Promiscuous Lies (Vengeful Lies #2)

47. Posie

CHAPTER 47

Posie

I hate that Dutton is so thoughtful. That this man, who is a known killer, and possibly even worse, is kind to me. That he shows me how I should be treated. And he and his family have been kind to Bentley. I never thought of bringing a man into Bentley’s life. Yet Dutton has slid straight in without an invitation, and he did it so effortlessly.

He started as my boss, and now he sleeps in my bed.

“School today?” Bentley asks, his voice hopeful. I’ve kept him out for a few days while we sorted out a plan of action. That, and I don’t want him out of my sight until Bobbi is taken care of. But now that he is, I don’t see why Bentley can’t go. I don’t want to hit pause on our life because of Bobbi anymore.

“Go and get changed, and let’s go to school.”

He jumps up and rushes to his room to get ready. I follow him, go into my room to get dressed, and pack his backpack. When I drop him off at school, he runs off excitedly to play with his friends.

When I arrive back at home, the car Hawke and Ford have been sitting in is gone, most likely because they’ve already caught the assholes involved in this.

I sit in the car and stare at the house for a moment. I’m exhausted, and it’s going to be hard to focus today, knowing what’s happening. I check my phone, noticing I have a missed call from Dutton. When I go to return it, a motorcycle parks behind my car.

I grip my steering wheel. In true Bobbi fashion, he’s somehow managed to avoid Dutton and the others, most likely at the sacrifice of his men.

I quickly call Dutton.

“Bobbi is here,” I rush to tell him. And while I want to handle this situation myself, it’s nice to know someone has my back. Because I know things with Bobbi are about to get ugly. But without my son being here and knowing nothing can happen to him, my fighting instincts are coming out in full force.

“Fuck,” Dutton curses from the other end of the line. “We only got his men; Bobbi slipped out somehow. Where are you?” he asks, and I can hear tires squeal, telling me he’s on his way to me.

“In my driveway.”

“Good. I’m almost there. Back the car out now and leave.”

“He’s parked behind the car,” I tell him.

“Run him over,” he barks as if that was the obvious answer. Shaking my head, I know I can’t do that because of the big-ass motorcycle that my sad tires won’t get over. So I put the car in park and open the door. I’m sick of running.

And I feel the fire spark to life in the pit of my stomach.

Dutton says something else, but I hang up on him. Knowing he’s on his way is enough for me as I come face-to-face with Bobbi.

“Avoiding me?” he asks. I shut the car door and turn to face him.

“Like any human with a brain would do,” I snap back.

His hands curl into fists at his sides. “I see you’re fucking the Taylor kid,” he sneers. “They broke into the place I was staying and took two of my men. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

“The Taylor kid?” I laugh at him. “You’re literally only a few years older than him, and your brain is smaller.” Then my gaze drops to his crotch. “Come to think of it, you’re smaller than him in more ways than one.”

I knew it was coming before the words even left my mouth. But I couldn’t help myself. He swings his arm, and his fist connects with my jaw. I feel it crack and hope to God nothing is broken as I cup the side of my face.

“Get up, you stupid bitch. See, if you would have stayed with me to begin with, I wouldn’t have to teach you how to talk to me.”

Just then, a car screeches into the driveway. Dutton jumps from the car and strides straight over to us. He doesn’t even pause, stepping right up to Bobbi, and a fight breaks out. Only a few punches are thrown because Bobbi keels over when Dutton punches him in the stomach. I only hear a loud grunt as Dutton blocks my view of him.

“Did you think it was smart to come back here? I warned you that this was a bigger game than you were ready for,” Dutton says coolly.

“You stabbed me,” Bobbi says breathlessly, the handle of a knife sticking out from his gut.

I grab Dutton’s hand and pull him back. He turns and looks at me. His eyes go wide when he sees the discoloration blooming on my jaw. He touches it, and I flinch, even though he’s gentle as he does.

“Go inside and ice your face,” he tells me just as Eli and Hawke pull up in another car. Ford is most likely with Bobbi’s men.

I inhale a sharp breath because although I agreed to this, signing someone’s death warrant is serious business. I harden my resolve, reminding myself Bentley might’ve been here.

“The stab wound is not lethal; it’s why he’s still standing,” Dutton informs me, and he’s back to being the cold, calculating version of himself. Then he turns to address Bobbi. “I want you to know the only reason you’re still breathing is so I can show you how to treat a woman later.”

Bobbi shoots me a pleading look. And it’s unbelievable that he still thinks I’m stupid enough for him to manipulate. “You wouldn’t let them do anything to me, Posie. I’m your son’s father.”

“What is my son’s name?” I ask. When he doesn’t answer, I smile even though it hurts to do so. “You have no idea and will continue to have no idea. You put yourself in this situation.”

“Striker will come after you for this; it’s best you let me walk now,” he threatens, gripping the knife as if afraid it will go in deeper.

“Waylon could try, but we both know he would rather not start a war over a piece of shit who thinks it’s fun to hit women. You kept that secret quiet, didn’t you? I understand that he doesn’t want your kind back,” Eli answers as he stops next to Dutton. “I suggest you walk over to that car and get in nicely.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you people. I know who you are,” Bobbie spits, attempting to step back. But Hawke is behind him and, with a smile, throws his arm around Bobbi’s neck as if hugging him but terrifyingly tight. I watch as, after a few moments, Bobbi sags to the ground like a sack of shit.

“Ice. You need ice.” Dutton grabs my hand and leads me to the house.

“What are they going to do with him?” I inquire.

“You don’t have to worry about him again,” is the only answer he gives me. Like that’s enough, I glance back as we reach the front door and see Eli and Hawke dragging Bobbi to the car.

“How sore is it?” Dutton asks as I lift my hand to my face, flinching when I make contact.

“It’s okay,” I lie. And we both know it’s a lie. “I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing,” I whisper, the reality of having faced Bobbi one more time finally sinking in.

“It’s okay, Posie. This is my decision. The blood will be on my hands, not yours. Now, get in that house and ice your jaw before you have to get your son later.”

I walk to the kitchen on autopilot, and Dutton follows closely behind me. He goes straight to the freezer, grabs the ice cube tray, and finds a plastic bag to put the cubes in. He then gently removes my hand from my swelling jaw and places the ice bag on it. I flinch in pain, glaring at him accusingly.

“You need to ice it,” he says and tries again to put the bag against my face.

“It’s cold.”

“That’s the point.” He chuckles. And when he tries a third time, I let him and try not to pull away. He drops down in front of me and holds the ice against my jaw while he stares at me.

“Marry me.”

“Stop asking,” I reply, my jaw throbbing.

“I won’t.” He smirks.

“Can you kiss me? Just here.” I tap my other cheek. And without moving the ice pack, he leans forward and goes to my ear first.

“I will make you my wife one day and be your husband. I want to be very clear on that. No other man will ever hurt you or touch you again because if they so much as look at you, I will kill them.” And then his lips brush my cheek, and he ever so gently kisses me. Closing my eyes, I dream of what a life with him might be like.

And I hate that I’m already in so deep that there’s no looking back for me.

For the first time in a long time, there’s a new future for Bentley and me.

But first, the past has to be buried… permanently.