Page 140 of 12 Months of Mayhem

Meredith’s laugh is sharp and brittle. “I don’t need anything from you. Rex, on the other hand.”

“You help me, and I’ll give you the kids back. Plain and simple,” Meredith says, dripping with venom. Her blue eyes, so similar to Birdie’s, but far more cold and calculating.

Rex’s fists clenching at his sides. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think—”

“Rex,” I cut him off. Our eyes meet, and I see the conflict raging within him. He wants to lash out, to solve this with his fists like he’s done so many times before. But we both know that’s not an option.

I turn back to Meredith, forcing myself to stay calm. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to say. “Okay, Meredith,” I say, my tone steadier than I feel. “We’ll help you. But under one condition.”

Meredith’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “What condition?”

The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I force them out. “You sign away your parental rights.”

The shop falls eerily silent. I can hear the muffled sounds of the celebration outside, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air around us.

Meredith’s face contorts with rage. “You bitch,” she spits. “You can’t do that. You can’t take my rights away!”

I stand my ground, even as another contraction hits. “I’m not taking anything away. I’m asking you to give them up. Willingly. You want something from Rex? Fine. But this is my price.”

Meredith’s grip on the children tightens, making both Beaux and Birdie cry out. The sound cuts through me, but I force myself to remain steady.

“You don’t deserve them,” Meredith hisses, her eyes wild. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you? Little Miss Perfect with your bike shop and your biker gang.”

I laugh, the sound harsh and bitter. “Better than you? I’m six months pregnant, in labor, and ready to rip your throat out with my bare hands. I’m far from perfect. But at least I’ve never used my children as bargaining chips.”

Meredith’s face twists with rage, but before she can respond, Rex steps forward. “Enough. This ends now, Meredith. Sign the papers, and I’ll do what you want. But if you hurt one hair on their heads, I swear to God there won’t be a place on this earth where you can hide from me.”

For a moment, the only sound in the shop is the heavy breathing of everyone present. Then, slowly, Meredith’s grip on the children loosens. Her eyes dart between Rex and me, weighing her options.

“Fine,” she grits out. “I’ll sign.”

Relief floods through me. But I can’t relax yet. Not until my babies are safe in my arms.

“Tinsley,” I declare. “Can you draw something up? I want her signature on something right now. We can file it with the courts later. “

Tinsley nods, her heels clicking on the floor as she rushes to the back office. The tension in the room is palpable, everyone holding their breath, waiting.

Beaux, my brave little boy, speaks up. “Mom? Are you okay?”

I force a smile, trying to keep the pain from showing on my face. “I’m fine, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”

Tinsley returns with a stack of papers, her hands shaking slightly as she places them on the counter. Rex moves forward, his eyes never leaving Meredith as he grabs a pen.

“You first,” he demands, holding out the pen to Meredith.

For a moment, I think she might refuse. Her face contorts, a war of emotions playing across her features. But then, with a roar of aggravation, she snatches the pen from Rex’s hand.

“You’ll regret this,” she hisses as she scrawls her signature across the bottom of the page.

“I doubt it,” he huffs.

“There. It’s done.”

As soon as Meredith’s pen leaves the paper, Rex moves with lightning speed. He grabs Beaux and Birdie, yanking them away from Meredith’s grasp and pushing them behind him. In an instant, Cheyenne and Maya are there, ushering the kids towards me.

“Remy!” Birdie cries, her little arms outstretched.

This time, I really do fall to my knees, ignoring the pain shooting through my body as I gather my children into my arms. Tears stream down my face as I hold them close, breathing in their familiar scents.

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