14. Ryder

One Month Later

I swear Berkley is a Godsend.Melody and I both couldn't do what we are if it weren't for her insisting that Sienna can stay with her a few times a week once school is finished for the day. Heck, Melody even started dating Tanner, our local liquor distribution owner. He's thirty-five, no kids, owns his business outright, and has a house here in town. So far, the past few weeks, they've dated on their own, without Sienna. Melody told him it's too soon. This may be her first time getting out and dating, but she has clear lines drawn in the sand that she won't budge on. Thankfully, or I'd step in without a problem.

Berkley and I have been taking Sienna to the zoo, to the arcade, or sometimes we stay at my place or hers, depending on what's going on, and the schedule I'm finagling for that week. The biggest downside of this gig is that when I walk into the bedroom, Berkley is passed out, dead to the world, and I'm ready to slide deep inside her. One night, I walked into my apartment, and she was in bed, the covers off her naked body as she lay on her stomach, leg cocked out, giving me that delicious view of her cunt. I didn't give one thought about stripping out of my clothes and planting my face in her pussy, eating her until she woke up, gasping for more. After she got off, she rode me until we both got ours. I fell asleep with her wrapped up in my arms.

"Ryder!" Melody comes barreling into the kitchen. I throw my knife down.

"What's wrong?"

"Sienna's school called. Apparently, Joseph is there attempting to pick her up. They tried to stop him in the front office, but he charged his way through the school resource officer, went to Berkley's classroom, and he's barricaded himself in there with just the two of them." Melody is wringing her hands, trying to hold it together even though I know she's falling apart. Meanwhile, I have two people in the middle of this mayhem who have my heart.

"We're leaving. Go tell Nancy she'll have to deal for the night. Dan, don't fuck anything up." I point my finger at him to get my point across. He nods his head, seeing I'm serious.

I take my apron and chef hat off, wash my hands, and then go find Melody. The sooner we're at the school, the better I'll be. Though, I'm sure they've called the cops by now, and we won't be anywhere near there. The only saving grace, which is shitty to even say, is that school was out for the day. Berkley and Sienna were hanging out while she worked on her lesson plans. I hate like hell that they're both stuck with Joseph. Who the hell knows what he's doing or saying.

Melody rushes back in, purse on her shoulder, phone in her hand. It causes me to stop in my tracks to find my own. I usually keep it within reach, propped up in case Berkley needs me, and that's where I left it. I should have known something was up when she didn't text me a picture of Sienna coloring, reading, or playing like she usually does.

"Fuck," I grumble and grab it. Melody is hot on my heels as she follows me out to the truck, both of us rushing to get in.

"I didn't think Joseph could ever be this stupid." She blows out a puff of air.

"Me neither. Did something happen this week?" I ask her.

"Yes, the attorney served him with papers to either pay up his child support and arrears or give up his rights to Sienna completely. We haven't heard back from him. I guess this is his way of letting me know what we're up against."

"Call your attorney. Give her a heads-up. That way, she's not blindsided when he's taken into custody. Pretty sure a judge will sign his rights away when he's rotting in a jail cell anyway." I feel like a shithead not knowing this was going on this week, but it's not like either of us has had much of a chance to talk lately. Her with her new dating life, me with my own, and Sienna is always around when we are. The restaurant isn't a place where either of us like to talk about our family shit.

"Good idea," she mumbles before making the call. I tune everything out. My only thought is getting to the two women who mean the most to me. I mean, sure, my sister has some space in there too, but Sienna, shit, she's so young. And Berkley. That woman is my damn moon and stars. Not that I've told her I love her yet. As soon as this shit is over and done with, I'll be rectifying that. You damn well better believe it. Five minutes later, we're pulling into the school parking lot. Cops have the place surrounded, and this is seemingly getting worse by the second.

"Have you gotten an update?" I ask Melody. She just finished her phone call with her attorney.

"No, but the principal said to tell the officers who we are. They were able to escort everyone out of the school besides Sienna and Berkley."

"Good, you need to let Tanner know what's going on. Nothing dampens a relationship like seeing your woman on TV with breaking news and not knowing about it. I'd be pissed as hell, and if I know Tanner, which I do, he'll want to be here, even just to be your support." I park the truck. She has the phone to her ear. I wait a second even though the tightening in my chest is urging me to leave Melody and find out what's going on. I don't.

"He's on his way. Let's go." I follow her, unsure of where we'll need to be or where we can go.

Melody is walking at breakneck speed, almost a jog, yet I keep up with her. The principal stands up, meeting her at the makeshift entry. I let them talk, listening in, how Joseph isn't demanding anything except to talk to Melody. He didn't want this to escalate, he just wanted to see Sienna one last time before he signed over his rights.

"That's a hell of a way to do it. Is he ready to come out, then?" I intercept.

"He's already out. Joseph is in custody. Sienna and Miss Jennings are waiting for you around the corner." Melody and I quit talking. We're both running. The two of them are huddled together, a blanket around each other, Sienna practically sitting in Berkley's lap, fingers combing through the strands of her hair. They even have smiles playing on their faces. Fuck, that woman of mine never ceases to amaze me.

"Sugar." My voice cracks.

"Sienna. Berkley, thank you so much for keeping my girl safe," Melody interjects. Sienna jumps down off Berkley's lap, flying into her mother's arms. Now that I know Si is okay, it's time to go after my woman.

"Ryder." Her voice is sad, as if she's defeated.

"You're okay, baby." She's wrapped in my arms, safe, out of harm's way.

"I'm sorry. I should have called or texted you. Hell, Melody too, but when he walked into the classroom, I froze. I redirected his attention away from Sienna as much as possible. That girl is too smart for her own good. She stayed quiet, and I'll never be more thankful for that tent I have set up in my room like I was today. Joseph didn't even know she was in there. Never even saw her until he was taken away." Berkley's voice is shaky as she tells the story. Thankfully, Sienna is out of earshot. It's a story Melody will I'm sure tell her one day when she starts questioning why she doesn't have a father in her life.

My arms wrap around her shoulders, walking her towards the principal to see if she needs to do anything further, when I notice Tanner. He has both girls huddled around his body, hugging them tightly. Sienna may not be completely introduced to him as Melody's boyfriend, but she does know about him. I'm thinking he's going to fit in nicely with our crazy bunch.

"Ready to go home?" I ask Berkley after she was questioned by the officers. I never left her side, even when she had to give a complete recount of what happened. I prayed the entire time that Joseph wouldn't do something stupid. Thankfully, he didn't. It's probably the only thing going for him. Even still, no judge is going to grant him any type of visitation with Sienna, and hopefully, he'll be sitting his ass in the county jail until he has a full hearing. The sheriff gave us that tidbit of information. Though he did say Berkley may have to give a full deposition, or if Joseph decides to play hardball, she might have to testify. If that even happens. I'm pretty sure the lawyer he had on retainer won't want to touch his case with a ten-foot pole. Serves that dumb fuck right too.

When all was said and done, the principal told her to take a few days off, see how she feels, and reconvene to see how Berkley is doing. I gave her a look, one that said she'll be taking a full week off, not just the weekend, which is what she would do if she had it her way. The girl lives and breathes her students and her job. It's up to me to take care of her, though, and we'll be doing it my way for the time being.

"God, yes. I don't even care whose place. A shower, pajamas, a glass of wine, and food. In no particular order, either." I kiss her forehead. We stop at where Melody is, making sure that Tanner is taking them home, but not until Sienna has come to give us both a big hug and a kiss on our cheek.

I'm still counting my blessings the entire ride to Berkley's place. I have clothes and toiletries at her apartment, like she does at my condo. I figure she'll want the comfort of home tonight, and to be honest, I don't give a single fuck where we sleep as long as when I lay my head down to sleep, she's beside me.