Chapter 27

"Ax, come and help me with these boxes!" I yelled from upstairs in Axel's room. We were finally moving out of Daxton's house and into the penthouse in the hotel that my family owned. When Axel was of age, everything was going to go to him. I put my hand on my hip, waiting for his pattering footsteps and when I didn't hear anything, I started to get worried. "Axel?" I called out.

I walked down the hall, looking into the rooms before walking downstairs.

"And then I was like pow!" I heard his voice faintly. "But, you can't be here. Mommy will get mad." I heard a deep voice answer Axel, but I couldn't hear it clearly enough to know who it was. "Yeah huh, Daddy! She will be really, really mad and--"

"Daxton, what are you doing here?" I asked, walking towards the two of them slowly. Axel looked nervous, as if he did something wrong. Daxton was dressed down, wearing a black shirt, black jeans, and black shoes. My heart sputtered a little bit, but I shoved away the feeling.

"I came to see my son. And get my house back." I scoffed.

"We haven't seen you in weeks and you expect me to believe that?" I said angrily. Daxton shrugged and smirked.

"I don't care what you believe, Arielle." He drawled my name out and walked towards me. I backed up a bit and he stopped, cocking his head.

"Interesting..." He trailed off, his gaze sweeping over my body.

"Well, you're in luck because we're moving out, today. You'll have your house by the end of the day. But for now, you need to leave." I ignored the lustful way he looked at me and motioned to Axel to come by me. Daxton's hand shot out and gripped Axel's arm.

"Ow, daddy that hurts!" Axel cried out and my chest tightened.

"Daxton, let him go." I said cautiously, walking towards them to get Axel from his clutches. Daxton eyed me like an animal as I came closer, with my hands stretched out.

"Why should I? I think I wanna spend some time with my son and you're not letting me."

"Stop lying!" I cried out. "Just leave us alone, Daxton, please." He grabbed my arm and yanked me towards him, crushing me to his chest.

"You think I'm lying?" He growled in my ear menacingly. "I made him with you, if my memory serves me well and I get to spend as much time as I want with him."

"Not if you leave for four years!" I shouted, struggling against him. But his grip was like a vice and I whimpered when he squeezed tighter, getting angry. He let go of Axel's hand and gipped my other arm with his other hand.

"Hmmm, I think we should make another baby, right now. What do you think?" He asked, sniffing my hair.

"I'd rather die." I spit out. Daxton grinned manically and cupped the back of my neck.

"You don't know how accurate you will be...soon." With that, he crushed his lips hard against mine and I shook my head, trying to free myself. The kiss was punishable and there was nothing nice about it.

"Daddy! Let Mommy go!" Axel cried out, and I heard him kick Daxton's leg with his little feet. Daxton shoved him and and Axel fell to the ground. I pounded my fists on Daxton's chest and bit his lip.

"Fuck!" He yelped in pain and I breathed heavily, lips swollen and bruised. I ran to Axel's side, kneeling down and drawing him close.

"He hurt my arm." Axel said, whimpering. Tears slid down his face and I wiped them away. Daxton pressed his thumb to his lip and came away with blood. Fire ignited in his eyes and he turned his burning gaze to me.

"You're gonna regret that." He said darkly, and charged at me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Daxton skidded to a stop and turned around to see who said that. I sighed with relief when I saw that it was Michael.

Daxton laughed and walked over to Michael. "And what are you gonna do about it, Mikey? You seem awfully attached to her now. I wonder why." Daxton looked over his shoulder at me. "Have you two been fucking?" He asked and I immediately blushed, not wanting to answer his question. "Ahh, you sly dog. You're in big trouble now." He taunted.

Michael frowned and clenched his fists by his sides. "You need to leave. Now." Daxton coked his head to the side and ran his hand through his shoulder length hair.

"Fine. See ya soon, Ari." Daxton winked at me and I cringed.

"Not likely." I muttered.

"That's debatable." He smiled and walked out the door. "I want my house back!" He sang loudly from outside and I felt tears drip down my face. Why did I have to have a kid with such an asshole?

"Are you okay?" Michael asked, rushing to my side, scanning me up and down.

"I'm fine." I winced when I stood up and Michael noticed. "You came just in time."

"No you're not. He hurt you. Yeah, I was, uh, in the area and I saw Daxton's car in the driveway." I brushed Michael's touch away, not wanting to feel anyone touch me at the moment. How did he know what Daxton's car looked like? And was it luck that he came at the right moment?

"I said I'm fine." I snapped before turning to Axel, who had stopped crying. "You okay, baby?" I whispered, brushing his hair out of his face. He nodded and hugged me tight.

"Daddy's a meanie. I don't wanna see him again!" He said, his voice muffled because he pressed his face against my shirt. I rubbed his back and looked up at Michael, whose face was neutral. I sighed and grabbed his hand.

"I'm sorry. I just--" I blinked back tears, trying not to break down. Michael cupped my cheek.

"I understand, Ari. I really do. Now, let's get these boxes out of here, yeah?" I nodded and intertwined my fingers with the ones that were on my cheek.

"Thank you, Michael." He smiled and kissed my other cheek.

"Anytime." He bent low to face Axel. "Wanna see who can pack the boxes the fastest?" He asked.

"Yeah! I'm gonna beat you!" Axel challenged, running up the stairs to his room to grab his boxes.

"Go get em tiger." I laughed and Michael winked at me before following Axel.

* * *

"Finally." I said, plopping down onto my sofa in my new penthouse. It was large and spacious and Daxton free.

"My room is bigger!" Axel said happily, jumping onto the sofa next to me. I smiled and started tickling him. "Mommy! Stop it!" He squealed, giggling like a maniac.

"Alright, alright. Hey, I have a question for you." Axel looked up at me with his bright silver eyes, attentive.

"Okay." He said, getting comfortable against my side.

"Do you think that....that we'll be better off without Daddy?" I asked, looking down at him. He seemed to think about it for a second and then nodded.

"Yeah we will because he's mean to me and to you and you're perfect so I don't know why he does that." He stated and I laughed. "Plus, we have Michael."

"I'm not perfect, baby." Axel nodded his head vigorously.

"Uh huh, even Michael said so." Axel argued.

"He did?" I asked, feeling warm inside from his statement. Michael thought I was perfect?

"Wanna know what I want for my birthday tomorrow?" He asked, eyes glinting with excitement. Axel's birthday was tomorrow and he was turning five. Time flew by so quickly.

"What?" I said, knowing exactly what he wanted.

"A Flash suit! I could wear it for costume day at school and maybe even Halloween!" I chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Sure, whatever you want. Time for bed, quirt." Axel hopped off the couch and grabbed my hand, leading me to his room.

"I love you, Mommy." Axel whispered as I tucked him in. I smoothed his hair back and kissed his forehead.

"I love you too, Ax. Sweet dreams." I turned off his light and went to the living room to wait for Michael to come over. He should be coming any minute now.

* * *

A bang came from the front door and I shot up groggily. I must have fallen asleep waiting for Michael. I looked at the clock and it read 4:30 a.m. I got up slowly and grabbed the bat. A shadowy figure came near me and I swung.

"Ow! Ari, it's me!" Michael groaned, rubbing his head. I breathed a sigh of relief and threw the bat to the side.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, not wanting to wake Axel up. Michael turned on the light in the hallway and I saw that the bottom half of him was covered in dirt. "And what the hell were you doing?"

"I--uh, I came to see you. And I was working." Michael stammered and I frowned. Working this late? Highly unlikely.

"You were supposed to meet me hours ago! Where were you?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I know, I'm sorry. I had business to take care of." He said, repeating the same words he had been telling me for the past weeks now whenever he left abruptly. It was finally getting old. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You need to leave." I said plainly and his jaw dropped.

"What? Why? You wanted me here, so I'm here."

"I wanted you here seven hours ago, Michael." I argued.

"I'm here now. What more do you want?" He asked, obviously getting frustrated. I shook my head and laughed humorlessly.

"Just leave please." I opened the door and gestured for him to leave. I wasn't in the mood and I was tired. Michael gave me a withering look and sighed.

"Whatever you want, Ari." He said softly before leaving. I closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Something was up with him and I was determined to figure it out.