Easter's Lilly Read online

I hit my head against the coffee table and there was blood everywhere. Max leapt to his feet and stood in front of me. He pulled his gun out and cocked it before he threw it in Diego’s face. “Seriously Maxwell. You’re going to shoot me?” he asked.

  “Diego, not tonight.”

  “Are you sleeping with my wife too?” he asked.

  “No one is sleeping with your wife,” he answered.

  “I’m about to change that,” Diego answered. “Now give me my wife.”

  “Not tonight, Diego.” My father had his hand on his gun but did not pull it out. Max reached down to pick me up off of the floor and pushed me behind him without once taking his eyes off of Diego.

  “Johnny says you’re sleeping with her too.”

  “John didn’t get to first base with her,” Max answered. “I opened the door and he was forcing himself on her. She did not respond.”

  “And you? Why was she in your lap?”

  “I was comforting her, that’s all,” he answered. “I think we fell asleep waiting for you.” Diego made a face showing disbelief. “Candy took her out there. She didn’t know where they were going.”

  Diego seemed to be calming down. “Give her to me.”

  “Not tonight.” Max stood firm with me behind him. He was clearly not going to let me go. “Go take a walk, and let me clean her up.”

  “Max, she does not belong to you.” He reached out his hand for me. Blood was spilling down my face and into my eyes.

  “Don’t make me chose between you,” Max answered. “You won’t win this time.”

  Diego walked out the door and slammed it behind him. “Thanks for not interfering Mick,” Max said. I was shaking uncontrollably, wiping blood from my eyes.

  “I’m telling you Max, if you ever change your mind, I’ll get you a job.” As soon as the tension had ceased Max’s hit man exterior fell to the floor like a ceramic mask. He turned to me and pulled me close. “Baby girl, are you all right?” I had blood all over my face and hands. It had dripped all over my clothes and the floor. There was a gash in my head. He brought me to the kitchen and started looking for antiseptic. My dad got him a first-aid kit and he started wiping the blood from my face.

  “Does she need stitches?” he asked Max.

  “Even a small gash on the head, will spill a lot of blood,” he answered. My dad gave him a disapproving look. “Just a little something I learned over the years,” he said smiling. He put a band-aide on my head and kissed it.

  “Careful,” my dad said cautiously. “He’ll be back any minute.”

  He grabbed a towel and started cleaning up the blood. I was shaking too hard to do it myself. “We’re going to head back tonight, Mick.” Max grabbed my hand. “I’m afraid to leave her in a room with him tonight. I won’t have any control.”

  “That’s fine,” he answered. “You’d better take care of her, Max.” He got suddenly very serious. “I’m trusting you.” Their familiarity with each other confused me. I wasn’t sure if Max used to live out here or what, but my dad really liked him. We heard the door open and Max stood in front of me again. Diego walked in. “I’m sorry, Lilly.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Now, can I have my wife?” Diego looked at Max.

  “We’re leaving in a few minutes,” Max answered. “I meant it when I said, not tonight.”

  “Fine,” he conceded. “Let’s get out of here. The sooner we get home, the sooner I get my wife back.” He walked out of the kitchen and my father and Max gave each other an unfavorable look. “Max…” I said. I was shivering.

  He kissed my hands. “I can’t believe how hard this is,” he replied. “But we have to go.”

  We said goodbye to my dad and the three of us got into the car. Diego drove and Max and I sat in the back together. I had my head on his shoulder and he had his arms around me. “When we get home,” Diego started, “this thing you two have is over.” We didn’t move apart. I didn’t want to be away from him. I knew what was going to happen when I got home and was trying as hard as I could not to think about it.