“Here’s the difference between us though,” Brielle’s voice drops dangerously, “I’m going to be the one who gets all the moments in the future. The first time she performs on stage because it’s something she loves. The first time someone breaks her heart.” I stiffen and Brielle’s hand slides down my arm to soothe me. “Prom and graduation. Her wedding,” her words are softer, but they don’t lose the force behind them. “You won’t be there because you’re too selfish and conniving to see what you threw away all because you didn’t get the meal ticket you were banking on.”
Shania doesn’t hear the important parts and scoffs, “Like you’re any better.”
Brielle shakes her head slowly. “I pity you,” she spits out the words.
Realizing she’s not getting anywhere engaging my woman, Shania tries to skirt around her to step closer to me. But she doesn’t get the chance because she’s stopped with a hand in the middle of her chest.
“No.”
Brielle doesn’t bark out the word. She doesn’t demand compliance. My woman simply says it like a pronouncement of fact.
And Shania has no choice but to stop.
“You can’t be serious about this, Everton,” my worst mistake whines.
My gaze hardens and she swallows hard. “I’m Cowboy to you, and you know it, Shania.”
Brielle makes a tsking sound and shakes her head in admonishment. I have to clench my jaw to stop myself from laughing.
I’ve never seen this side of her before, not really. She’s a guard dog and she’s clearly defined her territory. It’s as simple as that.
I only hope Shania doesn’t notice how hard I am because it sure as fuck has nothing to do with her. My woman, because she loves to taunt me and has noticed my issue, slides in front of me and presses her ass back against the bulge in my jeans. Biting back a groan is not easy, but I manage it as my hands find her hips and squeeze.
“Let me be clear. Brielle is my woman. Mine. She is Rian’s mom. They love each other and I have no doubt that Brielle will show up for my girl which is something you never did.” I tilt my head and ask again, “Why are you here?”
“She’s still my daughter,” she huffs out as if it’s enough of an answer.
As I study her, something dawns on me and my voice turns hard, “Is your rich husband throwing out the trash suddenly?”
Shania scoffs, but I see the truth flash in her eyes. “I just think we should finally be the family we should have been from the start.” Her eyes are pleading, but it’s fake. She’s fake. When I don’t react, she tries a different approach. “If you keep me from my daughter, she’ll hate you forever.”
“That’s it,” Brielle’s voice is a sword cutting through the room.
Before I even really know what’s happening, Brielle has gripped the back of Shania’s neck with one hand and her arm with the other. The way she leads the woman out is not nice, but it could be worse. I follow along closely, my entire focus on my woman.
The moment Rian comes into view, Shania starts to shriek. “You can’t do this to me. I want to see my daughter. You’re keeping her from me and poisoning her against me.”
“Shut up,” Brielle doesn’t have to shout to be heard. Sound seems to bend around her and the shrieks fall away, thankfully. When she looks at our girl, her steps pause for a moment.
My heart drops when I see the tears swimming in Rian’s eyes. I want to go and comfort her, but I can’t leave my woman alone with the harpy.
The elevator doors open and Brielle shoves Shania hard enough to make her stumble and have to catch herself against the wall. It’s extremely gratifying.
“Don’t come back. I’ll be adopting Rian as soon as possible. I don’t care if you try and fight it. I don’t care if you try and show your ass all over Vegas. It’ll happen and I’ll be the mom she knows she can always rely on,” Brielle doesn’t yell, she doesn’t have to.
There is certainty in every syllable and Shania hears it. The last thing we see is her face turning bright red while her mouth drops open. But any words she might want to spew are lost, thankfully.
I reach for Brielle, but she’s already on the move back toward Rian. Our girl is standing now, her presents temporarily forgotten, and I could kill Shania for showing up and pulling her bullshit. I never would have gone there, even if Brielle hadn’t come back into my life.
As much as I can feel that Brielle wants to reach for Rian, she doesn’t. “I’m sorry I had to do that, but I won’t let her hurt you,” Brielle’s words are jagged and filled with conviction.
“Don’t be sorry,” Rian’s words are small, but strong. She’s looking at Brielle like she’s the wind she can use to soar even higher, because she is. “I’ve never liked her,” she starts out slow but picks up speed. “She has only ever come around when she wanted something from Dad or wanted to make herself feel better. It was never about me. She never loved me.”
Brielle’s hands clench at her sides and my heart cracks open. I want to hold them both, but I know they need this. Fuck, I need this.
I’ve been holding myself and my daughter together for so long. My brothers help. They have my back. They would die or kill for Rian. Still, it’s not the same, even if I was willing to pretend for the rest of my life that it is.
Rian steps closer and wraps her arms around Brielle who doesn’t hesitate to hold her. “You love me though,” my daughter’s words ring true and seem to echo around the room, “and I love you. In my heart, you’re my mom.”
