Valkyrie aims angry eyes at me, her face promising retribution as Manic drags her to his bike.
I chuckle and blow her a kiss.
Birdie pulls out of my arms to head back into the house with the twins.With a sigh, I shut and lock the door before following her.
The twins are sitting on the couch as Birdie shuffles to them.She tries to hide her pain with each step, but her right cheek twitches every time one of her feet lands.I’ve already pushed her enough today, so instead of carrying her again, I follow her closely.
“Do you all want to see your rooms?”I ask.
Lovelyn jumps off the couch and runs to me, sliding her tiny hand into mine.Once I confirmed I was her father, she’d put all her trust in me.I’m so fucking humbled that I choke a bit when my throat tightens.One slip of a girl is about to make me bend a fucking knee.Her brother, however, is another story.Legend doesn’t follow as quickly or as excitedly as his sister.I’m just happy he’s chosen to come at all.
“You coming, Ma?”
Birdie smiles softly at Legend’s question, wincing when it pulls her bruised and puffy lips.“I’m coming.”
My hand settles in the middle of Birdie’s back to help hold her steady as she traverses the stairs.It takes twice the time to make it to the top since she has to move so carefully.Once we land on the last stair, Birdie’s chest jerks with her harsh breathing, and the pallor of her face is as bright as freshly fallen snow.
Fucking stubborn ass woman.
A growl rumbles from my chest as I step closer to her back and wrap an arm around her.As much as I’m sure she doesn’t want to, she leans back against me.
“I got you, little mama,” I whisper.
“Thank you,” she croaks.
“Legend, last door on the right is your room.Lovelyn is right across the hall.Need you to take the lead, little warrior.”
My boy’s back straightens as his gaze bounces between the end of the hall and his mama.Indecision wears on his face.The balance between the young man who needs to protect his mama and the little boy who is excited for something new is suddenly unsteady.
“Go, son.I got her.”
“I got Legend, sir,” Lovely says, releasing my hand to go to her brother.
The way the three of them are constantly protecting each other tightens my throat.It’s clear their deep bond stems from a time of darkness where mutual dependence was their only option.The thought sends cold, dark rage coursing through my veins.
Birdie places her hand over top of my trembling arm.Her touch cools the anger pulsing beneath my skin.It’s so reminiscent of the past that a growl of possession threatens to break free.
“I can’t believe you had this house built and room completed for the kids.”
“You all were going to end up back here someday, no matter what.”
“You should’ve come for us sooner,” she whispers, her small gasp telling me she didn’t mean to say it.
What’s been said casts a shadow between us.The words slice through me, cutting deep enough that the black blood running through my veins pours out.
“And you should’ve told me about my fucking kids,” I bark.
My harsh words hit their mark as I release her.She’s steady enough on her own now that I don’t need to be her support.
Stepping around her, I enter Legend’s room in time to see the wonder in his eyes as he takes in everything.
Smokey gray walls accented by one cream-colored showcase a black walnut twin bed.A gray quilt and black sheets cover the mattress.The interior designer had free rein after I told her the color scheme I wanted, and it turned out better than I’d expected.There are a few personal touches I added myself, like the motorcycle-shaped throw pillow on his bed and the beanbag in front of his TV.Blitz and Ducky contributed the mural of the bike breaking through the cream-colored wall beside his bed.
I don’t know shit about Legend.Not his favorite color, his hobbies, his fucking favorite food.I know nothing about my son, but I need him to feel at home when he’s here.Same with Lovelyn.What the fuck did I know about little girls?Just shit I learned from others when I was asking around about what they liked.
My children and I are fucking strangers to one another.If my heart was still beating, I’m sure it’d break at that fact.
Not wanting the anger to grab hold of me again, I return my attention to Legend.“What do you think, little warrior?”
