Page 113 of Almost Paradise

The front door to the house opens, and Dan Foley rushes out. His steps come to a quick stop when he sees the cars and people in his driveway. He holds both hands up and says, “Lemme handle this.” He walks slowly to me, but one of my security guys steps between us and shakes his head at him. “Drake, she didn’t mean to—” he begins but shuts up when Bertram opens the door, and Scarlett comes out with both hands in the air. Tears stream down her face as she looks around until she sees her father.

“Daddy,” she chokes out.

“Scarlett, don’t say a word,” he warns as he tries to get around my security but can’t.

“I wasn’t going to hurt him,” she blurts out before she bursts into tears. An officer walks to her and she starts to sob. “No! Please, don’t. I didn’t mean to—” The rest of the words never leave her mouth. Nia runs to Scarlett and slaps her hard across the face. Stunned, Scarlett stands there, holding her cheek. Nia shoves her, and she stumbles back two steps.

“Get your hands off my daughter,” Dan yells. “Are you guys going to just stand there? Stop this! Scarlett, stop talking.”

“Are you going to do something?” Scarlett yells at the officers. “She assaulted me. Arrest her.” They look at Bertram who shakes his head at them. “Are you kidding me?” The words are barely out of her mouth when Nia smacks her again. She does it with the back of her left hand this time, and her ring cuts into Scarlett’s face. She screams in agony.

“Hit me back,” Nia taunts right before she pushes her to the ground. Scarlett falls like a ragdoll, and Nia jumps on top of her and straddles her. She slaps her again and Scarlett starts to sob uncontrollably.

“Get off!” Scarlett screams. She manages to land a hit to Nia’s ribcage. Nia lands one final smack to Scarlett’s face, and blood pools at the side of her mouth.

“Stop this now,” Dan says.

I reach Nia and pull her off Scarlett. “Let me go,” she hisses. “You can’t fight her, but I can. Let’s go, bitch.” She lunges at Scarlett who has finally gotten up. I lift her off her feet and carry her away.

“I would never hurt a child!” Scarlett yells. Her words come out muffled while she holds her hand over her face. Blood drips from between her fingers. I don’t respond. I do everything I can to hold onto Nia who’s doing her best to jump out of my arms and go after Scarlett again. “Don’t let them take me away,” she screams between her sobs. “Daddy, tell them I was never going to hurt him.” She turns to me and says, “I only wanted you to see—”

“Scarlett, shut your goddamn mouth,” her father warns. “Now!”

Bertram opens the door for me, and Jerry steps out.

“Let’s take our son home,” I whisper to Nia, who immediately calms. I put her down, but I make sure to block her with my body to prevent her from going after Scarlett again.

She gets in without hesitation, but I needn’t have worried. Nia always puts Carter first. Besides, Scarlett has problems other than Nia now. She’s being handcuffed while the officer speaks to her. He’s likely telling her her rights. She shakes her head as if the words pain her. As my car pulls away, I watch as tears continue to stream down her face.

Chapter 67

Nia

Hours later, Carter is unaware of the danger he was in. He’s unaware of any drama at all while he plays in the corner with his cousins. The three of them chase after the new puppy that Uncle Langley brought for Carter. The puppy he brought over here and handed to my three-year-old son without talking to me or Drake about it first. Carter and the boys have been chasing that poor poodle around for hours, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

Both our families are here. They got here soon after we did, and they haven’t left. There’s no tension because I think everyone has only been concerned about Carter. He’s gotten kissed and hugged by everyone, and he loves it, of course. Now, he’s so happy and distracted by Pixie, who is currently licking his face while he giggles.

“I’m the best uncle,” Langley says, clearly satisfied with himself. Ray overhears and tilts his head our way. I catch his eye and he mouths ‘like hell.’

“You can’t just give a three-year-old a dog without talking to his parents first,” I tell him. I expect Drake to say something, but he doesn’t say a word. He’s been quiet since we got home. After he held Carter to him for what felt like forever, he got up and locked himself in the bathroom for over an hour.

“Well, you wouldn’t let him have a phone, so I figured I was done asking for permission. What did Dad always say?” The air leaves the room, but Langley is oblivious. “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.” He cackles but quickly sobers up, probably realizing his faux pas. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay,” I reassure him. “He was your father.”

Carter and the boys come running into us. Carter crashes into Langley’s legs, and Pixie barks and puts his paws on Drake, who rubs behind her ears.

“Auntie, can you convince our dad to get us a dog?” Mason asks me. I look at Ray, who is shaking his head at me. Mason has been asking for a dog for a long time, and now that Carter has one, I don’t know how much longer he can put him off. “I wish I had a cool uncle like Uncle Langley,” he moans. “Our uncle is so boring.”

“Me too. Can you get us a dog?” Kyle asks Langley.

“Don’t even think about it,” Ray warns.

“Come on, boys,” Langley says, and they all chase after him.

“Look,” I tell Drake, “my parents and Audrey are talking to your mother and sister, and there’s no bloodshed.” He looks and smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. He looks tired. He looks like he’s only going through the motions. I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. He squeezes back, but it’s missing something.

An hour later, everyone leaves, including Mason and Kyle, who complained about leaving Pixie behind. I offered to have them spend the night, but they are spending the weekend with their maternal grandparents.

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