I let out my breath.
Nate started. “I hate you. I will always hate you. You didn’t once try to contact me and tell me what the fuck was going on.” Tillie went to open her mouth but his hand flew up to silence her, just then I noticed Tate and Daemon sink into the background. “I’m not finished. I fucking hate you, Tillie. More than I’ve ever hated anyone, and for as long as you live I am going to make your life a living fucking hell, and hey...” His eyes dropped down to Micaela before coming back to Tillie with a sadistic smirk on his face. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for at least eighteen years.” Then he took the baby from Tillie who was visibly shaking as tears rushed out of her. As soon as Micaela was in Nate’s arms, he coos sweetly at her. As if he didn’t just verbally annihilate the woman who gave him his daughter. I get his anger, I understand why, but I’m still fuming for my best friend.
“Nate!” I snapped at him.
He was mouthing “shhh” with a smile on his face as Micaela curled her little hand around his finger. “What, sis?”
I stared at him in disappointment, and when I opened my mouth to cuss him out, I came out flat. Exhaling, I shook my head. “I’m disappointed.”
“And I don’t care,” Nate responded, taking Micaela out of the room.
My eyes flew to Bishop who was watching me carefully. “Give him time, baby. It’s a lot to take in, and with all the circumstances around it.”
I rested my head on his shoulder and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Mom’s going to take you all somewhere safe. She’s shooting her movie right now and I think it’s the safest place you could be because Katsia wouldn’t expect it.”
“Why would she not expect it?” I mumbled into his shirt.
“Because I hate all of Bishop’s girls,” she shrugged, putting a grape into her mouth. She’s such a fucking queen.
I giggled.
Then I pushed off Bishop’s shoulder. “Promise me a couple of things?”
Bishop moved my hair out of my face.
“First one, is don’t die.”
He threw his head back in a laugh. I punched him in the shoulder. “I’m serious.”
“Ow.” His laughter died out, rubbing the spot I just assaulted. “Okay, next thing?”
“Look after Daemon, please…” My heart ached as the words left my mouth. The thought of Daemon being in the line of any danger was enough to not only make me sick but have my head spinning and bile rising in my throat.
Bishop sobered. “Done. Anything else?”
“Kick Nate’s ass and drill some sense into him.”
He laughed again. “Can’t promise that, but I’ll try.”
“Hunter and Jase…”
“Baby, no one is dying under my time. I promise you this…”
I relaxed, my shoulders falling. “Ok. I feel better.”
“Good, because the car’s here to pick you up. Don’t miss my texts or my phone calls, and I want a song a day added to the playlist while you’re gone. Deal?” he asked, an eyebrow quirked.
I smiled, my arms flying around his neck. I leaped up onto him, my legs latching around his waist. “Promise.” I kissed him, and then I kissed him another hundred times.
“Madison, honey, I love you, but I don’t want to see this…” Scarlet said, hustling out the door. I was still pressing kisses to Bishop’s lips when he started walking us toward the front door.
“Kitty, maybe we should start calling you Koala.”
I flipped Nate off while squeezing Bishop. When we reached the door, I dropped down and Bishop hitched his thumb over his shoulder. “I need to show you your present before you leave, so I’ll be back in five.”
I nodded, watching Bishop’s retreating back. Daemon came into view and my smile dropped. I walked to him, my hands lacing with his. “Daemon?”
“Yes?”
“Please look after yourself.”
A sad smile pulled over his mouth as he took me into a hard hug. “Always.”
Tears threatened to surface. I hate that we haven’t had a smooth run of getting to really know each other, but it has always just been easy instinct when it came to him and I. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Madison.” My throat throbbed and my eyes welled with tears again. For Daemon to say that meant everything to me because not only was he void of emotions, but he—apparently—had a demonic case of schizophrenia.
“Alright, baby, come here.” Bishop walked back into the foyer. My eyes shot up to him. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”
He chuckled. “That’s cute.” Then pulled me under his arm. “I’ll see you on the day, no doubt, but I wanted to give you your present now.”
“How come?” I asked, snuggling under his arm as he led us outside.
“Because it’s fucking over the top,” Nate muttered, following behind us to go to Tillie. We headed toward the garage where all our cars were. It looked more like a show-car garage because the entire front—including the door—was glass. The cars were always parked neatly in their homes. It was my dad’s thing. He loved cars. Bishop opened the garage door as if this was his house. I shivered.
“Bishop, why—” the door opened and in front of me flashed a pastel teal colored Lamborghini. I gasped. “Holy shit!” My hand flew to cover my mouth as my legs slowly carried me toward it. “Is this mine?” I squealed in excitement. “Bishop! I love it, and I love you, but this is too much! Most people just get roses or something…”
He walked toward me and wrapped me in his arms. Kissing me softly on the top of my head, he whispered, “You’re not a most people kinda girl. You’re my people.”
I looked up at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Thank you, I love it so much.”
He handed me the keys. “Go take a look before you have to leave. I got everything custom. The paint job and the interior is all custom.” I walked around the side, it was so beautiful I was at a loss for words. It had black tinted windows and black mag wheels. It also sat so low to the ground. The teal color was a splash of sass on a car you would take seriously—my favorite color. I slid up the doors and took in the inside. Black leather encased the seats with bits of teal in little nooks and crannies. The steering wheel was teal too. The rich smell of leather and fresh rubber told me this was new.
“No words.” I shook my head, shutting the door and turning to face him again.
“Your mother-in-law is cracking the whip, Mads—” Tate rounded the garage and paused when she saw the car.
“Oh yaaaasss!” She clicked her fingers. “Oh my fuck! This is perfect! Girls trips…” She jumped in the spot.
Bishop rolled his eyes, leading us out the garage and back to the limo that was awaiting us.
“Mom…” he warned, leaning into the window. I climbed in behind him. Nate closed the trunk and tapped it.
“Packed some good panties in there, sis.”
Bishop glared at him, and then came back to me. “Behave yourself, baby.”
I offered him a smile. “I will.”
“She won’t.” Scarlet was fast becoming one of my most favorite people.
“Mom…” Bishop warned again, his eyes staying on me.
“Oh calm down, Bishop. I’ll take good care of her.”
He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “See you soon.” Then shut the door, stepping backward as the limo pulled away.
“Yeah,” I cleared my throat. “See you soon.”
“Everything is going to be fine, sweetheart.” Scarlet patted my leg.
I smiled, looking out the window. I wasn’t sold on if this was going to be fine. I had just left a whole bunch of guys that I love to fight a battle, while I went off and hid. It felt wrong and went against everything I stood for. Every fiber of my being was screaming to jump from this car and run back to them. I didn’t want to run. I understood why Tillie and Tatum did, but not me. What if something happened to Bishop. My heart cracked in my chest and sweat broke out over my flesh. I needed to squash all thoughts that involved Bishop in harm’s way. Or any of them, for that matter.