“You’re pushing it, Ken!” Coop said teasing her, knowing she hated that name. Kicking his shin, she stomped back into the house. “Shit!” He exclaimed.
Laughing at their juvenile teasing, Keeley called Rowdy in and started cleaning up the living room and kitchen, before saying good night and going to bed, knowing Dane and Coop would find their own place to sleep.
The following morning after the guys checked things over in the light of day, and the girls had gone home, she started cleaning the house and getting things ready for when Nathaniel and Tyler came home on Sunday.
Hearing a car door slam outside had her slightly confused. Heading to the front door with Rowdy following close behind, she opened it and was startled when the dog started growling and baring his teeth. Looking up she saw who it was; definitely not someone she expected to see ever again.
Before she had a chance to grab Rowdy, and go back inside and shut the door, a gun was pulled out and leveled at her chest. Freezing from shock and fear, she didn’t know what to do.
“You thought you could just live a happy life, after everything you’ve done to me you ungrateful bitch?” The person snarled at her menacingly, walking closer, only stopping when Rowdy let out a loud, ferocious bark.
Chapter 17
Shock at seeing her father again, held Keeley immobile with fear. “What are you doing here?” She asked. “You kicked me out.”
“You’re such an ungrateful cunt,” he retorted. “You think you deserve all this, after the hell your mother and I put up with when she had you.” Mack was waving his hand around, indicating her surroundings. “Do you know how many times we had to move because you just couldn’t stop whining and crying about your punishments? Hell, we had to move clear across the country and change our names, when your stupid bitch of a grandmother wouldn’t let shit go. Dumb old hag couldn’t just fucking die.” Keeley could hear the slurring of his words now.
Not wanting to say anything to anger him further, she stood there trying to come up with a plan, wishing Nathaniel and Tyler were here with her now. Or even Dane and Coop. When Rowdy started growling again, she looked at him to see his gaze fixed on the woods. Watching where he was, she felt a huge sense of relief when she recognized Nathaniel’s bulky form moving along the tree line.
Knowing she had to distract her father, she slowly started walking down the steps, with Rowdy matching each one. Gaining his attention once again, she did something she never thought she would do, and yelled at her father, telling him what she thought of him and her mother. “It’s your fault, you know,” she antagonized. “You guys didn’t have to have me. Hell, you could have given me up for adoption for all I would have cared. Anything would have been better than having the stigma of being Mack and Judy Stone’s child. It was horrifying that people knew I was the product of you two. I hated my life. I wished for you to kill me, so many times. But you know what? I’m glad you didn’t, because now…,” pausing to take a breath she continued, “now I get to live the life I deserved, with two men who love me and show me that love daily. Knowing I’m better than you gives me such relief. And when I do have kids, because I will have a bunch, they’ll never even know you exist. They’ll know the love of what a REAL parent is like.” Emphasizing her point she put both hands to her stomach, implying she could be pregnant now.
“You bitch! You always thought you were better than everyone, but you’re no better than the scum-filled whorehouse you were conceived in. Tell me something, Keeley,” he sneered her name like it was filth. “Do your men know you were born addicted to crack? Do they know you’re just as worthless now as you were at birth?” He lied.
Seeing Nathaniel pause, she knew he was shocked to learn that her parents really did hate her. “What you fail to remember Mack, is that I am better than you. And you’ll have to live with that for the rest of your life. I fucking hate you, but after today you will no longer be a speck on my radar. I will never think of you again,” she told him and turned, knowing Tyler and Nathaniel had her back. Tensing when she heard the crack of a gun, Keeley expected to feel the burn of a bullet. Not feeling anything she turned around, only to be pulled into Tyler’s arms. Squeezing her as tight as he could she finally squeaked out, “I can’t breathe”, before he let her go, looking her over from head to toe.
“Don’t ever fucking provoke someone with a gun
again, darlin’!” Tyler admonished her angrily, but she could also hear the worry in his voice, and see it in his eyes. “You understand, baby? I can’t…, no, I won’t, fucking lose you! Not now!” Burying his face in her neck, she held on for dear life. As the adrenaline started to leave her body, she started shaking violently. When Tyler called Nathaniel over, it sounded like he was yelling through a tunnel; her vision started to get cloudy with black dots, and she knew she was going to pass out. Accepting the blackness she let go, knowing her men would keep her safe.
*******
“Shit, Nate, she’s passing out.” Ty called to his brother. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Nate shake his head in the negative with his fingers on Keeley’s dad’s neck. Knowing his brother so well, he knew taking her father’s life was going to weigh heavily on his mind. Walking over to him with an unconscious Keeley in his arms, he told Nate, “You take her inside, I’ll call this in. She’s safe man. That’s all that matters. Don’t beat yourself up, yeah?” At Nate’s nod, Ty thought he just might be ok. It really was a kill or be killed situation, only in this case it would have been Keeley dead, instead. And he knew that wasn’t an option.
Calling for the police and an ambulance to make sure she was ok, Ty went into the house, pausing when he saw Nate sitting on the couch with Keeley still passed out in his lap. To his surprise there was a very gorgeous dog with its head resting on her stomach, and he was whining. Looking up when Ty walked in the room, the dog chuffed and went back to its vigil watch over their girl.
“Think this was her surprise?” Ty asked Nate who sat there watching the dog.
“Pretty sure it was. Dane sent that text about watching for snow. Didn’t really get it at the time. I do now,” he mused chuckling.
“He has her eyes. That’s kinda weird, isn’t it?” Ty wondered out loud, sitting down and grabbing her feet to put in his lap. “I wonder if what they say about pets looking like their owners is true. Maybe he liked her so much his eyes changed.” Chuckling at his own joke, Ty wasn’t prepared for the heel to his gut. Rubbing his stomach, he looked to Keeley and laughed. “Sorry darlin’, I was only kidding. But damn, am I glad to see those beauties open up for me.”
Sitting up she said smiling, “I thought you weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow?” Rubbing her cheek on Nate’s chest, Ty was incredibly glad they came home early.
“The job ended early Butterfly, and I’m fucking glad it did. How you doin’?” Nate asked cupping her cheek.
“I missed you both so much,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.
When there was a knock on the door, the dog started growling viciously. “Calm, Rowdy,” she whispered and put her hand on his head. He shocked them both when he immediately stopped and licked her hand, before rubbing his head against her leg and walking to the door, waiting for someone to open it so he could investigate.
Barking when no one came, Ty got up and said, “I’m coming boy, calm your eager ass down.” Opening the door, Ty was relieved to see the same officer from a few weeks ago that drug the crazy viper away.
Explaining everything that went down, and not wanting to disturb Keeley too much until the paramedics arrived, they spoke outside. As the paramedics were looking her over, Nate came outside to explain his side of things and give his statement. Pulling Ty aside, he had a look of shock on his face.
“What’s wrong, is Keeley ok?” Ty asked him worried she was injured.
“No, it’s just they’re checking her out and asking a shit load of questions, but then they asked if she could be pregnant. I know she’s been getting the birth control shot, but damn, do I ever wish…” he trailed off.
Thinking about that Ty looked at the house, then to his brother and whispered, “We’ll just have to try harder.” He winked and Nate burst out laughing, but nodded his head in agreement.