Chapter 43 #2
“I’m in charge, right?” He stands tall and steps in front of me, keeping his face so close that I smell the spearmint on his breath.
I can see the challenge in his eyes, the anticipation for my answer.
All he needs is one word, a single confirmation that I will, in fact, stay out of the way.
Suddenly, six weeks sounds like a very long time.
“Zeke—”
“Am. I. In. Charge?” He holds my stare, waiting to pour gasoline on the fire building in his chest.
“Yes…” I say, almost regrettably. A sinister smirk curls at the corner of his lip, and then he relaxes in the most menacing way.
“You got it, D… I’ll handle it.” He steps away and walks over to Carter, leaning in close to his face and gritting his teeth. “Put them in a hotel for tonight. I'll handle the rest tomorrow.”
“Dude, come on…” Carter tries to reason with him, but he doesn’t listen. Zeke storms off towards the garage, making his fury obvious in every forceful step.
“Zeke?” Ashia calls out for her brother, stopping him in his tracks.
He snaps around to look at her like he’ll burst out in rage, but the moment their eyes meet, he puddles right in front of her.
Zeke may not have much else to care for in this world, but Ashia, and now Emma, are definitely the main points. “What’s wrong?”
He ever so slightly glances at Victoria, and then back to his sister once she dares to meet his glare.
“There's nothing wrong, Ash. I'm just grabbing my laptop from my car.” He cuts his eyes back to me before walking out a little quieter than before.
“This is going to end really bad, D…”
“Give him the benefit of the doubt. I think we both know you don’t have much room to talk where infuriating women are concerned.
” I turn to look at Carter, silently berating him through only a stare.
It probably wasn’t the best idea, but I saw his computer logs when I checked yesterday.
Ashia and the baby were both asleep, and I just wanted to make sure everything was set for our time off.
I definitely found some concerning things…
both of which are things he’s planned and that he’s already done—which was even more alarming once I realized I was jealous when I didn’t do the same thing.
He sighs and looks toward the annoying, loyal blonde sitting next to my wife.
“Good point,” is all he says in return. No sorry, no questions, and no explanation. His own plans for Serena are unethical at best, but he definitely isn’t feeling any reservations…and he certainly isn’t going to back out.
“You better know what you’re doing, Carter.”
“Oh, I do,” he replies surely, never taking his eyes off of her.
I just step away, knowing that this can’t be my concern. There’s no merit left for me to lecture him. I stalked my wife, followed her without permission, broke into her apartment, hacked local databases for information, and many other illegal acts. And I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.
So, I have absolutely no leg to stand on in that argument.
Elizabeth continues to fawn over Emma, touching her little toes as she rests in Ashia’s arms. Thankfully, Serena moves to the other couch so I don’t have to kick her off, and then I take my rightful place next to my queen.
“Everything okay?” Victoria asks me, clearly talking about Zeke’s outburst.
“Ask me again in a few weeks.” I wrap my arm around Ashia’s shoulders and pull her close, getting comfortable as everyone else starts to move.
Zeke comes back in with his laptop and sets it on the island, but then abandons it and starts grabbing the few boxes of his belongings.
Carter takes the hint and starts grabbing his things as well.
It’s bittersweet, watching them pack up and get ready to leave.
I know it’s not forever, and hell, I’m sure I’ll hear from these mother fuckers by the time the sun sets, but we’ve all gotten so close—closer than we were before, and that thought is almost insane.
They’ve been with me through everything…
This time last year, life felt empty. I poured all of my time and attention into DH and the guys, focusing on nothing but keeping the city safe.
Everything was great, but I wasn’t whole.
The life I wanted seemed impossible to have, and I only dreamed of someone loving me as harshly as I could love them.
My world is chaotic, dangerous, and violent—not something that’s in fairytales or love stories.
But it is in ours.
Fate proved that it’s always had a plan for me, that I just had to wait it out.
I was created for one woman, molded and sculpted for one purpose—to serve her—and she was presented to me the moment we needed each other most. The road was never meant to be smooth, and it probably never will be, but it’s easier to tread beside each other.
Ashia’s light guides me, and my darkness hides everything else around us.
I’ve consumed her just as she has me, and now, we’re free to just live—to experience this crazy, chaotic life, and know what it’s like to embrace it together.
That’s something we’ll never let go of.
“Are you okay?” Ashia looks up at me and asks, batting those long, dark eyelashes and flashing her golden eyes.
I’m more than okay. Nothing could ever go wrong again.
I get to live out a long, happy life with the perfect woman and cherish each day like it’s our last. We’ll get to laugh, cry, and argue, and I’ll only beg for more.
I’ll hold her close until death takes us, and then we’ll dance forever in the stars.
I want to scream all of that as loud as I can, and hold our baby high and show that we’ve made it, but we don’t need that type of show.
My girls deserve a peaceful, calm storm.
So, I settle for something a little more subtle as I look into the eyes I’ll stare into forever.
“Yes, my love.” I rest my forehead against hers and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’m more than okay.”