Chapter 37
Dax
It’s a simple question, and it’s laden with accusation. Devin was not part of the deal, but he was instrumental.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I only pose the question to buy more time. Ruby starts to babble, so I bounce her in my arms.
“Was this job some back-door deal? As long as I stay with you, he’ll have a job kinda thing.
” She faces me and pokes my chest. “If you think you’re going to get me to stay with you in exchange for my brother’s financial security, you miscalculated.
” The finger that was poking my chest now points in my face.
“In fact, I will leave your ass so that he can get fired.”
“He started working for me weeks before we got married.” I phrase my words carefully to ensure everything I say is true. “And why are you talking as if you still plan on leaving me? You said you would give this marriage a chance.”
She turns off the water and glares at me again. Her eyes bore into mine, and I know she’s trying to read me. I’ve been told that I have one hell of a poker face, but right now, I feel like she can read my mind. I don’t like that feeling.
“If this was a ploy to get me to raise Ruby, it’s not happening.” She walks away, and I follow her. “This is what they would do. Instead of forcing him to take responsibility, they figure they can dump it on me. That’s what they’ve always done.”
I follow her into the bedroom. She drops herself on the bed, and I sit next to her. I put Ruby down, and she crawls to the middle of the bed. She bounces and claps her hands in excitement.
“I promise there is no plan in place for us to raise Ruby.” I put a hand on her shoulder and pull her closer.
“I hope not.”
“Sweetheart, I had a lot put on me when my father died. I understand.” I rub her shoulders, hoping this will get her to talk.
“It’s not the same. I had plans, Dax. I worked two jobs after high school to pay for fashion school, but I gave every dime I saved to my parents to help with the bills.
I got scholarships and financial aid to cover the tuition, but my mom had her botched surgery, and they guilt-tripped me into deferring.
They didn’t offer to help me with any of it.
I did it all by myself, and I had planned to share an apartment with Eden in Boston, but I sacrificed it all.
Do you know what happened when it was time for Devin to go to college? ”
I can only imagine.
“What?”
“Dad helped him with his application. Helped him with applying for financial aid and drove him to school. No one ever asked him to sacrifice or give up a thing. And he flunked out after three semesters. Now, he shows back up with a kid, and I’m not going to help him with her.
That’s my limit. And I need you to stand with me on this. ”
I pull her closer, and she rests her head on my shoulder. I kiss her temple.
“I’m sorry you went through that. It was unfair to you.” She relaxes against me, so I kiss her temple again.
“And I keep getting screwed over. This marriage and—”
My heart drops when she mentions her marriage to me, and for a moment, I feel small, but then I remember that there was no other way. I tilt her face and gaze into her eyes.
“You said you were going to give this marriage a real chance.” Something changes in her eyes, but she looks away before I can study it more.
“I am,” she says quickly. “What I’m saying is not about you. It’s to show how easily my family sacrifices me for the greater good.” She takes a deep breath. “Now they are slowly trying to make Devin’s child my responsibility.”
I know I need to tread carefully here. My wife is only asking that her husband stand in solidarity with her. That’s not too much to ask. Ruby gurgles. On instinct, I reach over and rub her small back.
“They’re not going to do that, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you, and if there’s ever an emergency, and Ruby ends up with us, I’ll look after her. She’s not—”
“That’s not the point, Daxton. I feel like I’m talking to a wall.” She shoves me away and leaves the room before I can wrap my hand around her wrist. I pick up Ruby and follow her.
Finch barks and runs around me. Ruby shrieks in happiness, and she extends her arms downward toward the dog.
I sit on the floor and let her pet Finch, who gets so excited that she licks her fat cheek.
“She’s going to need another bath.” Cori frowns and shakes her head at me in disapproval. I sit the baby on the floor. Finch lies in front of her as if to form a barrier.
Cori sighs and puts her phone to her ear. Moments later, she pulls it away. “My father’s not answering his phone either.”
I pull her into my arms and wrap them tightly around her. She seems tense, and part of me wishes Devin were here so I can beat some sense into him. I cup Cori’s cheeks and look into her eyes.
“You were treated unfairly. I understand that, and I'm sorry it happened to you. Cori, you can have whatever you want now. You can attend school and start your own business. Hell, you can go to business school too if you want, but sweetheart, Ruby is an innocent baby who didn’t ask to have Devin as a father. I’ll talk to your father about him.
Maybe he can take some parenting classes. ”
“That’s generous, but Devin is not your problem to fix.”
“But you’re my wife to protect. Whatever I do for Devin is really for you. I’ll be that line of defense between you and them. How about that?”
She purses her lips together. “Okay. I’ll take it.”
“Let’s go shopping. We need some food, and I can get Ruby some toys.”
“I’m getting whatever I want.” She pulls out of my arms and runs to the back of the room.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Cori narrows her eyes at her brother, who is standing outside their mother’s hospital room. We haven’t heard from him since yesterday, and it appears he’s still wearing the same outfit he had on when I last saw him.
Cori snatches the stroller from me and speeds down the hall. The idiot is so oblivious. He has his eyes closed and his head against the wall. Cori runs the stroller over Devin’s feet.
“What the fuck?” His eyes fly open, and they land on his sister. “What the hell is your problem?” He hops around.
“My problem is you leaving your baby. Remember her?” Cori points at the stroller. Devin rolls his eyes, and I quickly step between them.
“Go and see your mom, sweetheart. I’ll talk to Devin.” Cori pulls down her jacket and walks away from her brother without another word.
I move the stroller away and engage the brakes. Ruby slumbers peacefully.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I whisper-shout. He rolls his eyes, so I grab him by the collar and slam him against the wall.
“Get off me.” He tries to move, but I hold him.
“I said what the fuck is your problem?”
“What the fuck is yours?”
“My wife is not your babysitter.”
“Oh, whatever. I needed a rest. You have no idea what it’s like.
” He tries to shrug away, so I move him forward only to slam him back into the wall.
“And stop with the wife bullshit. Dad told me how you got her.” The little bastard has the nerve to give me a smug smile as if we’re in on some secret together.
I put a hand around his throat. His eyes widen, and he freezes.
“Don’t play with me. I’ll send your ass to prison.” His nostrils flare in defiance.
“Do it. Cori will find out.” I squeeze his neck, and his eyes start to bulge out.
“Get your damn hands off my son.” Leander’s hand wraps around my wrist, but I don’t so much as flinch.
“Leander, you and I have a problem. I thought I was very generous with my offer, but this little piece of dog shit thinks he can threaten me.” I squeeze his neck again. He kicks me, so I knee him in the stomach. I let him go, and he doubles over.
“What the hell did you do now, boy?” Devin groans and coughs.
Leander grabs him by the back of his collar.
“Look at me.” He slaps his cheek twice to get Devin’s attention.
The little weasel stands tall but doesn’t try to move from his father’s grasp.
“You brought all of this on. You and your God-damn sticky fingers. I’m not going to do anything if you get arrested.
Maybe it’s time you learned a lesson. And you better listen to me.
If your sister finds out your ass was involved in any of this, I won’t lift a finger to help you ever again.
That’s a promise.” Leander lets him go and walks away from him in disgust. That gets Devin to straighten up.
Ruby wakes up and kicks her feet. She’s dressed in the new clothes we got her last night when we went shopping.
The idiot finally looks down at her and runs his hand over her head.
“Hey, Rubes.” He picks her up and kisses her cheek. She looks around, and when she sees me, she breaks into a smile and extends her arms to me.
I snatch her from him, and he lets me take her without a fight.