Rebirth (RAW Family 3)

The words choked the life out of me, and, lowering my head to her knee, I held her hand tightly like I was afraid she’d leave me and cried like a child.

I loved my wife. I loved her so much more than I loved myself. I loved her more than anything, even the woman with an ice-cold heart and cherry-red lips. And Twitch was right.

Ling wasn’t worth it, no matter what I felt for her.

My family came first.

I was stupid to have started what I had. I needed to end it.

Tomorrow, I would cease my affair.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Lexi

He crept into bed sometime before dawn, and when he shuffled closer and gently stroked my hair, I spoke into the darkness. “How’d it go?”

But, for the moment, he ignored me. “C’mere.”

I went willingly, needing to hear his heart beating, and when I laid my head on his chest and listened to the steady drumming of his heart, I relaxed into him, running a hand up and down his side with my eyes closed. “So?”

He hesitated a second before he spoke low. “Lost her only ally.” Good. His arms tightened around me. “Breakin’ down the stronghold, piece by piece.” Then he said through a yawn, “I don’t give a fuck how long it takes. You want her gone, baby—” His voice turned drowsy. “—she’s gone.”

It was a promise. He made a vow. Everything inside me told me he would keep us safe.

And like the idiot I was, I chose to believe that.

***

Molly

The text I received made my phone feel heavier than it should have.

I had just put the little monster to bed and knew I would have to respond, one way or another.

My heart raced.

Either way, I was screwed.

If I said yes, I was back in with the person whose family destroyed me.

If I said no, he was lost to me forever.

I held the phone in my hand as I walked the hall, finding him sitting on the floor in front of Lexi as she lay down on the sofa on her stomach, watching the TV and adorably running her fingers lightly through his hair. Twitch closed his eyes, loving her attentions, and they both looked tired. I hated to interrupt, but this was important.

Clearing my throat, I waited for him to open his eyes, and when he squinted up at me, I simply jerked my chin in the direction of my room, ignoring Lexi’s sudden uneasy stare.

I walked the hall, stood in the center of my room, and waited. He followed soon after, and when his imposing figure blocked my open doorway, I blurted out, “I need you to stay here tonight.”

His brow knitted. “Why?”

It was a reasonable question. I don’t know why it pissed me off so much.

On the defensive, I said, “I have a job tonight.”

That did not go down well. “I thought you were out.”

“I am,” I revealed, “but I owe this guy.”

“No,” Twitch uttered coldly. “You said it yourself. You owe me.” He looked me up and down. “You’re not goin’ anywhere, Molly.”

Fucking bullshit. “I’m not a child,” I seethed, my eyes wide with fury. My full lips curled. “I’m not your child. You can’t tell me what to do. Besides,” I added, “I’m only asking out of respect.” I ended on, “I’m going.”

He seemed to think on that, fighting the need to say something, tapping his hands on the doorframe a long moment before he held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

If this was the only way to get him to leave me alone, I’d deal. I unlocked the screen then handed him my phone.

He typed quickly, looking down at the screen, then muttered, “You get in trouble, you call this number. Someone will come for you.” I reached for my phone, but he held it out of reach. “I need you to remember your promise to me.” His dark stare held me in place. “You make sure you’re safe, and if you feel you’re not, you fucking call. Your life is important to me.” His words made my heart warm. But then he ruined it. “Your life is a tool. It is something I can use to keep my son safe, so make sure you come back in one piece, Molly. If you don’t—” His whiskey-smooth voice was deceptively calm. “—I will be very disappointed.”

I wanted my phone back, and he knew this because his lip twitched as I stared at the rectangular cell with a frown.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll leave soon.”

“Got everything you need?” He was talking weapons.

I nodded. “I’m all set.”

“You need a ride?”

For fuck’s sake. “No, Dad,” I drawled, getting annoyed. “I’m taking Big Red.”

“When are you coming back?”

Oh my God. It finally clicked.

He was stalling me for some reason, but why?

I was officially pissed.

I leant in, and hissed, “Give me my phone!”

He checked the screen a moment before he handed it over, and I scrolled through my contacts, locating the number he added.

I read it out loud, “911.” I followed on a chuckle.

He did not laugh. No.

He watched me closely. “Call it if you need to. Don’t be a hero. Your life is not yours to risk, Mo

lly.” He stepped out of my room and into the hallway. “It’s mine.”

As he walked away, my lip curled and I flipped him the bird.

The words he called back were highly amused. “Not nice.”

I sent the text.

Me: I’m in.

And then I waited.

A few moments later, I got a message back.

Tama: The warehouse. An hour.

Just like old times.

I dressed quickly in my black skinny jeans and a black spaghetti-strapped tank sans bra. It didn’t matter. I was petite as petite came. My boobs were barely existent. No one would even notice. Over the top, I wore a tight, long-sleeved, black lace number that did nothing to shield me from the cold. It was more a fashion statement. Finishing up my look, I put on my black hi-top Chucks that had definitely seen better days.

Reapplying my lipstick to the lips my sisters once called soup coolers, I checked my makeup and I was good to go.

Before I left my room, I slipped on my loaded holster and wore it openly. I wasn’t hiding anymore. Not from Lexi, not from anyone. As I made it into the family room, Lexi was standing, and when she looked down at the leg wrap I wore that housed my favorite hunting knife, her eyes widened a moment before she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped closer to me, placing her hands on my shoulders.

And what she said had me feeling things that made me uncomfortable.

“This house is only a home because of the people in it.” Lexi’s soft, maternal voice washed over me. “And it wouldn’t be the same without you. So, be smart and be safe.” I closed my eyes, and she touched her warm hand to my cheek. “Come back to us, Molly.”

I loved this woman. She reminded me of my mother.

“I will.” My tone was soft.

Without looking back, I made it out the back door and into the garage. When I turned on Big Red, she roared to life, shaking the walls of the interior with every rough rumble she spewed to let everyone know she lived.

Fuck. I loved this car.

I left then, and I didn’t know when I would be back.

But I planned on coming back.

To my family.