Chapter 11
Cassius
“Har, you really don'thave to do this. Rosie would be just as happy with a party at home with all of us,” I tell her as we stand outside of the school, waiting for the bell to ring.
She gives me a'are you for real'look. “Cass, have you met Rosie? That girl is extra and will love this. Think of how happy she will be. She’s had a shit year. She deserves nothing but the best, and you damn well know that's what I’m going to give her.”
Now that I think of it, she's right. Rosie has gone through some unspeakable things that no one, especially not a little girl, should have to go through. My stomach drops, and rage fills my veins as I think of those monsters who put their hands on my baby girl. I wish I could bring them back just to be the one to put them down again.
“Cass,” Harlow says, stepping in front of me. I shake my head out of those dark thoughts, blinking at her as my mind comes back to the present. “There you are. Thought I lost you there for a moment.” She gives me a half-smile.
“You’re right.” I pull her into a hug, kissing her on the side of her head, chuckling at her mumbles about all the PDA. I know it's all talk. She loves it. We're slowly chipping away at the ice that surrounds her damaged heart. “Rosie was pretty bummed when she found out the carnival was being canceled, but don't you think this is a little too much?”
“Dude, haveyoumetme?” She laughs, pulling back to look at me. “Everything I do is above and beyond. Life’s short, so why waste it doing boring shit when you can be a little extra?”
“And that's one of the many things I love about you,” I grin. She rolls her eyes at me at the use of the word.
“Yeah, yeah,” she says, then her smile slips into something sinfully playful. She runs her hands up my chest.Is she going to get handsy here?I mean knowing her, it's a strong possibility, but right here, in front of the school where all the parents are waiting for their kids?
She looks up at me, her eyes hooded as she bites her lips. My mind says this can't be good, but my dick says shut up. She rubs her thumbs over my nipples making them pebble against my white cotton T-shirt. A sharp pain has my eyes widening. “Ouch!” I gasp, swatting her hands away from my now throbbing nipples. “Did you just give me a purple nurple?” I gape at her in disbelief.
She bursts into giggles and dances away. “Maybe, whatcha gonna do about it?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows as she backs away towards our car.Nothing.I’m not gonna do anything,at least not right now.Partly because I’m in shock that she just gave me a titty twister like we're ten years old, and partly because the smile on her face has me melting like a puddle, like the wicked witch of the west. With one last giggle, she turns to the open car window and leans in. My head tilts to the side as I take in my girl’s fine ass in her leather pants. Movement out of the corner of my eye has me looking over to see a guy perving on my girl while his wife hangs off his arm talking to a group of people. I let out a low growl, and his eyes snap to mine, widening when I bare my teeth at him.
“Oh, Cassy boy, watch yourself. Seeing you get all‘cave man’for me has me dripping,” Harlow purrs, running her hand down my arm flirtatiously. I didn't even notice her move away from the car. I look down at her, my anger melting away instantly at the sight of her.
“He shouldn't be looking at what's mine,” I grumble, feeling a sudden possessiveness towards her.
“Papa Bear, I’m used to having people gawk at me. It’s just part of being me. It’s only when they touch or open their nasty mouths that we have a problem. Although...” She bites her lip, dipping her head to look up at me through her lashes. “My pussy wouldn't object to you going over there and kicking his ass.”
Fuck off, dick.Now is not the time to have a raging boner. “You’re naughty.” I pull her to me, fusing our mouths together, and making her moan softly.
“Only always,” she says with a wink before pulling up a megaphone to her lips.A fucking megaphone. Where the hell did that come from?“Can I have your attention!” she calls out, walking over to a statue in the middle of the courtyard. She climbs up a few steps so that she's higher than the rest of us.
“As we all know, the community carnival has been canceled. But I, oh so kindly, took it upon myself to remedy that disappointing news! My daughter, Rosie, is having her fifth birthday party and I’m putting together a carnival of our very own. Everything that was promised and more! Everyone is invited! Free of charge. It’s going to be this Friday at five PM, 341 South West Calloway Street.”
Everyone starts talking amongst themselves in happy chatter as Harlow steps down from her perch with a proud smile.
“You know this is going to cost you a ton right?” I laugh.
“I have more money than I know what to do with.” She shrugs. “Also, I'm setting up a station for the animal shelter to bring down any animals that need a home. Hopefully, they find their forever home during the carnival.”
My heart swells. I’ve seen this woman decapitate a room full of men, but seeing her like this makes me so proud to call her mine. “Well, they better get homes. Because knowing you and Neo, we will end up taking every single freaking one that's left by the end of the night home.”
“Oh! That's a great idea!” Her eyes light up with excitement.
My smile drops. “What, no! I was joking,” I growl.
“Sorry, can't hear you. Too far,” she says as she walks away from me. She heads over to the group of ‘Karens,’that Harlow so kindly named, and I follow after her to make sure she doesn’t do anything to them. I hate those women. Insecure bitches who could care less about their kids and more about what they’re wearing or who has the most money. Also, I can’t forget the fact that their kids have been bullying Rosie. When I told Harlow, I had to stop her from going over to their houses and taking them in their sleep.
“Evening, ladies.” Harlow puts on a fake smile.
“Hello.” One of them scowls at Harlow.
“That was... kind of you for putting that together. We were thinking of putting one on ourselves,” another one says.
“We were also planning on doing it on Friday, too,” some lady with a pixie cut says.
“Oh, you were?” Harlow says, giving her a funny look. “Shame. Guess I beat you to it. Maybe you could still put a little one on for you and your kids.”