Feeding time became a whole production with everyone pitching in with their ideas after I strapped her into her high chair. I blocked them all out and concentrated on my girl who seemed happy enough with her lunch thank fuck, and the storm that I had sensed brewing was delayed.
I was sure that I was gonna have to see her mother at some point though, before the day was over, if I wanted to keep my little girl happy. The price you pay to be a good dad.
When they started giving each other looks and then eyeing me down while Ty was playing airplane with her spoon, I knew what was coming. We’d pretty much came up with a plan of action and were now playing the waiting game, so it was back to Zak’s intervention.
I waited to see which tact they were gonna take before losing my cool, because I was over the shit already. It had been less than twenty-four hours and already everyone was acting like I should have all the answers. I had a few but I was pretty sure that none of those were the ones they wanted.
“So, back to more immediate matters, what have you decided to do about your situation?” Lo sat forward in his seat with his hands clasped between his knees. That’s his ‘I’m a reasonable fucker until you fuck with me’ pose.
“I thought we had decided to give me some time.” I kept my tone even so that my little girl didn’t react. I’d noticed that already her eyes flew to me when she heard my voice, and according to my tone she’d either smile or look a little bit unhappy.
“Yeah, but that was before the women got involved. Now it’s a fact that I don’t mind dressing Gabriella down when it’s warranted and you best believe that I will nip this shit in the bud if it goes on for too long, but you’ve got to understand. We’ve put them under house arrest, put a crimp in their wedding plans, which apparently is all that’s needed to turn the female of the species into rabid dogs. On top of that shit, we’ve got one of the nation’s leading families on the hook for some nefarious dealings in our backyard, now is not the time for you to go bat shit. Do you follow me?”
“I don’t see how any of this shit has anything to do with me and my kid. We’re safe in here, we saw to that when we were building the place. We’ve dealt with more formidable opponents in the past and always came out on top.
The women need to learn that not everything is about them, and that sometimes one of their ilk is fucking wrong and I personally will not bow to their bullshit so I can eat a fucking home cooked meal. So if you’re asking me to give in and forgive before I’m ready, the answer is no.” My voice was still calm, and my girl was enjoying her game with her uncle Ty.
“Will you at least talk to her? Dani says you made her feel like a…what did she call it? Oh yeah, a nursing maid or handmaiden or some such shit. Said you had her feed the baby and then kicked her out. Don’t forget two of your sisters are pregnant and their hormones are out of whack. Every little thing sets them off, and I guess seeing one of their own treated like that has flipped their switch or some shit.” The fucker was reaching.
“You really want me to deal with her now? Fine, I’ll deal with her, go get ‘er.” Dev’s ‘oh shit’ wasn’t soft enough, I still heard that shit. Lo wasn’t looking too sure anymore, but since everyone wanted to back me into a corner, I’ll show them how that shit feels.
I wasn’t worried about the women and their shit, I knew they’d come around eventually, but Vanessa needed to learn a lesson. What she did was fucking wrong, not to mention irresponsible. She was a marine, she’d seen some of the same shit I had. On top of that she knows what kind of man I am; how could she claim she loved me and not know? So she had to know that keeping my kid from me was the wrong fucking move to make.
“Do you promise not to do anything stupid if I bring her here?”
“I promise not to kill her if that’s what you’re asking, but whatever I choose to do you lot will stay out of it. This is between me, and her.”
“I don’t know Zak you can be so fucking hard.”
“That’s the deal, take it or leave it. I’m not the one forcing the issue remember?”
“I trust him Lo let’s go, he’s not gonna break the code no matter how pissed he is right Zak.” I just smirked at Con as they headed for the door. If only he knew. I’m a diabolical fucker when it comes to her; she knows it even if they don’t. We’ll see how much she wants her daughter, we’ll just see.
***
I gave strict instructions that no one was to come anywhere near my home while this conversation was going on. They wanted to hang around but it was my way or no way at all. Ty, who seemed to be going through some sort of life change, was the last to leave.