He shoves his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the trio as he comes to stand inside the door. “What are they doing here? Don’t they know it’s rude to come to a house this early in the morning?”
“It really is,” I tell him, nodding.
“I can see this isn’t a good time,” Devon announces, watching my uncle warily. “We just want to be a part of their lives.”
“Devon, I appreciate that, but they don’t know you. I haven’t seen or spoken to you for nearly a year.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to see me after—”
“After lying about your brother?” Amelia questions, before lowering her voice. “You know I didn’t lie.”
“You did lie,” Carol yells. “I always told him you were a snobby little bitch.”
Devon closes his eyes, exhaling. “Mum, just go wait in the car.”
She huffs out a breath after realising she isn’t getting anywhere. He gives her a pointed look and she storms off, taking her sister with her.
Amelia holds her hand up before he can get a word out. “I’m done with them. Done with that part of my life. I closed that chapter the minute I opened my eyes in the ambulance. Each time they come round they make me feel worse about myself. I hate it. I want to forget everything that happened; not relive it.”
“She has a point though, Amelia. You’ve got men here, one holding your baby. Bringing men into Jasmine’s life is only going to confuse her when her dad gets out.”
“He’s not allowed to see her, Devon. The courts gave me rights. And right now, she’s scared of him.”
“Think of what this will do to her,” he snarls, and I hand Asher to Max before coming to stand behind Amelia.
She points at his chest, her body vibrating with anger. “No. Nearly dying while her dad fucked her mum’s best friend did something to her. Witnessing him beat the crap out of her mum and friend did something to her. Him yelling at her while I was at work, smacking her, and hitting me, did something to her. This isn’t about him. It’s about her and what she wants. What she needs. And right now, she doesn’t need this. I don’t need this.”
“You’re making a mistake. You aren’t going to cope with two kids on your own,” he tells her, and her body tenses.
“She isn’t alone,” I snap.
“And who are you? Someone who will be gone in a week, I guarantee it.”
“He has more stamina,” Max adds, before making baby noises at Asher.
Devon’s face scrunches up in disgust. “You’ve changed,” he points out, staring at Amelia.
“No. I haven’t. I’m just not a pushover like I once was.”
“I don’t know what to do. Cameron isn’t going to be happy once I tell him about this,” he tells her, gesturing between Max and me.
“I don’t care. It’s not up to him. These guys have done more for me in the time I’ve known them than Cameron ever did.”
“You know he was going to make it right once he was released.”
“No, he was going to do what he always does. Say sorry, thinking it makes everything better. It means nothing. The only way that ended was because I ended it. I should have done it a lot sooner.”
“You aren’t thinking right,” he starts.
“No, you aren’t. You aren’t even listening to her,” I snap. “She’s here telling you what your sick brother did to her, and you’re placing the blame onto her. That’s no different to what he did to her. We didn’t even know some of what she just said, and yet to get her point across, she’s blurted it out. That clearly means you don’t listen.”
“This has nothing to do with you,” he growls.
“It has everything to do with me,” I tell him, narrowing my gaze on him. “They’re my friends. Now I suggest you leave before I set my uncle on you.”
“I am not a goddamn dog,” Max snaps.
I arch a brow at him. “There’s cookies in the kitchen. Fetch.”
He licks his lips, racing away to the kitchen.
“There are no cookies,” Amelia whispers.
“He doesn’t know that,” I whisper back.
We both stare at Devon, who watches her like she’s a foreign object. “I’ll go, but you should know they weren’t lying. He’s doing good in there, and his lawyer said that will work in his favour.”
Amelia begins to shake. “Good for him. But if he does get out, Devon, keep him away from me. From us. Because I will call the police.”
He jerks his head before heading down the path. I turn Amelia and pull her into my arms. “You okay?”
She rests her forehead against my chest. “No. But I will be.”
Footsteps pad along the landing upstairs. We turn, watching as Jasmine comes to a sudden stop. “Did we get the eggs?”
I chuckle as she sways at the top of the stairs, still half asleep with her hair a knotted mess.
Yeah, life with these guys will definitely be interesting.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AMELIA
I slowly shut the door, resting my forehead against the cold wood as Devon’s words penetrate. Appeal.
I know they’re playing with my head, but those words, they’re my worst nightmare. I’ve known from the day he was sentenced that he would eventually be released. My mindset then was to deal with it when it came. Right now, there is too much going on in my life to even think about it.
I never want to be near him again. Ever.
“Let’s give your mum a moment,” Maddox tells Jasmine softly.
“Has she been naughty? Is that why she has to face the door?”
Maddox chuckles, and I find myself smiling at her comment. “She’s just waking up is all.”
As their footsteps leave, my mind rushes through scenarios of what will happen if he is let out. Do I think he will come looking for me? Yes. Do I think he will make a scene? I’m not sure. He’s normally all charm and kindness for the first couple of weeks of trying to make it up to me. But it’s different this time. I’m not the same person I once was. He doesn’t get to tell me what to do or make me feel like shit when I don’t think the same way as he does.
We are also broken up, and it’s permanent. There is nothing he could do to make me go back to him or make me forgive him for what he did. There’s no fixing this—not that I’d ever want to. I’m free of him.
I’m stronger, even though at times I feel like breaking. Like now. Just the thought of seeing him again petrifies me. I want better for Jasmine, for Asher. I don’t want their childhood filled with drama and abuse.
I give myself another minute to pull myself together before stepping away from the door. I need to be stronger for Jasmine, for myself. I have a life now; one he isn’t a part of. I have friends who, although new, care for me like I care for them.
When I open my eyes and turn to face the living room, Maddox is standing in the doorway, watching me with an intense expression, like he’s trying to read my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
I let out a dry chuckle, running a hand through my hair. “Honestly? I don’t know. If this had been before I had Asher, I would probably have moved back in with my mum and dad to get away from it. But I’m done being scared. I shouldn’t have to hide away anymore.”
He looks up from his shoe, his face scrunched up in concern. “He nearly killed you both?”
“I told you some,” I start, swallowing past the lump in my throat. I hate that he had to find out like that, or at all. “He had never hit me that bad before. It was mostly verbal abuse or a slap here and there. There were a few times it got bad, but that night changed everything for me. I could have lost both Asher and Jasmine.”
“And he hurt Jasmine?”
My chest tightens when I think of that night in the hospital. It had been a few days after her operation, and social services had come in to talk to her. “I didn’t know,” I choke out, tears gathering in my eyes. “I hadn’t known. Otherwise, I would have left long before I did.”
He steps forward, pulling me
into his arms. “I know you would have, Amelia. You don’t need to explain yourself to me.”
I cling to his shirt at the sides, breathing in his musky scent. “She told social services he yelled and smacked her a lot. She never told me a thing, and told them it was because he hurt me too. It’s why he lost his parental rights. If he gets… if he’s let out…”
His body tenses beneath me, and he pushes me back slightly, staring deeply into my eyes. “You don’t have to worry about him. Ever.”
I snort. “Yeah, I do. I have no idea what to expect. Before, it was different. We were together. Now we aren’t, and I’m worried what he will do. He’s used to getting his own way.”
His brows pull together. “But you don’t still love him, right?”
I push him away, glaring. “Of course I don’t. I made a mistake staying with him for so long. I was stupid.”
“I’m sorry. That was callous of me and it came out wrong.”
“It’s fine,” I breathe out, running a hand over my face. “I’m tired of all of this. I just want to get on with my life, and I can’t do that with them constantly knocking on my door. The only good thing to come out of it is that they aren’t banging down my parents’ door.”
“You are getting on with your life. It’s them who aren’t. And nothing is stopping you from continuing to do it. Not all men are like him, Amelia. You’ll have someone who loves you and your children, who will treat you like princesses. You were too good for someone like him, and he probably hated it. Hated that you were a better person. Now he’s probably kicking himself for letting you and the kids go. You’re gorgeous, and it’s only a matter of time before someone snaps you up,” he explains, sounding distracted towards the end.
My lips part at his words. He thinks I’m gorgeous.
A moment passes with us unable to look away. I shake my thoughts away, ignoring the pitter patter of my heart. “I know that. I do. It’s just hard, especially when I have two children.”
“And any fucker will be lucky to have them in their life too.”
“Maybe Devon was right. I shouldn’t have men coming and going from their lives. He was right about me not being able to raise them on my own. I’m struggling now,” I point out.
“No, you aren’t. You are doing everything possible to give them what they need. Don’t sell yourself short.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “I can’t even get my son to sleep. You do.”
He grins, winking at me. “And I’m always at your service.”
“I bet your future girlfriend will be happy with that.”
He goes silent for a minute before shaking his head, focusing on me. “I told you; I don’t do girlfriends.”
Max comes storming around the corner, interrupting us. “There are no cookies anywhere. Even the kid said there weren’t any.”
“Max,” Maddox groans, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“And where’s the food?” he screeches, pointing back towards the kitchen. “I don’t see anything. How do you survive?”
Maddox’s lips twist. “You were eating breakfast snack bars when I left Jasmine with you.”
“Where’s the real food?” he snaps.
“I’m supposed to go shopping later, but I might have to take Jasmine out for breakfast first.”
Asher starts winging in Max’s arms, who’s eyes widen suddenly at the sound. He takes slow, steady steps over to me, handing him over like he’s handling a bomb. “I’ve already done the kid thing,” he tells me before taking three quick steps back.
“I’ll go tell Jasmine to get ready,” Maddox announces.
“I’ll feed this one,” I tell him, heading into the front room with him. I cuddle Asher to my chest as I take a seat on the sofa.
Max looks up from his phone. “Everyone said to meet them at RJ’s café.”
“You messaged the others?” Maddox asks, stopping in the doorway to the kitchen.
Max nods. “We’re going to brainstorm on how to get rid of your neighbours.”
“I’ve done a petition.”
Max waves him off. “Yeah, but they can contest that. We need to make them want to go, and I’ve got a few ideas.”
Maddox sighs. “Okay, but no vermin or anything this time. Dad said you tried to get rid of your neighbour with mice, and it was you who ended up with the problem.”
Max snorts. “Your dad is such a chatter box. And I got rid of the neighbours in the end.”
“They moved to be closer to her mum because she was sick.”
“Like I said, they left,” he repeats, shaking his head at Maddox like he’s the one who’s lost it.
Maddox sighs. “Whatever.”
*** *** ***
We pull into the car park and I glance up at the dark grey sky, biting my bottom lip. I’m not sure if I packed the rain covers to Asher’s pushchair, and it looks like the sky is going to open up soon.
Putting the car into park, I turn to glance back at Jasmine. “Wait until I’ve got Asher out first.”
She gives me a nod, not looking up from her tablet that’s playing Pepper Pig. I get out of the car, giving Max and Maddox a quick wave as they pull in behind us. Maddox still looks like he’s in a sour mood from being made to ride with him. Apparently, Max had something important he needed to discuss. From the look on Maddox’s face, it wasn’t that important.
It’s confirmed when he opens the door to the car, growling, “I am not helping you get payback on Dad for not inviting you to a dinner,” he snaps.
“Your mum made pizza,” Max growls, slamming his shut. “She always invited me before.”
“Not my problem.”
“You were never this grumpy before. Family life has done something to you.”
Maddox stops, turning to glare at his uncle. “Max,” he warns, the tone causing me to shiver.
“Whatever,” Max sighs.
I open the boot and heave the pushchair out, dropping it to the ground. By the time I have it unfolded, Maddox is by my side. “Want me to get Asher?”
“Please,” I wheeze out, flicking the last clip on.
I hear the car door open as I pull out the changing bag. “You getting out, Jaz?” Maddox calls through to her.
I sigh in relief when I see the rain cover. I reach for it before shoving it under the pram.
“I’m waiting for my door to be opened. I’m a princess, remember,” she calls back.
“Jasmine,” I groan. “Don’t be a brat.”
I take the car seat from Maddox, loving how his chuckle caresses my skin. I love hearing it.
“We can’t keep the princess waiting,” Max calls out, bowing dramatically outside her door. He pulls it open, and seconds later, she’s taking his hand and jumping out of the car.
“Thank you, kind sir.”
Max chuckles. “Always for the princess.”
I finish attaching the car seat before glancing over at her, my brows pulling together. “What’s made you all high and mighty, missy?”
She crosses her arms over her chest, pouting. “Maddox told me—”
“Well, that says it all,” Max interrupts, swinging her up into arms and then over his back. “He says a lot of things.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddox murmurs once Max leaves. We follow behind, heading to the café where we’re meeting the others. I have to admit, after the drama with Hayden and the neighbours, I’m a little intrigued as to what they are going to come up with to get rid of them. However, I’m petrified of meeting them all again. They are a crazy bunch.
“Amelia,” Harlow calls out, rushing over to us as we reach the doors. Malik walks at a slower pace.
“Hey, Harlow. You doing okay?”
“I’m good. Where’s Jasmine?” she asks, before bending over the pram, giving Asher a smooch on the cheek.
I look up, my gaze darting around in search of them. Maddox slaps his forehead, groaning as he points inside. Jasmine is now on Max’s shoulders as they stand in front of a buffet table. Max is a
rguing with the guy on the other side, but I don’t think it’s in anger because Jasmine is doubled over, laughing.
“If he gets us kicked out again, I’m going to pretend I don’t know him,” Maddox warns. “I’m starving, so he better not ruin this.”
“Me too,” Malik growls.
“Surely they won’t. He just looks like he wants food,” I add, as Malik holds the door open.
Harlow places her hand over mine on the handle of the pushchair, grimacing slightly. “Just pretend you don’t know him if he does get kicked out. And never try to resolve the issue.”
“Um, okay.”
We head inside and a change overcomes Maddox. He grins, placing his hand on my lower back. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
When we head towards Lily, realisation hits me. A small smile pulls at my lips. We’ve already met, but I guess he’s forgotten.
“Lily, this is Amelia. Max has her daughter, Jasmine, and this little guy is Asher Maddox. Amelia, this is Lily.”
She gives me a small wave as she struggles not to laugh. “Hello, Amelia.”
“Hi, Lily. It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too. This is my husband, Jaxon,” she explains, wrapping her arm around his waist. The guy is gorgeous. Extremely gorgeous. And where she is light, he is dark, but somehow their pieces fit.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell him.
“You—”
Maddox makes a sound in the back of his throat as he takes my hand. “Lil, will you watch Asher so we can go grab some food?”
Her entire expression lights up with happiness. “Of course. Can I get him out?”
I can feel his warm, calloused hand over mine, so I’m too stunned to do anything but nod. He pulls me away, and as we get close to the counter, he leans down, whispering, “We aren’t Team Jaxon, remember.”
I step forward in the queue, leaning in closer as he lets go of my hand. “I thought you were making amends?”
He pouts, looking adorable as hell. “Do I haff’ta?”
I let out a chuckle, and glance up at him. “Yes.”
“Just don’t, I don’t know, be happy to see him,” he tells me, his brows scrunched together.
Maddox Page 18
