Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Twitch stopped himself, shaking his head rapidly and letting out a harsh breath. He stood so quickly the chair he sat on flew backward with a bang that made my heart pound, and when he strode toward me, I sat up straighter, expectantly.
Looking thoroughly distressed, he took my head in his hands and put his face close to mine, his eyes imploring. “I thought I could do it, but I can’t.” The kiss he planted on my lips was bruising.
I watched him walk into the house and heard the front door slam behind him. His car started, and then he was gone.
Chapter
Thirty-Four
Twitch
It was late when I drove back from Julius and Ana’s. I shouldn’t have been driving at all, but I wanted to get home to my girl. I hadn’t seen my son all day, and I knew he’d be in bed, but I still needed to see him before I passed out, which I felt would be soon. So I drove slowly, as carefully as a drunken man could.
The moment I pulled into the driveway, the front door opened and Lexi stepped out of the house in her tiny silken robe, her face drawn, her mouth tight, looking apprehensive as fuck. And I felt like an asshole.
I stepped out of the car and approached slowly on unstable legs. Why I said what I did was anyone’s guess, but I announced it magnificently. “I’m drunk.”
“I know.” She pressed into my side, sliding a shoulder under my arm, and I relaxed, putting my weight on her. “Julius called.” She looked up at me, her eyes warm, but her tone was irritated. “You should have let him call you a cab.”
“I know,” I told her because she was right. How lucky a prick was I to have this woman who loved me and put that shit down unconditionally? She was everything that was good in this screwed up world, and she was mine. My lips pulled up at the sides as I squinted through heavy lids. “Do you even know how much I love you?”
“No.” She walked me inside, and asked an amused, “How much do you love me?”
“A lot,” I told her, and the sound of her soft chuckle made me want to give her everything she ever desired in life.
And I would.
I’d do that for her.
Do anything for her.
My baby.
“Where’s the party?” I said a little too loudly when we got inside, and she put a finger to my lips, hushing me. I lowered my tone. “Everyone’s gone?”
“Manda and Vander are staying with Julius and Ana. They just left. But—” She side-eyed me cautiously. “—Zep and Papa Tony were going to check into a hotel, and...” she hesitated before going on, “I thought that was silly, seeing that you have a place across the street that’s going unused, so I told them they could stay there.” Her eyes searched my face carefully. “The refused repeatedly, but I insisted, and eventually they gave in.”
My stomach lurched, but I stood tall before leaning in and putting my face close to hers. “You are a good woman.”
She smiled then, and I knew I’d take on the entire fuckin’ world to keep my queen content.
Stumbling, I moved down the hall toward A.J.’s room, and Lexi followed closely behind as I walked in as quietly as I could, kneeling by his bed and putting a gentle hand to his head. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I watched his chest move up and down as he breathed easily in his sleep.
I stood, walking by my beautiful, blue-eyed angel. She said, “C’mon. Let’s go to bed.”
But my fuckin’ feet weren’t working well. On top of that, my head was spinning. I made it as far as the sofa before I lowered myself, putting my hands to the floor then sitting back against the couch. And Lexi watched me a moment before coming to sit behind me, her legs at either side of my head. I rubbed my stubbly cheek against her knee and watched in captivation as goose bumps lined her skin.
“I’m tryin’ to be a good dad,” I told the darkened room.
“I know you are,” she replied softly, running a soft hand through my hair.
“I love him so much it scares me.”
She let out a light laugh. “I know the feeling.”
As she ran a hand down my cheek, I muttered, “I just want him to look at me and not see the piece of shit I am.” Tilting my head back to look at her, I asked quietly, “How do I do that?”
Lexi was my world, but that little boy, my boy... he was my entire universe. The thought of someone trying to keep me from him was unconscionable. I would do anything to be near him. Nobody could keep me away.