CHAPTER 9
NICK
“I’ll make coffee,” Kailan volunteered as the four of us walked into the kitchen late the next morning. It had been a long night for everyone and we’d all slept late in Evie’s room with her. Harris and Kailan had been either side of her in her bed, but I’d opted for the floor, terrified I’d allow another night terror to take hold and this time I’d hurt her, not just one of my brothers.
Aleks had curled up in the armchair in the corner, near the door, and I knew why. He was still feeling way too guilty about Evie being taken on his watch and he was determined not to allow it to happen again. It was why he’d put himself between her and the door, despite the fact we were all as sure as we could be no one could enter our property without us being alerted.
We’d left Evie in bed, fast asleep, when we all awoke to the sound of Zack that morning. She needed the rest after everything she’d been through, and we were relieved she hadn’t even stirred when we left her.
“I’ll grab some cereal for this little Gremlin,” Harris chuckled as Zack wiggled in his arms excitedly. He could hardly be contained, knowing his breakfast was on the way. I swore all my kid ever thought about was his next meal or snack.
“I’ll see what we have for breakfast. I want to have something ready for Evie when she wakes up. She barely ate last night,” I said as the feeling of worry for her hit me hard again. She’d been so quiet the night before, and had eaten even less than usual at dinner. I was terrified seeing that motherfucker again was going to set her back even further with her trauma, and that was the last thing she needed. She had endured so much pain and fear. All I wanted – all any of us wanted – was to find some way to take it all from her.
“I’ll help, but I want to check the security programs first,” Aleks told us sleepily as he headed right for his laptop. Harris and I had both pulled on clothes when we got up and had already done a sweep outside, so we were happy there was nothing to worry about, but Aleks doing an extra check on the system wouldn’t hurt.
I laughed as he slumped into the chair at the table and rubbed at his eyes. Aleks was not a morning person. Even though it was already mid-morning, he was bleary eyed and still half asleep as he set to work powering on his computer, still dressed in his crumpled PJ’s.
We all got to work, like the well oiled machine we had become in the time we had been living together. Kailan made coffee and handed us each a cup. Not one of us could fully function without caffeine.
Harris had Zack in his high chair and was feeding him spoonful’s of cereal, between my little guy grabbing handfuls of chopped banana to shovel into his mouth himself. I couldn’t help but smile with the enthusiasm and excitement he showed for every spoonful Harris fed him, and I wished, not for the first time, that I could be a better man. I wanted to be the father he deserved. I wanted to take full custody of him as I knew I should, but I was too messed up for that. The previous night had been a perfect example. What if that happened when Zack was older and he came running in to check on me? What if I hurt him? No, I could never risk that. Kayla was far from a loving mom, but she took good care of Zack, and he was safe with her. He’d never be safe with me.
The sound of the buzzer at the front gate had us all freezing in place and looking to each other with a groan.
“That cannot be them already,” I sighed.
“Yep. It is,” Aleks replied as he turned the screen of his laptop to face me. The image showed the huge rental SUV with Kyle in the front seat. “Fuck. I gotta get dressed.” With that he jumped up and ran for the stairs faster than I’d ever seen him move before midday.
“Me too. Sorry guys. You’re on your own,” Kailan added with a smug grin, then he too was gone
“Why the fuck are they here so early?” Harris groused.
“To piss us all off?” I suggested. We’d come a long way with Evie’s brothers the previous night, finding some common ground, and – I’d like to think anyway – beginning to gain some trust with them, but we were far from friends and the idea of them being there all day had me wanting to grab Evie and Zack and run as far and fast as possible.
“Let them in, would you? I’ll put on some more coffee.” I nodded and shut off the stove so I could get the door. I just hoped they’d all eaten because they already ate most of our groceries the night before. There was no way I had enough eggs to feed their huge asses.
EVIE
I woke up feeling so much better than I had the day before. The deep fatigue had lifted and my body no longer ached as much as it had. I stretched, disappointed to see the guys had all gotten up and left. I had slept so soundly knowing they were all there with me. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been able to do that. It had definitely been before Soloman grabbed me, but even then I wasn’t sure I had ever felt as safe and content as I had the previous night.
I grabbed my cell from the nightstand to check the time, then sat up in pure shock when I saw it was just after midday! I had slept for hours. Little wonder the guys had gotten up and started their day.
Feeling guilty and lazy, I hurried through a shower and getting ready, braiding my still wet, freshly washed hair, and pulling on jeans and a sweater. My face was still slightly swollen and very bruised, so make up was pointless and it wasn’t like I could go anywhere anyway.
As soon as I started down the stairs, my guilt only grew worse at the sound of my brother’s voices coming from the kitchen. They had come all of that way for me, and I had slept through their visit.
I took the last of the stairs two at a time, running for the kitchen as fast as I could. It was so unlike me to sleep for so long and I felt so crappy for doing it. I shot into the kitchen way too fast and hurtled right into Aleks who had clearly just made, likely his fifth or sixth cup of coffee.
I crashed right into him and marvelled at his fast reflexes as he used one hand to hold the steaming mug of coffee away from us both, and the other to grab me before I fell right on my ass.
“Crap!” I gasped as I clung to him and took a calming breath, my heart pounding hard in my chest.
“Fuck!” Aleks cursed at the same time. He set down his now only half full cup of coffee and looked to me with concern. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Evie? What is it?” Harris asked as he appeared beside me.
“Nothing,” I winced as I realized I had terrified them all rushing in there the way I had, like my ass was on fire. “Sorry. I just…I slept so late. I wanted to get down here.”
“Aleks, get your hand under the faucet, it’s bright red,” Nick said as he stepped forward and looked the both of us over.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry, Aleks. Let me help you,” I cried as I started for the faucet to turn it on.
“I’ll help,” Nick told me as he grabbed my arm to stop me in my tracks. “You sit and calm down. No more rushing around.”
“You guys should have woken me. I’m so sorry I was still in bed when you got here,” I said as I looked over to my brothers, most of whom were sat at the dining table apart from Matt, who was in the kitchen cooking something that smelled amazing and Kade, who sat on the floor with Zack, playing with toy cars and making all of the appropriate sounds.
“Enough of that. You needed the rest. You had a full night of sleep to catch up on and you’re healing,” Harris told me as he wrapped an arm around me and led me to sit at the dining table between Cole and Kyle.
“He’s right, squirt. We’re just glad you slept. You have some color back,” Cole agreed.
“Do not call me that. I hated it when I was five and I definitely hate it now!” I scolded him, but he just laughed.
“How are you feeling, Evie? How’s your head?” Xander asked.
“Better. I think I really just needed to sleep to be honest. My head still throbs a little, but it’s much less.”
“I’ll get you some pain pills. You want some breakfast?” Kailan offered from the kitchen.
“Is Aleks okay?” I asked instead. I felt terrible for hurting him with my idiocy.
“I’m fine, maleńka. Stop fussing and eat something,” Aleks called back.
“Here. I made muffins.” Matt appeared at my side, placing a freshly baked muffin and a cup of coffee down in front of me. “Aleks is right, you need to eat. You’ve lost too much weight.”
I beelined for the coffee taking a huge gulp and sighing in appreciation when I found Matt had sweetened it to perfection. I was picking at the muffin, not really feeling hungry enough to eat, when Aleks came and took a seat at my side. I looked at his hand and once again filled with guilt at how red it looked.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I asked him.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing,” he assured me as he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me in closer so he could kiss my temple. “But, since you made me spill my coffee, I think it only right you share yours,” he teased as he released me and grabbed my cup of coffee before I could stop him.
“Hey!” I cried as I grabbed for it, but he was too quick. I watched in horror as Aleks took a huge drink of my sugary goodness. “I know you haven’t known me long, but you should know, no one fucks with my coffee in the morning!” I growled as I made a grab for the cup again.
Aleks started coughing and hastily handed me the mug. “Holy fuck. That is not coffee,” he spluttered. “How much sugar do you have in there?”
My brothers just all started chuckling as Harris stepped forward and patted Aleks on the back, a huge grin on his face.
“Should have warned you, brother,” he said. “Evie likes just a dash of coffee with her sugar in the morning.”
“Serves you right for trying to steal my coffee,” I laughed.
Zack shouting loudly pulled all of our attention to where he happily sat on the floor playing with Kade. He seemed to have given up driving the cars on the tile floor though, and was now stood shakily as he drove the car over the top of Kade’s head and laughed with delight at Kade’s dramatic reaction.
“Good job, little guy. Mess his perfect hair up,” I laughed to Zack, who looked up to me with a toothy smile, then continued.
“You want me to make you something else to eat? We have those bagels you like?” Harris offered, his gaze moving from me to the muffin I had barely touched.
“I’m good, thank you. I’m just not that hungry,” I shrugged.
“You look tired. Are you having trouble sleeping?” Kyle asked.
“Gee, thanks, bro. Any more compliments?”
“You know what I mean,” Kyle said with an annoyed roll of his eyes that I knew well.
“I’m okay. I was having trouble before…when I was alone, but I’ve slept better here, with the guys.”
“You’d probably sleep even better at home, in your own bed,” Cole piped up.
“Don’t start that again, please Cole. I’ve already told you what’s going to happen and I don’t want to argue about it anymore,” I said firmly.
Thankfully, I was saved by the bell, literally. There was someone at the front gate.
“You expecting anyone?” Kyle said as he looked between the guys. He was already on his feet and moving towards the front of the house.
“No,” Harris answered. He had his cell out and was looking at the screen, presumably checking the camera feed.
I knew it was ridiculous, but I couldn’t stop my heart from beginning to pound way too hard and my hands from sweating as I panicked that it was Soloman. It wasn’t like he’d just ring the door bell, but the rational part of my brain seemed to have shut itself down.
I looked to Harris with panic when he let out a loud groan.
“Wh-who is it?” I gasped.
“Fucking Kayla,” he hissed as he turned to look at Nick in the kitchen. “And she has a huge suitcase with her. She can’t move in here, man, especially with everything that’s going on.”
“Like fuck she’s moving in here. She has an apartment I pay a small fortune for in the city,” Nick spat as he stormed towards the front door, all of his brothers right behind him.
“Who’s Kayla?” Kade asked. When I turned to see him, he was on his feet with Zack looking so tiny in his huge arms.
“Zack’s mom. She left him here almost a week ago and hasn’t answered a single call or text from Nick since,” I explained as I tried to show a fa?ade of calm.
“Kyle, come back in here and let the others deal with this,” Xander called to Kyle, who was still loitering near the front windows with a hand way too close to his side where I knew he’d have his gun. “This has nothing to do with us,” Xander added, much to my relief.
Kyle listened and came back to the table. He grabbed his mug and headed for the kitchen to refill it.
It took a couple of minutes, but I managed to calm my racing heart and trembling hands enough to stand.
“Give Zack to me please, Kade. I should take him out there. She must have missed him,” I said as I reached my arms out for the little guy, who came to me happily. I wasn’t exactly keen to see Kayla again, but she was likely desperate to see her son and the last thing I needed was her coming into the house and getting my brother’s hackles up even higher.
I was barely in the living room before I could hear Kayla’s shrill screaming.
“Do what you want! I don’t give a shit anymore!” She cursed and I instantly covered Zack’s ears, which he seemed to think was a game as he shook his head to free himself.
“Kayla, you don’t mean that,” Nick tried to soothe. “He’s your son.”
“I never wanted him and you know it. You think I wanted to be tied down with some kid that never stops screaming? It was you! You made me have him. I should have just had the whole thing terminated the second I found out.”
“Kade!” I called as I turned and hurried back towards the kitchen. Kade appeared before me instantly and judging from the tense look on his face, they’d all heard Kayla’s disgusting words too. “Can you take him somewhere he doesn’t have to hear that?” I asked as I handed the innocent little boy back to my brother. I refused to leave Nick to take that bitch’s abuse.
Kade nodded and headed for the back yard with Zack in his arms, Cole rising to follow him out.
“Evie,” Kyle called as I turned back for the front of the house. “Maybe you should stay out of this.”
“Fuck that, Kyle. Nick’s done taking her bullshit,” I growled suddenly filled with an anger and determination I hadn’t felt in so long. It felt good – felt right. It was a part of me that I had lost in all of the horror, but I was ready to take it back.
“So what?” I heard Harris’s annoyed tone clip. “This guy proposes and you abandon your kid?”
“This is my chance to start over and I can’t do that with that whining brat on my hip!”
“Stop talking about our son that way, Kay. I won’t tell you again,” Nick growled.
“Fuck you, Nick! You’re a worthless, no good drunk. You forced me to squeeze that kid out, and for what? You barely even see him! You have us living in that dump of an apartment, barely surviving on the cents you give us! I should be taking you to court for what I’m owed, you no good asshole!”
“Okay, enough!” I snapped as I walked right up beside Nick and took his hand in mine. “You don’t get to talk to him like that. He’s a great father to that amazing little boy.” Nick tried to move me behind him, but I stood my ground, refusing to cower to this bitch anymore. She had done nothing but bad mouth a good man and her own, innocent child. Enough was enough.
“Get back in your fucking box, you little whore! This has nothing to do with you,” Kayla spat as she glared daggers at me.
“Do not talk to her like that, Kayla. Not one of us will stand for it,” Kailan snapped, sounding way scarier than he ever had before.
“So you are fucking all of them?” she sneered as she stepped towards me. Instantly Aleks and Kailan jumped in front of me, looking menacing as hell with their arms crossed, like they were protecting the president or something.
“Last warning, Kayla,” Aleks warned.
“You know what? Fuck all of you! I don’t have to take this bullshit anymore!” She shoved Aleks, or tried to, but she had no success. He was a lot bigger than her. I didn’t even think. I just saw red and moved swiftly round Kailan, stepping outside onto the step, and coming face to face with the poisonous viper.
“Put you hands on one of them again, I fucking dare you,” I goaded her. All of my previous insecurities and fears were over taken by the need to protect the guys who I knew would never lift a hand to her no matter what she did. A part of me even wanted her to try, because taking her down to her ass would be really satisfying after the bullshit she’d just spewed.
Nick stepped out and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me tight, like he feared he would have to hold me back.
“Enough Kayla!” he boomed, stopping whatever venom was about to be thrown back at me. “So this is it. You’re just leaving Zack here and never looking back?”
“Yes! Because this isn’t the fucking life I want. Dan has a hotel in Vegas. He can take care of me, but he doesn’t want a kid, and neither do I! How many times do you need me to explain it?” she hissed.
“He’s your son? How can you do this?” Nick asked, seeming genuinely confused. I was too if I were honest. Zack was an amazing baby – bright, happy, and so content most of the time. He barely ever cried.
“Well, he’s your damn kid now! Either take care of him or hand him to family services. I don’t care. Just don’t ever contact me again. I’m out! His shit’s in the bag, along with papers witnessed by Dan’s attorney, handing away my parental rights. The kid’s not my problem anymore. He’s yours. Good fucking luck!” She thrust the large suitcase towards Nick, then turned on her heel and strutted down the drive like nothing had even happened.
“Come on, bro. He’s better off with us anyway. She never loved him,” Harris sighed as he looked to Nick.
“How could she do that?” Nick asked as he looked to me, his face a picture of worry and confusion.
“A rich guy proposed to her, Nick. That’s all she’s ever wanted. She thought having Zack would be her meal ticket, and it was. You’ve given her plenty of money and an amazing apartment, but it’s not enough. She wants it all, and she can’t get it with Zack in tow. Harris is right. Zack is way better off here with us,” Aleks explained.
“He loves it here, Nick. We can offer him so much more love than she can,” I added when he still looked terrified. “Everything’s gonna be okay. We’re all in this together, right?” I looked to the others and they quickly agreed.
“Is Zack okay?” Nick asked as we all started back inside.
“Kade took him outside so he wouldn’t have to hear any of that. He’s fine,” I replied.
“What about that?” Kailan asked as he nodded to the suitcase.
“Grab the legal papers, and toss the rest. We have everything we need, and if not, we’ll buy new. We don’t need anything from her,” Harris answered.
I agreed wholeheartedly as we walked back into the house. I had my arm wrapped tightly around Nick who looked riddled with worry. I knew he was panicking that he wasn’t good enough to care for Zack full time, but I also knew he was. He was an amazing father. We just needed to make him see it too.