Chapter 6
Openingup to a room full of strangers had left her feeling raw and exposed and, as she bathed Tyrique after his poo-splosion, she relished in the time it allowed her to fortify her walls. Despite their kindness and understanding, these people were strangers and her gut was telling her there was way more to them than what she saw on the surface.
The speed with which the one they called Watchdog found that information was boggling to her and spoke of an understanding about law enforcement or, perhaps worse, a background in crime. Then there were all the crazy nicknames. Bás translated to death, so did Reaper, and it made her spine tingle.
Tyrique kicked his legs and gurgled a laugh, loving the warm water on his skin and the freedom to move without the confines of a nappy. He was such a happy baby and she felt dragged under by a wave of grief every time she thought of her sister not getting to see him grow up.
Lifting Tyrique from the tub, she wrapped him in a fluffy, navy towel and sat her ass on the closed toilet lid. This bathroom was bigger than her apartment, having been a bedroom at one time. Titan had explained the cottage had three bedrooms originally but he hadn’t needed them and wanted a bigger bathroom.
The double-wide shower called to her and she desperately wanted to spend an hour under the hot spray, letting her mind empty of all the worries she carried. Although, since meeting Ti, she’d felt like everything weighed a lot less than it had before.
Perhaps it was knowing that, if something happened to her, Tyrique would be safe and well-loved. After seeing him with his friends, she had no doubt that he’d protect and love Tyrique.
Her belly warmed as she thought about the things he had said to her and how every moment around him felt charged with electricity. It had been a long time since she’d had such a visceral reaction to a man and, boy, was there a lot of man to lust over.
Heading back into the bedroom she would share with Tyrique, she dressed him in fresh pyjamas with little lions on the feet and lifted him against her chest. He snuggled into her neck, his tiny fist flexing around her hair.
A rush of love flowed through her making her heart squeeze. She’d loved her sister but what she felt for Tyrique was different. His love was unconditional towards her, whereas Rose had been effusive with her love as long as it pleased her.
Shaking the negative thought away, she headed down the stairs to the smell of garlic and tomatoes. Her belly rumbled and she remembered she hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and she wasn’t sure a granola bar counted as food.
“Here, let me take him while you eat.”
Titan swooped in, taking Tyrique from her arms and pulling out her chair with his free hand. Before her was a steaming pasta dish with grilled chicken and garlic bread on the side.
“Did you make this?”
“I wish I could lie and say yes, but Seb brought it over.”
Maya cocked her head as she sat, her belly rumbling as the delicious smell invaded her. “Seb is Snow’s husband?”
“Yeah, he’s a good guy. Although we gave him a lot of shit when they first met.”
“You guys seem pretty close, have you worked together long?” She twirled her fork around the spaghetti and tried not to slurp as she took her first bite. A groan of pleasure erupted from her throat at the delicious flavours bursting on her tongue.
“Oh my God, this is so good.”
Titan was watching her, his dark eyes hooded with desire, and she felt her own body respond to the magnitude of this man. His aura was so huge it made him difficult to ignore, especially when he cradled his son so gently in his arms, but she had to try.
“So have you?” Maya cleared the croak from her throat and pulled her eyes back to her food.
“Have I what?”
“Worked with these guys a long time?”
Titan shifted slightly, bringing Tyrique closer to his chest before he sat opposite her, seemingly quite content to hold his sleeping son, rather than place him in the travel crib set up in her room. “A while, yes, and you could say we’re like family. We’ve been through a lot together and those kinds of bonds, the ones forged in fire, are the strongest.”
Maya nodded. “Like me and Rose in some ways. Even before we lost our parents it was always us against the world.” Her words trailed off as she realised how alone she really was. Yes, she had Tyrique but for how long? Titan would probably meet someone unless… oh God, did he already have a girlfriend or wife she didn’t know about?
Her head shot up and she pinned him with a questioning gaze. “Are you married?”
His lips quirked in the sexiest smile as he shook his head. “No.”
“Girlfriend?”
His head shook. “No.”
“Thank God.” Heat invaded her cheeks as he grinned, and she realised what she implied.
“Why? You want to apply for the position, sweetheart?”
“No, no. I meant good because I didn’t implode your life any more than I already have.”
Ti held a palm over his chest. “You wound me. I thought we had something special and now you’ve broken my heart.”
Maya snorted. “Please, a man with an ego like yours doesn’t get wounded or have his heart broken.”
“You’re a sassy thing, aren’t you, Maya?”
“What’s the matter? Can’t handle it, big guy?”
“Oh, I can handle whatever you dish out, sweetheart.”
“Hmm.”
Tyrique began to squirm in his father’s arms and Maya knew what was coming. Around this time every night, he would begin to fuss, his knees pulling up and his cries filling the room. Colic was a bitch and Ti was about to get a crash course.
Titan held him away from his body, his gaze moving all over as if he were checking for injury. “What’s wrong with him? Is he hungry again?”
Maya stood, thankful she’d finished eating for a change before it hit. Usually, she’d feed Tyrique, get him ready for bed, and then change for her job at the club and apply the ridiculous make-up they insisted on. By then, she might have enough time to stuff down some toast or a sandwich before the colic began. She preferred it that way though because at least Tyrique was settled by the time the sitter got there to watch him while she worked.
“He has colic.”
Ti’s eyes widened in alarm. “That sounds serious. Is it serious?”
Maya stood and moved closer, resisting the urge to take Tyrique from his arms, instead pushing the baby closer to his father as his heart-breaking cries filled the kitchen.
“Colic isn’t serious, and they do grow out of it. It’s often caused by gas or overstimulation. In his case, I think it’s gas because he guzzles his food like he’s never getting fed again.”
“How do I fix it?”
“Hold him close and rub his back.”
Ti did as she asked, his big hand engulfing the small child’s back.
“That’s it.”
Tyrique’s cries eased the tiniest bit but they didn’t abate and she wasn’t sure who was the most upset at this point, the baby, or his father.
“He’s still crying. Why is he still crying? Make it stop.”
Maya chuckled and walked towards the living room, knowing Ti would follow. “Sit down and I’ll show you what I usually do when this happens.”
Ti sat and she moved in beside him. “Sit back and place Tyrique on his back on your knees.”
“Like this?”
“Yes, perfect. Now rub his tummy like this.”
Maya leaned over and rubbed her hand in clockwise circles using her other hand to gently pull Tyrique’s crunched legs down and give the air in his tummy room to move.
“You try.”
Ti followed her instructions and soon Tyrique’s cries ebbed as he squirmed before letting out the biggest fart and startling Titan.
“Jesus, kid, you almost blew a hole in my leg but that’s gotta feel better.”
Maya watched Tyrique’s body relax but knew this episode wasn’t over, not yet. “You’re doing great.”
“So, is he good now?”
Maya smiled and shook her head. “Afraid not. It usually lasts a couple of hours and then he goes down after a bottle.”
“How often does it happen?” His voice was low as if he was scared he’d set his son crying again if he spoke louder.
“Every night for the last month, but I’m told it should ease up by the time he hits six months.”
“Every night!” Panic laced through the word, and she tried not to laugh.
“Yeah, poor baby.”
“Can’t a doctor medicate him so he isn’t in pain?”
“You can get a few over-the-counter things but I don’t find they work. Baby massage is the best way, at least in my limited experience.”
“And you’ve been dealing with this every night?”
“Yeah.”
“When do you eat or sleep or shower? How the hell have you been doing this alone?”
“Well, I eat a lot of toast. I wear makeup to cover the bags under my eyes, and showers are quick and when this guy is napping.”
Maya could feel Titan watching her but kept her gaze firmly on Tyrique, not wanting to make a fool of herself because she knew that if she looked at him now, she’d see something she’d craved all her life, admiration.
“Wow, I’m in awe of you. I never really thought about how hard it was being a single mum. I mean, I did. My mum raised me and my brother alone, but I didn’t quite appreciate it, if that makes sense.”
“It does and, to be honest, I didn’t either until I was doing it.”
Ti looked down at his son and her eyes shifted to the man beside her, admiring his profile. He looked upset and regretful, and she didn’t want him to feel bad. Rose had made this decision, not him.
“I hate that I wasn’t there to help her out. Maybe if I had been, she’d be alive.”
“Don’t do that, Ti. Don’t take responsibility for things my sister did. I loved her, God knows I did but she made her choices. I wish every day I could have saved her, but you can only save someone who wants to be saved, and I’m not sure my sister ever did.”
“But you don’t think she killed herself?”
Maya shook her head. “No. They killed her, I’m sure of it but I can’t escape the feeling that Rose was always destined to be on this earth for a short time. I lived my life with a constant low-level anxiety that I’d lose her, even when she was happy and healthy.”
“I get that. My brother Devon died when I was a kid. I always blamed others for what happened to him and almost destroyed the people I thought responsible but ultimately, he made his own decisions.”
Her heart twisted, knowing that he felt the same pain she did at losing a sibling. Her hand rested on his corded forearm and the patterns inked into his skin, feeling the strength there. “I’m sorry you went through that, Ti.”
“Yeah, me too. But everything happens for a reason, right?”
“Maybe.”
Fear at the shit still swirling around her future must have shown on her face, because Ti turned his hand over and gripped her fingers, linking them with his.
“I’ll protect you, Maya. I promise.”
“I don’t need your protection, Ti, only he does.” She motioned to Tyrique who was sleeping soundly as his dad continued to rub his tummy.
“I know you don’t but you have it anyway.”