Chapter 12

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RIVER

"LET GO OF HER!"

My eyes snap to her father's enraged ones as he stomps towards us. Practically fuming, he reaches towards my baby.

Thia looks up at him in confusion, not understanding why her daddy would want her to stay away from me. "What's wrong?"

Not wanting my angel to get into a fight with him, I hesitantly release her.

However, she stays tightly latched onto my waist, her cheek resting on my lower chest as she frowns at her dad.

As her dad reaches towards her left arm, I quickly move her away. He looks up at me, glaring daggars, "Let go of my daughter, b*stard!"

"Dad!" Thia gasps in horror, shrinking further into my chest.

Trying not to explode, I grit my teeth and calmly explain, "Her shoulder was shot, don't touch her left arm or her stomach."

His temper dampens slightly, but he still looks angry. "Let go of my underage daughter this second."

"Dad," interrupts Hayden, sounding exasperated, "She's seventeen."

"And he's, like, twenty-five!"

"I'm twenty-one, sir," I correct.

"See?" Her mother looks angry with him, scowling viciously. "And a few minutes ago you were shaking his hand! Now you're cussing him out?!"

He looks outright indignant, "That was before her has his filthy hands all over my daughter!"

They bicker loudly back and forth, making Angel whimper and bury her face in my chest.

Unhappy that they are doing this in front of the innocent little woman, I cover her ears carefully and count to ten in my head.

Unfortunately, it does nothing to suppress my anger. Resulting in me losing it.

"Stop!" I growl loudly, scowling at them as they fall silent and look at me. "You two are scaring her!"

Her father tries to agrue, but her mother whacks him over the head, successfully shutting him up.

Cautiously, Angel peeks at them and she sighs in releif when she sees them not fighting. "Dad, I love him."

That shocks me. I knew she loves me, but I didn't think she would tell her father so bluntly. As if it's completely normal to love a virtual stranger.

He blows up once more, roaring profanities at me.

Hurriedly, I cover her innocent ears once more, scowling at him as he insults my parentage. 

"SHUT UP!" Thia's mother finally explodes, hitting him over the head. 

"STOP HITTING ME, WOMAN!"

"I'LL DO WHATEVER I D*MN WELL PLEASE!"

"SHUT UP!"

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

Hayden sighs, rolling his eyes and gestures for us to come inside.

I take Angel's hand and lead her past her yelling parents, into her house. Following Hayden to the living room, I sit on the couch and Angel plops herself on my lap, obviously not caring that we are in front of her grumpy older brother.

Not wanting her to move, but knowing that she must, I carefully place her next to me and wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Leaning down, I whisper gently into her ear, "Don't you want to sit with your brother? You haven't seen him in a while."

Confused, she looks up at me with furrowed brows. "Don't you want me to sit with you," she whispers loud enough for Hayden to overhear. 

Smirking at her inability to whisper properly, I reply, "'Course I do, baby. But I'd be rather selfish if I kept you while your family wants to spend time with you."

"Oh, okay." She starts to get up, but then sits back down. "Please don't go without me."

"Okay," I agree, gently pushing her towards her smirking brother who sits on the opposite couch.

She walks towards him and nonchalantly sits next to him, smiling at me, waiting for my approval. 

Smiling, I nod encouragingly and recline into the soft cushions, watching over her as they catch up.

Eventually, the parents join us, both trying to squeeze onto Hayden's couch also. But her mother isn't having any of it, shoving him away from her. "Go sit with River."

"No," he crosses his arms like a child. "I don't want to."

She glares harshly at him and points to the couch next to me. "Sit."

Muttering profanities under his breath, he sits down as far away from me as possible, sending her and I glares occasionally.

"Now," begins her mother calmly, looking at me, "Let's talk this out like reasonable adults."

"I hate him," comments Thia's father bluntly, scowling at me like a petulant child.

"Seriously, Harold," growls Hayden, obviously annoyed.

Mr. Oliver frowns, looking out the window.

Mrs. Oliver rolls her eyes and returns her focus to me. "Is what Thia said true?"

"Which part," I ask calmly, but inside, I'm anxious. What if they don't let me keep seeing her?

"Everything."

"Yes," I confirm, subtly clenching my fists.

Thia squeals excitedly, grinning at Mr. Oliver, "Guess what, Dad!"

"What, Honey Bunches?"

"River has this cool toy gun! It looks real," she practically bounces, beaming at me. "You should show him! Do you have it? It looks so cool, guys."

"It isn't fake, is it," growls Hayden angrily, shooting me a dark look.

"Nope," I admit, unashamed.

"Why do you have a gun," asks Mrs. Oliver, curious.

With everyone looking at me curiously, I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly and say, "Self-defense." It's not a complete lie.

Not the complete truth either.

    

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