Chapter 18 #2
My jaw drops slightly as he sets the fabric in my hands.
It feels so wrong to hold these, knowing exactly what they’re from.
The three times I wasn’t able to persuade Mickey to leave me alone.
The three times I fought like hell, but lost. The tears that were building in my eyes threaten to fall, but I try like hell to keep them back as my vision swims.
Memories threaten to take me over, but just as Ty’s tanned, warm hand cups my cheek, they fade away. Replaced with the love this man is showing me.
“Take back your power, baby. You’re a goddess among mortals, and it’s time you remembered it.”
A tear rolls down my face and Ty’s thumb wipes it away gently.
“I love you,” I whisper. The full weight of what he said hits me like a ton of bricks. We’ve danced around the words for a while now, knowing how we feel about each other, but never outright said the words.
He deserves to know. I want him to know. Even if he can’t return the words now, I need him to know where I stand.
“God, Roxie,” The words leave his mouth softly and he shakes his head before looking down at me and smiling brightly. “I was going to say it first.”
“Beat you to it,” I chuckle through tears with a bratty smirk. He grins, nodding before he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him.
“I love you too, baby. So much. So fucking much.”
“I really, really don’t want to go. I’d much rather hold you rather than some dude’s leg,” Ty says softly, turning back to face me. I feel like we’re war-torn lovers and he’s had 12 hours of R&R before he has to ship back out as we embrace. He looks at me longingly, his eyes soft and open.
I like seeing him like this. Open, honest, yearning.
It’s my new favorite look, right after his soul being sucked out of his dick by my mouth.
“You’re telling me you don’t want to straddle some guy’s leg while you finish working on his thigh tattoo?
Come on, babe, that sounds like a good time,” I smirk, squeezing his biceps and letting myself fall into him a little more.
Ty growls, sliding one of his big hands down to cover my ass and giving me a spank.
“Careful, baby,” he growls against my lips, looking down his nose at me with a heat in his eyes. “I don’t take well to you thinking about anyone else like that.”
I love getting him all riled up.
It’s so easy when he’s jealous and possessive.
I hum and smile softly, setting my hand over his chest.
“Don’t you worry, Daddy, you know I only have eyes for you.”
“That’s better,” he teases, leaning in to kiss me. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say with an incandescently happy smile.
Ty moves his hands to my face, just holding me like I’m something precious before exhaling quickly through his nose.
“I have to go.”
“I know you do.”
“I’ll be back in five hours.”
“I’ll be here.”
“You promise? Promise me, Roxie.”
“I promise,” I say seriously, covering his hands with mine. Ty nods, his dark eyes full of the need to stay with me. With a groan and a growl, Ty rips himself from my hold and leaves without looking back.
But I know he didn’t look back because he was just one moment away from saying fuck it and staying with me.
Which I would have very gladly been okay with and more than likely had shown him exactly how much. But no, he has to go and be a responsible adult.
It’s bullshit.
And responsible. Fuck.
I close the door softly behind him, resting my back against it. The exhaustion of the day catching up with me.
‘The couch is looking mighty comfy,’ I think, raising my eyebrows and making my way over to the worn-in cushions. There’s no way I’m making it to Ty’s room right now. Besides, if I nap out here, I’ll get to see him the moment he comes home.
With that thought comforting me, I curl into the random throw pillow and close my eyes, feeling safe and relaxed for the first time in a long, long, fucking time.
Knock, knock, knock.
I’m pulled from sleep with the knocks on the door. Did I lock the door? I can’t really remember.
Groaning, I push off the edge and roll into standing–still half asleep as I open the door without checking the peephole first.
First mistake.
“Well, well, well,” his voice drips with disdain and danger. It’s Cory. Mickey’s paid lackey who has no morals or empathy. Just does what he’s paid to do, even if it’s evil. “Looks like you pissed off the boss-man.”
I go to slam the door in his face. I’m not letting this fucker in here, but his hand stops the door.
Cory’s slick and disgusting, but he’s a big guy.
At least 6’4” and beefy, wears a stained wife beater that shows off his width.
I’m strong, quick, resourceful, but I also know that if I tried to take him right now, I’d lose.
“What do you want?”
“I was told to make sure you know exactly what happens when you try to get away from Mickey. Painfully.”
“How’d you find me?” I ask, stepping backward, trying to remember where I’d put my phone. Is it in Ty’s room? Fuck, Roxie, think. I move back, leading Cory into the kitchen because if he’s going to try to attack me, a knife would even the fight out.
“You really think it was a smart idea to send Ty Hernandez and Asher Lee to the Franks?” He chuckles sinisterly. “I made an educated guess.”
“You? Educated? I never would’ve thought. When’d that happen?” I smart off, backing a little closer to the silverware drawer.
Cory’s expression sours really fucking fast, just like I knew it would. He’s always been sensitive about how he’s just the muscle because he has no brain power and everyone knows it.
“Careful, bitch,” he snarls, stepping closer to me and clenching his fists. This isn’t going to end well for me, but I’ll be fucking damned if I don’t leave my own marks.
“Come and get me, dumb-ass.” I reach into the drawer, pull out a knife and take a deep, steadying breath.
This is really going to fucking hurt.