Chapter 11 – Alexis
11
In His Defense
Alexis
I DON’T KNOW what Leo did, but I’ve never heard my dad this mad before, and it has me considering turning around and walking out.
I actually make it halfway through the process, but Gavin’s big body blocks my escape. He must know what I’m thinking because he shakes his head at me, expression serious.
I sigh. He’s right. I have to stay. My brother wouldn’t leave me on my own in a situation like this, so I can’t leave him. Leo’s a pain in the ass, but he’s loyal as fuck.
Letting my head fall back on a quiet groan, I turn toward the kitchen, blowing out a breath before sliding my gifts onto the entry table and going to my brother’s defense.
I hope he deserves it.
With Gavin still right behind me, I march into the kitchen, not giving anyone time to react to my appearance before crossing my arms and barking out, “What’s going on?”
My mother is giving Leo a look that might kill him and my dad’s face is so red I’m worried he might die right after my brother. No one says anything for a few seconds. They all just keep scowling at each other. I raise one brow, focusing on my brother since he’s the most likely to cave.
And he does.
“They’re acting like two consenting adults can’t do what they want.” Leo’s jaw is set so tight I can see it twitching as he talks through clenched teeth.
“You don’t have any fucking clue what you’re talking about.” My dad points at the living room, but I’m not sure why because no one’s in there. “The last thing that girl needs is you butting your nose into her shit.”
Leo scoffs, stretching his arms wide. “You just wanted me to stand there like nothing was happening?” He shakes his head. “No fucking way.”
I take a step toward my brother, zeroing in on his knuckles. “What happened to your hands?” Gavin told me they’re not practicing right now, just hitting the gym, so the scabs and redness across his skin wouldn’t be from rugby.
My mother’s nostrils flare, her teeth barely separating as she says, “He beat the shit out of Maddie Miller’s husband.”
“Ex-fucking-husband.” Leo turns to me and Gavin. “She filed for divorce three months ago when he beat the shit out of her .” His chin lifts in defiance. “So as far as I’m concerned, he got what he had coming.”
I think I might have to agree with him, and to be honest, I’m shocked my parents don’t. My confusion over the situation clears up when my dad says, “He’s fucking dangerous, Leo. He’s already threatened to kill her, and he did it at the fucking courthouse in front of both their attorneys. You didn’t help her. You kicked the fucking hornet’s nest.”
I’ve never heard my dad say the word fuck so many times in a row, and it sends me stepping back into the hard line of Gavin’s chest. I should move away, but the stability of his strong body helps me feel less overwhelmed by what’s going on. Gavin’s hand comes to my shoulder, giving it a squeeze, offering support I desperately need.
“Isn’t it a good thing her ex knows what will happen if he tries to fuck with her again?” Gavin sounds genuinely confused. Like he doesn’t understand the reality of what women have to deal with on a regular basis.
Most men don’t.
I shake my head, a pit growing in my stomach. “That’s not how it works with men like that. He’ll be even more dangerous now.” I swallow hard as fear for a woman I barely know creeps across my skin. “Where is she today?”
A guilty expression flashes across my brother’s face and my mother tosses both hands up in the air. “For fuck’s sake.” She laughs, but it’s not an amused sound so much as an unhinged one. “She’s at your house, isn’t she, Leo?”
“I can’t just leave her at her apartment now that he’s found her.” Leo’s jaw takes on a murderous set. “You should be fucking happy I was there when he showed up. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.”
“She would have called the police and let them handle it.” My mother’s voice shakes as she continues. “He would have been arrested for violating a protection order and been booked in jail.” She advances on Leo, looking more than capable of taking my fully-grown brother down. “Now he’s plotting how to punish both of you for making him look weak.”
My dad rakes one hand through his hair. “I need to call Matt Miller. See if there’s anything we can do since it’s your fault his daughter’s problems just got bigger.” He shoots Leo a glare. “If you’re smart, you’ll leave that girl alone before you make things even worse for her.” He storms off in the direction of his office.
My mother wipes at her eyes, giving my brother a final look that would melt the skin off most people, before turning away. Her watery gaze barely pauses on me as she passes. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel much like celebrating this morning.” She walks out in the opposite direction my dad went, leaving us alone with Leo.
He lifts his brows at us. “You two want to take a shot? Everyone else fucking does.”
I shake my head. For the first time in my life, I feel bad for my brother. He’s always made friends easily. Did well in school without trying. Managed to score a spot on one of the best rugby teams in the country.
Now he’s in the middle of a mess he’s not equipped to handle, and the guy who’s always cool, calm, and confident, looks like a cornered animal, ready to bite anyone who comes close. There won’t be any reasoning with him this morning, and I’m not going to try.
Leo turns his gaze to Gavin. “You?”
Like me, Gavin shakes his head, probably because he knows Leo just as well as I do.
“Good.” Leo stalks past, storming out the front door. The engine of his Charger revs as he races away, then everything gets quiet.
That’s when I notice Gavin’s hand moved to my hip at some point, holding me close. His fingers flex against the extra padding there as he slides the gifts in his free hand onto the counter. “What do we do now?”
I’ve never been faced with a situation like this. Sure, both Leo and I clashed with my parents when we were teenagers, but never like this. I have no clue how long the fallout will last or how bad it will get.
I do know I don’t necessarily want to be around to find out. “I guess we leave?”
“Thank God.” Gavin lets out a sigh so deep it ruffles my hair. “I was afraid you were going to say we needed to stick around and try to help them work their shit out.”
I turn, hating that the movement sends Gavin’s hand sliding from my body. “Am I a bad sister and daughter if I say I have zero interest in that?”
Gavin gives me a small smile as he reaches out to tuck back a strand of my straightened hair. “If it does, then I’m a bad friend, because I don’t want to deal with it either.” His eyes leave mine to roam around the kitchen. “It sucks because it looks like your mom worked really hard on everything.”
It does. Two pans of homemade cinnamon rolls are on the counter next to a giant tray of fruit. Two bottles of champagne and two bottles of orange juice sit next to a line of glass flutes. “It seems like a waste to just leave it all here.” I know I should feel bad about taking advantage of a situation like this but…
Gavin grabs one tray of rolls and a bottle of champagne. He tips his head at the juice. “Grab it.”
The guilt I was wrestling abates at his decision-making skills and I snag the bottle from the counter, following him out the door. He leads me to my car, opening the door and waiting while I get behind the wheel. Then he leans down, one hand braced against the top of the opening as he says, “I’m coming to your place and we’re watching Elf and A Christmas Story .”
I agree easily. “Okay.”
Gavin’s hand slides from the opening, his fingertips tracing a line along my jaw as his eyes roam my face. For a second I think he’s going to lean in and kiss me like he did this morning, but then he straightens, stepping back. “I’ll follow you.”