CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Payton

ALEX WANTED NOTHING to do with the idea of me driving down to Beaverton to meet him, insisting he pick me and Lily up when he was done dealing with “club business.” The problem was he wouldn’t be back our way until past ten, so the new plan was to stay at my place.

I had kept Lily busy with helping to break down the tree and put away ornaments. We also helped my mom with boxing up all of our decorations, new and old. I put a very tired Lily to bed around seven and joined my parents in the family room to watch a movie. They went to bed as soon as the movie was over, but I chose to wait up for Alex.

Brock had already been by to take down more information about the incident at the store, but also, I suspected, to check on Bailey. He and Dallas were on duty, and I think he was glad he had a legitimate excuse to make sure she was safe. Bailey left with Brock so he could drop her at Macey’s for the night.

I heard the front door close just past ten and dropped my head onto the back of the couch to receive the most delicious upside-down kiss from Alex. Spiderman had nothin’ on him. “Hi, honey.”

“Hey,” he whispered, and joined me on the sofa, pulling me onto his lap and holding me close.

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “We’re okay.”

He kissed my neck and nodded. “I talked to Brock.”

“What did he say?”

“They followed you.”

“Followed us?” I gasped. “From here?”

Alex nodded. “Do you remember seeing anything?”

“No.” I dropped my head to his shoulder. “Ohmigod, Alex. I saw nothing weird. I’m so sorry.”

“Baby, it’s not your fault. They knew what they were doing. Your brother’s doing some checking.”

“But I led them right to us.”

“No, you didn’t. I did.”

I sat up to meet his eyes. “What does that mean?”

“The fucker you hit? He’s Jenny’s new man.”

“Shit, really?”

He sighed with a nod. “I haven’t mentioned the issues with her since she came to the club, but she’s been fuckin’ makin’ my life hell.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I don’t want her shit to touch you.”

“But it is touching me, honey, and I’d kind of like to know what I’m up against.” He shook his head, so I cupped his cheeks and frowned. “Tell me. I can help.”

“Babe,” he whispered.

“Alex, nothing you tell me will make me stop loving you. Nothing will make me want to leave you. The only problem we’ll ever have in that regard is if you keep me out of the loop.” He closed his eyes so I kissed each one and then his lips. “I love you Alex James. Always and forever.”

He dropped his forehead to mine and kissed me gently.

“Tell me,” I said again.

“She’s trying to get Lily. I haven’t figured out exactly why yet, because I know she doesn’t actually want her, but she’s fuckin’ gettin’ dirty.” He stroked my back. “Mack’s got the legal shit sorted, she doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on, which is why I think she’s tryin’ to get to me through you.”

I scowled. “This chick’s like a venereal disease… she just keeps coming back.”

He nodded.

“What do you mean by legal stuff?” I asked. “Is there anything I should know?”

“She signed away her parental rights when she walked out on Lily, and she’s been gone too long to contest them… not that she could have back then, but I might have agreed to giving her visiting rights if she’d come back.”

I frowned. “I thought you didn’t know where she was.”

“I didn’t. Booker and Mack handled it so I’d have plausible deniability. Booker can find anyone anywhere, and Mack called in my favor so I didn’t have to. He did it under the guise of club business so Booker couldn’t refuse.”

I rolled my eyes. “You two are almost as bad as women.”

He smiled. “You might be right.”

“So what happens now?”

“For now, you and Lily don’t go anywhere without me.”

I chuckled. “You’re hilarious.”

“I’m fuckin’ serious, Payton. You are never without me.”

“Well, then you better get this solved before school starts, otherwise that’s going to be impossible.”

“No it won’t.”

“Um, yeah, it will, Hawk. How are you going to take me to and from school every day when we live over an hour away from each other… more with traffic?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Or, you let me take care of me,” I argued. “I understand if you feel more comfortable being with me when Lily’s around, but I own a gun, I know how to use it, and as you could see by the video, I know how to hit someone hard enough to hurt them.”

“Let me make something clear.” His eyes darkened and his hand slid to my neck. “The gun conversation is going to have to wait, but you are not gonna fuckin’ ‘take care of yourself,’ Payton. At least, not in this situation. Jenny’s fuckin’ crazy and I won’t have you caught in the middle.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“I don’t fuckin’ care, Payton. It’s not up for discussion.”

“Ohmigod, Hawk. ‘It’s not up for discussion’? Who are you? My dad?” I pushed off his lap. “I’m going to bed.”

“Payton.”

“Goodnight.” I left him sitting on the sofa and (admittedly) I kind of hoped he choked on his alpha male bullshit.