Part One

Darius

13 years later…

Leah Lockhart.

My wife, my perfect fucking woman. She changed the entire game for me, I miss her when she isn’t in the same room. Being together for as long as we have, I thought the need to have her in my eyesight, or just wanting to feel the heat of her body against mine would lessen but?—.

“Darius Cameron Lockhart!”

Well, she is perfect, that is until she full fucking names me!

I debate making a run for it, maybe hiding out at Corvin’s next door until she calms the fuck down. I have no damn idea what I did this time to get the full-name treatment, but I don’t want to stick around and find out. I creep out of my office and look both ways when I realize she must be upstairs. I make a break for the front door. I’m almost within reach of it when she suddenly appears out of thin fucking air. I slide along the wooden floors and screech to a stop, right before colliding with her.

Her eyes narrow as she looks up at me, then to make her point further, she places her hands on her hips, and I know without a doubt I’m in some fucking deep shit!

“Goldie—.” I try to plead, but then she scrunches her face and I snap my mouth closed, bracing for impact.

“Who the fuck is Vivian Tempest?” I reel back as if she sucker punched me, and instantly raise my hands, surrendering to my wife, knowing it's always best not to aggravate her further when she’s in this type of mood.

“Goldie, I have no idea who that woman is, I swear?—.”

“Oh save your bullshit ass excuses, Lockhart.” I cringe and smile sheepishly.

“Baby, that is our last name, and you know how I feel about you using it in that tone.” Her face slackens and I step back. My wife has always been hot-headed and quick to pop off, but ever since my sperm landed in her egg, she has been a ticking time bomb. My brothers avoid me, refusing to come over because they don’t know if she is going to cry, or rage at me. Well, she rages at everyone, aside from fucking Beckett. That motherfucker seems to be the only male exempt from her rage, which pisses me the fuck off.

When tears start welling in her eyes, all my defenses fall, the urge to protect my girl overwhelming me and I reach for her, pulling her body into mine. She begins sobbing as I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. I may be a heartless piece of shit to every other motherfucker, but never her. She is my haven, my home, my fucking everything, and I’ll never admit it but I’m terrified to become a father. I’m scared I won’t be able to love our baby as much as I love her. I’m terrified that I’ll end up being a fucked up parent, just like mine were.

“Baby, you have to stop crying or I’m gonna be forced to find this Vivian bitch and hurt her for making you sad.” That gets a watery chuckle from her and I sigh in relief. She pulls back, looking up at me with that doe-eyed look she always gives me, and I’m done for. She could ask me for the world and I’d find a way to give it to her. Twelve years ago I made her my wife. At thirty-seven, I never thought I would become a father, but I know becoming a mother has always been a dream of Leah’s, and we’ve been trying for years. We were on the brink of giving up and exploring the possibility of adopting, and then suddenly, our little miracle happened.

“Who is she, halfback?” She whispers brokenly, anger soars through me and I instantly want to hunt this bitch down, and destroy her world for upsetting my girl.

I cup her face and brush away her tears with my thumbs. “Baby, I swear on my life I have no idea who the fuck you are talking about.” She opens her mouth to argue, so I push on. “The only woman I have eyes for is you! You are still the only girl I have ever loved, you were my first kiss and you will be my last. Never doubt that.”

“We have to go to Becky’s.” I grit my teeth and try to calm myself. Even after all these years I still get jealous when I know I have no reason to. Beck is married to Val, and they are happy with each other and their kids. I know Leah and Beck don’t love each other like that. The bond they share is one I will never understand but will always support because Beckett loves my wife, and he would lay his life down for her. Their love is more of a siblings, and best friend type of love.

“Why?”

She rolls her eyes and pushes me back. “Because this bitch has been looking into Becky, my brother, Crue, and Saint as well.” Instantly my hackles rise, it’s been over a decade since we have had someone sniffing around our shit. The last person brave enough to was Saint’s father. I reach around and pull her coat off the hanger, helping her pull it on before reaching for my own. I interlock our fingers as we walk out the front door, and see Corv and Alexa heading to Beck and Val’s too.

“Jailbait, I didn’t do shit!” I smirk at the sound of my best friend going through the same fucking thing I just did with his own wife.

“Shut the fuck up, Reaper, I’ll deal with you after I sort this bitch out.” Alexa snaps as she storms ahead of him. I wipe the smirk from my face when Leah looks up at me.

“How did you find out about this Vivian chick, Goldie?” I ask, walking along the sidewalk.

“Katie found her trying to hack into her server or something., She was trying to find information about all of you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. We have no idea who she is, but Katie called and told us girls to get our guys and head to Beck’s.” I mull over what she said as we make our way into Beck's head into the living room, and I can’t help but frown at the sight of all the guys standing on one side of the room, and the girls on the other. Leah tries to let go of my hand but I tighten my hold, drawing her gaze to me.

“I can feel the tension and see the divide already, we aren’t them.” Her brows furrow. “You and me, we are fucking united. You stay by my side.” She softens instantly and leans up on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to my lips.

“You’re mine, halfback, and I’ll cut a bitch if she thinks she can try and take you from me.” She says quietly.

I grip the back of her neck and rest my forehead against hers. I stare into her green eyes. “My heart is yours, Goldie. You own me, no one will ever come between us. After we sort this, I have a surprise for you this Christmas.” Her eyes widen and a broad smile stretches across her face.

“What is it?” She breathes out excitedly.

I pull back and shoot her a wink. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told ya now would it?” She purses her lips and tries to look angry but fails.

“I have it!” Katie shouts enthusiastically. When the guys rush toward the girls, the four of them skid to a halt when Alexa shoots them a look filled with scorn.

“Seriously?” Crue snaps, Katie shoots her man a timid smile, and I scoff, drawing all their attention to me.

“Got something to say, Lockhart?” I wrap my arm around my wife’s shoulders and pull her into my side.

“Yeah, I do actually, Val.” I bite out, earning a scoff from the fiery redhead. “You are all pissed off at us for something we have no fucking clue about. Katie isn’t angry at her husband’s so that should show the rest of you heathens that we didn’t do shit.”

“Exactly!” Corvin adds.

“I have no fucking clue who the fuck this woman is, and I’ve been trying to tell you that, Valance!” Beck shouts.

“Why the fuck is she looking into all of you then?” Alexa exclaims.

“I can answer that!” Katie says in a victorious tone.

“Well, can you share with the rest of us because I need to pee again, for the hundredth time today!” I wince. Leah hasn’t had the easiest pregnancy, and she really does have to pee all the time.

“Vivian Tempest has a twin brother, Vox Hatchett,” Katie says.

“And who the fuck is he?” Saint snaps.

Katie rolls her eyes. “Calm down, babe. Vox has applied to attend CHU, and after doing some digging into him, it looks like his girlfriend, Nova Quinlin, has applied here as well.”

“And we give a fuck because?” Corvin is clearly about to run out of patience soon.

“Because he plays just as good as you did, if not better,” Katie says with a smug smile. Corvin’s face blanks, and then he marches across the room and snatches the laptop from Katie’s lap. He pushes play on a video and we all stand here watching his face morph into shock, disbelief, and then…he smiles fucking wide.

“This kid is good, like really fucking good.” He sounds almost proud, and Corvin isn’t the type to ever dish out compliments.

“From what I gathered, his best friends, Archer Malik, Hayze Draven, and Ezekiel Tempest applied here as well. They are also football stars and fucking good, too.”

My brows slam together. “Wait, you said Ezekiel Tempest?”

Katie nods and smiles at me. “I did indeed. Darius.”

“How old is she?” I push.

“She’s nineteen and married to Ezekiel.” She answers.

“See,” Corvin shouts, looking at his wife. “She’s young enough to be my fucking kid.”

Alex snorts. “Age didn’t seem to be a factor when you were trying to screw me.” Everyone tries really hard to bite their tongue and not laugh at Corv’s expense, but of course, Crue and Saint are the first to lose it and we all join in, unable to control our laughter.

“Ya’ll are a bunch of fucking assholes, you know that right?” Corv grits out.

“Okay, so what does she want?” My girl asks.

“From what I can gather, she just wants a meeting with the guys,” Katie answers.

“Why would she want to meet with us?” Crue hedges.

“I have no idea but I must say, I love her persistence and the fact she was able to hack my system shows how good she is.” Katie sounds almost proud.

“But you’re better aren’t you, Katie baby?” Saint coos, earning an eye roll from his wife.

“Of course. Which is why I have accepted the guys and Nova’s applications and set a date for you all to meet with her.”