Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Striker

"Well, I'm heading to bed," Lila announces, bounding off the couch. "Night."

"Night." I look toward her and smile at her, though I don't move from my spot. I couldn't if I wanted to. Not with the way Autumn is curled around me. She passed out not long ago, and I don't have it in me to move her just yet.

Tonight, she'd gone with the flow, relaxed her guard, laughed, and was at ease. Her folks had gotten to see this, and I knew they appreciated it. They'd been worried about her. You could see it in the way they both watched.

I'd gotten to see the way she and her mom could go at it, debating who was right and who was wrong about the simplest shit as to what's the best way to cook potatoes and make fries. If I'm not mistaken, they even started talking about purple potatoes. Something I hadn't even seen before, but Autumn swore cooked just right, they were the best potatoes to eat.

Adam explained to me that Avery had been his sweet, quiet girl while Autumn was his wild one. They never did anything separately. It's why they'd decided to open two cafés. Since Avery's death, Autumn closed the other one deciding to keep just Avery's going, but she changed the name.

At dinner, I learned a bit more about Autumn, and I know deep down I made the right call in deciding she was going to be mine. No matter how fast or slow I've got to go with her. Yielding to the temptation that is my woman is hard enough. Giving in completely is all I can think about. She's quickly becoming more to me than I thought was possible.

I'd just like for her to stay awake longer than it takes for her to fully relax and chill out.

Lila had put a movie on when we got home. I planned to talk to Autumn, but she instantly curled up to me without me pulling her in, and within minutes of the movie being on, she passed out. Lila barely got thirty minutes into it before deciding to go to sleep, leaving me here with a sleeping woman in my lap. At least Lila had a good sense to put it on the new Godzilla and Kong movie.

Eyes to the movie, I debate moving, carrying Autumn to bed, or just lying there.

Autumn whimpers something in her sleep, and I give her a squeeze as I kiss the top of her head. Last night, more like this morning, she hadn't had a nightmare. I fucked her to the point of exhaustion and then some. She'd been so worn out she could do nothing but sleep. I think even with it being just a smaller amount, she'd been able to sleep deeper than she had in a while.

If it weren't for the shit I've got to talk to her about being so important, I'd brush it off and leave her in the dark. Unfortunately, I can't. Her apartment was trashed. She needs to know so she can process and replace what was destroyed. I'd gone by there before heading to the café, and it was definitely wrecked. Her bathroom, everything in it, from tampons to makeup, everywhere. Her dressers were broken and her clothes were scattered, some were even ripped.

I could wait until morning and let her know what happened. I could wake her up, take her to my room, and spend the rest of the evening inside her like I want to, but she needs her rest.

Knowing the right thing to do is let her sleep, I leave her be and focus on the movie until I find my eyes drifting closed. Not wanting to sleep on the couch, I gently move, rolling her with me. I get to my feet and lift Autumn in my arms. She mumbles something but doesn't wake. I carry her to my room and lay her in the middle of the bed.

Stripping out of my clothes, I make quick work of hers without waking her. It should annoy the shit out of me that she hasn't woken, but it doesn't.

I climb in next to her, pull the covers up and over the both of us. I also make note to get a fan. I saw in her room that she had one in the corner, pointed at the bed. She's been sleeping soundly, but I'm willing to bet before everything went down, she slept with a fan on every night. I've heard enough about people who can't sleep without a damn fan.

I personally can do either, but that's just me. Lila, I know she has to have music on to fall asleep. It's not even music I like, it's some instrumental music she calls Auri, or I think that's what she calls it. It could be something different altogether.

Falling asleep, holding Autumn in my arms, keeps my own demons at bay. Demons I've fought off plenty and do my damnedest not to think about. Even dealing with her shit, they attempt to push through. Normally they're able to slip through at night, but with this beautiful woman in my arms, I don't think they'll be able to get through.

My phone rings from its place on the nightstand. Groaning, I reach for it without letting Autumn go. I don't bother looking at the screen. Only a handful of people would call me in the dead of night.

"This better be important," I bite out, holding it to my ear.

"Brother, you need to get down here," Brass answers, "Café's been broken into."

"Oh fuck," I mutter, bolting upright, waking Autumn in the process. "How bad is it?"

"Not as bad as her apartment, but she won't be opening in the morning."

"We get them and what happened on footage? Know who did it?" I ask, getting out of bed and sensing Autumn sitting up.

"Don't know yet. Just got here and called you," Brass remarks.

"Right, give me a few, and I'll be on the way." I don't wait for him to say anything else and end the call.

"What's going on?" Autumn asks as I turn toward her.

I let out a frustrated breath and run a hand through my hair. "Get dressed, Mama, you're gonna have to come with me. "

"Okay, why?"I can hear the confusion in her voice, but still, she gets out of bed. "You're gonna have to stop undressing me."

"I'll do that when you stop passing out on me on the couch," I say while pulling on a pair of jeans.

"Excuse me for being tired. Now, what's going on that we have to leave?"

I stop long enough to stare as she bends to grab a pair of jeans out of her bag. My cock twitches, and I wish we had time ‘cause I sure as hell would bend her over the side of the bed and fuck her.

I wait until she's got her clothes on before pulling her in my arms and securing her to me. "Right, so, it's not going to be easy breaking this to you. You've had a lot you've been dealing with. Was gonna tell you yesterday when I came to see you, but you'd been dealing with other shit."

"What?" she murmurs, cocking her head back to look at me.

"There's no easy way to say it, your apartment was broken into, and they trashed it?—" ‘

"What?" she breathes.

"On top of that, the reason Brass called, the café was broken into." She gasps, but I push forward, ignoring it. "They're there now. So, finish getting ready. We're heading there to see what the damage is. "

Autumn nods, her breathing grows heavy, and she looks ready to flip out. She surprises me when she doesn't argue with me or keep asking questions. She just finishes getting ready, throws her hair up, and heads for the door.