by AJ Alexander
The ice around my heart melts even further, soon I am no longer going to be able to shield myself from falling in love with my Baby Boy. If I’m being honest with myself, I more than likely I already have fallen.
DANNY
Layla looks terrified as I stare into her eyes, of what or whom I am not sure. I want to kiss those fears away, there is nothing to be afraid when I am here. I will protect her with everything that I am. Just as I lean down to place a soft kiss on her lips the door flies open.
“Newb and the whore are here.” Avery is standing in the doorway, hip cocked to the side ready for a fight. I roll my eyes in response, I’m not sure what Charlie told the girls about our encounter in the hotel room, but by her response, it can’t be good.
“I can tell by your attire, you must converse with whores frequently. I can assure you, however, I am not one. If you will excuse me, I need to sit down.” Mama responds without missing a beat as she pushes her way past Avery and into the house. I can tell that she is exhausted from the trek to the front door, but I know she needs this. This is not a time to show weakness.
“Oh, my mistake, I guess you are both whores seeing as you picked him up walking the strip,” Avery snarks back in response. Without a second thought, she spins around on one crutch and pins Avery to the entry wall by the throat with the other.
“How did you know I liked to be choked?” Avery responds sarcastically. I try desperately to not laugh at her antics in fear that Layla will turn her rage on me.
“I have no idea who you are or what your obsession is with Daniel and I, but I will put your head through this wall, make no mistake about it if you ever insult him in that manner again. Do I make myself clear?”
Avery and Layla have a staring contest for a few minutes before she nods. “Apologize,” Mama growls.
“Now you’re pushing it bitch. Besides, you can’t do shit to me, I’m pregnant and in a house full of Navy SEALs. Neither of you will get far.”
Digging the crutch even further into Avery’s throat. “These are prison rules bitch, your face ain’t pregnant. I can push harder and kill you if you like, fine by me. Your choice. Now, apologize.”
“I’m sorry,” Avery croaks out. Mama immediately releases her hold and continues making her way toward the kitchen. Avery reaches for her throat as she makes her way toward the patio.
“That bitch has lost her fucking mind! You need to stay the fuck away from her Newb. She won’t be welcome here once I tell everyone what she did.”
“And what is that, Avery? Standing up for herself and me? Oh, and not take your personal brand of bitch? You know how to dish it but not take it. I think your just pissed because there’s a new bitch in town.”
I know Avery is going to go right to Charlie and a fight is going to happen, but I don’t give a shit. Mama is slowly beginning to mean so much to me, almost more to me than the team. I will do anything I have to do to protect her, even if that means leaving the team to do it.
18
LAYLA
I hobble my way toward what looks like a kitchen, looking for a phone. I can’t stay here. The emotions that woman brought out in me are unnecessary. The last piece of the armor around my heart is gone, soon my Baby Boy will have all of me, there is no stopping it now.
I find the phone and make a call for an Uber back to his place, I know he said he would take me when I was ready, but I can’t deprive him of this time with his friends. Not now, not when I’ve decided to leave.
As I turn to hobble back toward the front door, I hear the soft crying to my right. I know I shouldn’t, but I have to know what’s making the noise. As I approach the noise, I hear someone softly singing a lullaby. Peeking into the open door, I see a blonde-haired woman sitting in a rocking chair holding the most beautiful baby in the world. My eyes immediately begin to water, I can’t do this, not today, but before I can turn and head back the way I came, the singing stops.
“Hello, did you want to hold him?” The shock knocks me off balance, and I stumble into the door frame, losing a crutch in the process. “Crap! I didn’t mean to scare you, I’m Katie. You must be Layla, Danny’s friend.”
She places the baby down and comes toward me, picking up my crutches and leaning them against the wall. Between the two of us, she helps me toward the rocking chair she just vacated, just then another wail comes from the other side of the room.
“Well I should have known, they always do this in pairs.” She immediately heads toward the other crib, scooping up a little pink bundle and then placing her in my arms. “Do you mind holding her while I run to make her a bottle? Logan always tells me to make them both at the same time, but I never listen.”
Unable to speak, I just nod my head. I’m not sure she even leaves the room; my focus is on this little bundle in my arms. Dirty blonde hair, bright blue eyes blinking at me, assessing to see if I’m worthy. Tears trickle down my cheeks.
“Hello, little one, it is so very nice to meet you.” I run the tips of my fingers down her cheeks, bending slightly to breathe in the fresh air and cotton smell that only babies have. “Your mother is so lucky to have you, to be loved by you. She loves you little one, remember that, always. Even if she’s mad or yelling, it’s because she loves you so dearly that she can’t help but yell.”
“It’s the truth, Emerson, I will always love you,” Katie whispers from the doorway.
I reach to wipe the tears from my eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Katie smiles a knowing smile, somehow, she can see right through me. “We’ve all lost someone. Before I met Logan, I was married to his best friend. Ryan died in the line of duty. We all have to go through some trials before we find our happy ending.”
“Not everyone is meant for a happily ever after, but I am truly thankful for you and this little one, that you were able to find yours, even if it was after such tragedy.” I try to keep the bitterness out of my voice. Katie has something here that I will never have, never allow myself to have. I cannot let myself be vulnerable again. No one will be able to hurt me like that again.
“What happened?” she whispers as she hands me the bottle for Emerson. As I feed her the anger and jealous rage inside me, I need her to know that everyone doesn’t have it as good as she does.
“I always wanted babies.” The clog in my throat makes it hard to speak. A sad smile lifts my lips as tears fill my lashes. “I was even pregnant once, but it was taken from me.”
“I’m so sorry! Do you want to talk about it?” Katie’s eyes are filled with pain, empathy for a woman she’s never met before. Before I realize it, the words are spilling from my mouth.
“I’m Layla by the way, Layla Torrez. I met Mason at a tech conference. We had an instant connection. I was always leery of men, but Mason was different.
“To make a very long story short, it took me a pretty long time to figure out he had no interest in me, but in getting his hands on my father’s company. For all the degrees I have, I couldn’t see the signs that Mason never loved me.”
Emerson has finished her bottle. “For someone that doesn’t have children, you’re a natural.”
Katie leans down to take Emerson from my arms, but the idea of letting her goes breaks my heart. “The first time he backhanded me was after we had been dating a few months, for not bringing an idea he had to my father. He said it was an accident and I believed him.”
Quite sobs begin to rack my body as I feel a pair of warm arms envelope me.
“He asked me to marry him. We had gone a while without getting into any fights or him hitting me. I thought it was finally over, so I said yes. Then the best thing in the world happened, I found out I was having a baby!
“I thought that would solve all our problems, that we would be a happy family. I made a romantic dinner and searched Pinterest for ways to tell him, to make it perfect, special.”
As if Katie knew what was coming, she grips me tighter. Pulling me closer to her chest. I begin rocking tr
ying to not be transported back to that night as I continue the story. “He came home, we had dinner, and he wanted to know what the special occasion was. So, I told him, but I did not get the reaction I expected. He beat me, he beat me so badly.
“To this day, I don’t have much memory of that night. I remember him specifically kicking me in my stomach, telling me that I ruined his chances of ever being able to be CEO of my father’s company. That he was only with me because he was biding his time until he could get to the position. He said such horrible things.
“When I woke up, it had been almost a week since that night. I had been in a comma. My baby was gone, and so was my chance at having babies, ever. The only thing I had ever wanted in life was taken away from me because I was too stupid to notice that I was being taken advantage of.”
“Sweetie, it was not your fault!” Katie says as she pulls back and wipes the tears from my cheeks. “It was that sick bastard, who not only abused you but took the life of an unborn child. I’m so sorry for you.”
Just as I am about to open my mouth to respond, Avery comes barreling into the room. “Katie! Get the fuck away from that crazy bitch! She tried to kill me with her crutches earlier.” Turning to me, she yells, “Why the hell are you even in here, whore! Get away from her and my niece and nephew!”
My emotions are still so raw that I don’t even grab for my crutches in my attempt to escape, falling down immediately in the process.
“What is going on in here?” a male voice asks from the doorway. “An Uber driver is asking for someone named Layla at the door. Avery, why the fuck are you calling someone a whore?”
Katie immediately kneels down next to me on the floor. “This is Logan, my husband. I’m going to have him help you to the car, okay?”
Composing myself, I say, “Thank you, Katie. For everything.” I give her a shy smile before pushing myself up into the seated position.
Katie begins to bark out orders, “Avery, get the fuck out. You will not treat a guest in my house like that, EVER! Do you understand? I don’t want to hear another damn word out of you unless it is an apology to both Layla and I.
“Logan, please help Layla to the Uber and pay him to take her where the hell it is she wants to go, I don’t care how much it cost. Do you understand?”
He must see how serious she is because he gently picks me up off the floor, and then gathers my crutches in the other hand before heading out the door.
I don’t get to hear the rest of the conversation between Avery and Katie, but by the tone in Katie’s voice, I can tell she means business.
DANNY
This is fucking bullshit! I finally get Layla to come and meet the team, and they attack her. They don’t have to respect me, but I’ll be damned if they are going to rake our relationship over the coals. Charlie and the Twins are a fucking threesome for Christ sake and want babies. Understanding our relationship, or even accepting it, isn’t necessary.
I follow Avery out the door onto the back deck of Logan’s house to hear her relaying to everyone what happened between her and Layla when we came in.
“Shut the fuck up,” I growl, pushing past her to get to Charlie and the others. “She can dish but can’t take it in return. She needs to get thicker skin,” I respond to no one in particular.
“I do! She needs to chill with the psycho, Newb, I was only welcoming her to the family with some shit talk. She needs to get used to it,” Avery snarks back while wrapping herself around Charlie’s back, using him as a shield from my words. I won’t back down, not this time. Someone needs to put her in her place, she can’t keep talking to people like this, let alone Mama. I promised her I would protect her, even if that means from my own family.
“You called both of us a whore! I know you like being called a bitch and all, but not everyone takes too kindly to being called names.”
“Whatever, she needs to grow a thicker skin if she is going to be hanging around all of us.”
“Just like you when you ran away, like a baby? Poor little Avery. No one loves me. Charlie loves Amber more than me. Boo fucking who.”
“Newb, you need to shut your mouth before I shut it for you.” Charlie stands from his seat on the deck.
“No, Charlie. What you need to do is teach your woman how to keep her mouth shut. If she is going to run her damn mouth, she better know what she’s talking about.”
“Why don’t we all just calm down? We were having a nice time before everything went to hell.” Amber is always trying to diffuse the situation when it comes to Avery.
“That’s right, Amber, make everyone feel better and forget that Avery is a cunt.” I sneer.
“Newb, that was uncalled for,” Cowboy chimes in.
“First, I have a fucking name, LOGAN. It’s Danny. I have been part of this god damn team for two years now. I think you can at least call me by my name when we aren’t on a mission.”
I turn and head back toward the door, Layla still hasn’t come outside. If she hasn’t bolted already, I’m sure she’s ready to leave. Right now, I don’t want to be here either. Before I leave, I need to say my peace.
“Second, all of you are a bunch of hypocritical assholes. Layla may be a bitch, but she keeps it real. What you see is what you get. You pretend to be all welcoming and friendly, but you’re waiting to pounce on the first new comer that comes along. Well, fuck you very much. Thanks for reminding me, yet again, that I don’t belong in this big happy family.”
I need to head inside and apologize to Katie. She has been nothing but open and welcoming to me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Before I can even make it through the door, I can hear Avery’s mocking tone.
“Well, lookie here, our baby is all grown up.” I turn to find Avery wiping pretend tears from her eyes, as she walks past me into the house.
I have no idea what this crazy bitch is talking about. Everyone suddenly begins laughing hysterically at her statement.
“What the fuck does that have to do with anything I just said?”
“Nothing, but you finally grew a pair and decided to put all of us in our place,” Logan says with a smile.
“I think it is time for a new call sign. Brass Balls or Brass for short seems fitting. Anyone who stands up to Avery, and wins, must have a set,” Charlie says as he leans down and places a kiss on her forehead.
“Your damn right! He’s lucky he saved your life, or he would be down at least one nut by now.” Amber smiles.
“You’ve all lost your damn minds.” I turn and continue inside in search of Katie and Layla. I am followed by all of them cackling loudly at my expense.
19
DANNY
Wandering the house looking for Katie, I find her and Avery in the nursery. Avery is showing Katie the bruise that is forming on her throat from Mama’s crutch, bitch deserved it.
“Katie, thank you for the invite, but we’re leaving.”
“What do you mean leaving? That bitch is already gone,” Avery yells as she rubs her neck.
“You aren’t the one that should be apologizing,” Katie says, raising an eyebrow at Avery.
I take a deep breath and remind myself that it is not okay to hit a woman, but Avery is pushing it.
“I’m not fucking apologizing. I stand by what I said.” Avery crosses her arms over her chest and cocks her hip.
I can’t hold back with her anymore, I’m fucking done. “I’m so fucking tired of your bullshit, Avery. It’s a miracle anyone likes you, let alone loves you.”
Turning to ask Katie, I say, “Katie, where is she?” There is no way that Katie would be talking to Avery this way if she hadn’t seen Layla, Avery must have done something.
Katie places a soft hand on my shoulder as if she is holding me back.
“Your little whore had a temper tantrum like a baby and Logan had to carry her out of her crying. Some shit about someone hitting her or something. What did you finally grow a pair and decide to put the bitch in her place?”
Without thinking I
drive my fist within inches of Avery’s face, right into the wall of the twin’s bedroom. “If anyone needs to learn to shut their fucking whore mouth, it’s you. You better pray to whatever god you believe in that I can find her or not even Charlie will be able to save you from me.”
She must have seen something in my eyes because there was no snippy retort, just a mild nod of her head in response. Ignoring everyone else in the room, I storm through the house in search of Layla and Logan. Finally giving up my search inside the house, I head down the stairs toward the front door. Suddenly I feel someone shoves me from behind causing me to lose my footing. Luckily, I’m quick on my feet, so I hit the ground easily and regain my balance ready to face my would-be attacker.
“What the fuck, man? You come at me from behind like a little bitch?” I holler at my would-be friend, Charlie.
Jumping off the stairs and landing in front of me, hands up, he smiles a humorless smile over his fists. “Just getting your attention.”
I don’t have fucking time for this, ignoring him and the shouts coming from up the stairs, I fling the front door open running straight into Logan.
“Where the fuck is she, man?”
“Calm down. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I just put her in an Uber threw some money at him and told him to take her wherever she wanted to go. They just pulled away.”
“MOTHERFUCKER!” I yell at the top of my lungs as I feel someone pull on my shoulder. Just as I’m turning around, I feel a right hook connect hard with my jaw. I don’t have to guess where that came from.
“What the hell is going on here?” Logan asks.
“As per usual, you’re oblivious to the bullshit going on right under your nose. Your buddy and his fucking whore ass baby momma decided they wanted to get all up in my business. Probably running away the best thing that has ever happened to me,” I say through clenched teeth. I want to rip all of them apart. They are supposed to be my family, the ones to help me through times like this but instead, they are the ones causing them.
