“Yeah, you’re right. Your family is pretty demanding.” She smiled down at Javerio and then looked me straight in the eyes, seeing straight through me like only Scarlett could do to people. “He misses you. It’s killing him and it’s hard for me to watch.”

“I… I don’t know what to say, Scar. I tried to fix it. I never wanted to hurt anyone.” I looked down at my hands, concentrating far too hard on screwing the cap onto the baby bottle.

“He knows you’re sorry. He also knows you wouldn’t intentionally mess with his sister. But he’s going to take a while to come around. I think he’s more upset that you didn’t tell him first and he had to find out the way he did.” She handed Javerio back to me and placed her hand on my arm. “For what it’s worth, I know you love her. Everything will work out, but, Jude, if you can’t live without her… don’t stop fighting for her.”

“I wish it was that easy, Scar,” I answered with a frown. Javerio started squirming again, reminding me he wasn’t interested in our conversation and just wanted his food. I looked down and pushed the teat into his mouth. Scarlett walked off with a sigh and left us to our business.

“Don’t ever fall in love, little dude. It’s something like torture.” He blinked once and stared at me with his big blue eyes, so innocent, so untouched by the cruel world around him. This had to be my favorite age. They were so pure, so unaware of all the trials of what was ahead of them, with no clue how badly loving somebody could hurt.

I slowly ascended the stairs to the spare bedroom where his Pack ’n Play had been set up. I sat on the bed beside it and mulled over what Scarlett had said.

Fight for her.

I wish I could fight for her. I’d give up my last breath for that girl, but her secrets still haunted her and I couldn’t look my best friends in the eye everyday knowing they hated us for loving each other. Before I knew it, there was a sleeping baby in my arms and an almost empty bottle slipping from his tiny lips. I stood and placed Javerio down in his crib. Leaning over, I turned the baby monitor on and grabbed the portable handset.

I wanted to get back downstairs to the rest of the family, especially since it felt like I was on borrowed time after what happened with Hav— "Haven, shit!" I grabbed her waist to keep her from toppling backward down the stairs. Her startled gasp told me I was the last person she was planning on literally running in to. "Fuck, I’m sorry,” I mumbled, distracted by how she felt in my hands. Electricity instantly overtook me and all my senses jumped to life. Her pink flushed cheeks told me she was flustered.

“I ah—” I dropped my hands quickly and stepped back. “Sorry.” I ducked past her and all but ran down the stairs two at a time. I could still feel the light touch of her skin as I headed toward the back doors and thought back to the last time I touched her. The gasp, which escaped her lips, also reminded me of when a similar sound had escaped in the throws of ecstasy.

Fuck!

Just the memory alone was enough for me to do just as Scarlett suggested and fight for her.

The hard-on currently growing in my pants deflated in an instant when I heard the cry of Jaxson. I picked up my stride and headed toward the wailing, only to stop short when I saw my son in the arms of Dylan.

A red haze clouded my vision and my heart picked up its speed. Haven ran past me, gathering my crying son in her arms, asking the questions I should’ve been asking.

"My knee," he cried. "I fell!" She cooed and coddled him before disappearing into the kitchen with promises of Band-Aids and sweets.

Once they were safely out of earshot, the fury racing through my veins exploded.

“What the fucking hell do you think you’re doing with my boy?” I pulled in another heavy breath and let it out, feeling the veins in my head ready to burst.

“You might have snaked your way into Haven’s good graces, but I won’t be fooled so easily, rich boy. That’s my son. Don’t for a second think you can play house with him. They’re off limits to you.” His lack of reaction spurred on my anger. The bastard just stood before me like I was singing a song of praise rather than reaming him out. “You hear me, asshole? She was mine long before you got your hands on her and she’ll continue to be mine whether it’s my hands on her or not.”

Dylan’s jaw ticked slightly and I knew I had him. He didn’t want to think about me touching her anymore than I liked him being near her.

“You listen and you listen good, ‘cause I’ll only say this once. My kids are not your toys, so long as you’re fooling her, you keep as far the fuck away from me and mine as you possibly can. You don’t breathe in my direction, or theirs.” I glared and finished on a bark. “You hear me?”

“Sure, Jude. You might want to go check on your son though. His knee is pretty scraped up.”

The moment his words registered, my red haze turned into boiling lava. I reacted on instinct, my body on autopilot. Pulling my fist back, I let it go. The thump when it connected with his nose was loud in the otherwise quiet room. My knuckles protested and blood ran down his face, splattering over my hand. “You’re one dumb bastard.” I snarled. Dylan turned his face back to me and pulled his hand up to his bloody nose.

“The fuck are you doing?” Mace’s voice boomed from the doorway. “Jude, outside now.” Right at that moment, Haven walked into the room, followed by Jaxson.