Page 21

Each day that passes with Birdie retreating into the shell she was in when she arrived here, the more my frustration and rage mounts. Until Frankie called, she was slowly coming back to life.

Her demeanor was more relaxed. Her hair was down more often, and she didn’t feel the need to put on makeup as soon as she woke up each morning.

That call extinguished the fire that had occasionally sparked in her.

How the fuck do I fight against her mind?

Anytime she speaks, it’s in that fucking stilted, robotic, Stepford wife bullshit tone again.

The twins are noticing that she’s not smiling anymore.

I never come home to a mess in the house.

Not a single fucking crumb or speck of dust anywhere.

And believe me, I tried to find something just so there was proof of life in this goddamn house.

Dinner is always waiting for me and the kids, but rarely for her.

She assures me she eats when I’m not around, but from the way she’s lost weight in a fucking week, I’m calling bullshit on that.

Everything she does is to please me and the kids.

It’s never been either her or me. We both carried our weight in our past relationship, never asking for more than what the other was giving.

When I walk into this house each day and only see three fucking plates on the table, I have to fight with everything in me not to pick one up and throw it against the wall in frustration.

Instead, I simply walk into the kitchen, grab another plate from the cabinet, and fill it with the food on the stove.

Then I set it at the table with the rest of us and force her to sit down to eat.

The first time it happened, she only pushed the food around on her plate.

I grabbed her gently by the chin so she’d look at me and told her I’d fucking feed her if she didn’t do it herself.

Birdie wanted to argue—fuck, it was right there in her eyes—but she swallowed it down.

What I hate the most about it fucking all is the way she holds on to those goddamn pearls.

I thought she did it as some kind of anchor shit, but I noticed that day that she only grabs a hold of them when she forgets she’s supposed to be Frankie’s fucking robot.

Birdie doesn’t use them to anchor her to the present.

She uses them to anchor her to the fucking person Frankie turned her into.

Hannibal is manning the gate to my property tonight while Munch and Vortex watch the house.

Except for the phone call, Frankie hasn’t tried anything since Birdie and the kids have been here, but I’m not taking any chances.

If he comes and gets past the clubhouse, then he’ll also have to face the men I have stationed here.

“How have they been?” I ask Munch as I climb the porch steps.

“Quiet. They were all in the living room watching a movie earlier. The kids were getting restless, wanting to go outside. Birdie wasn’t comfortable with that, though.”

I scrub my hands over my face, trying to erase the weariness.

Fuck, I hope Cypher gets me something soon.

“Thanks, brother. Get home to your ol’ lady before she carves out my nuts and serves them to that mean ass dog of yours.”

He chuckles, his long ginger beard moving with his smile. “My angel wouldn’t do something like that.”

My eyes widen incredulously. “Angel? Have you seen your woman throw down, brother? That lady will take on any grown ass man who dares to get in her face. Hell, we gave her the name Scorch for a reason. It’s also why we put her in charge of the sweetbutts.”

“Yeah,” he sighs dreamily. “She’s perfect, huh?”

I clap him on the back with a chuckle. “Perfect for you. Thanks again for sitting with them. Where’s Vortex?”

“She was comfortable enough letting him in. He helped Legend bring his game system downstairs and played it with him for a while.”

“Birdie didn’t want you in?”

Munch shrugs. “Naw. She said she’d be more comfortable if I was out here.

” He slides his hands into his jeans pocket and leans against the porch banister.

“Can’t really blame her, Prez. Scorch and I were there that night, too.

Hell, it took my ol’ lady fucking months not to be pissed at me when she found out it was all for show.

Birdie will be ready to deal with us when she’s ready. ”

I’m about to say something else when Valkyrie’s car comes flying through the gate and up to the house.

She’s dressed in another business suit, so she must have just come back from job hunting.

I offered to hire her on at any of our places, but she was quick to turn it down.

Her reply: Not only no, but fuck no. Then she followed up with a big smile and fluttering eyelashes.

Valkyrie is scary as hell, and I pity the fool who tries to tie that fucking hellcat down.

“Hey. How is she today?” she asks quietly.

“I just got home, but she was the same this morning. Munch said she’s been quiet all day. She hasn’t let the kids come out.” I sigh. “She’s fucking scared, and it’s showing.”

“Dammit. This is what I was afraid of when you told me he called.” Valkyrie gives me a dark look. “When you find him, I want a piece.”

I shrug. “If there’s anything left of him when I’m done.”

Others would try to protect her, yapping about needing to preserve her delicate sensibilities.

If they don’t bother to look beneath her surface to see the darkness playing fucking peek-a-boo, that’s not my problem.

People need to understand that women can have monsters that writhe under their skin as much as men can.

Women can have a darkness that stalks their minds.

They should get the same opportunity to embrace it that we do. Equal opportunities and all that shit.

If Birdie needs her pound of flesh to purge the venomous toxin from her blood, I’ll deliver Frankie’s barely breathing carcass to her motherfucking feet.

Once Munch takes off, Valkyrie and I step inside.

Vortex is sitting on the couch with Legend, playing some shooter game.

Legend’s brows are drawn together, and he has his little lip tucked between his teeth as he concentrates on the screen.

When I glance at the TV and catch the scores, I peer at Vortex with lifted brows.

“Is my six-year-old kicking your ass, brother?”

“I’m almost seven, dad,” Legend mutters, keeping his eyes on his target.

My throat tightens at the reminder of how much time I’ve lost with them.

Fuck, is that ever going to get easier to accept?

Reaching out, I scrub my hand over his head. Most kids would jerk away with a scowl or some shit, but my boy leans into my touch and a smile creases his face.

“I know, little warrior. Vortex, when you finish this round, you can head on out. I appreciate you sitting with my family while I checked on the businesses.”

Legend lets out a whoop as he finally kills off Vortex’s character in the game.

Vortex holds his hand out for a high-five. “Good job, little dude. Rematch soon?”

“You betcha. A man has to stay on top of his game.”

I don’t bother hiding my smile, proud as fuck of my boy.

“The kid is definitely yours,” Vortex says with a laugh.

“Damn straight. Thanks again, brother.”

“Anytime.”

Valkyrie goes in search of her sister while I check in with Legend.

“How you doing, kid?”

Legend shrugs, his face losing its joy. “You promised Mama would be okay.”

“I know I did. Haven’t broken it, son. We have to accept that sometimes people just have some bad days, okay? Your mom is having a hard time with Frankie calling. I’m giving her space, but not much longer. She needs us as much as we need her. Where is she?”

He sighs. “She’s in the kitchen. Again .”

Valkyrie comes storming from the kitchen area with clenched fists. Anger lights each step she takes toward me, but it’s the pain in her eyes that captures me. It’s rare that Kyrie lets anyone see her hurt.

“Do something,” she pleads, her voice cracking. “She’s back to being fucking Eleanora .”

“She still in the kitchen?”

Valkyrie shakes her head. “She went into her bedroom.” She grimaces. “I wasn’t exactly nice with my words, but god, Pope, seeing her like that again after watching her slowly heal is killing me.”

“Legend, go grab your sister and go outside with your aunt. I’m going to check on your mom.

” I wait for him to leave the room before addressing Valkyrie again in a grim voice.

“Keep the kids out as long as you can because I have a feeling we’re going to have one hell of a breakthrough tonight.

I’m going to push her. It’s going to make me an asshole, but she needs to break and as long as she’s worried about them, she won’t. ”

“Why don’t I just take them with me to Manic’s? They can play with Ro.”

“She won’t be comfortable with them being out of her sight, but you know what? They’re my kids too and they’ll be with you. I won’t let her hide behind them tonight. Go grab them an overnight bag while I give them love.”

Valkyrie takes off upstairs and I head outside to where the twins are.

They’re sitting on the porch swing talking quietly to each other.

When they see me coming toward them, they separate enough for me to slide between them.

I curl my arms over their shoulders and tuck them into my chest. My foot sets the swing into motion as I gaze out over the property, just enjoying these few quiet minutes with my little humans.

It’s still unreal sometimes that I’m a fucking dad.

“You all are going with your aunt for the night.” Legend’s body tightens against my side, but I give him a reassuring squeeze. “I’m going to continue being honest with you. Your mama needs to break, kid. She won’t do that with you all around.”

Lovelyn leans back to look up at me. “You’ll take care of her?”

“Of course, my little Love.”

“And if she needs us, you’ll have Aunt Kyrie to bring us back?” Legend asks in his most serious tone.

“Absolutely.”

“Okay,” they say in unison.

“I won’t let you all down.” I hold up a pinky to both of them, waiting patiently for them to curl theirs around mine. When they do, I tighten my pinky around theirs. “Pinky promises with me are always solid. Hear?”

“Heard, Daddy,” Lovelyn says.

“Heard, Dad,” Legend acknowledges.

“I love you both.”

“I love you,” they reply in unison again.

That’s creepy as hell or fucking adorable, I haven’t figured out which yet. Birdie and Valkyrie used to do that shit all the time in the past and it fucked with me then, too.

Valkyrie walks out with a bag over each shoulder and smiles softly at us. “Ready?”

The twins and I climb from the swing, and they wrap their arms around me for a tight hug before rushing over to their aunt. Now that they have reassurance that their mama is going to be okay with me, they’re excited to go with her.

“Here. Take your bags to my car. I’ll be there in just a second.”

“Should we go tell Mama bye?” Lovelyn asks, chewing on her lip.

I shake my head. “No. I’m worried she’ll fight you all over leaving. I promise to have her call if she needs to. Does that work?”

They both nod before taking their bags from Valkyrie and running to the car.

“You’ll be careful with her?”

“I’m going to push her, Val.”

“I know. I don’t like it, but I don’t know what else we can do.”

“She’s in there. We’ve both seen it. Frankie sent her running again. Even if she hates me, I won’t let her be stuck as this version of herself any longer.”

Valkyrie sighs, rubbing her arms. “Unfortunately, I don’t think my sister could ever hate you, Pope. Even when you break her. Call or text me to let me know how she is later.”

I lean against the porch railing and watch them pile into the car. The twins wave from the backseat, and I lift my hand in return and smile. It drops from my face once they clear the gate, though.

My beard is abrasive against my palms as I scrub my hands over my face, preparing myself to face Birdie. Is this a good idea? Fuck, if I know. Am I going to push her, anyway? Yes.

It’s either going to break the shell she’s encased herself in again, or it’s going to destroy her further.

I don’t think I can live with myself if it’s the latter.

With a sigh, I straighten my posture, pull my hair to the top of my head, and then roll it along my shoulders.

I feel as if I’m preparing for war again.

And I am.

A battle I plan on winning.

For her heart.

For her fire.

For her love.