Rebirth (RAW Family 3)

Preach, honey.

“So, I became Mrs. Evander MacDiarmid. My husband is the don of Highland Steel, and,” she drawled, “he’s so fucking hot. I swear to God, all he needs to do is talk in that Scottish accent and I’m tearing my damn clothes off.”

Her admission was so unexpected that I laughed out loud, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Manda.” Dirty girl.

I liked this woman. She was pretty damn cool.

She grinned, and I saw so much of Twitch in it my heart panged. “Sorry. It’s been weeks and I miss him.”

Weeks?

Bitch, please.

I scoffed. “Try six years.” When she blinked in shock, my brows arched as I lifted my glass in cheers before downing the contents in one gulp.

Yeah. Take a seat.

“You never...?” She trailed off.

I shook my head, and spoke quietly, “No.”

“Why not?” Her brows furrowed in question.

Because I loved your brother so much it still hurts.

Because when I lost him, I lost myself.

Because when he told me I’d never want anyone else, I thought he was just being arrogant.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t.

“I don’t know,” I lied easily enough. “I guess being a mom just kept me busy.”

As we sat in the open air in a comfortable silence, Manda spoke and she did it gently. “You’ve got to talk to him, Lexi.” When I chanced a glance at her, she added, “If nothing more than for closure.”

I remained silent, sipping my wine, but after some time passed, I replied, “I know. I’m just not ready yet.”

Not a second passed, before she uttered, “He saved Ana’s life, you know.” At my confused glance, she nodded. “I was there.” Her eyes turned bleak. “She was dying and Tony saved her.”

Wait. Ana had lived in my home for months. She never mentioned this. “Did she know?”

“No.” Manda shook her head. “She does now. She’s grateful. Julius, even more so, even though he doesn’t want to admit it.” She peered over. “It’s only a matter of time before he’s accepted back into the fold by his brothers.” Why did that sound so foreboding? “I don’t know my brother like a sister should, but I’m getting there, and from what little I do know, I can guarantee you something, Lexi.” Her expression was grim. “He’s not going to give up his son.”

You know what? No.

I sat up tall, my back rigid. “He doesn’t have a choice on that front.”

Manda twisted her body to me, her eyes imploring. “Listen to yourself. Do you even know who you’re talking about here? We’re not talking about a regular guy trying to get partial custody over his kid. We’re talking Antonio ‘Twitch’ Falco. If you don’t give him something—” She let out a soft sigh. “—I’m concerned he’ll take it without asking.”

Okay. Maybe she did know a little about her brother. “I’ll deal with it.”

Soon after, Manda left, and as I sat alone in my bedroom, my anxiety rose when I pondered how long I would have before Twitch started to take without asking.

I didn’t know what time it was when the knock sounded at the door, but it was still dark out. Waking with a jolt, my heart thumped when the knock sounded again, this time louder than the last.

Sliding out of bed, I slipped on my Pikachu slippers and shrugged on my silken kimono before heading out my room and down the hall. I heard Molly approach from behind, and when I peered out of the frosted side window, I sighed at the familiar hooded shadow before opening the door. “Go awa—” The statement died on my lips when I spotted the bundle he was holding.

“You lose somethin’?” Twitch asked sleepily, holding A.J. in his arms.

My heart stopped.

I blinked in confusion, my lips parted, and when I reached out for him, Twitch pulled back.

Before I could think, I hissed, “Give me my son.”

His face darkened, and he cradled our sleeping son in his arms as he spoke low. “I know you’re pissed at me, and I deserve that, so I’m gonna let it fly the way you just threw an accusation at me. I know you’re mad, which is why I’m not gonna mention that my son somehow got out of his room, out of the safety of his fucking house in the middle of the night with two grown-ass women inside who are meant to be keeping him safe. I’m also not gonna mention how he crossed the street in the dark, where he could’ve been hit by a car or snatched up and taken away without a fucking trace.” Shit. He looked furious. I hated that he had a right to be. Without hesitation, he handed me my son and I held him close, shutting my eyes and breathing him in as I stroked his head and rocked him. And Twitch watched me closely. “I know you’re upset, and that’s why I’m not gonna mention any of that shit tonight.” He took a step back, away from me, but his eyes spoke volumes. “But tomorrow, we’re gonna talk.”

He turned and strode back across the street barefoot, wearing nothing but boxers and his hoodie, and my entire being hummed in fright, because there was no getting out of it.

Tomorrow, we would talk.

Dread had me on edge, and I was sure that was the only reason I did what I did that afternoon.

Coming home from work, I looked forward to seeing my little man after the stern talking to I’d given him that morning. Waking as I did the night before was the scariest thing I’d ever experienced in my life. Waking to find my child out of bed, knowing he’d slipped out of the back door and walked around the house to find his father in the middle of the night was a terrifying thought.

All the things that could’ve happened to him played in my mind on repeat, and I was ready to talk. Or so I thought.

So when I came home to an empty house, I started to panic. My feet took me from room to room and found A.J.’s schoolbag by his bed. My heart picked up pace. Molly always let me know if they were going somewhere, and after last night’s scare, I was petrified at the thought of where my son could be.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my cell, dialing Molly’s phone.

My brow lowered when I heard it ringing in the kitchen.

Oh, God.

My panic quadrupled.

Where are they?

My hands shook as I searched the house once more, including the back yard, and came up empty. By the time I was finished, stone-cold dread ate away at me. Taking my keys into my shaking hands,

I jogged down the hall and out of the house just as A.J. and Molly exited the house across the street. I don’t know what they were doing or why they were there, but immediately, I fumed.

They spotted me and Molly waved while Twitch kept a watchful eye on me.

My anger rose with every step, and by the time I reached them, I snatched my son’s hand out of Molly’s and held it tightly in mine then got into his father’s uneasy face. “I’m only going to tell you this once, Twitch. You stay away from us. From me. From A.J.” My voice rose. “You stay away.”

My heart was thumping so hard I could barely hear myself over the persistent thud. Without giving him a chance to respond, I all but dragged my son back home, and as he cried, my heart ached.

“No, Mummy. No!” My heart raced, as A.J. shouted, “Daddy, don’t leave again. I want to be with you!” When he screeched, “Daddy,” at the top of his lungs, I could hardly breathe.

I pulled my son into the house, and when the door closed behind us, I turned on Molly. “Where were you? I called and your phone is in the goddamn kitchen. What a shitty, irresponsible thing to do, Molly!”

Molly blinked in shock. I’d never spoken to her like that before. “We were there for five minutes, Lex. A.J. made something for his dad at school and couldn’t wait to take it over.” Her brow furrowed and her voice turned quiet. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”

I spoke over A.J.’s piercing cries. “Well, I do! Jesus, Molly. You scared the crap out of me.” My bravado started to fail. “Do you know how it felt to come home, no note, unable to call you after last night?” My voice cracked. “I was terrified.”

It hit her then, and Molly’s face fell. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”

“No, you didn’t,” I stated, walking A.J. into his room. When I knelt in front of him, gripped his upper arms, I spoke softly. “Honey, you can’t do that. You can’t just leave whenever you want. You have to ask Mommy.”

A.J. spoke through the tears. “I want Daddy.”