Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
Anastacia
I’m barely off my seat before Grizz is over the table, punching Rhino in the face.
I startle but ignore it all as I hurry over to Snapper who jumps up from the couch and backs away, getting away from the chaos that’s happening by the table since he has the baby.
A group of guys rush over, trying to break up the fight—a full on brawl.
Both of them are throwing punches, shouting.
Chairs and the table are scraping against the floor, other guys are screaming for them to stop, grabbing them and trying to shove them away but they keep going back at each other.
“I need to leave,” I say quickly, reaching for my baby. “Please, can you get me out of here?”
Snapper nods without hesitation, handing me Dorothea and hurrying over to grab her carrier.
I buckle her in with shaky hands, ignoring the way my stomach has turned sour.
I think I’m going to throw up, but I can’t do that now.
I need to hold it together for a little bit longer.
Snapper helps me get my coat on, and then he picks up the carrier and ushers me out of the clubhouse.
Shouting and things breaking can still be heard outside.
Snapper brings me over to his truck, opening the back door.
“I don’t know how to buckle her in, I’m sorry.”
I do it without saying a word, while Snapper starts the truck.
It’s freezing outside, and I tuck her blanket over her a little higher since the truck isn’t warm yet.
By the time I hop into the front and put my seatbelt on, the heat is coming through the vents.
It’s not hot, but it’s warm enough. Snapper puts it on high, pressing all sorts of buttons to change up the options before putting the truck into drive to take off.
I break down the moment we turn onto the street. Tears pour down my face and I can’t get them to stop, no matter how hard I try. I can barely breathe. My chest hurts. I feel sick. No matter how much I wipe my face with my sleeves and my shirt, it just gets drenched in tears again.
When the car stops, I realize I need to calm the hell down. Kolton is probably freaking out about me getting bodily fluids all over his car, and he may think I’ve lost my mind because he has no idea why I’m even upset. He doesn’t know what happened.
“Here,” he says softly, and through blurry eyes, I make out a napkin. I take it, wipe my eyes and blow my nose. He hands me two more. I shove them into my pocket after wiping my eyes again, and finally take in a deep breath, hold it, then let it out slowly.
“Are you okay?” he asks slowly.
“No,” I say. “But yes. I’ll be okay.”
“What happened?”
Shaking my head, I replay what happened in my mind, but then the tears come again. Kolton gives me another napkin. I have no idea where he is getting them from, but I’m grateful he has them. I settle myself again, blow out another breath and say, “He lied to me.”
From the corner of my eye, I see him nod.
He doesn’t ask anything else, and I am so thankful for Dorothea being quiet right now.
I’m not sure I could handle it if she needed something from me, and this is exactly what I didn’t want.
I don’t want to be so upset by something that I can’t do what I need to do to take care of my child.
I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get invested like this.
I shouldn’t have allowed myself to fall so hard for Grizz, knowing the kind of life he leads.
“Can I ask you something?” I turn toward Kolton.
“Sure.”
“The club… Would you ever… Is there something about it that would make you cheat on Lucian?”
“God no,” Kolton says. It’s quiet for a moment, then he adds, “But that’s not who I am as a person. I never partook in those sorts of activities at the club.”
“Because they were women?” I ask.
He gives a small shrug. “Probably. If men were more accessible, it may have been different, but that wouldn’t be a reason to cheat on Lucian.
If you’re in a relationship with someone, you should be loyal to them.
If you aren’t ready for a relationship, then don’t be in one.
” More tears fall, but they’re silent this time.
I wipe them away. “Do you think he cheated on you?” Kolton asks carefully.
“He did,” I say firmly. “I called him out on it a couple weeks ago, and he convinced me I was wrong. But…” I look out the window, staring at the snow covered trees and ground.
We’re at Kolton’s house. Grizz will know where I am, but I don’t care.
I trust that if I tell Kolton not to let him in, he won’t.
I’m not sure Grizz will listen. Kolton is much smaller than Grizz, but he’s capable of keeping someone out.
I never felt unsafe when I was with him.
“Tonight, Rhino said something that proved Grizz was lying.”
“Rhino was drunk.”
“Grizz didn’t deny it.”
“I have nothing here for the baby, but I’ll get whatever you need. I—”
His phone rings, cutting him off.
“I’m not with you,” I say as he reaches for it.
“It’s Lucian.” He slides the button across the screen to answer the call.
“Hello?” I can’t hear what’s being said on the other line, but he continues the conversation, pausing a moment to listen between everything he says.
“Yeah, she’s okay. Home. No, I don’t think so.
Are you sure? That would be great. Okay, thanks. ”
He ends the call, putting his phone down, and to me, says, “Tommy is going to give Lucian a ride here, but before they do, he will stop at Grizz’s to get things for you and the baby. Is there anything you need specifically?”
“Clothes for both of us. Comfortable stuff. My toothbrush. Dorothea’s teddy bear. It’s in her crib. Oh, and her travel crib. It’s in the closet.”
He types something out, and I assume it’s to Lucian to relay the message.
“Did he say…” I stop, not sure I even want to know the answer.
“He didn’t say what happened.”
I nod absently, staring out the window still. “Can we go inside?”
“Of course.”
Kolton helps me out of the truck and to get Dorothea out of the back. Snow is piled up on the steps and the deck, so he goes first, using his boot to kick it aside.
“Please, be careful. I’ve been staying with Lucian, so I haven’t been here to shovel.”
I make it up the porch without falling. The house is warm once we get inside, and he locks the door behind us.
“Is the same room okay?” he asks.
“The couch will be fine,” I say, suddenly very tired.
“Nonsense. The room is yours. I just have to change the sheets.”
“I can help y—”
“No, I’m fine to do it myself.” He puts the carrier by the couch. “Relax. Put on the TV. I’ll let you know when I’m finished.” He heads up the stairs without saying another word. I open my mouth to tell him thank you, but he’s already gone.
Dorothea is sleeping, so I don’t bother her. I drop onto the couch and close my eyes. A million thoughts run through my head, but I’m all cried out now. I feel nothing but disappointment—and hurt.