Pullingupinfrontof the electronic gate, I punch in the code and wait for it to slide open.Is it overkill to have my property gated inside an already secured compound?Possibly, but I knew this place was going to house my woman and kids one day.Protecting them is my job, and adding another layer to that never hurts.
The white and black two-story farmhouse sits comfortably between two weeping willow trees.We pass the outdoor bonfire area before pulling into empty spots in front of the garage.On one end of the wraparound porch, two wooden swings hang from the rafter, waiting patiently for little bodies to take a seat.Next to the front door, a couple rocking chairs sit facing the large front yard.It’s everything Birdie once envisioned for our place, and my pulse races knowing she’s finally going to see it.
I had this house built years ago, but I’ve yet to sleep a single night under the roof.Hell, I’ve barely stepped foot in here unless it was for upkeep.One of the old ladies comes in weekly to dust and do whatever else shit needs to be done to a house not lived in.
The swings dance and the chairs rock with the sudden gust of wind that rushes through, as if the house is welcoming my family home.
I kick down the stand and climb from my bike, hurrying over to the car to get Birdie out.The stubborn little fool is already climbing out, though, and my palm itches with the need to tan her ass for daring to put herself in a position to do more harm to herself.
She pays no attention to me, even though I’m standing in front of her.Her gaze is fixed on the house behind me.Her bottom lip trembles and her eyes water as emotion overwhelms her.When I told her we would be staying at my place, she assumed it would be the place we’d lived in before she left.Birdie couldn’t have known that place stopped being home when I walked out of it that day seven years ago.There were too many memories.Her ghost haunted that place.The one time I tried sleeping there after she left, I laid on the bed for hours.The fact that my pillowcases absorbed more tears that night than ever before remained a secret.
I started staying at the clubhouse after that.
“This is your house?”Birdie whispers.
Reaching out, I grasp her chin between my fingers and pull her attention to me.“This is our house.”
Her brows show her confusion.My lips curl to one side as I release her face and tangle my fingers with hers.
“We started the build on this two years after you left,” I tell her as I guide her slowly up the steps.
I don’t miss the way her fingers touch everything within reach or the way her eyes soak in the details as we pass.She spins around when I release her to unlock the door, taking in as much of the house as she can.
The alarm blares through the house as I shove open the door.Lovelyn and Legend slap hands over their ears, and because I’m worried about them, I quickly punch in the code.
Lovelyn giggles.“Holy moly, that was loud.”
“We needed to make sure we could hear it at the clubhouse,” I tell her.
Birdie stands just outside the door, fear etched on her face.Her body trembles as she wraps her arms around herself.
“Birdie?”I call quietly, holding out my hand and urging her to take it.
“I can’t do this.”Tears leak from her terrified eyes.“This was a mistake.”
She backs away but stops when she spots our kids already standing behind me in the foyer.Birdie wants to call them to her.The struggle is in her eyes.But I fill the doorway, blocking her view of them so she’ll have to look at me again.
“You’re right.It was a mistake because it changes fucking everything, little mama.”
Without warning, I lift her in my arms and carry her through the door, only setting her on her feet once we’re in the living room.“The kids have their own rooms.I’ll show them after we get you settled upstairs in the bedroom.I’m sure you want to take a shower, so I’ll get that ready for you.While you do that, I’ll make you and the kids some food because I’m sure you’re hungry.”
“That’s okay.I can just wait until the kids go to sleep.”
“No,” I state bluntly.
Fire sparks in her eyes, and I plead with her silently to give it to me, but she blinks it away.She looks around for her sister, and I smile when I hear her and Manic arguing on the porch.Birdie hears them too because she shuffles to the door.Right as she opens it, Manic shoves his shoulder into Valkyrie’s stomach, lifting so that she’s hanging halfway over his back.She’s screaming at him, her fists slamming into his back as he marches toward his bike.I almost call out to warn him when an evil look comes over her face, so I just lean against the door jamb and watch.
Valkyrie scoots farther over his shoulder until her face is in line with his ass.She strikes quickly, her teeth clamping down and digging in.Manic’s body goes rigid as he stops, then he shoves her off him, and she tumbles to the ground with a laugh.Then she’s up and running toward the car.Except I see the thrill of the chase cross Manic’s face before he sprints after her.
Birdie whimpers as she watches Valkyrie and Manic.I curl my arm around her and pull her to me.Manic leans down to whisper something to Kyrie, and I watch as her body sags against the car before she nods.
“Look, little mama, he’s not hurting her.He’d never physically hurt her.”
“You said she could stay here.”
“I lied.”
Birdie doesn’t reply, but she doesn’t need to.I can feel the way she shuts down.
