Page 8

8

T here’s so much blood. And that’s not even the scary part.

It’s Ringo. How his eyes darkened so much that I could no longer tell that they were brown anymore. Instead, they were nearly black as his muscles bunched, stalking after Marcus like he was going to rip him apart.

“Keep him the fuck away from me, Peter, or I’ll fucking kill him!” Ringo’s voice booms as we step inside Ayden’s dad’s apartment.

If it wasn’t for Griffin and Devon stepping in as they loomed in the passage near the lift, watching everything unfold, I’m almost positive my childhood friend would be dead right now.

“Just try it!” Marcus snarls, straining against Ayden and Garrett as they hold him back. “I’m not scared of you!”

“Is it bad that this is turning me on?” Rhys’ voice cuts through the chaos like a party grenade, all heads snapping in her direction, locking onto her with glares. “Okay. I guess it is.” She shrugs, completely unbothered.

I’d laugh if I wasn’t terrified someone was about to get murdered in front of me.

“Let’s all just calm down.” Ayden’s mum, Andrea, steps into the middle of the room, lifting both hands in a calming gesture.

“Agreed.” Lexi’s voice carries over the tension. “All this dick swinging can’t be good for Abbey’s stress levels. Or the baby.”

As if her words are laced with magic, the energy shifts, and the guys in the room start to relax, nodding as the reality of the situation sinks in.

I take that as my cue.

“Marcus, what the hell?”

His brown gaze shoots to me, worry etching lines into his forehead.

“He’s controlling you, Abs. I saw the way you responded to him up on the roof. You’re being manipulated.”

“Oh please,” Ringo scoffs, holding a wad of tissues to his nose.

I have to admit, I’m surprised Marcus punched him, and with such force.

Ringo isn’t a small man. He’s tall and built like a weapon, packed with muscles I didn’t even know could exist on the human body.

He also has dangerous energy surrounding him. You can’t look at him and wonder if he’s a lethal man or not. It’s visible in every part of him.

My face heats as Marcus’ words echo in my head, but before I can come up with a response, Rhys beats me to it .

“Marky Mark.” She strolls up to him, unfazed by his tension, and reaches up, brushing his mussed brown waves back off his forehead. “Baby. He’s not trying to control her. He’s her daddy.”

“Jesus,” Garrett mutters, gripping the back of his neck awkwardly as his eyes shoot to Ayden’s mum in discomfort.

“Ahh. We should get you cleaned up,” Peter interjects, clearly feeling just as uncomfortable with the conversation, gesturing to the passage off the kitchen.

Ringo grunts, giving him a nod, and the tension in the room doesn’t disappear. It shifts.

Stepping aside, my friends make a path for him as Andrea speaks up.

“What do you need? I can get the first aid kit.”

Ringo stills, only a few steps past Marcus, Garrett and Ayden, before turning back to face me. Slowly, he lowers his hands from his bloody nose, a trickle of blood trailing down, catching in his beard.

Even through the mess, I can tell he’s smirking.

“There’s only one thing I need.” His voice is a low rasp as he lifts his hand before crooking his finger. “Be a good girl, Angel. Come and clean up your daddy.”

My mouth falls open as I stare at him, but before I can react, Marcus lunges.

Ayden and Garrett leap into action again, yanking Marcus back before he can land another hit, and through it all, Ringo doesn’t even flinch, his hard stare still zeroed in on me.

“Really?” I quip, raising a brow, and he nods.

“Really.”

My eyes flick to Lexi’s to find her smirking, her amusement contagious as my lips kick up in a grin .

I have no idea what’s happening between me and Ringo. He was asked to protect me, but somewhere along the way, it turned into something else.

I don’t know what that something is. But even as my mind scrambles for clarity, my body moves forward, ignoring the burn of Marcus’ gaze as my other friends watch on with curiosity.

Taking my hand as soon as I am close enough, Ringo leads me down the passage and into the small bathroom.

My head is spinning as he locks us in, the bright white tiles surrounding us feeling too stark for the mood.

“Was that really necessary?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

He nods without hesitation, moving to the sink and leaning closer to the mirror, checking out the damage.

“Ayden’s cousin has a mean right hook.” He wipes some of the blood away, examining his nose. “Not mean enough, though. My nose is still straight and barely bleeding now.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re such a brute.”

He chuckles.

“So you want me to help patch you up?” I step up beside him, checking the damage in the mirror.

“Nope,” he mutters in response and I stiffen.

Shifting to face him, I frown. “No? Then why did you bring me in here?”

Turning on the tap, Ringo leans down, washing the blood from his nose and beard.

So, I wait. Patiently, I might add, leaning back against the bench so I don’t have to look at my own reflection in the mirror.

I got a glimpse already, and I really don’t like what I see.

These clothes are not me.

I don’t actually mind the pink tint in my hair. It’s already faded a lot since I first did it, and in a few more washes I bet it will hardly be noticeable.

Even so. What I see isn’t me.

Shutting off the tap, Ringo dries his face using a hand towel before finally turning to me.

Widening his stance, he crosses his arms over his chest, his eyes raking over my face, my hair, and then down my body.

It’s like he’s seeing me for the first time tonight under these bright, unforgiving lights.

“You remember how you were wearing my hoodie and didn’t want to take it off, but couldn’t explain why?”

I frown at his question, nodding slowly.

“I remember.”

“Well, I need you in here with me for the same reason.” He unfolds his arms, stepping closer and crowding me against the vanity. “I can’t explain it. It doesn’t make sense. I just know that’s what I need.”

Reaching up, he pinches a few of my pink strands between his fingers before running them down to the ends.

“You look really beautiful with pink hair, Angel.”

I can’t breathe.

Like I actually think my lungs have stopped working.

“I’m not sure the clothes are you though.” His smirk breaks the moment, and finally, I remember how to breathe.

“I hate the clothes. So bloody much.”

Ringo chuckles. “Let’s see if Lexi has some you can borrow.”

I scoff.

“I doubt Lexi has anything that’ll go over my fat tummy. ”

Ringo growls. “It’s not fat.” His gaze drops to the bump between us. “It’s beautiful.”

My cheeks burn and my gaze drops to his lips, remembering the times he kissed me. The way he kissed me. The way he owned me.

My tongue darts out, wetting my lips and my gaze shoots back to his, to find him studying me.

He knows exactly where my mind just went.

Would he kiss me again if I asked?

A loud thump on the door shatters the moment, and Ringo takes a step back, irritation flashing across his face.

“Stop fucking like rabbits and get out here, Ringo. We need to talk strategy.”

My brows shoot up and Ringo mutters under his breath, something that sounds a lot like ‘fucking Devon’ before he reaches for the door, jerking it open.

“Fuck off, Devil.”

Devon grins, leaning lazily against the door frame.

“Naw, don’t be like that. You can get your dick sucked later.”

Ringo tenses, his fists balling, his body coiled like it’s gearing up to swing.

Before he can do anything of the sort, I shove past both of them, going back out into the main living area.

The room isn’t as crowded with my friends now, only Jared and Dee remain, sitting at the round dining table with the two blonde women, Bec and Amanda.

Griffin is here too, leaning against the kitchen island, swigging from a beer.

“Where’s Lexi?” I ask, moving towards Jared .

“The others are back down the hall in the other living room.” Jared smirks. “Well most of them are. Rhys said she needs to service Marcus to help get rid of his pent-up anger.”

Griffin chuckles at that, as Ringo and Devon join us in the kitchen, and all eyes turn to Ringo.

“She stays with me. That’s non-fucking-negotiable.”

His voice cuts through the room like a blade, and Jared sneers.

“How about we let Abbey decide?”

The tension thickens as Dee stands from her chair, before calmly lowering herself onto Jared’s knee.

The action is a silent message. Don’t start another dick swinging contest.

“I think that’s a great idea,” the taller blonde woman, Amanda, cuts in. “Abbey. You’re still in a lot of danger. The fact that Daniel’s friend Donny is the nephew of a corrupt cop makes your situation ten times worse.” She glances around the room. “We’ve all shown our hands tonight. The fact that the Marx brothers were there will imply our involvement. And simply just seeing Devon’s involvement will cause trouble.”

My brows shoot up, and I turn to Devon who smirks and winks.

Cheeky bugger.

“Devon is known for making victims of abusers disappear so their attackers can’t find them,” Bec explains, reading the confusion on my face. “He has a safe haven for women and children. In fact, one of Ian Allen’s old girlfriends is hiding away thanks to Devon, so Allen’s going to start looking into him again.”

“I’ll have to stay away from Hell for a little while longer I guess.” Devon smirks, like being on a corrupt cop’s radar is no big deal. “I wouldn’t want to lead those fuckers back to my palace.”

Hell?

Palace?

This guy is weird.

Very easy on the eyes though. But still, he seems a little crazy to me.

“I’ll give my staff a heads up that the Red Room will likely get raided,” Griffin adds, and my heart sinks.

These people are going to pay for helping me.

“That’s probably wise,” Amanda agrees before glancing at Devon. “Feel free to take Ian Allen on a wild goose chase.”

Devon grins, wickedly. “My favorite kind of chase.”

“As for you two.” Bec’s firm tone has me glancing her way to see her glaring at Jared and Dee. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Griffin mutters before tipping his head back to get the last dreads of his drink.

Jared smirks and Dee rolls her eyes before she starts moving her hands around in what I recognise as sign language.

Huh. Did I know she could communicate through sign language?

I don’t think I did.

“Jesus, fuck. How are we meant to know what she’s saying?” Devon whines, and Jared snarls.

“You’re not. Shut the fuck up.”

“Griff!” Devon growls. “I swear to God if you don’t pull Crow into line I’m gonna put a bullet between his eyes.”

Before anyone can react, a knife flies through the air, embedding deep into the plaster wall right next to Devon’s head .

I gasp, my eyes wide as I look back to see Dee ready with another knife, body tense, standing next to Jared.

What the hell just happened?

Everyone is silent. Devon chokes on his own saliva before coughing, pointing a sharp finger at Dee, but it’s Amanda who speaks first.

“You know she never misses, Devon. Consider yourself lucky. That was just a warning.”

I stare, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. Am I awake right now?

“Uhhhh,” I clear my throat. “I appreciate all the help, and I’m sorry it’s going to cause you all trouble, but if you don’t mind, I’m just going to sort this out with Ringo.”

Bec and Amanda nod, as Dee puts her knife away and returns to Jared’s lap like nothing just happened.

What. The. Hell.

“I will keep Abbey safe.” Ringo’s voice breaks through my haze. “We’ll leave the city. I’ll talk to my Prez and work out a few things…” he frowns, pausing. “Where the fuck is JD?”

“Doing a perimeter sweep and checking the security on-site.” Griffin rolls his eyes. “I told him this is a Marx owned building, but he still doesn’t fucking trust my word that it’s secure.”

Ringo grins. “The Southern Sadists are fucking thorough.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Griffin waves a dismissive hand. “We still have an open investigation into the warehouse breach, so we’ll see how fucking thorough your club is then.”

Ringo rolls his eyes.

“Let’s not get off track.” Amanda reminds them, and I sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion dragging on my limbs like dead weight. “Do you know where you and Abbey will go? ”

My heart flips at the thought of Ringo and I going somewhere. I don’t know why. What do I think will happen? He’ll fall madly in love with me and we’ll live happily ever after?

That’s a load of BS. That stuff doesn’t happen.

Even as I think it I consider Lexi and Ayden. Rhys and her… five guys. And Jared and Dee.

But I’m not just me anymore. I come with a baby. A baby created in hate and brutality. No one wants an emotionally damaged single mum. No man wants to raise another man’s child.

“I have an idea of where we’ll go,” Ringo’s voice is gruff as his gaze dances to me. “But that’ll stay between me and Abbey. The fewer people that know, the safer she’ll be.”

The Angel sisters nod, and a few more words are exchanged before they leave with the Marx men.

Ringo’s gaze catches mine, his expression softening, and it’s obvious he’s noticed how tired I am.

Without a word, he leads me back to the others where Lexi has set up mattresses on the floor for her and Rhys, while the guys have built their own makeshift beds out of cushions and blankets throughout the living room.

The moment Lexi sees me, she jumps up.

“Let’s get you changed. You can’t be comfy in those clothes.”

I sigh in relief, because she’s damn right I’m not comfy. “I’d love that. Thank you.”

Taking my hand, she ignores Ringo’s looming presence and tugs me back out into the hall, leading me to the open door at the end.

“This is Ayden’s room. I made sure Rhys and Marcus didn’t leave a mess behind.” She grins before her eyes dart over my shoulder and it falls away. “You don’t need to follow her everywhere she goes, Ringo.”

Glancing back, I find him walking lazily behind us, his expression neutral, no words in response.

Lexi rolls her eyes, pulling me into the room.

“Bathroom is through there.” She gestures to the other door in the room. “I left a pile of clothes for you on the bench. There are a few dresses that should still fit you…” she trails off, her eyes dropping to my bump and her face falls. “Shit, Abs. I wish you’d told me. You must have been so scared.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper in response as a lump forms in my throat, taking in her glassy blue eyes. “I wasn’t sure how to tell you I was carrying the child of…” I can’t finish the sentence because I haven’t told Lexi everything. Right now, she probably assumes this baby is Daniel’s.

If only it were that simple.

“Was Daniel the one who told your parents that you were pregnant? Is that why they moved up the wedding, because he knocked you up?”

And there it is.

The assumption.

Of course, she’d never even imagine any other truth, since it’s so unfathomable.

“Maybe you should sit down, Lexi,” Ringo suggests, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

My frantic gaze snaps to him as panic coils in my stomach.

I don’t know if I can do this again. Take myself back to that place. To put my nightmare into words.

“What’s going on?” Lexi frowns, her gaze darting between us .

“I don’t think I can say it again,” I admit to Ringo, and he pushes off the wall and closes the distance, his big strong hands cupping my cheeks.

“I’ll say it if you really can’t, Angel.” His voice is steady, his touch grounding. “But I really think Lexi should hear it from you.”

“Hear what?” Lexi’s voice sharpens and panic flickers in her wide blue eyes.

I stare at my best friend. The one who never gave up on me even when I told her to walk away.

She hasn’t stopped fighting for me.

If anyone deserves the truth, it’s my Lexi.

“Ringo’s right. You should probably sit.”

Lexi’s face pales, and she nods, absently lowering herself to the mattress, never taking her gaze off me.

“Do you want me to wait outside?” Ringo’s voice is so gentle it makes my heart hurt with something I don’t understand.

“No.” I shake my head frantically. “Please don’t leave.”

“Of course, Angel.”

When I glance back at Lexi, her gaze flicks between us, studying how we interact. How we talk to each other.

Ringo moves to a chair at the edge of the room, giving me space to talk to Lexi while honouring my desire for him to remain close.

To think, the first night I met him, I thought he was a real prick.

Ringo can be, I’ve seen it, but not to me. Not even when he’s mad.

How is it that I feel like I know him so well, even though I really don’t ?

Nervous over the place I have to take myself back to, I start pacing at the foot of the bed, ignoring the way Lexi watches me like she’s trying to see inside my soul.

What I’m about to tell her will hurt her, because she loves me. Which is why she needs to know.

“For a couple of months I’d suspected I might be pregnant,” I begin, continuing to pace because it’s easier to watch the grey carpet at my feet as I walk than look at my best friend’s expression.

“I wasn’t sure how to confirm it. I couldn’t go to the doctor and risk my parents finding out. They never gave me much money, and Daniel was always around. I never had the opportunity to duck into a pharmacy and buy a test.”

Blowing out a breath, I risk a glance at Lexi to see her listening attentively.

“I had to steal a pregnancy test,” I admit and Lexi’s eyes widen.

“You stole something?”

Her shock pulls a smirk from me.

“Yes. From the supermarket. Mum sent me and Maggie in for a few things.

I sent Maggie off to get the milk… and then, I shoved it down the front of my shorts.”

“Oh. My. God. Abbey Delany stole something?”

I poke my tongue out at her, but then her smile falls. “That’s when you found out you were pregnant?”

“Yes. At home. I did the tests when I was meant to be showering. It’s literally the only time my parents gave me privacy. I only took one of the tests, and I didn’t even have to wait the full time for the result. It was obvious pretty quickly. I mean, I was already getting a little bump by then.”

“Shit. So did you tell your parents or did they see you getting bigger?”

I scoff, shaking my head. “Nope. It was only a few weeks until I was due to leave for Nursing school in the city, so I just kept wearing the baggy clothes and was biding my time, but then somehow, Maggie found the test. She would’ve had to go through the rubbish to find it, but she did, and then she took it straight to my parents.”

My eyes dart to Ringo, his legs manspread and his forearms resting on his knees, silently taking in this part of the story I never shared with him.

“Anyway, we all know what happened that night.” I wave a hand in Ringo’s direction, and Lexi nods, even though her brows are pinched with worry.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Oh yeah. I left out the part about how I got pregnant.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip as my heart starts pounding a nervous rhythm.

Just spit it out, Abbey.

I clear my throat.

“Any chance you were wondering why Donny Allen and his uncle came after me tonight?”

At that, Lexi straightens, frowning. “I assumed since Donny is mates with Daniel, he was helping him out.”

“That’s not why.” My voice is flat, and her brows hitch.

“Is… Donny the father of your baby?”

I glance nervously at Ringo and he gives me a reassuring nod.

“I’m not sure if Donny is the father. Or if Daniel is, or… ”

“Or? Or what ?” Lexi shoots up off the bed like she’s just been bitten by something. “What do you mean, or?”

“Well, honestly Lexi… this baby could be Craig’s. Or Michael’s. Or Tim’s. Or even Darnel’s.”

Lexi freezes. Her eyes are locked on mine, wide and unblinking, and the only reason I know she’s still breathing is the way her chest rises and falls.

“Are you saying…” she whispers, her voice barely there.

She can’t say the words. Can’t even bring herself to finish the sentence.

But I can. I have to. Because it happened to me, and because this is my baby.

I said the words earlier, up on the rooftop. I can do it again.

“They all raped me, Lex. On my eighteenth birthday. And again over the long weekend in November.”

I drop my gaze to my belly, running my hand over the bump as fresh tears finally break free.

“It was the November weekend. That’s when my baby was made.”

When I glance up again, tears track down Lexi’s face, her cheeks flushed, and her face is twisted with a storm of emotions.

Grief.

Helplessness.

Rage.

“Abs…” she chokes on a sob, before her expression hardens, fury overtaking everything else as she whips her head towards Ringo.

“You have to kill them. I know it’s something you do. I’ll pay you. ”

Ringo’s voice is pure steel. “Already in motion, Lex. No need for payment. But first, I’m taking Abbey somewhere safe. Somewhere they can’t touch her. Then, one by one, I’ll hunt those fuckers down and torture them until they die. Mark my fucking words.”

“Who are you killing?”

I whip around with a sharp gasp to find Marcus eavesdropping in the doorway, eyes burning with rage.

“For fuck’s sake,” Ringo snaps. “Is there no fucking privacy around here?”