I look from the man in front of me to my fiancé as he comes storming up to me. He slaps the leather-clad man across the face.
“I said don’t you fuckin’ touch her, asshole.” Jeffrey seethes.
The bat-wielding asshole drops his hand from my cheek. He looks at Jeffrey, holding his hands up in surrender, letting the bat fall to the ground by his feet.
“Jeff.” He says.
Jeffrey’s brow furrows. Within two seconds, his face softens, and I see a couple of tears well up in his eyes.
“Neegs?” My lover asks, quietly.
The man in front of me nods. “It’s me.”
Jeffrey wraps his arms ‘round the man and holds him close. The other man slowly hugs him back. I can see Jeffrey’s shoulders shake. I lower my knife and tuck it back into its sheath on my hip. After a few moments, the pair pulls apart. Jeffrey moves his hand up and places it on a leather-covered shoulder.
“I thought I’d lost you.” He says, quietly.
“You know it takes a lot to kill me.” The other man says.
“Jeff?” I ask, confused.
He looks at me. His face softens even more.
“Babydoll…I want you to meet someone.” He says, softly.
I raise an eyebrow. “Who?”
“My brother.”
I cough in shock. “Do what?”
Jeff lets out a quiet chuckle. “My brother. I want you to meet him. It’s ‘bout time.”
The other man turns to face me. That’s when I realize why he seems so familiar. He looks identical to Jeffrey. His hair’s just slicked back, whereas Jeffrey’s has more of a messy look to it. And, his beard is a smidge longer than my lover’s and has a hint more of salt-and-pepper sprinkled throughout it. He holds his right hand out to me. I glare at it before glaring at the man.
“Sweetheart.” Jeffrey says, slowly.
“No. Not until he gets that gun away from Tim’s head and I know that he and Angel are safe.” I say, sternly.
Jeffrey’s brother turns ‘round immediately and looks at the man holding the gun to Tim’s head.
“Put the fuckin’ gun away, you asshat.” He commands with a wave of his hand. “And the rest of y’all get the fuck out of here. Now!”
The man lowers the gun and steps back. The rest of the men hop in the trucks and leave, following his commands. Tim stands up, slowly, seemingly unsure of what the fuck’s going on. Angel stands up beside him and hides behind his legs.
“C’mon over here.” Jeffrey’s brother says in a much softer tone than what he used with his men.
Tim and Angel walk over to us. I wrap my arms ‘round Tim and hug him. He holds me close. Once I pull away from him after a few moments, I pick Angel up and hold her in my arms. She tucks her face against the side of my neck and starts crying. I rub her back, trying to soothe her. I look at Jeffrey and his brother. The other man seems almost sad.
“Doll?” Jeffrey asks, quietly.
I look up at him as he walks over to me. He wraps one arm ‘round me. He places one hand on Angel’s back. Tim wraps one arm ‘round me as well. My little family is safe now.
“Jeff?” The other man asks.
I jerk my head up and glare at him as he takes a step forward. He stops and takes a step back, holding his hands up in surrender.
“You fuckin’ asshole.” I hiss.
“Honey, his name’s Negan. He’s my brother.” I hear Jeffrey say softly.
I turn and glare at him too. “I don’t give a shit. I could fuckin’ give two shits if he was the fuckin’ President of the United States of America. Or if he was Jackie Robinson. He was going to kill Tim and maybe Angel.”
Jeffrey holds his hands up too. “He’s not like that. He’d never hurt a child.”
I huff. “Bullshit. So, it’d be ok if he let Angel live, but still killed Tim?”
“Fuck no. It wouldn’t be ok. I love the both of y’all. Y’all are my family. I wouldn’t let anything happen to either of y’all.”
“Ma’am. I’d never hurt a kid. I might be an asshole, but I’m not a monster.” I hear Negan say.
I turn to him. “Shut the fuck up. I’m fuckin’ pissed off at you. You had one of my fiancés at fuckin’ gunpoint. Were you really goin’ to fuckin’ kill him, asshole?”
Negan shakes his head. “Not necessarily. I just wanted to put fear into him. I pull up to my house, see a truck out front, the door wide ass fuckin’ open, and I had to figure out what the fuck was going on.”
I hand Angel to Tim. He takes her, even as she reaches for me. I march up to Negan. I stand in front of him. I have to tilt my head back. I ain’t gonna be taken seriously if I have to literally look up at him.
“Kneel on the fuckin’ ground, asshole.” I demand.
He complies and kneels in front of me. Now, we’re at eye level. I slap him, still fuckin’ pissed off. His head jerks to the side. He hangs his head.
“Look at me.” I state.
He lifts his head. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I get that you’re Jeffrey’s brother, and while I’ve been lookin’ forward to meetin’ you, I don’t fuckin’ appreciate you holdin’ a gun to Tim’s head and scarin’ the fuckin’ shit out of a little girl. I’m still pissed off at you. You are a motherfuckin’ asshole. But, you’re family. You’re Jeffrey’s brother, which means that you’re my brother. But, so fuckin’ help me, if you ever pull any of this shit on any of us again, I will fuckin’ end you. Do you understand?”
He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now stand the fuck up and take off your jacket.”
He does. The jacket dangles off the fingers of his left hand. I notice that his white t-shirt is covered in blood on his right side. I lift his shirt up.
“Um…doll?” Jeffrey asks from behind me. “What the fuck are you doin’?”
I ignore his questions and look at Negan’s side. I realize that my knife went in a little deeper than I thought. I let his shirt fall back into place as I go over to the truck to grab my pack. I get my emergency first aid kit out and go back to Negan. I patch up his side after cleaning the excess dried blood off his torso. He slides the jacket back on and looks at me.
“You’re a badass little firecracker.” He says.
“I might be tiny, but I can fuckin’ defend myself and those I love when I have to. Don’t let my height fool you.” I say.
He chuckles. “I can tell. Remind me not to you off again.”
“Let’s pray that you never do. It won’t end well for you.”
He nods. I look back at my little family. Tim’s still holding Angel in his arms, and she’s looking at me. She’s managed to stop crying. Jeffrey’s standing beside Tim, with his right arm curled ‘round Tim’s shoulders. I smile at my little family. I step away from Negan and walk over to them. Angel reaches for me and I gladly take her in my arms. Negan steps closer to us after glancing at me and getting my permission.
“So…this is your family, Jeff?” He asks.
Jeffrey chuckles. “Damn fuckin’ straight it is. This is Tim, Angel, and well, you’ve met Leigh.”
Negan nods. “Indeed I have. Holy shit. She’s feisty.”
“She’s standing right fuckin’ here.” I say.
The men all chuckle. Negan looks down at me.
“I’m well aware of that, sweetheart.” He says.
I step closer to him. “Let’s get one fuckin’ thing straight right fuckin’ now. I’m not your fuckin’ “sweetheart”. Got it? The only two people allowed to call me that would be Tim and Jeffrey, and that’s because they’re my fiancés.”
“Yes, ma’am. What can I call you then?”
“Not any romantic pet names. That’s for damn sure.”
He smirks. “But…I can give you a pet name?”
I glare. “Maybe. I have to get to know you better.”
“Fair ‘nough.”
Jeffrey chuckles. “God, doll. I love the fuckin’ shit outta you.”
I grin as I look at him. “I love you too, hon.”
I look at Tim and step over to him. He wraps his arms ‘round me and I gaze into his eyes. I bring one hand up and cup his cheek. He looks proud, yet still hesitant ‘round Negan.
“You ok, babe?” I ask.
He nods. “I’m ok if you’re ok.”
I smile. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He lowers his head and gently kisses me.