Chapter Four
***Magnolia***
I clear my throat. “Okay, little man, time for bed.”
I can see the panic in his eyes and I know the reason why. I’m about to say something but Easton beats me to it.
“I’m gonna be right here, little man. And now that you shared your cookie with me, and knowing you’re the one who made them, I’m not going anywhere. You’re gonna make me some new ones tomorrow, right?”
Again, Joshua’s face lights up. He’s not one to be very shy but he’s also not a kid to open up to anyone instantly. Of course, it might have helped that I always told him his daddy was out there looking for us, just as I was looking for him.
I know it’s insane and probably not one of my smartest ideas but I couldn’t lie to my kid, I had to tell him something. In the end it was the truth. The both of us did want to reach the other. It might have been for different reasons, I’m sure, but still.
Joshua rushes up the stairs and as I pass Easton, I mutter, “Stop looking at me like that.”
His head tilts. “Like what?” A smirk slides on his face and I don’t have to say another word because he damn well knows what I’m talking about.
I shake my head and head up the stairs to make sure Joshua brushes his teeth before bed. After he’s all snuggled in, I give him a goodnight kiss and reassure him yet again how Easton will still be here when he gets up. I do hope he will be and I’m a bit scared as I make my way downstairs.
We still have a lot to talk about and it seems he takes everything very well, but I also don’t know what he has in mind for the future. How much he would like to be involved in Joshua’s life. I don’t even know if he has a girlfriend. A wife. Other kids. There’s so much more to consider if there are others involved. My heart squeezes at the thought of someone else living with this man and yet I know it’s none of my business. Joshua is who’s important.
“All tucked in?” Easton says as I stroll back into the kitchen.
“Yes,” I mutter and grab the mugs from the table to put them in the sink. I turn to face him and place my hand on the table. “Is it Easton, C.Rash, or something else? What do I call you?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “We’re doing the whole name thing? All while we have a five-year-old kid together? Kinda funny when you think about it, huh?”
“Believe me, when I walked out of that motel room and the door fell shut behind me, I did realize the very next second I should have left my number. But I couldn’t leave it in front of the door or at the desk. I was in a hurry, I overslept…nothing about that evening was planned.”
He reaches out and covers his hand with mine. “I don’t regret one single moment. Well, maybe falling asleep, ‘cause I should have prevented you from slipping out of my bed. Oh, and I should have—”
I slide my hand away from underneath his and lightly smack his forearm. “Believe me, the whole ‘should have’ thing? It’s overused. And it doesn’t change anything. We’re here now and you telling me this means a lot. Now we need to move forward and you have to realize the boy sleeping upstairs is, and will always be, my first priority. And you looking at me the way you did before I put him to bed isn’t really helping when we need to focus on Joshua.”
“Why not? Do you have a boyfriend?” he suddenly snaps. “An ex-husband or someone on the side in your life?”
My eyebrows scrunch up. “What does that have to do with anything? And it’s not like I owe you anything, but really? Do you think after everything I went through I’d open up to a relationship of any kind? It took me weeks to comprehend everything that happened. I don’t know where I would be in my life if it wasn’t for Joshua. I had all those months to mentally heal from what that nutcase put me through. The outer scars are only a visible reminder, the ones on the inside still give me nightmares from time to time but Joshua gave me a purpose, love, something unconditional. It’s also why I won’t ever regret what happened between us. Well, obviously the part where I was stupid enough not to give you my name or ask yours.”
“Easton,” he roughly says. “C.Rash is what all my brothers call me, but I want this between us to be more…personal.” He lets his fingers slide through his hair. “C.Rash is the nickname I earned when I was a prospect with Areion Fury MC. It’s short for carpet rash. At the time I was ordered to take care of three brothers that had passed out in the hallway of a hotel. Found them bare ass and drunk with two girls who were still trying to get some action from them. I put the girls in a cab, dragged the guys by their hands into the room one by one. Let’s just say those three brothers all had their butts looking the same; flaming red due to the carpet rash. But like I said, you, me and Joshua…I would like it if you used Easton when we’re together. Use C.Rash if you’re talking to my brothers, ‘cause they know me by my nickname. But in the end…it’s your choice. I answer to either one, though over the years not many call me Easton anymore.”
I give him a smile, and realize we also need to know something else since it’s not just us two. “And Joshua? What would you like him to call you?”
He places his forearms on the table and leans in. “I think that’s up to the little man. You’ve told him he has a father; he is now aware it’s me. Don’t bring it up and let’s see how he handles everything himself, okay? All of this is hard enough, let’s not complicate matters.”
“Okay,” I croak. “I think I need some coffee. You?”
His smile is warm as he gives me a nod. There’s a loud thump followed by another one and it sounds like something hit the window, twice.
“Stay here,” Easton grunts and jogs out of the kitchen.
My eyes slide in the direction of the stairs and I fight the urge to check on Joshua. He’s safely in bed. For the first time in years I’m not as scared as I used to be. For the first time I’m not alone with my son. And hopefully, this will be the time when fear stops running my life completely.
I hear Easton’s voice rumble from the living room. It takes a moment before he steps into the kitchen, his phone glued to his ear as his eyes are locked on mine. “I want a prospect keeping watch to be sure, though I don’t think he’ll show his face again tonight, but I want an extra pair of eyes and hands here if I need it. Okay. Good. Talk tomorrow.”
He ends the call and slides his phone into the front pocket of his jeans.
“Two dead birds. Do you have something I can clean the window with? I don’t want Joshua waking up tomorrow morning to see anything smudging the window. And I want those birds checked out as evidence too.”
I nod warily. “I can do it, no worries.”
He’s in front of me cupping my face the next instant. “Hey. I didn’t ask you to do it. I asked for cleaning stuff, and some Ziploc bags, because I’m handling it. I know you’ve been on your own for years. And Calix, my president, just gave me an update on the background I asked about your case. I know a private investigator has researched the case, and I know the kind of limitations the cops have. But you have to understand…we work differently. I’ll explain the dynamics of our MC at a later point, but just know I’m the VP of AF MC Ohio and have a whole motorcycle club backing me up. Calix is a retired detective and one of my brothers used to be FBI. What I’m trying to tell you is… I am going to fix this, okay?”
“I know, but you have to understand how many times I’ve heard people voice they are going to fix it. How they are going to find him.” I swallow hard and realize, “But I also know this time it’s different.”
He gives me a tight nod. “I was heading here tonight as a favor for my sister. I would have been there for you like I am now, though you’re right when you say it’s different. That little man sleeping up there is linked with me and tied to you. This?” His finger is going back and forth between us, indicating him and me. “Might not have been settled, and what I’m about to say to you might scare you and sound insane, but you’re the mother of my kid. The both of you are mine to protect, and not because of some request or some shit. And I have more than one MC at my back. I swear to you this fucker tormenting you is going to be dealt with.”
I don’t trust my own voice and can only nod while my eyes spill over and a stray tear slides over my cheek.
“Fuck,” he snaps and wraps his arms around my waist to drag me against him.
“I’m not alone anymore,” I whisper out the words, mainly to myself.