Page 46 of Judge
“Well well well, what do we have here? Is this big lump harassing you?” Pops teases from a camp chair he’s set up directly outside the trailer.
“Dunno, Sid, looks like two happy younguns to me,” Mad Dog adds from his matching chair, sunglasses covering his eyes.
“Is there a reason you boys are hanging around out here?” Kaia asks.
“Nope,” Pops grins, leaning his head back, eyes closed. “Just taking in the rays.”
Placing my hand on Kaia’s lower back we move past the old boys. Mad Dog gives me a grin and a thumbs up, while Pops flips me the bird. I feel the overwhelming urge to tip his chair over, with his old ass in it, but as annoying as he is, he helped get me out of my head, and bring Kaia and I closer together.
Kaia grins up at me and for the first time in a long time, I feel at total peace.
Kaia
“You two better be ready otherwise I’ll be leaving your asses behind!” I growl low so only the twins can hear me.
They’re meant to be done with their chores at the diner, which only consists of them rolling the cutlery into napkins, but instead of doing their job, they’ve been slacking. Jax talking to some girls his age, and Annie sending glares to Chelsea Master’s ginger kid.
“We’ll be done in a minute!” Annie says, not taking her gaze off that Liam kid.
I roll my eyes and send Leo a message that we’ll be running a little late. I’m sure he won’t mind. The DRMC party is bound to run late anyway, given that tonight is the night that the Landrys, Gus and Jules are meant to be getting their cuts. It’ll also be the night that Leo and I tell the kids that we are dating. I guess that’s what we’re calling it. I’m not actually too sure what we are calling this. He calls me his, and I guess in some way I always have been. Thinking back I don’t think I’ve ever had this level of connection, both sexually, and emotionally with anyone.
“Hello, Kaia.”
I freeze in place, my stomach dropping. No, it can’t be. He isn’t meant to be out for another two years. The courts would have told me, someone would have told me.
“Aren’t you going to look at me, you little bitch? Thought I wouldn’t find you? Well, guess again.”
My eyes dart toward the kids who are blissfully unaware the fucker is here, inourdiner. Turning slowly, I’m met with the black soulless eyes of the man who ruined my family.
“Seth.”
“You owe me six fucking years, and Iwillget them out of you. Either in money, or flesh. Yours or Annie’s, doesn’t matter.” He licks my earlobe and a shudder runs through my body.
It takes all my strength not to vomit in my mouth, but I manage it. He leans even closer and my hand strikes, gripping his balls as hard as I can and twisting my wrist.
“You come anywhere near my kids and I will fucking gut you. You hear me? I. Will. Gut. You. I’m not that weak, sad woman you turned me into anymore. I have fucking claws and I’m not afraid to use them.” I hold his eye contact, watching as his face turns from red to a dangerous blue tinge from where I’ve stolen his breath from my hold on him.
I wait until his eyes start to roll back before I shove him away from me, releasing his balls as he crumples to the floor. Luckily I’m standing behind the counter, so my customers are none the wiser.
“You’ll fucking pay for that, you bitch,” he snarls, retching as he grips his balls protectively.
Annie spins in her seat and gives me a thumbs up, letting me know she and her brother are ready to go, finally. I smile and tip my head toward the door. Once I see her and her brother are out of the diner safely, I squat next to the man at my feet.
“Bring it on, you piece of shit. I’ll be waiting.” With that I turn on my heel, leaving through the back door.
“Come on, Mom. Weren’t you the one waiting on us?” Jax says with a smirk.
“Yeah yeah, just get in,” I tease, all the while mindful to check over my shoulder. I can’t believe my past found us. All I know is that history is not going to repeat itself.
* * *
“Yo, you OK, Little Mama?” Leo asks, pulling me into his side. He presses a kiss to my head and I soak up his warmth.
“I’m OK, just had a day, is all.” My eyes meet my son’s across the dancefloor that the DRMC has set up for the celebration. Jax’s gaze moves to Leo, then back to mine and then he’s moving. Beelining through the dancing couples.
He comes to the stop in front of us, looking from me to Leo. As if joined by ESP alone, Annie pops up out of nowhere to take her place next to her brother.
“Oh, is this what I think it is?” Her eyes are wide, and I can tell by her little shimmy that she wants to clap her hands for us. Not for the first time I realize that she’s probably going to grow up to be a Mira-type person. Full of glitter and sparkles and excitement and joy.
