Beau's Redemption

by Royal Blue

  “What’s going on?” I demand.

  “She had a nightmare. She won’t settle down. She’s asking for you,” Emma rushes out.

  “Me?”

  “Yeah,” Emma says as if she’s talking to an idiot.

  “I’m on my way,” I say.

  “Everything all right?” Angel asks as he appears with a towel round his waist.

  “It’s Billy,” I say. “She had a nightmare.”

  He rips the towel away and rushes to get dressed in sweats and a T-shirt. I have on shorts and a zip-up as I shove my feet into my sneakers.

  “Let’s go,” Angel says, moving for the door.

  Angel

  We enter Emma’s suite to Billy’s sobs. When Beau and I enter the bedroom she’s in, she jumps up and runs across the mattress into Beau’s arms. The look of awe on his face would cause me to laugh if I weren’t so concerned for the little one in his arms.

  “¿Qué pasa, carino? Dile a Ángel qué tienes?” I croon in Spanish, asking her for the source of her tears.

  “He was in my dreams again. I couldn’t fight back. The fire was coming for me,” she says on a shuddering breath. She turns her sad eyes to me as she sniffles. After a moment’s thought, she leaps from Beau’s hold into my arms. Beau reaches to rub her back soothingly.

  “Nunca dejaré que nadie te vuelva a lastimar,” I say into her hair. I make the vow to protect her and mean it with everything I am. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll ever let anyone hurt her again.

  “¿Me lo prometes?”

  “Te lo prometo con cada aliento que tengo.” It’s a promise I plan to keep.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Beau asks, his face tight with worry.

  She turns to look at him. “Yeah, I am now,” she whispers.

  “Looks like this calls for a slumber party,” I say, kicking off my shoes.

  I move to climb into the bed. I place Billy beside me, and she wiggles into my side. I pick up the remote and turn on the TV. After reaching for the covers, I pull them up over our legs. Beau looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

  “Beau, you’re not made of glass. Do you mind moving?” I say.

  Billy turns the covers back. “Come on, you’re in the way,” she says and rolls her eyes.

  Beau shakes his head, but he moves to the side of the bed and steps out of his shoes. Emma stands in the doorway with shock written all over her face. Her features soften into a wide smile, when Billy shifts to lean her head on Beau.

  “Plenty of room,” Beau says to Emma.

  “No, I think it’s already picture perfect. I’ll sit this one out,” she replies.

  Chapter 20

  Motherly Wisdom

  Beau

  “You boys arrived just in time,” my mama says as we enter the kitchen.

  It smells amazing in here. I look around and see she’s gone all out. Homemade biscuits, a roast, green beans, and her seafood chowder. If my nose is telling me the truth, cookies and cherry pie are in the oven.

  “You didn’t have to do all of this, Mama,” I say.

  “Oh, please,” she waves me off. “You two are huge. I had to make sure I had enough for the both of you.”

  “She expecting ten more of us?” Angel whispers.

  I elbow him, and he tries to stifle his laugh. Rolling my eyes, I move to give my mama a kiss on the cheek. She returns it, wiping her lipstick away after.

  “Nice to see you again, Angel,” she says with a mischievous smile.

  “Behave,” I whisper in her ear.

  “I’m going to keep telling you. You’re not my daddy, Beau James Dalton.”

  I snort and grab a green bean to pop in my mouth. As always she’s outdone herself. I love my mama’s cooking.

  “I thought you were a gorgeous man in a suit. You are just as breathtaking in jeans and a T-shirt,” she says to Angel. “My son has good taste.”

  My stomach drops. And this is why I’ve been dreading this dinner. This woman will embarrass me as if it’s her job to do so.

  I’ve never been so nervous to come to my mama’s house in my life. With everything going on at the wedding, she didn’t get much time to spend with Angel. She’s been calling me for weeks now asking us to come by.

  We’ve both just been extremely busy. I have the tournament coming up and the new project fixing that run-down complex. I’ve been working nonstop. I barely get time to spend with Angel myself. Javi has been asking him to put in more hours for private events, and Angel has taken on a lot of my tasks at the gym to help me out.

  Most nights we both fall face-first into the mattress. Angel has even been sleeping more. Exhaustion will do that to you.

  “Good looks run in your family as well,” Angel says, turning on the charm.

  “A smooth talker too.” Mama actually blushes.

  The sound of running feet comes from the front of the house. Within seconds Mason, Billy, and Aryanna push their way into the kitchen. I look at my mama, but she looks away guiltily.

  “It smells good in here,” Kyle croons as he and Andy walk in holding hands.

  A smiling Emma brings up the rear with Andres. I fold my arms over my chest and glare at my mama. She swore up and down it would just be the three of us for dinner. Not that I don’t love my family, but it’s tiring to have to interact with so many people.

  “This was the first weekend both Angel and I had off at the same time. We would’ve stayed home if I’d known you were planning a party,” I say.

  “You too good to spend time with your family?” Kyle says, coming over to punch me in the arm.

  “I’m too tired,” I grumble.

  “I’m not going to argue there,” he says.

  “Yo, Beau, what’s up?” Billy says as she stops in front of me, munching on a cookie my mama just finished handing out to the kids.

  “You’ll spoil your dinner eating that,” I say.

  She looks at the cookie, then back at me. “Worth the sacrifice. Someone has to do it.” She shrugs.

  Everyone laughs except for me. I glare at Billy, causing her to stuff the rest of the cookie in her mouth. She smiles around a mouthful of the confection, and I can’t help cracking a smile. I reach to pinch her nose between my fingers.

  “No more until after dinner, smarty pants,” I say.

  “I’m not making any promises. Your moms is the truth with the baked stuff. I came here for the food,” she says.

  “God, she’s adorable,” my mother snickers.

  “She’s a brat,” Angel teases.

  Billy places a hand to her chest in mock horror. “And here I thought you guys loved me.”

  “Te amo amiguita,” Angel says. “I just know you’re a brat.”

  “Not feeling the love,” Billy huffs and takes off after Mason and Aryanna who have gone into the living room.

  I smile after her. Billy has truly relaxed into her surroundings lately. At least at the gym and around my family.

  “We never got to have cookies before dinner,” I pout at my mama.

  “Aren’t you too old to be whining?” Mama levels her eyes on me.

  “It’s better than brooding. I’ll take it,” Emma chirps.

  “Point well taken,” Mama says.

  I glare at Emma as she grins back at me. I take offense to her words. I’m not a brooder. “I don’t brood.”

  “Yeah, you do,” Angel snorts around the cookie he just stuffed in his mouth.

  Mama pats his arm and beams at him. I turn my glare to them all ganging up on me. I look around, and everyone nods in agreement.

  “Whatever,” I mumble.

  “Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Dalton,” Andres croons.

  “None of that,” Mama waves. “You boys call me Daphne.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the twins say in unison.

  Watching Angel stand next to his brother, I still can’t get over how much they look like each other. Yet I would still know the difference. Angel sees me staring at the two of them and winks.<
br />
  “You look happy.” Mama comes to hand me one of her famous cookies from the fresh batch she just pulled from the oven.

  I smile wide. She knows I love them when they’re piping hot and all gooey. I think over her statement as I chew. “I am,” I say in between bites.

  “More good things are coming your way, just you wait,” she says, reaching to squeeze my hand.

  “Let me go,” Mason cries out.

  “Oh my God,” Aryanna’s voice says simultaneously.

  The only person I don’t hear say a word is Billy. We all head for the living room where the two voices came from. When I step across the threshold, I find Aryanna with her hands over her mouth and a look of surprise on her face.

  Next I find Billy and Mason on the floor. Billy has Mas in a chokehold as Mas tries to break free. At first I’m stunned and confused at what I’m looking at. I don’t know what to make of this scene.

  “Take it back,” Billy says.

  “Let go,” Mason gasps.

  “Billy,” Angel and Andres bark in unison. “Let go.”

  She looks up with a scowl but releases her hold. Mason sucks in air as he rubs his neck. Billy stands with her little fists balled.

  “What’s going on in here?” Kyle demands.

  “He just asked if I wanted to go horseback riding with them,” Aryanna says.

  Her face is crestfallen and confused. I look at Billy, feeling my own confusion. I’ve never seen her become violent like this before. “And you put him in a sleeper hold?” I say incredulously.

  “Yeah,” Billy says to her shoes.

  “Por qué?” Angel asks.

  “It’s our thing,” she whispers. “He shouldn’t have invited her.”

  “I thought we were friends,” Aryanna says as tears start to spill.

  “We are,” Billy says as her own lips start to tremble. “But that’s special. I’m sorry.”

  I sigh and rub my forehead. Is this what I have to look forward to if I have kids? Good Lord. Angel and I may have to rethink that talk.

  I walk over to squat in front of Billy. My heart bleeds when those brown eyes look up at me. I couldn’t be pissed at her if I tried. I cup her little chin in my hand.

  “First, no matter who comes with us to the ranch, it will always be our thing. No one can replace you. Sharing is a good thing. The more people, the more fun.

  “Second, you can come to the gym to help Angel, but you’re banned from your lessons for a month,” I say, and her shoulders sag.

  “Listen to me, Billy. You can’t go around using what we teach you to harm people. Self-defense and competition are one thing. Choking your friends because they do something you don’t like is not acceptable.”

  “Okay,” she says.

  “You owe Mas an apology.”

  “I’m sorry, Mason,” she says.

  “It’s okay, I wasn’t thinking. I just thought you would like to have a girl come with us sometimes,” Mason says.

  Billy’s face really twists up, and she bursts into tears. I think Mason’s thoughtfulness hit her in the heart as much as it does me. He was only thinking of her.

  I pull her into a hug, until her sobs slow. She pulls away, wiping her face. My heart fills with so many emotions when she walks over to Mason and pulls him into a hug and whispers something to him. He nods and hugs her back, rocking her as she sobs a little more.

  I don’t think there’s a dry eye in the house. I stand, and Angel moves to my side and squeezes my shoulder. Mama catches my eye and tilts her head for me to follow her. She points to Angel, signaling from him to come along.

  Angel

  We step into Daphne’s den, and she closes the door behind us. I feel like a kid being called into the principal’s office for something I didn’t do. She turns on both of us and levels us with a stare.

  “I wanted to talk to you boys about that little girl before everyone arrived. I watched her with you two at the wedding, and that—” Daphne points toward the living room, her voice hitching. “—is proof I’m right.”

  “Right about what, Mama?” Beau rubs his temples.

  “She belongs to you two.”

  “Wait, we’re just getting started. There’s no way we can drag that little girl into our lives,” he whisper-yells.

  “Have you forgotten that you were twenty-five the last time I took a spoon to you? I’ll tan your hide.”

  I snort a laugh but cut it off quick. Pursing my lips, I cover my mouth with my hand. Beau folds his arms and frowns at me.

  “You do realize she’s talking to the both of us?” he says.

  “I do.”

  He narrows his eyes. I sigh and drop my hand. I know I should be taking this seriously. Daphne just has a way with words and Beau.

  “Beau, the way you just handled that situation not only shows how much you care about her, it shows that you’re what she needs. I’ve been to that home you boys built. I’ve watched her. She doesn’t act the same there as she does when she’s with you,” Daphne says.

  “I volunteer as much as I can at the complex, and Billy is one of the kids that comes to the gym,” Beau starts.

  “But she needs more than that,” she cuts him off.

  “We barely had time to come here. How does a little girl fit into that?”

  “You make her fit,” Daphne says firmly.

  Beau throws his arms in the air. He tugs at his hair and starts to pace. The frustration on his face ages him in the moment.

  “Daphne, I think Beau has a point. We’re not quite ready to take on a little girl. I have issues. We don’t have room for her at the loft—”

  “Yes, you do,” Daphne cuts me off. “He owns the damn building. The other two apartments on that floor are vacant. He’s been talking about blowing them out and expanding since he bought the damn place. With my son’s imagination for designing property, he can make her a darn Barbie house of her own on the other side of the apartment.”

  Daphne’s frustration starts to spill over. I begin to see how much thought she has put into this. My wheels start to turn as I hear her out.

  “Mama,” Beau says, bracing himself against the back of a wingback chair.

  “Beau,” she replies. “I’m not saying you boys need to take her home tonight. I’m just telling you, that little girl is yours. It’s time to buck up and get things in order for her.”

  “Who says we’ll even still be together after I tear my apartment apart to make a home for her?”

  I stiffen and rock back on my heels. Beau turns toward me and grimaces. I hold my hands up and shake my head.

  “You’re right. Who knows,” I say tightly.

  “Angel—”

  “It’s fine.”

  It’s not, but it’s too late to take the words back. He places his hands behind his head and throws his head back. Daphne moves over to me and places a hand on my arm.

  “My son has a habit of sticking his foot in his mouth.” She looks between us. “You two don’t see the way you look at each other. I noticed what happened at the wedding. You may have fooled people that didn’t know you two.

  “I don’t know you well yet, but I know my son, and I noticed,” she says to me, then turns to her son. “What you did was dangerous, Beau. Don’t try something like that again. You could’ve been hurt.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say.

  “For what, sugar?” she says turning back to me. “You have nothing to be sorry for. My point is, I watched the love in what Beau did. I saw the look on your face when you focused your attention on him.

  “I think you two are capable of anything. Including slaying that little girl’s demons and yours. I know you, Beau James. If I don’t say something now you’ll drag your feet on this because you’ll tell yourself all the reasons not to do it,” she says.

  I wrap an arm around her shoulder, still feeling the sting of Beau’s words. “We’ll talk about it,” I assure her.

  Beau tries to catch my eyes, but I avoid looking at him. Dap
hne pats one cheek and kisses the other. “That’s all I ask. You boys will do the right thing.”

  Chapter 21

  Things You Love

  Beau

  There’s a gap a mile long between me and Angel. That stupid comment has been haunting me for a month. Just as fast as we’ve fallen for each other, we’re falling apart.

  I don’t know what to do to fix this. He says we’re fine, but he’s been distant. I’m just so damn frustrated.

  “Yo, Beau.”

  I look up at my office door. Billy’s standing there with her arms crossed. “Hey, darlin’. What’s up?”

  “It’s been a month,” she says.

  I furrow my brows, and my head clouds with a ton of thoughts. It hits me what she’s referring to after a moment. She’s right; it’s been a month since I banned her.

  “It has.”

  “Can I get back to my lessons?”

  I put my pen down and sit back in my seat. I regard the little girl before me. I thought she would choose to stop coming to the gym once I banned her from training. She’s been committed.

  “Come in and sit for a minute,” I tell her.

  She moves to one of the seats before my desk and climbs into it. This isn’t the little girl who has cried in my arms twice now. This is tough Billy.

  “I wanted you to know I’m proud of you. You handled your punishment like a big girl and you stuck to your responsibilities,” I say.

  “Life gets tough. You do what you have to do. I’m no quitter,” she says.

  Her words hit me like a brick to the chest. Here she is barely nine years old. Her life has been pure shit for seven and a half years, but she’s still fighting her way forward.

  Billy reminds me so much of Angel. They fight for what they believe in. They never give up when it gets hard.

  “Hey, that’s you,” she gasps, looking at a poster on my wall. “So it’s true? You used to fight?”

  The awe in her voice tugs at something in me. I look at the poster. My dad had passed three years before that. I had vowed to make it to the top in honor of his name. It’s why I became so serious about the sport.