TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter FORTY SIX

Frankie Xiao 

"River! Oh fuck! I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to--" Amberley jumps to her feet, shoving away from me as River storms across the room to collect me from the floor.. He lifts me up and pushes me protectively behind him before he leans down and scoops up the baby.. 

"Save it, Amby.. I'm fuckin' done." He snarls.. "Lilly, we're leavin'."  He moves around like a prowling wildcat and mutters beneath his breath collecting Lovey's items.. "I knew ye' were gonna find a way to fuck this up.. So fuckin' impusive-- don'ae give a fuck about anybody but ye'self.."

Amberley claws at her champagne curls in manic panic.. "Oh god.. No, please.. River, I didn't think-- Please don't go--"

"Fuck you." He whispers the words, carefully so as not to upset the children, but the fury and betrayal in his gravelly growl burns in the air.. "I can'ae believe I fell for this shite again.. Firstly usin' Lovey to get to me and now Lilly.. Yer' sick in the head! Psychotic!"

He lofts the baby bag up to his shoulder, taking me by the arm and turning to leave when I grab hold of his hand to pry myself free.. "No.. River--wait--" 

He freezes in place when I speak, but refuses to look at me.. "Why should I? This is what she does.. I told ye' she can'ae be trusted!" 

"It's not all her fault.." I argue with guilt caught in my throat.. I had been the one to hug Amberley, maybe I had confused her.. Maybe she thought something else was happening.. 

Maybe this is all my fault.. 

"O'Aye? So this was yer' idea was it?" He scoffs as if he doesn't believe me.. "Ye’ wanted to kiss her did'ya?!" 

"No.. But--" 

Amberley steps up beside me.. "It wasn't Lilly, River.. It was me.. I just-- she was so-- I-- fuck!"

Pure anguish pours from the Tiger, his emerald eyes dark and devoid of the humanity that would usually shine through them as he turns back around to face her.. "She's what? Another opportunity for ye' to punish me? To create chaos? Shite, Amby.. Why do ye' do this? What the fuck did I do to make ye' hate me so fuckin' much!? Why are ye' so hell bent on seein' me lose my shite!?" 

Amberley warblers in a weak attempt to defend herself.. "River! I--I didn't mean to hurt you--" 

"Agh, ye' lyin' bitch!" River spits with a hateful tongue and I detest the sound.. I have never seen him so riled up, his shoulders heave and his teeth grind.. 

The babies both begin to cry and intense flame flickers to life inside me at the distressed sounds of their tears.. 

I become frustrated and infuriated by the childish back and forth way these two people, who obviously care about each other, are communicating.. River, enraged to his primal state of rage and Amberley a pathetic mess of self pity and excuses that make no sense.. 

I can't stand it any longer.. I refuse to accept either of their terrible attitudes.. 

"STOP THIS, RIGHT NOW!" I shout over the top of them both and they fall silent as Lexi appears in the kitchen doorway to watch the dramatic scene unfold.. "Both of you shut the fuck up and sit down!"

I have never spoken so directly and something about it feels right.. I am more in control of myself than either of them in this moment, which means they should listen.. Really listen.. To me, as well as each other.. 

River swallows his anger to obey me and Amberley takes a startled step back as I point them both to the sofa.. I lean down to pick up baby Connor who sniffles, startled and upset by the commotion, balancing him on my hip I coo quietly to calm him down.. "Ohh, I'm sorry, baby boy.. You're okay.."