Tiger Lily - THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter EIGHTEEN

River O'riley

-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-

"Ah feck.. Better untie me, would ya, baby? I gotta get the door.." I chuckle as she jumps in surprise by the sudden rapping at the front door..

"Shì de." Without hesitation she complies, stretching up with two hands, tugging at the knot.. Once my hand is free, I untie the first knot with ease, jumping to my feet and adjusting my sweats back into place..

Lilly slips into my hockey Jersey, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed.. Impossibly lovely and intricately wired, she smiles at me with a different kind of affection..

Lighter.. Less inflicted and more affected..

God.. She's the sweetest kind of treat to my eyes..

"Don't ye' go anywhere.." I wink and she giggles, falling back against the pillows to snuggle down comfortably.

Grinning to myself like an idiot, I pull the bedroom door half closed behind me and head up the hall..

-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-

"Aye! I hear ya, I'm bloody comin!" I grumble, irritated that my time with Lilly is being interrupted. I flick the lock and pull the front door open, fully expecting to find Nessa looking for her rent-cheque..

"Hey River."

Panic, doubt, betrayal, hurt, rage and bitter disappointment.. I feel them all in one powerful potion that vents violently from my mouth as anger.. "Amberley-- What the fuck are you doin' here?"

With her fake tits and teeth on show she gives me a sickeningly false smile as she tries to step inside.. Her facade falters for a few seconds when I move to block her entry.. "I just came to talk--"

This bitch thinks she can show up on my doorstep when it suits her and that I should fall into line, allow my life to revolve around her and her flakey fuckery.. What kind of pathetic piece of shite does she take me for?

"Oh? Now ye' wanna talk, eh?" I laugh, a bitter horrible sound, even to me.. But she deserves my contempt..

Doesn't she?

Fuck..

Yes.. She does.. I have to remind myself of the things Amberly has done.. Not to me, but to Lovey.. It's one thing to lie to me, to rob me blind and fuck with my emotions..
It's another thing to drink, party and fuck strangers just for some rock to smoke while pregnant..

Cherry was right about Amberley.. She is trash..

Incredibly hot, well toned and tanned trash.. But garbage nonetheless..

Amberley shrugs, attempting an innocent appearance that couldn't be less authentic to my eyes.. "I would have called, but you wouldn't have answered." Loose and beachy bleach blonde waves frame her fine, unreadable face, her expression one of blank practiced nothing..

"Bullshite, you've been the one avoidin' me--" My gaze trails down to the tight black dress she wears that covers next to nothing, before I notice the down a thick yellow envelope that she folds in her hands.. "What is that?"

"Custody papers.." She holds up the envelope but I don't accept it..

I bite defensively, but I don't budge.. "You've got some fuckin' nerve trynna hand that shite to me, Amby.."

"That's what I want to talk to you about, it's important, River.. If you'd stop being such a self-righteous asshole for once and just listen--" She squeezes past, shoving me with her bony shoulder to force her way through the door, freezing in place when she sees Lilly standing at the end of the hall.. Watching everything unfold with wide, worried eyes..