Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“You don’t have a single fucking right to my daughters or Ava. They belong to me. I protect and cherish what’s mine.”
Darren’s eyebrows went up, and he looked at Ava with an almost approving smile. “Well, well, Ava. Seems you’re moving up in the world. If I’d known you were going to go for the con on Ellis, we could have teamed up.”
Ava stiffened and snapped, “Cut it out, Darren. I haven’t seen or heard from you since Carrie told you not to come back until you could pay the child support you owed her. Now you’re showing up here? If you really cared about Cassidy and Daisy, you would have contacted Roan beforehand so that you wouldn’t disrupt their lives. You can pretend all you want, but we all know you’re just here to get money from Roan.”
Darren’s gaze swept over the house and the multiple garages, his eyes practically filled with dollar signs. “One of the girls at the diner mentioned that you quit unexpectedly to move to some swanky neighborhood on Long Island. I figured you must have a plan to get money from the rich asshole who took them from me. And I want my cut.”
I almost leaped at him, fists ready to fly, but Ava gently placed her hand on my arm and murmured, “He’s not worth risking the life you’re building.”
She was right, but it didn’t completely bank the fires of fury consuming me.
Meanwhile, my teammates had formed a wall behind Darren without him noticing.
“Get the fuck off my property, and don’t come back,” I snarled.
Darren must have felt the heat of the men at his back because his head jerked around, and his eyes grew wide and round. He turned back to me and tried to keep up his bravado, but I could hear the slight tremble in his voice. “You can’t—”
“Shut the hell up, asshole,” I grunted. “I have every right to have you removed from my home. You want to see your kids? Get a fucking lawyer.”
“You might want to save up, D,” Ava added in a saccharine tone. “Lawyers are expensive, and I doubt you’ll find one who’s willing to take your case until you’re caught up on the years of back child support you owe.”
Darren took a step forward, only to find himself hauled backward by Dempsey, a Nighthawks receiver. “I suggest you don’t try that again,” he grunted.
Rigby—a punter—and Ames—an offensive lineman—flanked Carrie’s ex, crowding into his space.
“You can’t—”
“I don’t know why you think you can dictate anything Roan or I do, D,” Ava snapped. “If a warning won’t do it, how about I remind you that there’s a warrant out for your arrest in New Jersey?” She pulled her phone out of her purse and held it up. “I’m guessing New York won’t have any trouble handing you over unless they want to prosecute you instead. I’m not sure how that works with the girls living here now. I think I’ll call them and ask…”
“Fine!” Darren spat. “I’ll go. But this isn’t over.”
“It sure as fuck is,” I ground out, crossing my arms over my chest and letting him see the bulge of my muscles. “Now, my boys are going to make sure you find your way off my property, and if I see you around me, Ava, or my children, I’ll file a restraining order.”
Dempsey released one of Darren’s arms, but it was quickly captured by Ames, and the two of them practically carried Darren to his car.
“To be clear,” I spoke up before they forced him into the driver’s seat. “If by some miracle—and it would have to be one hell of a miracle—you ever get your act together and have genuine interest in seeing Cassidy and Daisy—without an ulterior motive—I would not stand in the way.”
Ava’s hand on my arm tightened, and I glanced at her. Her expression was soft as she stared up at me, and it cooled some of my boiling anger.
I heard a crack and a girlish yelp. When I looked back to the car, Dempsey was grinning as he “helped” Darren inside. “Oops,” he muttered. “Watch your head.”
Darren looked murderous, but he just slumped in his seat and started the car as Dempsey slammed the door shut.
The boys lifted their chins at me in farewell, and I returned the gesture. “Thanks,” I called out.
Rigby grinned. “Anytime.”
Once the boys were gone, I turned to Ava, who’d removed her hand to cross her arms over her chest. She was observing me thoughtfully, and I raised an eyebrow in silent question.
“I belong to you, huh?”
“Damn fucking straight.”
12
Ava
Between the confrontation with Darren and Roan telling him that I was his, I felt as though I had emotional whiplash. I was used to being judged by the stunts my brother pulled, but there hadn’t been an ounce of anger or disappointment in Roan’s hazel eyes when he’d assured me that nothing Darren did was going to change his feelings for me. The only thing I was left wondering was what exactly those were.