Page 9 of Pushing Styxx
The knock came two days later while I was working on making Eabha her bottle, getting her ready to go down before my brothers came over to watch the ball game. The Rangers are playing, and we have plans to watch it here.
Cursing to myself, I glance at my daughter and head to the door. My brothers would’ve walked right in, so I know it’s not any of them.
Opening it, I find Promise standing there, a bright smile on her face. “Hey, Styxx.”
“Promise,” I grunt. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, Hope is at work, and I’m bored,” she announces, waltzing right into the house and straight to Eabha. “Hey, sweet girl,” she coos, dropping down in front of my daughter on her playmat. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t think you should be over here without your sister home.”
The last thing I need is people thinking I’m some perv letting young girls in my house.
“I texted her and told her I was coming over here. It’s all good,” she says without looking up.
I doubted it was all good.
“Did you eat?” I end up asking instead of kicking her out.
“Not yet,” she answers and looks up at me and the bottle I’m holding. “Can I feed her?”
Shaking my head, I close the door and toss her the bottle. “Help yourself out.” Why did I say that shit?
Promise catches it easily and lifts Eabha, snuggling her close. “Hope always fixes dinner for us before she picks me up from school. It’s always something healthy and good for you. Tonight, it’s chicken broccoli, and cauliflower rice.”
“Sounds good.” Not really, but I wasn’t going to tell the kid that.
“Not really, I mean, it always tastes good, no matter what Hope fixes, but I’m tired of healthy foods. The only time we eat junk is on the weekends. Even then, the majority of the time, my sister makes the healthy choices of the meals. Like who orders a salad over a greasy burger?”
“Lasagna doesn’t sound all too healthy,” I point out, remembering her mentioning it the other day.
“Yeah, that’s part of the weekend foods she does when she knows she doesn’t have to be at work the next night,” Promise explains. “It’s my mom’s recipe, and it’s great. You missed out. The girls all devoured it. You won’t want to miss out on her chicken-fried steaks this weekend coming up. They’re divine.”
“I’ll remember that.” Sounded good, but no way would I be over there eating with them. I shouldn’t even have Promise here now.
Before she can say anything, the door opens, and Scythe comes inside along with Beast, Diablo, Azrael, and Cerberus. They look from the girl to me.
“You get a babysitter or something?” Scythe asks.
“No, this is Promise, she lives in the house next door with her sister. She came over here to see Eabha,” I explain, hoping they don’t say shit about Hope working at Keeper’s Temptation in front of Promise.
“Hey, cool, you guys are a part of Satan’s Keepers MC,” Promise blurts, lifting my daughter to her shoulder. “My sister works at one of your establishments. It’s the new strip club. Her name there is Temptation. Have y’all been yet? She’s a great dancer, isn’t she?”
Damn this kid and all her blurting questions.
“Yeah,” Scythe answers, nodding. “Saw her opening night. Wasn’t half bad.”
“Half bad?” Promise cocks a brow, looking at my brother, then me. “Hey, you two are twins. Cool,” she says and looks back at my brother. “Hope is anything but half bad. She’s great. If I weren’t such a clutz, I’d dance like she does, but I make it look like I’m a cartoon character or something. When Hope’s on stage, she makes magic happen.”
“The kid ain’t lying,” Beast grunts.
“This kid’s awesome.” Azrael snorts. “How old are you?”
“I just turned fifteen. I go to Pinehaven Academy. Hope thinks it’s cool that I’m top of my class there and I’m only a sophomore.” Promise finishes with Eabha and lays her back down on the playmat before standing. “I guess I’ll go back home and let you get on with your evening.”
“Stick around, Kid, we’re ordering pizza. You can’t have any of the beer, but I’ll make sure you eat before you go back home. Just text your sister and let her know.” I shouldn’t have offered.Should have let her get home, but I have a feeling she gets lonely and is just looking to have someone to spend time with.
“Really?” Promise utters, for the first time, looking nervous. “Are you sure?”
