Unwritten Rules (Filthy Florida Alphas 3)

“You fucked with my head and it’s fucking with my—”

“Dick. Yeah, I got that the first time, old man. I just have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”

“Toi!” he growls. The others have been talking and laughing to that point; now everyone goes quiet. For me, suddenly everything clicks into place and I start to relax.

“How is my stepmother?”

“That shit right there! That’s it! She’s a kid! I can’t fuck her!”

“Sure you can.”

“She’s too damn young!”

“Do it to the tune of the Hokey Pokey. Put your dick right in, pull your dick right out. Shove it back in and move it all about,” I finish, and I hear Topper and Babs laughing, barely—because I’m laughing harder.

“Fucking prick. I didn’t beat you as a kid, that’s my biggest regret,” he growls.

“I’m just saying—”

“You’re saying too much.

“What’s the real problem here, old man?” I ask, when he drops to the ground looking miserable.

“I keep thinking about her.”

“Why is that wrong?”

“I’m too old for her and she’s… Fuck, I think she’s innocent.”

“Jesus. How old is she? Is she like sixteen?”

“No! Christ, I’m not that fucked up,” he grumbles.

“Is she legal?”

“She’s legal.” This comes from Ghost. I turn to look at him, because there’s a tone in his voice I can understand immediately. He’s sweet on this girl.

“Did you fuck her?” Marcum asks, getting up and except for a slight wobble, it’s like he’s not drunk. It’s almost as if his anger is burning through.

“If I did, then it’s none of your business. I won’t stand by and let you use her,” Ghost says and it’s been awhile since I’ve been in the life, but it takes guts for a man to stand up to Marcum like that.

“I’m not going to use her,” he growls.

“Then what are you going to do with her?” Ghost asks.

“Protect her,” Marcum mutters.

“Even from yourself?” Ghost asks, right before he walks away.

Ghost starts his truck up and leaves. The four of us are standing there and Marcum looks up at me, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen the man more torn up. I know he hasn’t been in this shape over a woman before. Christ. Tess was right the other night when she told me my father was going to fall hard. I think he already has.

“See what you’ve done, Maxwell?” Marcum asks me. I don’t get why he’s blaming me, but who knows with him. He’s never been in love before, and I remember from my days on the run with Tess that when a woman gets under your skin, she fucks up all your thoughts. “Motherfucker,” Marcum grumbles, walking toward the door.

Topper waves in the background, taking Babs with him toward his bike. I nod my head slightly in acknowledgment. Guess Marcum is my responsibility tonight.

“Later,” I mutter, standing back so Marcum can come inside. Marcum just stands there looking at me, completely lost. It’s not a look I like, so I react the one way I know will get his anger going. “Toi and Marcum sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” I smirk. Just as expected, my father comes walking towards me and before I can blink, he buries his fist into my stomach.

“Smartass motherfucker,” he growls, walking on in and leaving me gasping for breath.

He might be drunk off his ass, but he can still hit. I find I don’t care. It was more than worth it.18Toi“What the fuck?”

I awake with a jerk. My eyes open to find Marcum standing over my bed—a very upset and scary looking Marcum. I sit up quickly. Fear, shock and annoyance all war with one another, as they always seem to do when Marcum is around. When I glance at the bedside table, the clock says it’s almost 10:30.

Shit, I overslept. Still, it’s not any reason for him to look like he’s about ready to kill me.

“I overslept.” The words are raw—even more so than usual. I talked too much with Desi last night. That’s when memories of the night before come back to me and I look around the bed to find Desi. She’s sound asleep, curled up to my side. I smile down at her at once. And hug her gently, then I lean down to kiss the top of her head. I slide off the bed, looking sternly up at Marcum. “Outside, now,” I mouth.

He stands there staring, but when I walk around him he follows me to the door. I grab the pen and paper off my bedside table and, once we get out in the hall, I gently close the door.

“What the fuck is Desi doing in bed with you?” Marcum growls. His question surprises me. I knew he was upset, but why that should bother him, I don’t understand.

She was upset.

I write angrily and don’t bother trying to keep the anger off my face. It’s clear that Marcum and I are going to be enemies. I should have left last night, but I just couldn’t after Desi came to my room. I’m not sure I can now.