Page 13 of Redemption

“I get it,” he says and places his hands in his pockets. “I was gone a lot. But I don’t like the fact you’re acting like you’re a single mother when you’re fucking married.”

Noah points at him. “No swearing at Mama!”

Her eyes widen and look down at her little man. “Noah-”

“No, Mama, that’s a bad word. No bad words to Mama.”

Ky holds back a laugh by disguising it terribly as a cough and turns away. Colt stares at him in shock. “What’d you just say?”

“You heard me. Be nice to Mama. She’s always nice to us. Even when we aren’t nice to her.”

“You’re telling your father what to do?” He kneels down in front of him and gives him a hard stare.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he stands tall in defiance. “I’m the man of the house, and it’s my job to protect Mama and baby Calla.”

“Noah Nash Nichols, you will respect me as your father.”

“Daddy, you will be nice to Mama.”

“Now you listen here-”

“Back off, Colt,” Lex says, her voice stronger than she’s felt in months. “Your issues are with me, not him. I’m tired, our daughter’s not exactly light these days, and I just want to go and get everyone fed and lie down to sleep.”

He stands and looks down at their son before looking at her. “Go back to the house. Let the kids sleep in their own beds.”

“No.”

“No? You’re so headstrong and stubborn that you’re willing to deprive our daughter of the comforts she’s used to when she just had an IV in her?”

The nerve of this man. “We’re not living in a cardboard box down by the river. Our children are not uncomfortable by any means. And yes, I’m going to stand by my word because you can’t keep yours. If I could trust you to stay away and not show up, I might consider it. But you won’t. And we need space.”

“Lex, what if I promise to make sure he stays at the clubhouse?” Ky offers.

He’s Colt’s best friend, but it still stings to know where his loyalties lie. “You’re going to chain him up to his bed in the apartment and take the key with you? There’s no way in hell you’re going to be able to keep him there.”

They eye Noah who has no issue with “hell.” Or at least his mother saying it.

“I won’t come by the house tonight, I promise.”

Laughing, she looks at the ceiling. “I wish you could understand that your word means nothing. Don’t you get it? You’ve made so many promises, and you’ve broken more than you’ve kept. If you’ve even kept any. I don’t believe a word you say for a second.”

“It’s for my kids. I’ll stay away to make sure they get a good night’s sleep. Regardless of what you think of me, I’m a good father. I’d die for these children.”

She lets out a deep breath to calm herself. This is not the time for this conversation. “I don’t question that you love them. And I know you’d take a bullet for either of them. It’s the rest of the things they need you can’t seem to commit to. That you just can’t do.”

“Just admit it. You think I’m a shitty father!”

“Stop it!” Noah shouts. “Leave Mama alone!”

“Noah, I swear to God, I’ll bend you over my knee right here.”

She steps in front of her son and shifting to hold Calla protectively against her chest. “No, the hell you won’t. Go, Colt. I didn’t want you for this exact reason. I need space. There needs to be a period of time where we don’t see each other or have contact with each other because I have a lot of shit to get squared away to figure out how exactly I move forward. You’re not willing to see things from any other perspective than the one your pride feels hurt by, so there’s nothing that will come out of any conversation. But so help me God, if you ever threaten our child again, I’ll take these kids away so fast.”

“You think you can take my kids away?” he growls. “That I won’t find you?”

Pointing up, she smirks, finally making eye contact with him. “Those cameras are all I need to get a restraining order and rights from a judge to disappear with these kids. Our marriage may be over, but I will fight you to the death for them if you make me. And Iwillwin. Trust me, it’s in your best interest to get your shit in line.”

Turning back to Ky, he steps backwards. “You’re threatening the entire club?”

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