Chapter Twenty-Five Lash
I know what Sophie is doing and I think she thinks I am just distracted easily.
We did need that time together before the bigger kids got home, but if she thinks that she can simply use her body to get me to stop worrying about what she is doing then she doesn’t know me at all.
I mean shit it helped me forget for a minute, but I’m still worried she is doing something that could put her in danger.
I can’t handle if something else happens to her.
We have been having a rough go with everything and I feel like we finally found some footing.
I need her to not do anything stupid. On my way to get Delaney, I pull out my phone from my pants pocket and text the one guy that could possibly give me some answers.
Me: hey, I know this might seem wrong, but can you do some digging on what my wife is up to. Also get some information about her new friends. I mean I’m assuming they are Sirens, but obviously don’t know for sure.
Wizard: dude, snooping on your wife is not on my top to do.
I’ve got so much shit I’m looking into right now and all my programs are focused on finding any sign of Acid or his men.
I guess I can take some time to run a quick search on your woman's phone and computer.
Why don’t you just ask Sophie what she’s doing?
Ever since Reese moved, Wizard has been weird.
He’s one of my best friends and we’ve known each other our whole lives.
So I know that something is going on, but he won’t seem to tell me what.
I know he was close with Reese and honestly I’ve seen the way he looked at her, but something went down and Reese decided to move away.
Not giving anybody any reasons, just saying that she wanted something new.
Me: I have asked my wife asshole. She distracted me.
Wizard: stop thinking with your dick then.
I know that’s hard for you when it comes to Sophie, but if you want answers it might be best to figure it out with her.
I can run a program that will monitor her phone and computer.
I feel dirty doing it because I don’t like eavesdropping on the club princesses. But I’ll do it.
Me: thank you. Have you had any luck on any of the other programs you’re running.
Wizard: So far I haven’t been able to find Acid, I’ve got some leads on some of his men though.
I know that we’ve got more of the inside bitches he put in the club.
I’m still running software to try and do better background checks on everyone in the club, which is a task in and of itself because we have so many members, club girls, hangarounds and employees.
I’m doing deep dives into all our businesses. I’ve included Soph’s.
Me: thanks Wiz.
I put my phone away and get to Delaney’s room where I find her sitting at her little table having a tea party with some of her stuffed animals. As soon as she hears me walk in, her little head shoots up and she screams.
“DADDDDDDDDDDDY! Mish you.”
“I missed you too, baby girl. You have a good nap sweetheart?”
She nods her head and lifts her hands up so I pick her up. “Brudders nap too.”
“Yeah they just woke up too. Mama is feeding them. Do you want a snack? You can eat while you help me decide what is for dinner tonight.”
She nods as we stop at the potty to try and have a little bathroom break.
She’s still learning to potty train. But she doesn’t like being wet.
So once that was done we head to the kitchen where I set her on her little booster seat by the kitchen counter and headed to the fridge where Sophie stashes everybody’s daily snacks.
I pull out Delaney’s snack for the day and give it to her.
I’m looking through what we have for dinner options today when I hear the door open.
All the sudden the house fills up with noise and I know the other kids are home.
I hear them scatter throughout the house and as I look up from what I am doing I see my dad walking into the kitchen making a bee-line for Delaney.
“Hey sweet girl.” He bends down and gives her a kiss on the head.
“I talked with Sophie and we are keeping the kids for the night. They came to get their stuff. I think honestly we should just have clothes and shit for them at our place. Especially with mama being their teacher now. That way if any of them decide they want to stay the night with us they can.
You know we have the room.”
“Yeah I know you have the room, but I do enjoy spending time with my kids every now and then dad. They don’t need to stay with you guys all the time. I feel like we are using you.”
“Toby, you’re not using us, they are our grandkids. We want to spend time with them and have them at the house. It’s not a big deal. Your mama loves that she is teaching them and honestly doing something she loves. We love spending time with them, plus we are here to help you guys in any way we can.
It takes a village to raise kids, Tobs. You guys don’t have to do it all on your own.”
You hear running around upstairs as the kids sound like they are packing their things to spend the night at my parents house.
I sigh, “Do you want to go tell them to pack a little extra so you have more for your house? So the next time they don’t have to come back for a quick packing session.”
He chuckles at me, “I already did that. Don’t worry. I talked it over with Sophie on the way here. She said it was fine, plus your mama has been ordering shit for teaching. Now she’s also added clothes, bedding and toys to the mix. So we will have extra stuff for them when they stay.
They are our only grandbabies, so you’ve got to give this to us. I also came here for this little one right here.”
He smiles as he places his hand on Delaney’s head and smooths out her hair.
“You’re taking my helper with you?” I ask in fake shock and terror. Delaney lets out a giggle as she continues to finish her snack pack.
“Yeah, gonna let you and Sophie have some time with just you guys. The boys are too little to stay the night, so we figured taking Delaney will give you a little extra space for yourselves. Plus she’s not over as much because she’s not in school yet.
So she’s gonna hang with me tomorrow while the kids do some school work with nana. Does that sound good, baby girl?”
Delaney looks at my father and smiles, “Yeah pop pop. I cited. We do fun stuff.”
“Yeah girlie we are gonna do fun stuff.” He looks up at me and smiles, “Also think you should finally get those dogs you’ve been talking about. Before I go ahead and get them for you. Your mama wants to get some for our house as well.”
I nod my head because I have been looking.
I found a couple of them I’m interested in.
I wanted a couple of full grown dogs that could help protect the house now and that are obviously good with kids, but then I wanted puppies too.
I think I’m diving down a long road I shouldn’t.
We already have so much on our plate so taking on a puppy might not be the best thing, but fuck it.
I really don’t care. I always wanted pets growing up and we never got any.
I think I’m going to live my childhood dream out by getting myself two bigger dogs and one puppy.
I’m sure that will start me down a train of having more animals than I can count with these kids.
But I think it will also help with responsibility and chores with the kids.
“Yeah I’ve got a few lined up.”
Dad starts laughing, “A few huh? Does your wife know that you have a few dogs lined up?”
“We’ve talked about it. She knows that I’ve been looking. I think I’m going to rescue two and then buy a puppy.”
“Wow Tobs, you just love chaos don’t you. Eight kids, now three dogs. What’s next? You gonna knock her up again?”
I just smirk at my dad and he laughs. As we are talking Declan comes in and runs up to me giving me a hug.
“Hey champ, you staying the night with grandpa and nana?”
“Yeah, I got my bag all packed, it’s by the door. I just wanted to say hi. I already said bye to mama, Lucas and Leon.”
“Alright, well be good, okay? Do what they tell you. If you need anything, call me.”
It took Declan a little bit to start wanting to be away from Sophie or myself for an extended period of time.
He was attached to Sophie’s hip for a couple of weeks after she woke up.
Doing his school work in bed with her. So I’m not going to keep him from going back to doing the things he enjoyed doing before all this happened.
“Dad, I’m always good. It’s those other little monsters you have to worry about.”
Dad and I laugh at that as the other kids come into the kitchen with Sophie and the boys.
She’s got one big on each hip, my dad walks over and takes Lucas from her and looks at Soph.
I’ve noticed since the hospital Sophie has had trouble looking at my father or even talking to him.
I know that she feels guilty because her dad is my dads best friend and she bitched her dad out at the hospital.
Dad sighs before giving her a kiss on the head and looks at her lifting her chin with his fingers.
“You need to stop. I love you sweet girl. I’ve known you since the day you were born. Do I agree with everything you said to your dad, no I don’t. But I think what you don’t understand or see is your dad, he carries a lot of guilt without being given it by his kids.
I get why you feel the way you feel, I know you’re working on everything in counseling. I’m not disappointed in you, you’ve been through a lot. We are okay.”
“Okay.” She smiles at him, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. “Is he,” she clears her throat, “is he okay?”
“You know you could talk to him and find out for yourself.”
“I’m not ready. I’m angry with him, so angry. Whether it’s logical or not. I’m mad at a lot of things and people.”
“I know, sweet girl.” He gives her another kiss on the forehead. Then goes to pay attention to Lucas in his arms. “Now I can’t wait for you boys to get a little bigger so you can spend the night with all of us. Alright kids, you ready to go?” He hands Lucas to me as he goes to grab Delaney.
“YES!!” All the kids yell as they rush to the door.
“Be good!” Sophie yells after them.
After the door shut the house got extremely quiet except for the cooing sounds coming from the boys.
“Well now we can talk now that the kids are gone. You want to tell me what’s going on? And you can stay over on that side of the counter to avoid trying to use that extremely sexy body against me.”
“I don’t know why you think something is going on Toby. I just made new friends, that's all.”
I sigh, “Fine. You don’t want to tell me what’s going on, don’t. But you better be safe. Because I’ve come so close to losing you on more than one occasion recently and I’m not feeling that way again. I’ve installed better security at home. We are getting ourselves some dogs,
we can go out today to pick up the ones I chose. Also I updated your security system and shit at Daisy’s. There will be no fighting me on any of this because you refuse to tell me what you are up to and this is the only way I will be at peace with that.”
“Fine. We will get all the dogs you want, now will you drop it? I don’t know why I can’t make new friends. I mean fuck, Toby.”
I look at her across the counter, “Because you know those women are not ordinary women. I know that something is going on. If you want to keep it to yourself for now, fine. You better not be doing anything dangerous or stupid.”
“Yeah whatever, when are you going back to work? I also want to get back to work as well. I need my outlet and I’ve got clients who want to schedule appointments.”
“Baby, you want to go back to work, go. I know that tattooing helps you and is a nice outlet for you. I was thinking you could add to my tattoo to add the boys. So if you could design some shit from me that would be great. I also know you’ve been painting a ton,
I know you used to sell your paintings. Have you thought about doing that again?”
We have a good chunk in the bank from her artwork. My woman is talented. She has sold paintings in the past especially when she’s painted a lot at once. She has been in that studio coming out smelling like paint, so I know she has been busy.
“I don’t know right now, I just want to stick with tattooing right now. The series I’ve been working on isn’t complete yet. Plus I’d have to talk to someone about selling them since I used to sell them at mom’s boutique.”
I nod my head, “Well we will figure everything out, you can always ask your sisters since they now own the boutique, but like I said don’t do anything stupid. I don’t want anything to happen to you. So I think you need to reevaluate the friendships you are making.”
I know that might have been a bad thing to say especially when she glares at me.
“You have known me since we were in diapers, when in the hell have you ever thought it was okay to tell me who the hell I can be friends with. Shut the fuck up. Seriously Toby? What the hell is your problem? I keep a small group of friends and I have never done anything stupid.
I’ve always been open and honest with you, can you say the same? You and the club keep so many secrets. I think you should be able to tell your ol’ ladies, especially since I grew up in this club. It has been my family since my mother gave birth to me.
You men act like us ‘little ladies’ are so fucking helpless. Well you’d think that if you think I’m so fucking helpless Toby, that having some powerful women on my side. I deserve to have female friends. I keep my circle small, you know that.
But the next time you want to come at me about keeping secrets and hiding things, look in the damn mirror.”
With that she turns and storms out of the room leaving me with the boys.