“Yeah, I suppose.”

Mark stops eating and reaches over to place his hand on mine. “Hey . . .” I look up. “Everything will work out like it’s supposed to in the end. For now you just continue to focus on yourself and that little girl. You’re everything to her. Got it? Just be patient. After Olivia passed away, Royal left once he got released from jail. No one saw or heard from him for six damn months. He has a lot to work through.”

I clear my throat and quickly wipe my wet face off. “Yeah . . . I didn’t know that. Didn’t realize that he left for that long before.”

“He’s had a rough life, Ava. I don’t blame him for being caught up in his head right now.” He clears his throat and smiles over at Kylie as she pokes his arm with her spoon. “Eat. You’re looking too thin. Don’t let stress overpower everything else good in your life.”

I nod my head and eat in silence, letting his words sink in. All there’s left to do now is to be strong for Kylie. That’s what I intend to do . . . with or without Royal.

We eat dinner and clean up, just in time for Mark to get called out to check on those teenage kids again. It’s late and the little one is getting tired.

Kylie is cuddled up in my arms on the couch and her favorite cartoon is playing on the TV, making her force her eyes to stay open. It’s a losing battle. She’ll be out in less than five minutes now.

“Hey,” Madison whispers, as she walks in the front door. She nods down at Kylie wrapped in her blanket, fluttering her eyes. “Someone looks like they had a long day.”

I rub the top of Kylie’s head and smile. “A very long one,” I say softly. “This little booger has more energy than anyone I’ve met in my life. She’s special.”

Madison tilts her head and smiles down at her. “That she is . . .” Quietly, she walks over and takes a seat beside me on the couch. “You doing okay, babe?”

I pull Kylie in tighter as she squeezes my arm in her sleep. “Yeah . . . I think so. It’s still hard, but I think time will help. This little angel keeps me busy.”

“I’m sorry,” Madison says in a soft voice. “You love Royal and I know you’re hurting really bad right now. I can see it in your everyday activity. You can’t hide it from me, sweets.” She leans in and kisses the side of my head. “Just know that I’m always here for you. Kylie is too.”

“I know.” I watch as Madison stands up from the couch. “You going out again tonight?”

She shakes her head. “No, ma’am. I’m exhausted. I hate to admit that there’s no way I’ll be able to keep up with Blaine tonight.” She lifts her brows and smiles. “I’m choosing to stay away from him so I won’t have to. Night, babe.”

“Night . . .”

Being careful not to wake Kylie, I stand up and carry her to my bed, before changing into a pair of shorts and a tank top, and crawling into my warm bed beside her.

I lay here, holding her for the longest time, not able to fall asleep, so I just close my eyes and listen to the steady rhythm of her breathing. I find that it somehow calms me at night. It’s about the only thing that keeps me sane in the middle of the night when I’m lonely and missing him.

Picking up my phone with my free hand, I send a goodnight text to Royal like I do every night, before placing my phone back on the bed beside me, and snuggling Kylie tightly in my arms.

“I love you, baby girl,” I whisper. “You’re the most precious thing in my life.” I kiss the side of her head, before snuggling up close behind her and closing my eyes. She’s so soft and warm in my arms, making me feel warm inside.

You give me peace when I feel that it’s all lost . . .

I’VE BEEN WAITING ON BAXTON for the last twenty minutes, and I’m beginning to grow impatient as fuck. I can’t be here for one second longer without losing my shit.

Four months is way too damn long. This place has kept me from the one place I want to be and I despise myself for ending up here in the first place.

Pulling out a cigarette, I light it, and start walking down the dirt path in hopes of meeting up with Baxton along the way.

He was with me that night at the bar when I landed my ass in this shitty, small town jail. He watched from the background as I beat the shit out of that no good, redneck, woman abuser. If it weren’t for him stopping me at the end, that guy would be dead, but he’s known me for years and knows how much I’ve been through after losing Olivia.

I wouldn’t have cared at that moment either. My head was still filled with rage and fucked up thoughts. His face was the stress reliever that I needed at the time, and I took it further than I should have.

Being behind bars has given me time to truly clear my head and realize what’s most important to me: Avalon.

Not a day has gone by that my chest hasn’t ached to get back to her. Thinking about getting to her had me pointlessly trying to rip the fucking bars off of my cell. All it did was fill me with more rage and want to choke whichever guard came to check on me first.

I’m out now, and there is nothing that is going to fucking keep me from getting to her. I know that I have a lot of apologizing to do and a lot to make up for, but I’m willing to do everything in my power to show her how much I love her.

That woman is my fucking life and I’m willing to give mine to her. I’m ready.

Looking up, I toss my cigarette aside when I hear an old beat up truck coming around the corner.

I would know the sound of that old thing from anywhere. He’s had it since back when we were just teenagers.

“About fucking time,” I mumble.

Baxton pokes his head out of the window and slaps his truck when he sees me walking up. “Damn dude . . . what the fuck were they feeding you in there? You’re a fucking beast. Get your crazy ass in here.”

Opening the passenger side door, I jump into his old piece of shit and slam the door shut behind me. “I’ve had a lot of frustration to work out. What the fuck took you so long, dick?”

“Is my ass ever on time?”

I run my hand over my face and hold my hand out. “Give me your phone.”

Reaching between his legs, he grabs his phone and tosses it at me, before taking off in a hurry, squealing his damn tires. “I got your truck and shit at my house. It’s gassed up and ready to hit the road, man.”

I look up from dialing Jax’s number. “Appreciated, brother.”

Jax answers his phone on the second ring.

“Yeah,” he responds. “Make this shit quick because I got shit to do, Bax.”

“What the fuck shit do you have to do?” I say with a small smile, happy as fuck to hear his voice.

It’s silent for a moment, before I hear him walking through a crowd of people. “Fucking Royal. Fucking shit.” He slams a door shut, which I’m assuming is my office door at Savage. “You have us all worrying and shit. What the fuck are you doing there with Bax?”

“It’s a long story. Bax just picked me up from the county jail and I’m heading to my truck now.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you call one of us and let us know?” He asks, pissed as fuck. I don’t blame him. I’d be pissed too if it were him or Blaine.

I let out a long breath and lean my head back against the seat. “I needed time to clear my head. Didn’t need you guys trying to show up and visit; especially Avalon.”

“You’re damn straight my ass would’ve been there. Glad your ass is still alive. Shit.”

“I know you would have.” I pull the phone away and rub my fingers over my eyes, dreading this last part. “Is Avalon still around?”

“Yeah . . .” He pauses for a second. “She’s around. She’s been rough, but she’s pulling through. Things have changed, man.”

Feeling stressed, I pull out another cigarette and take a long drag, before slowly blowing the smoke out. “How’s that?”