Chapter ten Aubrey #3
He takes a few steps forward, muttering to himself, then looks up and stops in his tracks when he sees me. In a split-second decision, he strides over to me with purpose, and I know exactly what’s coming. I could stop him, get out of the way on time. But I don’t.
Instead, when he comes within reach, lifting his fist in the air, I let it connect with my jaw.
The hit comes with much more force than I anticipated and makes me stumble back a few steps. I haven’t been in a fight since my hockey days, so I’m a little rusty and feel the impact more than I normally would have in the past.
Ford takes advantage of my moment of weakness and pushes against my chest, making me land on my back.
He quickly jumps over me and gives me another right hook to the side of my eye.
I instantly know I’m going to have a black eye soon, and given the coppery taste in my mouth, I’m pretty sure he split my lip.
There’s also a slight sting to my cheekbone, which means I probably have a cut there, too.
This is going to be hard to explain at work.
“You fucking piece of shit! SHE’S MY SISTER!” he shouts in my face, coming in for another punch, but I block him this time, putting my forearms in the way to shield my face.
“Shane!” I hear my Angel’s voice calling from behind us somewhere. “Oh my God! Greyson, get off him!” She appears at my side, just as arms wrap around Greyson, hauling him off me.
She drops to her knees on the lightly snow-covered pavement and takes my face in her hands as I sit up. “Oh God, Shane. I’m so sorry. He figured it out before you had a chance to get here.”
“LET GO OF ME!” Greyson tries to wrestle out of Clay’s arms, but he manages to hold him in place.
Silas quickly comes in front of him, putting his face an inch away from Grey’s. “Calm the fuck down, Ford! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you want to get kicked off the team!? You can’t fucking hit him like that!”
“I don’t give a fuck about the team right now! He knocked up my baby sister! He’s going to ruin her fucking life!” he spits in his face.
“You don’t mean that, Ford. And you, better than anyone, know a baby doesn’t ruin someone’s life,” Silas says calmly but still with a stern tone.
“Ahh!” someone shrieks from behind followed by a gasp.
“Oh no!” Aubrey whispers as she looks past the boys.
I do the same, spotting Emma on the ground just outside the front door with Nancy and Andrew—Aubrey’s parents—at her side, looking her over.
“Greyson!” Nancy shouts, trying to gain her son’s attention, but he’s too busy glaring at me with murder in his eyes.
“Greyson!” Aubrey yells at him with panic in her voice and eyes. She goes to stand like she wants to rush over to her friend but then turns back to me and decides to stay at my side. “It’s Emma!”
That snaps him out of his spell as he blinks and shakes his head a little, looking around for his wife. When he sees her on the ground on all fours, he pushes Clay off him and rushes over to his heavily pregnant wife. “Oh fuck! Bunny, what happened!?” He crouches down beside her.
“She slipped coming out of the house. I think you should take her to the hospital, make sure the babies are okay,” Andrew tells him with worry lacing his voice.
Silas comes over, taking my hand and helping me to my feet while Aubrey dusts the snow off my back. Clay inspects my face quickly with his usual frown. “Nothing seems broken, but you still might want to get it checked out.”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, to which he simply nods.
“No, we’re going to get you checked. Just to make sure,” Aubrey says with concern.
It’s just a few cuts and probably a bruise, but if it will ease her worry, then I’ll do it. “Okay, Angel.”
“Umm, guys… I think we have a situation.” Veronica shows up at the open front door.
Silas turns around, taking a few steps toward her. “What is it? Are the kids okay?”
“Yes, Cecilia’s with them in the playroom. But—” Her words are cut off by a high-pitched wail.
Seconds later, Noah and Gabe come to the door, holding a folded over Morgan. “I think she’s in labor,” Gabe says with a bit of discoloration on his face.
“AHHHH!!!” Morgan screams, crouching down lower as the guys try to support her.
“Yup, definitely in labor,” Noah adds.
“Fucking hell!” Clay mutters before rushing off to his wife.
“Well, seems we’re all heading to the hospital.” Silas laughs with disbelief as he passes by everyone and hurries into the house.
“We’ll stay with the kids,” Ronnie tells Silas. “You and Cecilia get them to the hospital. Morgan said her bags are already in their car.”
“We’ll take Emma in her car,” Nancy says as Greyson and Andrew help walk her to the large SUV.
“Come on, let’s go.” Aubrey takes my hand and begins to pull me toward our cars parked along the sidewalk, but I stop her, noticing she’s shivering.
“Wait, where’s your coat?”
“Oh, it’s inside, let me get it. I rushed out and only had time to put my boots on.” She looks at me as she releases my hand and smiles sadly. “I’m really sorry about that, Shane…” Her eyes fall to my cuts.
“It’s okay, Angel. It’s not your fault.” I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb back and forth along her cold skin.
“Isn’t it, though?” Her eyes gloss over with wetness.
“No, sweetheart. Don’t blame yourself for your brother’s anger. I’m fine and everything will be okay, I promise.” I bring her into my chest, kissing her crown as I repeat the words. “I promise.”