by A. Lynn
“That’s act—” another knock interrupting him has him on his feet saying, “Are they fucking with me? It feels like they are fucking with me.”
He gave me a slice of humor when the dark clouds were rolling in. If I wasn't so tired I would egg his ass on. Instead, I go with, "Honey, he said he was going to get the discharge papers and prescriptions for me to leave."
"Come in," he grumbles.
“What took so long to answer? Were y’all in here fucking?” Tex asks as he saunters into the room.
“Jesus, Tex! Would it kill you to show a small amount of respect, considering what she’s just been through?” Lynna snaps. “Hey, Rea. How are you doing?”
“She knows I didn’t mean it like that,” he snaps back. “Right, Rea?”
“I guess so."
“Then how the fuck did you mean it?!” Crow demands.
“As a fucking joke! Y’all need to calm the hell down before we all get kicked out."
“Crow’s sense of humor is sorely lacking, Tex. You’re his biffle, you should know this by now.”
He looks at Crow, demanding, “What the fuck is a biffle?”
"Trust me, man, you won't understand. I just smile and nod."
Tex moves his eyes to me with his lips pulling at an awkward angle and starts nodding. I start to laugh, but my ribs are quick to tell me that shit isn’t allowed.
Looking at Crow, I say, “He looks like Johnny Bravo had a baby with Mr. Miyagi."
Crow damn near falls off the bed laughing. "Naw, babe, he looks like Ken Jeong had a baby with Mr. Ed.”
“He looks like Mr. Krabs had a baby with Jet Li,” finally catching on, Lynna adds bending over at the waist to control her giggles.
“Babe! You aren't supposed to be helping them," he says all indignant like. "You weren't saying that shit when you were riding this dick last night. And this morning."
Instantly sobering, she demands, “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Does it look like I am?" Tex throws right back.
“One: I said Jet Li, he is hot as fuck. And two: That is the last time I ride your dick,” she spouts. “Who the fuck do you think you are talking to? You can miss me with that shit.”
“Babe—”
"Quit calling me that shit. Go find someone else who will let you talk to and about them that way." She's fuming as she walks up to me and drops a kiss on my cheek. "Call me later if you feel up to it. I get off work at six."
“Did you ride with him or drive yourself?”
“With him, but I’ll get a cab to work.”
“NO!” I yell a little too loud, making her jump back. “Crow is my car here, yet?”
“Yeah, baby. Creed brought it up here last night.”
“Please take her to work.”
“I’ll take her,” Tex says.
“She doesn’t want to go with you,” I glare at him. “Please Lynna, go with Crow. Or let him take you to your car.”
“Okay, Rea. My car is at the salon anyway.”
“Thank you.”
“Damn it, Lynna, we have plans later,” Tex says with irritation.
“No, we had plans later, until you decided to open your mouth and discuss private shit because you couldn’t handle the joke being on you. I told you, miss me with that shit. Crow, you ready?”
“Crow, if you leave here with her we are going to have some serious problems,” Tex warns.
“What do you expect me to do, man? It's either I take her or she takes a cab—and we both know why that shit isn't happening."
“I’m serious, Crow. She’s mine and you are about to cross a line.”
“Then maybe you should learn to keep your fucking mouth shut. I'm not leaving her to take a cab, man."
“Lynna, come here,” Tex demands.
“Tex, fuck off.”
“Lynna!” Tex snarls.
“I don’t have time for this shit, Tex, I have to go to work. Get your fucking ego in check. He is just giving me a ride. Let it go. We aren’t together, as you so eloquently put it, I only rode your dick, so you don’t get an opinion on shit.”
“It’s more than that, and you know it,” Tex implores.
“I don’t know shit. I thought I did but you opened your mouth and negated all of it.”
“Whatever,” Tex says as he walks out slamming the door into the wall.
I watch Lynna wipe a few tears from her cheeks before she turns to us and says, “Ready?”
“Hewwo?” Jordan says when he answers Sasha’s phone.
“Hey, baby! Did you have a good time in California?” I ask.
“Uh-huh! I’s had wots of fun, Wea!”
“You ready to come home tomorrow?”
“I’s misseded you’s.”
“I miss you, too, baby.”
“Otay. Mimi talk now. I’s woves you’s.”
I laugh and say, “I love you, baby.”
“Hey, Rea. How’s it going?”
“Uh, could be better. I just wanted to give you a heads up before you come home tomorrow.”
“Is everything alright?”
“No, not really. Don’t freak out, okay?”
“When someone tells you to not freak out, you generally freak out, Rea. What’s up?”
“Will you walk as far away from J as you can, so he can’t hear anything?”
The other end of the phone gets quiet and Sasha says, “What is it, Rea? You’re scaring me.”
“A couple of guys broke in the house yesterday. It was pretty violent—I don’t want to go into details again, I just want to put it behind me.”
“Oh, my gosh! Are you okay?”
“My face is busted up and have some broken ribs. I just didn't want you to be surprised when you see me."
“What did they want, Rea? Did they take anything?”
“I don’t think they took anything, but I have only been home for a bit and haven’t looked around.”
“So it was random? Is that what the police think?”
“I haven’t spoken to them yet. They didn’t show up before I was discharged from the hospital, so Crow thinks that we should expect them at the house anytime.”
“So what do we do now? We need to keep him safe.”
“I know,” I say. “Crow changed all the locks and put a security system in, so it will all be fine now.”
“Ok, that sounds good.”
“Crow and I had decided to move in together before this happened anyway, so there’s that, too.”
“I am so glad you found someone, Rea.”
“Me, too. And I love that J loves him, too.”
“Yes, he needs a strong man in his life.” Sasha pauses then says, “So what’s going on with Ryan?”
“She left paperwork and a letter in the mailbox yesterday,” I say, feeling anger swell inside. “She terminated her rights, Sasha. Said she won’t ever be back and to not look for her.”
“She did what?” Sasha asks like she didn’t hear me the first time.
“She terminated her rights.”
“No, she wouldn’t do that,” she denies.
“She would and she did.”
“It doesn’t make sense. Why would she do that?”
“She explains her selfish ass in the letter,” I spit. “Fucking bitch.”
“I can't believe she would do something like this," she chokes out. "Do we try to bring her back?"
“I'm not going to do anything. She walked away, Sasha, not us. I'm not going to force her to be somewhere she doesn't want to be," I state. “He’s better off without her.”
“She’s his mother, Reagan.”
“No!” I grit. "He's mine. That fucking bitch threw him away."
“That’s a little harsh,” she says.
“It is what it is, Sasha. That letter fucked me up and I don’t see it being any different for you,” I say as someone knocks on the door.
“What does that even mean, Rea?” Sasha asks as Crow walks back in with the Sheriff and a Deputy.<
br />
“Sasha, I got to go, the Sheriff is here. Give J my love.”
“Ok, see you soon,” she says as I end the call and rise to my feet.
“Shit… remind me to text her later to let her know you will be picking her up.”
“Okay, babe.”
“Hello, Ms. Marks. I am Sheriff Roen Jones and this is Deputy Teryn Grey.”
“Hello.”
“Do you mind if we ask you a few questions, ma’am?” Deputy Grey asks.
“Please have a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee, water?”
“Coffee would be great, ma’am,” Sheriff Jones says.
“Please, call me Reagan,” I say as I head to the kitchen to start a pot.
“I’ll get it, baby,” Crow admonishes gently. “Do you need anything?”
“Maybe a couple of pain pills. That shot from the hospital is wearing off."
“Do you want coffee, too, or would you like something else?"
“Hot tea?” I ask.
“You got it, babe,” he says planting his lips on mine.
Clearing his throat, Sheriff Jones starts. "Could you tell us what happened yesterday?”
I take a deep breath and prepare to lie out my ass when needed. "Crow dropped me here yesterday in the early afternoon. While I was checking my mail, I noticed that my front door was open a little bit, but I thought it was my roommate and it pissed me off."
“Why would your roommate being here piss you off?” Deputy Grey asks.
“She started using drugs pretty heavily behind my back. So when she overdosed last week I kicked her out. She knows better than to have that shit around our son.”
The Deputy looks puzzled and asks, “You have a son with your roommate?”
“Yes, he’s three.”
“What is the roommate’s name?” Sheriff Jones asks.
“Ryan Walker.”
“And the birth mother is…” he leads.
“Ryan.”
"And you adopted him?" he follows up.
“I did.”
“Do you know where we can find her now?” Deputy Grey asks.
“Good luck with that, she left this shit for Reagan in the mailbox,” Crow spits as he throws the envelope in front of the Sheriff, who grabs it and starts to rifle.
"That's why I thought it was her in the house," I whisper. "I was supposed to be flying with her to a rehab in Albuquerque today."
Sheriff Jones hands the envelope to Deputy Grey just as Crow walks back in with the coffee and tea. “So she terminated her rights to her son?” I nod. “Do you happen to know this Cooper’s last name?” Sheriff Jones asks as he reaches for a cup of coffee.
“Here, baby, take your medicine.”
“Thank you,” I say with a smile before tossing the four pills in my mouth and chasing them with the bottle of water he brought in.
"When she introduced me to him a couple of months ago, she said his name was Cooper Jameson. I have known her since we were eight years old, she has never once even mentioned that name to me."
"Is it possible that she was behind the break-in?" Sheriff Jones asks.
“I wouldn’t have thought so, but I never put her on being a heroin junkie either. And as much as I hate to say it, it’s the only scenario that makes sense to me.”
“Did you recognize the man who attacked you?” Deputy Grey asks.
“No," I say, giving no fucks that I just lead them to believe that it was Ryan. I will protect Crow with everything in me.
“I hate to ask this of you, but could you please tell us what happened?" Sheriff Jones asks.
“Sure,” I reply as I start to glaze over the whole situation. “I stormed up the stairs…”
I am laying in bed after the Sheriff left, waiting for Crow to come out of the shower so he can wrap me up in his arms and hopefully erase the unease I now feel in my prior safe haven.
Lynna: Girl I want to say I’m tired, but it would be a lie. Tex gets to me too easily.
Me: I have the same issue with Crow. Don't worry, we can get together another night, I'm beat.
Lynna: Sounds good. Call me when you feel like it.
Me: Will do.
Now to send a text to Nicole.
Me: Hey this is Reagan.
Nicole: Hey! How are you feeling?
Me: Sleepy.
Nicole: I bet. My ass is at work… talk later
“You up to talk now, baby?”
I nod. "What would you say if I wanted to sell this house?"
“What brought that on?" Crow asks, making me just look at him like he's dense. "I mean, excluding yesterday."
“I don’t want to feel threatened every time I walk into this house.” I sigh and say, “I don’t want to bring J back here. What if he had been with me yesterday, Kane? I would not survive something happening to him.”
“Baby, I will protect you—both of you.”
“You can’t be here twenty-four seven, honey.”
“No, but when I’m not able to, I plan to put a man on you.”
“What does that mean?”
“When I can’t be here there will be a prospect outside guarding the house.”
“I still want to sell the house, though. I want the three of us to have a fresh start without tainting from the intruders or the drama and bullshit that Ryan caused.”
“Not to get off-topic, but smart move pushing the cops in Ryan's direction."
“Kane, I love you. I will protect you in any way that I can."
“If us finding a new house will give you peace of mind, we can start looking tomorrow. I have a pretty good chunk of change in the back from the customizing shop."
“My account isn’t too bad either, from the inheritances from my parents and Grams. Grams had the house appraised just before she died, it appraised for six hundred. I will need to get a new car, though.”
“Why do you need a new car?”
“I think that’s how I’m going to explain my face to J,” I shrug. “Do you think you could get someone to come and get it? Give it to the club or something? I’ll order a new one from a dealership.”
“A car accident? Do you think that is the best thing?”
“What would you have me tell him? That someone broke in and beat the shit out of me and raped me because they were trying to send a message to the club?” I wipe a tear from my face and say, “it sounds super bad when I say it like that…”
“Baby,”
“I did nothing wrong, Kane. Did I deserve this shit because I fell in love with you? I will admit that the cabby was linked to me, but he wasn't here because of me. It was because of the club."
“I know you didn’t. I'm so sorry, baby, I will never forgive myself for this happening to you because of us."
“Why did this happen to me?”
“That’s club business, Reagan.”
“Bullshit! Look at my face, my body. This shit is not club business!” I yell at him.
“I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”
“Well isn’t that just perfect? I held up my end with Gunner, be sure to tell him that.”
“What are you talking about? What ‘end’ with Gunner?”
“I need you to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Now tell me what you are talking about with Gunner.”
“I protected your precious club, now get the fuck out of my house.”
“No.”
“GET OUT!" I scream and push his chest, before stopping to gasp in pain. Fucking ribs.
“Don't put your hands on me, Reagan." So I push him again and turn to go to the bathroom to call his mom to get him out of my house. Except I don't make it there. I take a couple of steps before his hand grips my bicep tightly and swings me around. "I said—" is all he gets out.
My fight or flight response kicks in and I scream in pain and fear, throwing my hands up to protect my face. You would think my skin was lava with how quickly he lets me go. I drop to the floor and crab walk backward until my back hits a w
all.
“I would never hurt you, Reagan,” he whispers brokenly.
“I k-know t-that. Y-you n-need to g-go.” I take some deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. When I’m sure my words won’t waver I continue, “And leave m-my car. I will t-think of something to tell him.”
“Baby,” he says and takes a step toward me.
“Just go. Please,” I whisper.
He drops his chin to his chest and says, “Okay.”
“Thank you.”
He nods, pulling his phone out of his pocket, and pushes one button. "Rhys?" Pause. "You busy?" Pause. "Can you pick me up from Reagan's?" Pause. "Yeah, Creed rode my bike back after dropping her car off." Pause. "I'll see you in a few," he says and ends the call. "Can I hug you, baby?"
I nod and try to get up off the floor. He sees my struggle and puts one arm under my knees and the other under my shoulder to lift me off the floor. I wrap both of my arms around his neck and whisper, “I love you, Kane.”
He sits on the edge of my bed and keeps me in his lap, but gently moves me around so that I am straddling his hips and wraps his arms around my waist. “Don’t quit on me, baby.”
I shake my head and say, "How can I? Everyone already knows you're my fiance."
“If only that were true.”
I pull back and lay my lips on top of his and say, “It is. Just because you haven’t asked yet, doesn’t make it any less true. You are the other half of me.”
“Please don’t make me leave. I’ll sleep downstairs if you want, but I don’t want to leave you alone.”
I sigh. “Call Rhys back,” I say and kiss his lips again.
“Thank fuck,” he says while I climb off his lap.
I go brush my teeth and use the bathroom before I head downstairs to get my medicines from the kitchen. When I come out of the bathroom, I see Crow sitting in the same position on the bed, so I ask, “You want anything from the kitchen while I’m getting my medicine?”
He smiles like that cat that ate the canary, saying, “You letting me sleep with you, baby?”
“Shut it,” I say while giving him the finger, it’s not like I want to be here alone anyway.
I wake up to the shrill ringing of my phone.