My heart broke for her. I knew calling Hughes had been the right move. I knew making sure we did this by the book would be the best move in the long run. My body was screaming to bust down the front door and take the little girl for Raven, but that was the wrong way to handle the situation.
“Ma’am, why don’t you come with me and we’ll see if we can get to the bottom of this.”
Hughes made his way around the car to Raven.
She gaped at me, gripping my hand for dear life.
“I’ll be waiting right here for you. Hughes will make this right.”
Leaning over, I kissed her forehead before popping open the door for her.
“Thank you.”
I watched from the driver’s seat as Hughes escorted Raven up to the house.
When I saw her ex, rage exploded. White-knuckling the steering wheel, I damned the yards between me and that front door.
I kept the windows of the car up, knowing hearing the conversation would only escalate my anger. Finally, Emma was jumping into Raven’s arms.
Raven ran her daughter to the car as quickly as she could, buckling her into the back seat.
Diving in after her, Raven hugged Emma to her chest.
Without question, I put the car in gear and started to drive away.
“He said…” Raven started to explain.
Holding my hand up, I stopped her. “Let’s just get Emma home and to bed. We will have plenty of time to talk about this after that.”
Looking back through the rearview, I could see Raven’s dark eyes locking on me. As she blinked away the tears, we settled into a calm understanding for the rest of the drive to Wyatt’s house.
* * *
I waited in the kitchen,sipping on three fingers of Wild Turkey while Raven calmed her daughter and put her down for the night.
Once she finally joined me, I poured her a glass and dragged out the seat next to me for her to collapse onto.
“I don’t even know what happened today,” she admitted, her head falling into her hands.
“What did your ex say when you and Hughes talked to him?” I didn’t know what to do with my hands. All I wanted to do was tuck her into my side and kiss away her distress.
What kind of pussy-ass feeling is this bullshit?
“He said he is going to fight for custody. He believes Emma is better off with him.” She was blubbering again.
“Drink.” I forced the rocks glass into her hand. “Quiet those nerves a bit.”
“What’s happening with Wyatt?” she questioned through sniffles.
“Hughes is on it. Since Wyatt has a permit for that gun, he should be out in the morning.” Brushing the long bang that fell into Raven’s face behind her ear, I let my fingertips linger on her face for a second. “He’s going to be fine. A night in the slammer might even do him a bit of good.”
She forced a laugh at my ill-timed joke. “Maybe.” She paused for a moment. “You probably need to get back to the bar.” Raven cocked her head to the side, looking at me with bloodshot eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere until Wyatt is home. I am not about to leave you and Emma alone while your ex is out there being a piece of shit.”
“I just don’t understand what changed. Everything seemed to be fine with our arrangement until today. I’ve even been getting along with his slut of a wife.”
I leaned back, running my thumb over the rim of my glass. As my eyes darted from the dark liquor to Raven, it clicked. “The bar.”
