Page 104 of Moose

We all piled into the house, and Javier’s mother got right to work. She reminded me a lot of Mama Crawford, the way she took care of everybody.

She pulled both my kids and Lily into the kitchen to help her. I leaned against the doorframe to watch, relieved to have them all back together with me.

Javier came up and stood next to me, his arms crossed across his chest. He was nearly as tall as me, but had way more tattoos. Javier had a snake running around his neck and even tattoos on his face and head.

He glared at me with his dark eyes; so dark they almost looked black.

“No holds right now, man. You better fucking treat my girl right. I lost my chance with that woman, but she looks happier than she’s ever been standing there with your kids. That’s something I don’t think I could ever give her; pure happiness.”

I nodded and looked over to the kitchen. “Do you still love her?”

Javier sighed. “I’ll always love her. We were each other’s first for everything. But I know when to step down and let a better man treat her the way she should be treated.”

“She still cares for you, ya know.”

He looked up at me. “Nah, bro. She hates me. I hurt her so fucking much.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “She used to hate me, too. But that woman has a heart of fucking gold. She’s a pro bono lawyer for women who deal with domestic violence.”

Javier smiled at Lily. “She always had a soft spot despite her hard exterior.”

We stood there for a bit before Javier looked up at me again.

“After they all go to bed, we’ll head down to the warehouse and take care of those guys. You need anything before then?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good. Gonna give my Pres a call and fill him in.”

“Good, good. I’ll get my guys ready and then it’s dinnertime. Hope you brought an appetite, my man.”

Wewerebackatthe warehouse after getting the kids to bed. Lily had gone right to sleep, so we snuck out, careful not to wake her. I knew this was all a lot on her emotional well-being.

Javier’s guys had Rob chained down to the floor, and the old guy who tried to buy my fucking kids. I stood over them both, debating on what to even do.

I wanted to kill both of them, but knew they needed to suffer for what they had done. Javier stood behind me, glaring down at the two pathetic excuses for men.

There was a commotion at the door and Javier and I both raised our guns. Lily came barreling through the wall of men as they spread apart to make room for her.

Javier laughed as I just shook my head. Lily stormed over to the both of us, fire in her eyes.

“You two! You think you can just leave me without saying a fucking word? Nope. I want in on this.”

I groaned as she scowled at me. “Princess... I don’t want you having to deal with this. Let us handle it.”

Javier whistles. “Damn. Took the words right out of my mouth, homie.” He looked at Lily and sighed. “Lil. Listen to your man. Go home, cuddle those babies, and let us get blood on our hands and keep you clean.”

Lily looked between us two, then walked over to Rob and the old man. She picked up an old pipe and tossed in between her hands. Javier and I rushed over to her, but she turned on us.

“You think I haven’t gotten dirty before? Come on, boys. You should know me better than that. Back the fuck off or you're next.”

We both put our hands in the air and moved back, giving Lily the space to do what she needed to do.

Lily ran the pipe down Rob’s spine before stepping in front of him.

“Not so tough anymore, huh?”

Rob spit at her. “Not a fair fucking fight if I’m chained down, bitch.”

Lily just laughed and leaned down right into his face.

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