has a way with me not many have had before her. ”Well, he won't be the reason you leave this one.” I think we both know it will be me.
I tighten my grip on her hand. ”Forget this address. You should feel d.a.m.n lucky you didn't barge in here when her other two roommates were here. They're crazy mother f.u.c.kers.” He doesn't need to know Chrissy's all of five-four. Even though, I do imagine she can hold her own pretty well. Then I inch closer. ”See, Paige is mine and I don't like it when people f.u.c.k with what's mine. I strongly suggest you don't come here again.” I painfully release my hand from Paige's in order to punch the wall for dramatic effect again. He flinches. ”Never. You hear me? Or you'll be face to face with my Glock.” I don't own a gun, but this a.s.shole is on a need to know basis. This will only insure he won't bother Paige again. ”Matty will stay with us tonight and be returned to his mother tomorrow.” I double-check with Paige, only finding sadness as she nods. ”Maybe.” I add because I'm not sure Linda is the best person for Matty, Paige either for that matter.
He takes a deep breath and I step back, making sure Paige joins me. Brady hands her an icepack and she places it on the small of her back. ”This is good-bye, Carl.” I wait for him to escape toward the door. He finally does and I follow him. ”Brady, I'll be right back.”
”Rob, he's not worth it.” Paige moves to come forward, but I hold my hand up in the air. She stops and her shoulders fall.
The door slams shut when I follow and Carl's footsteps move faster than mine did that time Carly's dad found me in her bedroom. Crossing the lawn, I wait by my car until he backs out of the driveway. My arms crossed over my chest, making sure he knows exactly what will be waiting for him if he returns. Once he's no longer visible, I climb into my Mustang and pull it up the driveway.
I stop outside the back door and stare up at the sky. Praying for that shooting star to cast a wish on. If I didn't need anything else in my life, the girl inside just scared the c.r.a.p out of me and I'm pretty sure she sensed how much her safety affected me. This incident only makes it harder to convince myself that keeping my distance is best for her.
I enter through the screen door and bypa.s.s the kitchen straight to the living room. Matty is wrapped up in Paige's arms as she rocks him back and forth. Brady widens his eyes at me and rolls back on his heels behind them. ”Do you guys want to stay at my house for the night?” he hesitantly asks, peering over the couch.
Paige lifts her head, one curl falling down over her eyes, silently asking me. ”No, we'll be fine, but thanks for everything, Brady.”
Paige turns her head to him. ”Thank you so much, Brady. I really appreciate you coming over so fast,” she adds, and Brady gives a silent nod.
”If you change your mind, you still have a key, right Rob?” He makes his way to the door and I follow.
”Yeah. Thanks, man.”
He shoots me a look and knowing smile that it's time to talk and tell Paige why exactly I'm so f.u.c.ked up. Just as he slips through the doorway, he turns my way. ”Call me if you need me.”
I nod and lock the door behind him. Turning around, I find Matty wrapped around Paige like a koala as she starts up the stairs. I hold my hands out and Matty gladly switches to me. We quietly go upstairs and I examine Paige's room. Her drawers lie on the carpeted floor, pieces of clothing sporadically lying wherever they landed after being swung. When I turn to find her, she lowers her eyes and fixates on her feet. My stomach churns for what she went through and knowing I should have stayed is like a knife to my gut.
Recovering fast, I inch back from Matty so he can see me. ”Guess what bud? You get to sleep in my bed.”
”Really?” His excitement brings a smile to my face. The only d.a.m.n one in the last twenty minutes.
Backtracking to my bedroom, we step in and Paige peers around at the dirty clothes overfilling my hamper and the pile of dust on my dresser. She swipes her finger across my nightstand and holds it up in the air. ”Hey, do you see a bald head?” I point to my forehead. ”I'm not Mr. Clean.” She leans against the door frame as I tuck in Matty.
”Are your sheets clean at least? I mean, Matty won't need to be disinfected tomorrow morning?” Tucking the kid under my comforter that, to her astonishment, I did wash last week, I glance back at her.
”Nah, he's all good.” I can't make a snarky flirtatious comment back because the guilt weighs heavy on my chest from leaving her alone. Why bother with the front that I just want in her pants? If that was the case, I wouldn't be allowing her brother to sleep in my bed right now.
Her sympathetic eyes dig into my soul as she crosses the room. Ignoring me, a waft of her perfume hits my nostrils in her pa.s.sing to my bed. She bends down and squeezes the comforter under his body. ”Snug as a bug.” Matty smiles up to her. ”Night, little guy.” With a quick kiss on his forehead, she stands up and I'm envious of the love she gives so freely.
”Paige?” Matty calls out when she steps back.
”Yeah, sweetie?” She gives her attention back to him, sitting down on the bed.
”Can I live with you?” Oh s.h.i.+t. I slowly step out of the room, wanting to give them privacy.
”Oh, Matty. I wish you could. Someday, I promise.”
”Why not now? Mommy forgets everything. I wanted to play baseball and she said she'd sign me up, but Zach already started playing.”
”Did you have fun today?” Paige distracts him and he nods with a huge smile on his face.
”I did. Tara's a little bossy, but I had fun.” He moves to sit up, but Paige places her hand on his chest to keep him down.
”We'll plan another day with them soon. I promise.” She's trying to appease him and I agree with the kid, he's better off somewhere else.
”Tomorrow?” Paige laughs and kisses his forehead again.
<script>