Bad Company

Chapter 62: Darkness

The vibration from my phone receiving an incoming text message woke me from my deep, much needed, slumber. Reluctantly, I rolled over and patted the mattress trying to find my phone. A sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I finally found it. I squinted my eyes as I checked to see who it was that was texting me.

"Out on bail, fresh outta jail, California dreamin', when I step on the scene I'm hearin' hoochies screamin'" Christy had texted.

I sighed and texted back, "You're an idiot. Doin?"

"At the 4 roses, drinkin'" She texted back.

"It's 10 in the morning...." I sent back for a reply.

"Your point? I just got out of jail... Suck my dick, I'm getting fuckin' day drunk today."

"Lol. You would. I'll call you later." I ended the conversation with before placing my phone down on the nightstand.

I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. How did I get here? Like... not in the bed but... how did I get back here? How am I not on my way to prison right now? Why am I still here? I should be packing up mine and Shaun's shit and running as far as we can. But no, here I am... laying in bed, wearing Billy's t-shirt, my hair a mess - lips slightly swollen from rough kisses - and my vagina is sore from getting fucked most of the night. Yay for 'welcome home' sex.

Speaking of which, where is Billy?

Slowly, I sat up in bed and looked around our bedroom. While I was gone Megan had kept up with the house cleaning, which was a relief in itself even though I could use some cleaning therapy. Cleaning rampages are the best way for me to deal with my stress.

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I mentally forced myself to slip on some shorts and make my way out of the bedroom and face the day. Seether was playing throughout the house and I could hear movement in the kitchen. Quietly, I made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen where I found Billy - Shaun in one arm and a spatula in the other hand as he scrambled what appeared to be eggs.

He glanced over at me, "Mornin'"

A small smile formed from the corners of my mouth, "Hey..."

"Ya hungry?"

Plopping down on the chair at the table, I yawned as I sat one of my legs up, resting my arm on my knee, "Yeah, kind of."

"Here," he said as he handed me Shaun.

"Hi spunkin!" I cooed, kissing Shaun on the cheek and holding him tight, afraid to lose him again.

A plate of food was set in front of me and I smiled up at Billy, "Thank you."

"You alright?" Billy huffed.

"I'm just glad to be home, so, yeah." I replied with a weak smile.

"You sure?" He asked dully.

"I will be." I replied truthfully.

Billy nodded slowly, taking Shaun again and sitting across from me at the table. Our eyes made contact and he stared at me wide eyed and nodded towards the plate of eggs, "Eat"

I rolled my eyes, "Is it poisoned?"

"If you can cook, I fuckin' can," He quipped with a smirk.

I raised my eyebrows in disbelief and let out a faint laugh, "Yeah... that's like saying that-" I paused to swallow, "-that I can do anything that you can, Billy."

"Ya can," He replied firmly, staring at me with a blank expression.

I frowned and stared down at my plate for a moment before staring back up at him and shrugging slightly, "Yeah... maybe."

"Ya friend called"

"Huh?"

"Julia left ya a bunch of voice messages. She sounds like a cu-"

"Billy!" I hissed.

"What?" He hissed back.

"You're holding Shaun, watch your language!" I grumbled, glaring at him.

"You fuckin' serious?" He laughed.

"What?! Yes, I am serious."

"He's a baby, he can't fuckin tell-"

"Billy!" I exclaimed.

Billy sighed in defeat, "Fine, sorry."

I cracked a smirk, "That's a rare word to come out of your mouth."

Billy grunted, trying to keep himself from smiling at my comment.

"She is... but, she's probably moved here and wondering why she can't get a hold of me or Christy," I sighed, shoving the now empty plate of food away from me. "She's gonna freak when she finds out..."

"Ya takin' the kid to go see her today?" Billy asked curiously.

I shrugged, "I probably should. Test out that SUV you got me," I smiled.

Billy nodded slowly, "Can ya find a sitter for tonight?"

I frowned, "I just got back... I'm not leaving him-"

"When he's in bed, get someone to stick around here for a few hours, I wanna take ya somewhere." Billy interrupted.

I raised an eyebrow slightly, "Okay?"

"We still havin' dinner here tomorrow?" He asked dully.

"With everyone? Yeah... I miss everyone... I think it would do both of us some good to have our friends here together." I answered.

Billy nodded and stared down at Shaun, "Don't leave me."

"What?" I asked taken back.

"I told ya from the beginning, that I protect what's mine and I'll always do that, Amber." He started, making me even more confused.

Is he on to me?

"Everything I do... everything I'm doin', I'm doin' it for you and the kid," He continued. "I wouldn't blame ya if you took off and never looked back... but I'm askin' ya, not to."

My heart sunk when he stared up at me and made eye contact with me finally. I could see the sincerity behind his blue eyes, and that was something that I've never seen in him before. He was vulnerable and I could tell. It almost felt as if it wasn't Billy sitting before me. This state that he was in, just wasn't like him.

"I promise you that this shit is gonna get better," He added.

I exhaled a shaky sigh and pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek, "It won't Billy... not with the life that you lead."

"That's comin' to end soon..." He replied quietly, glancing down at Shaun, "You'll see."

An awkward silence invaded the room and it wasn't until Shaun started to cry from needing his diaper changed, that Billy and I finally moved and said something to one another. He handed me Shaun and gave me a kiss on the cheek before staring down at me and sighing. I stared up at him and sighed back.

"I love you." He said softly.

"I love you too..." I whispered.

"I'll be back here at 8, alright?" He said before kissing me on the lips, "I'm taking Chop with me, alright?"

I nodded and watched as Billy went over to the screen door and whistled for Chop to come inside to follow him. I just stood there, watching. Emotionless and unsure what I should do. Just because I love Billy, doesn't mean I shouldn't take this chance I got to do right for my son. But can I really do it?

"See ya tonight," Billy called out.

My eyelids blinked back tears that threatened to pour out as Billy and Chop left the house, closing the door behind them. My heart sunk and I swallowed a hard lump in my throat as Shaun cried impatiently, needing to be changed. Billy's promise of this being over soon played over and over in my head like a broken record as I choked back tears and stood there frozen in place.

"Yeah," I breathed, a single tear running down my cheek, "...Bye"