Page 44 of My Darling Mayhem

“Still might be enough to make the judge give you custody.”

That was true. Even if Saul was acquitted, it was enough to tie him up in questioning that the judge wouldn’t say yes.

“Make the call.” I jumped down from the edge of the truck bed and tossed my garbage in the burger bag. Cruz and Kanewere on the ground, drawing in chalk all over Wren’s driveaway. I was about to see if they were ready to return to the back and finish the fence when I heard a car approaching.

I looked up and saw a familiar Tesla.

What the fuck was Brian doing here?

When his car stopped, I saw Wren’s dark head of hair in the passenger seat as she started gathering her things. Brian jumped out of his side of the car and glared at me as he ran around to her side and opened her door.

There was something like electricity crackling in my chest; like any second, I was going to catch fire and burn down everything in front of me. Starting with that fucking Tesla. Brian smiled at Wren and held his hand out for her to take. I’d already cataloged how I’d break his fingers so he’d never be able to offer it to her again for any reason.

Trying to control my emotions, I made eye contact with Thistle, who knew my moods and understood what I was telling him because he called the boys to help in the backyard. They ran after him excitedly, probably hopeful it would be one of their turns to use the drill again.

Once they were in the back, my feet carried me to the Tesla.

As I rounded the car, I saw Wren still gathering her things, about to accept Brian’s hand. I was there first, so I dragged Brian by the shirt, which made him stumble back. That electric feeling lit up my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Why the fuck was she with him? Why was he here? Was she casually seeing him again?

There was no way.

Not after she’d ridden my cock through my jeans and begged me to fuck her last night. Not when I knew, deep down in my bones, that the fairy tale she talked about, she wanted with me. Maybe I was delusional, but fuck if I cared. I would be that manfor her, and there was absolutely no way that Brian would enter her life again.

“Hey, what the hell is your—” Brian started, but I took his place in front of Wren, offering her my hand.

She looked up at me, kicking one of her legs out of his car. As a silent moment passed between us, she placed her hand in mine.

But Brian was there again, and I didn’t see his fist coming as he sucker-punched me, which had me jolting to the side as he stood over me. “I’m really getting sick of you being here, you redneck motherfucker.”

Wren was out of the car instantly, holding her laptop bag, purse, and folders while her eyes blew wide.

“Brian!”

Gunner was over at my house and heard the commotion. I saw the second he registered it was me who’d been hit because his face twisted. He dropped the box of screws, pulling something from his pocket. I knew they were brass knuckles, and his stride to Wren’s house was brisk.

Shit. This was about to get out of hand.

Thistle knew what had just happened, too, but I didn’t need the club’s help with this prick. I held my jaw while Brian tried to go in for another punch, and before Gunner could approach, I turned, so when Brian went to hit me, his fist hit his car.

Gunner stopped, likely realizing that I was essentially fighting someone with the survival skills of a paperclip. I saw him smirk and shake his head as he headed back to my driveway.

“Brian, what the hell is your problem?” Wren yelled, but he was now on the ground, holding his hand.

I bent over, placing my hands on my knees. “If my brother and Cruz weren’t in the backyard, and Wren wasn’t standing right here, you would be headed to the hospital. You need to let that register. I have two members here with me. You attackedtheir president. They wouldn’t have stopped until you were on life support. You and me we have a problem. You keep trying to spend time with and even touch someone who isn’t yours.”

Brian glared up at me and scoffed. “She sure as fuck doesn’t belong to you.”

“Yet,” I snapped back at him, resisting the urge to stomp his ankle hard enough to snap it. “She will be, and until then, there isn’t a single man on this earth that will take that pleasure from me, and that includes giving her rides.”

“Her car broke down, I was helping.”

I tilted my head, knowing he shouldn’t have even been at her job and was probably harassing her. “Next time, call me. I’ll come get her.”

“Archer.” Wren let out a sigh, but I wasn’t going to mince words or not say exactly what I meant to this fucker.

“Do you understand me?” I asked Brian, making sure I had his full attention.

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