“I knew that following that brat would save me the time to look for you.”
That voice—that I know so well and had hoped never to hear again—stops me cold. Even if I tell myself in the time it takes me to turn around that he can’t be there, I’m sure without even taking a glance at his face that my worst nightmare is right next to me.
I wish with all my being to be wrong, but when I do turn, my worst nightmare is here, hovering over me.
“Boy, what are you doing here?” His tone implies he’s happy to see me, but the look in his eyes tells a different story. It’s a promise that I’m going to pay for running away.
His calling me that makes my skin crawl and my stomach heave. So different from when Haden calls meboy. When he does, my skin tingles, my heart quivers, and my dick hardens.
“I’m having a coffee,” I say, turning my body towards him and ignoring Arianna. I want his attention on me and not on her.
“Don’t be a brat. You know what happens to them, don’t you?”
“It couldn’t be worse than having to deal with you.” I’m not sure where all this strength is coming from. Or I just have a death wish.
“I should have beaten more sense into you.”
“I need to go,” I say, standing up and pulling the pushchair with me. He moves in front of me to stop me, and then he leans down to look at Arianna. When I try to step in he pushes me away, unstraps Arianna, and pulls her up.
Dick looks at me while holding Arianna up by her armpit, and seeing him abusing a baby… my baby… makes my blood boil. He shouldn’t be touching her with those filthy hands. I hate his devilish smile exuding confidence that I’ll do what he wants. But those times are long gone, because now I have something important to me, more important than running away from myself.
I act without stopping or thinking. I rush towards him with the intention of taking Arianna back. “Give me my baby back.” I scream so loud my ears ring and Arianna joins me with the loud crying.
The noises around me increase, and I keep screaming while I try to take Arianna away from him. If something happens to her,Haden will be devastated, and it’ll be all my fault. I can’t have that happening.
“Give her back.”
He doesn’t listen to me, and when I go to grab her, he pulls her against his chest and uses his hand to keep me away. Then he grabs Arianna by the back of her snowsuit, and looks at me as if he’s daring me to take another step.
I stop because his intentions are clear on his face, and I hate when he says his next words.
“Do you want me to drop her?”
I scream, and then an inconsolable sobbing comes from Arianna, and I snap.
“If something happens to her,” I bark. “I promise I’ll kill you.”
Something I can’t recognise passes over his face, and I let out a sigh of relief when he gives Arianna back to me.
I check her, trying to understand if she’s hurt, but as soon as she’s in my arms she stops crying, and I relax a tiny bit.
“Where is my money?”
“I don’t owe you any money.” My words are like the hiss before the attack.
More people surround us, making Dick uncomfortable. He might have been able to smack me and Jeremy around, but he can’t do anything now with so many people around.
He points a finger at me, and walking backwards, he says, “Bring the money, and bring yourself back. I have customers who miss that tight arse of yours.” Another threatening wiggle of his fingers, before giving me an ultimatum. “I want you back.”
“I’ll bring you the money and you let Jeremy and me go.”
Dick scoffs and I want to hit him until we’re free. Instead, I beg. I do it because I have people I want to protect, especially the one now in my arms.
“I can give you more.” And I’m glad when his eyes show his interest in my proposal.
He comes closer and there’s nowhere I can go to escape. “You’ll get me the money and I’ll keep your friend as insurance. That’ll convince you to keep your word.”
I don’t want to trade Jeremy with myself. Deep inside, my gut is telling me to get Jerr and disappear with him. Run away so Dick can’t get to us.
