Butcher

by LeAnn Asher

  Nobody fucks with my kid.

  Butcher opens the door and we step inside. Everyone is already there. The men are awake, and they are hanging from the wall by chains, their feet barely touching the ground. Their eyes widen as they see me then move to Butcher, who is holding my hand.

  Something dark stains the one whose face I beat into the ground. “He just pissed his pants.” I look at Butcher, amused, and I see he has a knife out, slicing it across the man’s face.

  Well, that will do it.

  Butcher lets go of my hand and steps toward the men, and I move over to stand next to Kyle. He looks at me, unsure. “You sure you’re up for this?”

  I roll my eyes. “I am not Butcher’s woman for no reason, plus look at my dad.”

  Kyle laughs and gives me a knowing look. “Touché.”

  Butcher stops in front of them. “You attacked my woman and tried to kidnap my kid. Do you know what that means?” I shiver at the sound of Butcher’s voice. He is a different Butcher right now.

  “She isn’t your kid.”

  I see Butcher’s body stiffen, and his hand shoots out. A knife is embedded into the man’s shoulder blade. “Death. You’re going to die. Both of you, but you can die a painful death or we can drag it out for days. Your choice. You be good little fuckers and answer my questions.”

  “Now, who wants Tiana?” Butcher takes the knife out of the man’s shoulder, and he screams loudly.

  “Her father. Levi Barnes.”

  “The fucking drug dealer?” Techy pipes in.

  The man nods.

  “Why does he want her?” Butcher nicks him right under his neck.

  “I don’t know. I just got paid to kill her and take the kid.” He looks at me.

  Butcher growls loudly, raises his hand, and embeds the knife in the top of his head. His head rolls to the side—he is dead. Butcher roars loudly and stalks to the other man. “Do we need anything else from these fuckers?” Butcher asks.

  “No,” Kyle answers him.

  “They don’t deserve to breathe another breath that my Shay breathes.” He takes the knife from the man’s head and turns to the other guy. He drags the knife down his chest and then up through the bottom of his throat and up to his brain. Dead.

  “Let’s go track down this Levi. Got an address, Techy?”

  “Already got it,” he says and Butcher walks to me. “Take Tiana home? Your dad should be here any minute, and he is to stay with you. I am ending this.”

  I nod and kiss him hard. “Come back to me in one piece. Yeah?”

  He nods and cups the back of my neck. “Anything for you.”

  We walk into the mail room, where Tiana is. I need to get her home and calmed down.

  My eyes go to Tiana, who is sitting on the floor with Adeline. Tiana is smiling gleefully, playing with some toys. I let out a deep breath of relief. I do believe I need to hire her to watch Tiana for me once I go back to work.

  The door slams open, and my dad charges in with Lane. Dad looks at me and pulls me into him hard. “Fuck, Shaylin, I am going to have a heart attack! Are you okay? Tiana?”

  “I am fine, Tiana is fine.”

  He nods and hugs me tighter to him.

  “We need to roll out, Butcher,” Kyle calls and Butcher, with his eyes on Tiana, looks like he doesn’t want to go.

  “We will be waiting at home for you.” He nods and steps out of the room, and I can see he is fighting himself with every step.

  Dad lets me go and leaves the room. I pull out of his arms, and I reach down and pick Tiana up. Adeline gives me a soft smile. “She is such a sweet child. I will watch her anytime.”

  Tiana is running her hands through my hair.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I have to go back to work in a week or so.”

  “Call me and let me know.” She stands up and I am struck again by how pretty she is.

  I stand beside the couch. My dad is walking toward me while looking at his phone. “Shaylin, my truck is right outside.”

  “Okay.”

  He looks up from his phone at Adeline. He stumbles and I jolt. What the heck? He looks at me and gives me a huge-ass smile. Then he looks back at Adeline, who is blushing. He moves past me and stops right in front of her. “I am taking you out tonight.”

  My jaw hits the floor.

  He reaches behind her and takes her phone out of her pocket. He types something and then his phone is ringing. “Text me your address, gorgeous.”

  What the fuck?

  Adeline’s mouth opens and closes multiple times before she nods. He gives her his signature smile and steps away from her. “I will be at the truck, Shaylin.”

  Well, I will be damned!

  Adeline stares at me wide eyed. “What happened?”

  I have no answer for that but, “You just got Smileyed.”

  She sits down on the couch, and I laugh because I would be confused myself. I walk outside, and Dad takes Tiana from me and puts her into her car seat. I climb into the passenger side, and a minute later Dad joins me.

  He catches me staring at him, and he looks at me then back out the windshield. “What?”

  I grin and cross my arms across my chest. “I didn’t know you were so smooth.”

  He chuckles and winks at me.

  My dad hasn’t dated in a very long time, and what changed? Adeline is gorgeous, and you can see the happiness that radiates off of her—that’s why I want her to watch Tiana.

  “She is very pretty,” I pipe in.

  “She’s fucking hot.”

  I put my hands over my ears. “No more, Dad.”

  He bursts out laughing.

  I shake my head and look in the backseat at Tiana, who is playing with her toy. She looks so calm, and it’s crazy how much a kid can bounce back from.

  Dad pulls over and into a drive through at a local pizza place. Thank goodness. I am starving, and I know Tiana is getting hungry also.

  Dad hands me the box of pizza, and I tear a small slice into pieces. I hand Tiana a piece, and she immediately places it in her mouth. I take a juice box out of my purse, put the straw in, and place it in her cup holder.

  For the next forty minutes, I hand her small bites and I stuff my face in between. Dad basically eats half of the pizza himself.

  We pull up outside of Butcher’s, and I tell him the code. The gate opens and then slams closed once we get a few feet away from it. It’s sensor automated.

  “Where is his house?” Dad asks.

  “Right across this bend.”

  Just as I said, it pops into view—just as breathtaking as the first time I saw it. “Nice house.”

  “It is.”

  “You always wanted to live in this kind of house when you were little. You talked about marrying and living in a log mansion.”

  I snort, because it’s true. This house was my dream house. “How ironic,” Dad says and I nod.

  He pulls to a stop, and he climbs out and takes Tiana from the backseat. What I want right now it is to veg out on the couch. I take out my phone and see it’s just five o’clock. I think a nap is in order, and I know Tiana is tired. She started to fall asleep once we got close to Butcher’s.

  I walk up first, put in my key, and step inside. I disarm the alarm and click everything to arm the gates so someone can’t climb over them. Dad puts Tiana down and shuts the door. I click the button on the iPad, locking every door in the house and alarming all of the windows.

  “When did he get all of this installed?” Dad has similar security in his house.

  “Right after we got together. Let’s go get changed,” I tell Tiana and she takes my hand.

  Her room is done! I totally forgot about it. I can’t wait to see her face. I lead her up the stairs and into the bedroom that is straight across from ours. I push the door open and I gasp.

  It’s gorgeous, and all of her toys have been opened and are lying on the toy chest. Her bed is put together, the bed made. I walk over to her chest, and I
see her pajamas are already folded. I walk to the closet and see everything is already hanging.

  Thank goodness.

  Tiana squeals with laughter, and she crawls to the top of her bed, grabs a pillow, and laughs. She stands up, jumps, and falls back on the bed. She does this for a good five minutes while holding her pillows.

  She loves it.

  I take out a new nightgown for her and walk over to the bed. I reach for her and she jumps off the bed into my arms. I tickle her sides and she laughs louder.

  God I love this little girl.

  I change her and help her off the bed. I grab one of the throw blankets we bought her this morning. She walks in front of me downstairs, and seeing her being so independent brings on a rash of different emotions.

  She steps off the last step and takes off running into the living room. I hurry after her, and she is already plopped down on the couch next to Dad.

  This little girl destroys hearts everywhere she goes. I hand Dad the blanket and he covers her up, and she settles her head against the side of his chest.

  I sit down next to her and rest my head on the back of the couch. I am just drained, and I’ve got a massive headache where I clipped my head on the pavement, plus I was punched. My head scraped the ground, and that is why it was bleeding.

  I wonder what Butcher is doing right now?

  * * *

  Butcher

  * * *

  I kick in the motherfucking door at the house where the drug dealer lives. Three men jump off the couch and point their guns at me. I raise my gun and nail two of them, and Techy gets the other. I stalk farther into the house, Techy by my side and the others bringing up the rear.

  When I walk into the kitchen, I am face to face with Levi. “Just the man I was looking for.” I wrap my hand around his throat. Shots are fired around me, but my eyes don’t leave the man who had my woman attacked and tried to take my kid.

  “What do you mean?” Levi starts sweating, and he is looking at everything but me.

  I drag him from the kitchen to the living room. “You know who the fuck I am.” I toss him on the ground, and he gets up to his knees. “Look me in the eyes, I want to be the last fucking thing you see. The man who killed you and sent you to hell. You attacked my woman and tried to kidnap my daughter.” When I say “my daughter,” he looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Yes, my daughter. I am going to be the father she fucking deserves and protect her from sorry fuckers like you.”

  “I love Tiana.”

  Rage fills me at the sound of him saying her name. “No, you don’t.” I raise my gun and pull the trigger, and he slumps over to the ground.

  It’s over. No more ties to Tiana.

  Kyle touches my shoulder. “Go home to your family. Shaylin needs you.”

  I nod and walk out of the house. They will clean everything up, and it will be like nothing ever happened.

  Let’s go home.

  Nineteen

  Butcher

  Smiley meets me at the door. He nods for me to walk into the kitchen and I follow him, but all I want right now is to be in there with my fucking woman.

  “Is it done?” he asks.

  “Levi is dead and a lot of his crew.”

  Smiley nods. “I got a date to go on. See you later.”

  “Date?” I ask.

  He smirks at me. “Adeline.”

  He shuts the door behind him, and I rearm the door and gates once he has left the property. I walk into the living room, and I see Shaylin and Tiana asleep on the couch. I squat down in front of Shaylin and kiss her lips softly. Her eyes flutter open and she smiles a slow smile. She lifts her hand out of her blanket and places it on my cheek.

  God I fucking love her.

  “What time is it?” She asks and yawns.

  “Seven.”

  “I will go whip up some spaghetti.” She kisses me before placing her lips next to my ear. “Tonight, you are mine.”

  “Can’t wait.” I pull her hair and she shoots me a fiery smile.

  * * *

  Shaylin

  * * *

  Butcher takes out a plate for Tiana and cuts up her spaghetti, and I pour her some milk. Our food is already at the table, and Tiana is sitting in her new seat. I put the garlic bread on the table, and Butcher places Tiana’s plate in front of her along with her drink. She takes her little spoon and spoons up some spaghetti, getting it all over herself. I laugh and wipe her mouth off then hand her a piece of garlic bread.

  “This is delicious, my Shay.” My stomach flutters at him calling me “my Shay.” I love hearing him calling me that. I love him so much.

  “Do you know how much I love you?” I ask.

  He shakes his head and gives me a teasing look.

  “The thought of losing you makes it hard to breathe, if you did leave I wouldn’t survive. You are what I think of when I first wake up and the last thing at night.”

  “Shay,” he whispers and he swallows hard. I know he wants to say so much, but he doesn’t have to.

  “I know, Butcher.”

  Tiana is sound asleep. We laid her in her bed and told her a story, and she was out. Now it’s time for me and Butcher.

  Butcher shuts our door, locks it, and begins pulling off my clothes. My body is on edge with anticipation.

  Once I am completely naked in front of him, he walks behind me, pushes my hair over my shoulder, and kisses the back of my neck. Goose bumps spread down my back. His lips move to my shoulders and I shiver.

  “Bed.”

  I climb on the bed, and Butcher strips out of his clothes and climbs into bed with me. I lean forward and kiss him. He tucks his hand in my hair, not allowing me to move—he is taking control.

  I run my hand down his side and wrap my hand around him. He growls deeply and smacks the side of my ass. I jolt and grow wetter. The hand that smacked the side of my ass moves over to my pussy and slides two fingers inside, curling his fingers until he finds the spot.

  The spot that drives me crazy.

  I pull my mouth from his, throwing my head back, gasping. His lips wrap around my nipple and he sucks deep.

  “Oh.” I moan and twine my fingers in his hair, pulling at the ends. His thumb rubs my clit, and my body stiffens.

  I gasp in shock as I am flipped onto my front, face down on the bed and ass up in the air. His dick touches my entrance, and I grab the sheets for leverage.

  He slams inside hard, my hips leaving the bed. I cry out, my eyes closed tightly as pleasure hits me and I come. He keeps on pounding inside of me, and my breath is coming out in short pants.

  I push myself back against him and he smacks my ass. I clench around him and throw my hair back over my shoulder.

  “Still.”

  I shudder at his command, not that I would listen. I press myself harder this time, and he goes deeper than ever before. My head hits the bed, my whole body shaking and seized up as I come again.

  “Ah Butcher,” I hiss and my body collapses on the bed. I feel him coming inside me a second later.

  He falls to the side and takes me with him, my head on his shoulder. “I think I will pass out now,” I mutter.

  He climbs out of bed and my head rolls to the side. A minute or so later, he comes back and I crack open my tired eyes. I see him with a first aid kit, makeup removers, and a brush. He opens the first aid kit and takes out a cleaning cloth. I close my eyes, and he pushes my hair over to the side and tilts my head slightly so he has better access.

  He cleans the wound, and I make sure not to wince so Butcher doesn’t get worked up. I learned a long time ago not to show that I am hurt because it messes with him.

  He shuts the first aid kit and opens my makeup remover and puts it on a cotton ball.

  This is why his actions show so much more than his words ever would. Everyone deserves a Butcher, someone who will take off their makeup for them if they are tired and brush their hair. I have never felt so loved and cherished in my whole life.

  After he cleans
my face he sits behind me, his legs on either side of me, and brushes my hair free of tangles. It takes everything in me not to sob like a little baby. This is Butcher showing me what I mean to him. I am so fucking blessed.

  Twenty

  Shaylin

  It’s official. Tiana is ours. We just signed the papers and everything is final. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders because nobody can try to take her away—she is ours.

  Butcher is taking Tiana home, where Adeline is going to watch her as I work today. I have to go back, and it’s killing me leaving her, but she will be perfectly fine with Adeline.

  I walk into the bakery, and I am greeted by Joslyn. She pulls me into a hug, surprising me.

  “I am guessing you missed me?”

  She laughs and lets me go. “It hasn’t been the same since you left.”

  “What have I missed?”

  This causes Paisley to burst out laughing. “Besides Wilder stalking her, then nothing really.”

  I arch an eyebrow at Joslyn, who blushes. “He just follows me to make sure I am safe.”

  “Liam?”

  My head whips around at Paisley’s voice, and I see a very tall and large man step into the bakery. I guess this is Liam. Paisley runs around the counter into his arms and wraps her legs around his waist.

  He holds her tight to his body, his eyes closed tightly. “I missed you!”

  My nose burns with tears and Joslyn hugs me. Joslyn is crying into my shoulder. She is a huge softy when it comes to all things love.

  “How long do you have, Liam?”

  “A week.”

  “Paisley, take the day off,” I tell her and she mouths “thank you” to me and climbs down off of Liam.

  “Oh, let me grab my stuff from the back.” She runs out of the room, and Liam takes me in. I can tell he is younger than I am, but he has a rough-around-the-edges look and is growing his tattoos.

  I step closer to him. “Don’t break her heart, Liam.”