Chapter 27
27
LYLA
Unknown:
I warned you, little bunny.
You chose not to come home, so you’ve forced my hand.
Just remember, I didn’t want it to come to this. If you’d behaved like a good little wife, we’d be honeymooning on a beach in Italy somewhere, but you had to go and be a whore.
See you soon, darling.
Shivers race down my spine at the blatant threat in Sebastian’s texts, and I once again forward them to Copeland. Hearing that the feds couldn’t find Bas threw me for a loop and threatened to send me spiraling, but Aidan’s warm body underneath mine kept me from completely losing it.
We spent the rest of the day together after Cope left, and after we read Crew his stories, Aidan dragged me to his bed and held me all night long, stroking my hair and whispering assuran ces that everything would be okay. I know Copeland said we didn’t need security, but I’ve considered dipping into my trust fund to hire someone anyway.
If I’m going to be out and alone with Crew, I want an extra layer of protection for him in case Bas somehow manages to get to me.
Crew is still sleeping, and Aidan is at the field already, so I take the opportunity to make the one call I’ve been dreading for over a year now. Each ring of the phone ratchets my heart rate higher, but I left my number unblocked, so I have a tiny sliver of hope that he’ll answer.
“Hello?”
A sob catches in my throat when my father’s deep timbre sounds over the line. He may have been absent for most of my childhood, but he’s still my dad. “Dad?”
His quiet inhale acts as a balm to the part of my soul that worried he wouldn’t care if I was gone. “Lyla, honey, is that you?”
Tears stream down my cheeks. “It’s me, Dad.”
“Where are you? Why does everyone think you ran out on Sebastian?”
Taking a deep breath, my words barely come out as more than a murmur. “Because I did.”
“Why would you do that? Do you know how worried we’ve all been about you? You’ve been gone for months , Lyla Taylor. Where the hell have you been?”
“Dad, just stop for a second!” I rarely raise my voice so it has the desired effect, and he goes silent on the other end of the phone.
“A year and a half ago, Sebastian beat me bloody and nearly choked me to death. It wasn’t the first time he’d hurt me, but I made sure it was the last. I managed to subdue him long enough that I was able to pack up the things I couldn’t live without and get the hell out of dodge. I hopped on a bus with no destination in mind and ended up in Charleston, South Carolina, where I’ve been ever since.”
The silence is deafening for a long moment, only to be broken by a growl. “Please tell me this is some elaborate joke, and you’re just going through a delayed rebellious phase that made you want to run off to sow your wild oats.”
At least it’s not an outright refusal to believe me.
“I have pictures from each time it happened on a flash drive here. I have to hand them over to the FBI next week, but if you’re ever in the area, I can show you. But please know they aren’t pretty.” I heave a sigh. “I just… I couldn’t do it anymore, Dad. It took a year of intensive therapy to deal with what I went through, and now that I’ve finally found some happiness again, Bas is back and threatening to hurt my family if I don’t come back to Maryland.”
“I’ll fucking kill him.”
The line goes dead, and I’m left staring at the phone in shock. Of all the things I expected him to say, it sure as hell wasn’t anything resembling anger on my behalf. I know my father, though, and when he sets his mind to something, he won’t be persuaded otherwise.
The alarm on my phone beeps, reminding me I need to get Crew up and dressed for the game. The security guy I hired should be here within the hour, and he’s going to tail us at the season opener today. The security guard already has season tickets, so it was a win-win all around.
When I reach his bedroom, Crew is already awake and halfway dressed, his features bright with elation about our plans for the day. He’s been talking about this game for weeks now , and I can’t wait to experience it with him.
“Well, look who’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning!”
He giggles madly, his enthusiasm causing him to be even more wiggly than normal, resulting in his head being stuck in the arm of his shirt. “Lyly, help!”
I snicker and ruffle his hair when we finally manage to right his shirt, his smile never wavering. “We need to brush your hair and teeth before we can leave. Can you do that by yourself or do you need help?”
“I can do it by myself! Promise. I’ll brush them real good.”
Raising a brow at him, I lean down so we’re eye to eye. “Top and bottom teeth? Two rounds of Twinkle Twinkle ?”
His enthusiastic nod is answer enough for me, so I set up his toothbrush and let him at it so I can finish getting my own things ready.
Aidan told me he loved me again before he left this morning, and I think it’s high time I tell him I love him, too. The glittery sign on the counter is finally dry, and Wren should have a bouquet of blue roses for me at the stadium.
I’ve kept my feelings for this man quiet out of fear of my ex finding us, but Aidan is showing me every day that I have nothing to be afraid of. Aidan Black loves big and loud, and he deserves the same from me, which is why I made a sign to hold up at the game today, just before the 7th-inning stretch.
I figure this way, even if we’re losing, it might make him feel a little better and give him some motivation. Crew and I will be in the family box for most of the game, and then Wren will hang out with him so I can head behind home plate with my sign for the 7th inning.
I’ve got Aidan’s jersey on again today, only this is his actual jersey—the very same one he’s wearing out on the field today. I’m wearing it open over a white tank, and I paired it with some light ripped jean shorts and a pair of cherry-red Converse.
I took extra care with my hair and makeup this morning, knowing I would be seeing the WAG’s again. The idea of being involved in another cliquish group like I was back home makes me anxious, but, save for Brandy, all of the wives and girlfriends I’ve met so far were really nice, and Wren assured me most of them are genuinely kind women.
The doorbell ringing saves me from delving any further down that rabbit hole, and after making sure it’s the correct man at the door, I open it to see a real life giant. I interviewed this guy over the phone and he came highly recommended by my financial advisor, so I haven’t actually seen him in person until now. I’d only seen his basic profile and headshot.
My mouth must still be hanging open in shock because he chuckles as he holds out a beefy hand. “Hello, ma’am. My name’s Callahan Ward, but you can call me Cal. Are you Lyla Taylor?”
I grin back at him and shake his hand with a nod, noting absently how it dwarfs mine. It’s almost comical how big this dude is. Aidan is 6’3, and I can tell just by looking at him Cal would make my boyfriend look average. “I am, and I really appreciate you taking this job on such short notice. I’m assuming you have questions before we head to the stadium?”
He follows me dutifully to the kitchen and declines any drinks, choosi ng instead to jump right into it. “So it’s you and the six-year-old I’m watching over, correct?” I nod. “Great. Now, in order to do my job, I need as much information as possible about the situation.”
Blowing out a breath, I quickly launch into the story of Sebastian, giving Cal as much detail as I can. “So, just to recap,” he begins, staring at his notes. “Sebastian Pennington Junior is the perp, and the feds are aware of the situation and actively looking for him? Are we assuming he’s armed and dangerous?”
The question gives me pause as I consider, but eventually, I give him a slow nod. “I hurt his ego by leaving, especially after defending myself against his attack. I have no doubt he wants to hurt me back, and his texts have essentially confirmed as much.”
Cal stays quiet, giving me a chance to study him. His expression is grave, but the smile lines around his mouth and eyes tell me he laughs a lot, and my gut is telling me I made a good choice in hiring him.
Crew comes skipping into the kitchen but stops short when he sees the giant sitting at our counter. His entire countenance changes in an instant as he backs away slowly, moving to my side and clinging to my leg. To his credit, Cal has a calm smile as he watches our exchange, and he slowly moves off the stool to crouch in front of us.
He holds his hand out to shake, never once quickening his movements or taking his eyes off Crew. “Hello,” he says softly. “My name’s Cal. Are you Crew?”
Crew nods slowly, his face belying his anxiety over meeting someone new. “Are you here to take my mommy?”
A quiet gasp slips from my lips, and I drop to my knees, pulling him into my arms. “Crew-bug, no . Nobody is going to take m e, I promise. Cal is my friend, and he’s going to keep us safe at the game today. Is that okay with you?”
With the threat of me leaving successfully quashed, his eyes narrow in suspicion. “You’re not a bad guy?”
The large man’s smile grows even more. “I’m not a bad guy, I promise. Actually, do you want to know a secret?” He pauses, and Crew nods hesitantly. “Up until a year ago, I was a GI Joe.”
Crew’s eyes go wide as saucers. “ Really? ”
Cal grins mischievously and shows us his phone screen. It has a picture of him with three other men, all in their fatigues, nearly blending in with the desert background. “See? Me and my friends catch the bad guys.”
Squeezing Crew’s shoulder, I grin at him. “Now that we know Cal is one of the good guys, can we get going? We’re going to be late for your dad’s game.”
He jumps into action, and soon enough, we’re on the road with Cal following in his own vehicle close behind. I meet the eyes of the sweet boy bouncing in his booster seat. “Crew-bug,” I start gently. “You know your dad and I aren’t married, right? So I’m not actually your mommy yet.”
In a move eerily similar to his father, Crew rolls his identical blue eyes. “Daddy said he loves you, and you’re his girlfriend. That means you’re going to get married. And that makes you my mommy.”
No hesitation, not a care in the world about formalities. In his six-year-old mind, his dad and I love each other, so that means I’m his mom now.
“Don’t you want to be my mommy?”
Careful to keep one hand firmly on the wheel, I reach a hand back and grip his knee tightly. “Oh, sweetie. Of course I do. I would love to be your mommy and marry your daddy someday.”
His grin is blinding, even through the rearview mirror. “So I can tell people you’re my mommy now?”
“If it’s okay with your dad, you can say I’m your mom.”
The parking lot is a madhouse, so I circle around to park in the staff parking at the training facility next-door. I have to get Wren to call in clearance for Cal, so while I’m waiting, I send a warning text to Aidan so he’s not blindsided by this new development later.
Me
Hey, I know you probably don’t have your phone on you, but I wanted to give you a head’s up just in case I don’t see you before the end of the game. Crew just started calling me Mommy, and I wasn’t really sure if I should let him, but he’s pretty adamant.
Aidan’s reply comes within seconds.
Daddy
Good.
Huh?
Me
Good?
Daddy
Yeah, angel. Good. He might as well get used to calling you that now
Me
This is insane, you know that, right? We’ve known each other two months. Been dating officially for a day. What happens if we don’t work out?
Daddy
Hate to break it to you, Lyla, but that’s not even a remote possibility. I love you, Crew loves you, and one day soon I’m going to put a ring on your finger and my baby in your belly. Ready or not, angel. You’re a mom now.
My heart flutters inside my chest as I reread the words on my screen. I’m a mom now. These guys are my family. The one thing I’ve always known I wanted beyond a shadow of a doubt, and I somehow found it in the most unexpected place possible.
“Can we go inside now, Mommy? I wanna see Auntie Wren!”
I clear my throat and wipe my fingers under my eyes to clear away the unexpected tears. “Yeah, Crew-bug. Of course we can go inside.” Cal rounds the hood of my car with a nod, his serious expression back in place. He’s dressed down for the game in dark wash jeans and a black Raptors tee, but his size and the sheer power radiating off of him means he’ll stick out like a sore thumb. Oh well, at least I know nobody will mess with us with him around.
Plastering a grin on my face to cover my nerves, I help him out of the car and hold his small hand the whole way into the stadium.