My heart hammering in my chest I leaned against the door making sure to lock it. A sigh fell from my lips as I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t need for the cops to be sniffing round again.
Not at my house and not at my workplace.
Placing Everleigh onto the sofa I grabbed her blanket placing it over her. The last thing we needed was for this to happen. Phone in hand I headed towards the kitchen taking a seat at the table.
It would have been nice if he gave me a heads up about the cops. Shaking my head I ran a hand down my face. Unlocking my phone, I brought up his number just as there was a knock on the front door.
“Open up Ava”.
Rushing towards the door I pulled it open letting him inside. “The fucking cops Jared. I can’t do this again. I fucking lied, lied to save his ass. What if they-..”.
“I fucking know Ava. I was parked down the street when they got here. You don’t need to worry”.
“How can you say I don’t need to worry?”. I frowned. “I have a bad feeling about this Jared”.
“They have nothing on him and if the shit hits the fan, then a prospect will take the hit”.
“Really?”. I glared. “Where is he just now?”.
“Clubhouse with your old man”. He followed me into the kitchen lighting up a smoke as he pulled open the back door.
“Why didn’t he come?”.
“With the cops sniffing around. Really Ava?”.
“Right”. I Huffed.
“They don’t have anything on him sweetheart and if they did, they would have already arrested him”.
“I had to lie Jared. He didn’t give me a heads up or nothing. He just assumed I would say he was with me”.
“You’re his old lady Ava. It’s what you do”.
“He could have at least told me”. I muttered. “I don’t need the cops sniffing around my home. I could only see this going one way. Him ending up in jail and me bringing up two kids on my own.
“They won’t be sniffing round no more”.
“And what if they come back or worse what if they show up at the hospital”. I didn’t need this; we didn’t need this. “He’s going to end up in jail”.
“Hey”. He snapped. “You’re thinking way too much into this. He’s not going to jail. We won’t let that happen”.
“There’s only so much he can get away with before it all catches up with him. Maybe it’s best he stays at the clubhouse. That way he’s out the way”.
“Just let it play out and besides if he goes to jail you’ve still got me”. He winked.
“That’s not funny”. I chewed the inside of my cheek. “We have another kid coming Jared. I don’t want to do this on my own again”.
He rolled his eyes as he flicked his cigarette to the ground and closed the back door. “You need to chill out and stop thinking the worst. And just so you know you’re never on your own Ava”.
“Fine”. There wasn’t anything I could do anyway and stressing about it wasn’t doing me or the baby any good.
“Thought she was staying with Blaze tonight?”.
“I don’t think the clubhouse is the best place for her right now”. They had visitors and god knows how long they were going to be here for.
“Marco?”. He grinned.
“Bingo”. I fixed myself some tea. “And besides all they do is drink for days. Tell me how she can sleep through all that”.
He shrugged. “I gotta get back to the clubhouse. You need anything before I leave?”.
“No”.
“You need me to tell him anything?”.
“No”.
“Ava”.
“Bye Jared”.
…..
Everleigh was tucked up in bed and had been since 7 o’clock. I was caught up on all my washing and was now sat on the sofa watching crappy tv.
My mind wouldn’t shut off and you have no idea what I would do for a glass of wine and a cigarette right now. Grabbing my phone off the coffee table I jumped when it started vibrating in my hand.
Blaze.
So much for bringing me dinner.
“Hello?”.
“You alight?”.
“Fine”.
“And Everleigh?”.
“In bed”.
“Look babe-…”.
“I can’t do this again. I can’t go about everyday thinking this is going to be the day you get sent to jail”.
“That’s not gonna happen Ava. They don’t have anything on me”.
“And what if that guy wakes up? Did he recognise you?”.
“Cops have been trying to nail me for years sweets and I’m still here”.
“You’re not fucking untouchable Blaze”.
A laugh fell from his lips. “Maybe not darling but I seem to be doing all right. How about you come over here”.
You know what if he wasn’t bothered then why should I.
“Babe?”.
“I think you staying at the clubhouse is a good idea. I think a break is exactly what we need”.
“When the fuck did, I say anything about a break?”.
I swallowed the lump that appeared in the back of my throat. I wanted him home; I wanted him here, but I had to think of our children.
“I’m not having the cops invading Everleigh’s life Blaze. You said yourself it’s best you stay at the clubhouse”.
“Fine fuck it. If that’s what you want”.
The line went dead.
I had to put Everleigh first. I would not allow her to get mixed up in this.
I expected him to come home, expected him to burst through the door in all his blazing glory but he didn’t. Making sure the doors were locked I turned off the lights and headed upstairs.
I wasn’t tired but I had nothing better to do than go to bed and try and get an early night.
That didn’t happen.
I was settled for the night with the tv on when I heard the roar of a bike. Glancing at the clock I muted the sound on the tv before getting out of bed. Before heading downstairs, I poked my head into Everleigh’s room to make sure she was still asleep.
Reaching the front door, I unlocked it and pulled it open. He was still sat on his bike, his engine off and a smoke hanging from his mouth.
“It’s late”.
“We ain’t taking a break babe”.
Rolling my eyes I stuck my feet into my slippers before stepping outside. “It’s not as if we’re living together anyway. Your decision not mine”.
Even in the dark I could see his glare. “We ain’t fucking doing this Ava. We ain’t taking a break, we ain’t splitting up our family”.
“You should have thought about that before-…”. The words stuck in my throat as he got off his bike and stormed towards me. “Put me down”. I yelled as he threw me over his shoulder. “I’m pregnant reme-…”.
Smack….
His hand landed against my ass cheek a hiss falling from my lips at the sting it left.
“Blaze, I swear if you wake-…”. He dropped me onto the couch as he walked into the kitchen. I was quick to follow him.
“We ain’t taking a fucking break”.
“And if you go to fucking jail?”. I pushed his chest. “What then?”.
“I ain’t going to jail Ava. They ain’t got shit on me. How many times do I have to say it”. He took a beer from the fridge. “If they did, I’d already be sitting in county”.
I grit my teeth. “The only reason you aren’t is because I gave them an alibi”.
“As you should”. He smirked. “You’re gonna be my wife darling”.
“Wipe that smirk off your face Blaze. This isn’t funny, nothing about this situation is funny. I’m not raising two kids on my own”.
“I ain’t going to fucking jail”. He slammed his fist off the counter causing me to jump and it didn’t go unnoticed. “Look I’m sorry-…”.
“I don’t want to do it on my own again”. I whispered.
“Babe”.
“I lied to the cops and clearly, they saw right through it. I didn’t want to lie but the words were out before I could stop them”.
“I didn’t ask you to lie”. The tone in his voice changed. “Should have told them the truth”.
“Yeah, because I want to see the father of my kids locked up”.
Dipping his hand into his cut pocket he pulled out a pack of smokes taking one from the packet. “You don’t need to worry. It’s being handled”. As he went to walk past me my hand shot out gripping his arm.
“I need you here”. I whispered. “I need you to be in our life’s. We need you”.
“Baby I ain’t going nowhere”. He slipped his other arm around my waist as he leaned his forehead against mine.
“You’re sure they have nothing on you?”. I asked.
“Positive”. He brushed his nose against mine before placing a kiss on my forehead.