The Fighter Within

The beginning

"Baby, please, the kids have got to get used to us being in the same house if this relationship is going to work," Carter said. "I know I am not their dad, but i love you, so I have to love them too." Claire rolled her eyes and went to collect the tip from her previous customer. Carter is the definition of a bad boy, he can get the attention of everyone in the room without opening his mouth. He is 6'2 and lean with dark brown hair, long at the top but short on the sides. Carter has a lot of tattoos, but it's not like the tacky kind. Claire really likes the lion tattoo that fully covers his back. Carter has brown eyes, but he knows how to use them to get what he wants, and he does all the time when he sees Claire. "Carter, I am working, and you know how i feel about pushing you on to my kids too soon." Claire stated politely. Claire just lost her husband 6 months ago. She has feelings for Carter for sure, but the idea of sharing her kids with someone who is not their father makes her nervous. "Can you talk about this after work?" Claire asked again while running around the tables collecting her tips. "My mom will have the kids so you can stay over tonight, okay?" She kisses him on the cheek and walks to the kitchen while carrying glasses.

Carter runs his hand through his hair and walks out to his car. Waiting for him are his two right-hand men, Thomas, who they call Dom because it's more mature of a name, and Jason. Carter takes a deep breath and throws his head back against the headrest. "Dude, why are you wasting your time with this chick?" Jason asked. Fair question, Carter is now the leader of the mafia and could have any women he wanted or multiple if he wanted. Women threw themselves at him when they saw him and most of the men and boys within the mafia loved that and Carter did too. He had women on the side, but he made sure Claire never knew. Claire would have s*x with him, of course, and it was great for her. She liked it. But Carter was a sadistic man. He took pleasure from creating pain and that was something he knew Claire wasn't ready for. So, to get his fix, Carter would have s*x with the women approved by the doctors within the mafia to act out his fantasies. The goal, of course, is to get Claire to that level, but she didn't make it easy and that was the game Carter loved to play. "I told you I need a woman I can control, a woman who fears me and has something to lose that I can take away," Carter said in a cool tone trying not to lose his temper. Both Dom and Jason knew not to piss off Carter. The man could kill anyone without blinking an eye and has seen it first hand on several occasions. "Once I get her to fully trust me that when I make my move, she will never look at another human being without my permission," Carter stated.

Claire heard of Carter's personality and behavior, but she also knew how people saw Daniel, who was also a bit cold to strangers and knew how to maintain control over a crowd being apart from the military. That is the part that makes Claire feel safe. They have similar backgrounds, but Carter would actually kill someone, and she isn't sure Daniel ever would. Claire also knew that once a man met her kids that it would be serious, and she didn't want to confuse the kids. Her kids are her life, her reason for breathing and all she wants to do is protect them and teach them the way she and Daniel planned before he passed. She still missed her husband, but Daniel would not want her to be alone. At least that is what she tells herself. Finishing her shift at 2 am, Claire gets into her car and picks up the phone from her bag in the passenger seat. Claire saw a message from her mom about Elizabeth throwing up. She takes a deep breath and calls her mom before leaving the parking lot. "Hey, I will come get Lizzy," Claire said to her mom. "I'll just tell Stan I can't work tomorrow, and it will be fine. I have the PTO for emergencies like this," Claire told her mom. 30 minutes later, she arrived at her parents' to pick up her daughter. Lizzy had a fever and was half asleep when her mom reached for her from her grandmother. "I'll keep Jaxon and Faith. They seem fine, but I'm sure it's just a viral bug," her mom said. "I'm sure it is, that time of year with school it happens, thank you," Claire told her mother when she went in for a hug. Sometimes all Claire needs is a reminder that she is doing the best she can. Claire starts the drive home, which isn't too far from her parents' house. To Claire's surprise, Carters' jeep was already in her driveway, and he was leaning on the back waiting for her. "s**t," she said quietly to herself. Claire had forgotten she was supposed to see him after work tonight and that she was supposed to be kids free. Claire opened her door and met Carter with his arms open wide for a hug, his cologne was fresh, and his hair was wet. Claire knew what that meant, and she just looked back and the van where Lizzy was still sound asleep. "Listen, i know I said you could stay tonight, but my mom called and Elizabeth is sick, so I had to bring her home." Claire looked tired and a little worried. Carter pulled Claire close and kissed her head before saying, "Claire, the kids have to get to know me and not just as your friend but as your boyfriend and maybe husband one day." Claire didn't seem to sure about the husband part, especially with the mafia and all the awful things Carter does. Sometimes Carter comes home covered in blood from doing God knows what to people or why. Not that she is really interested in the things Carter and his gang do, but she knew it was not a good environment for kids. "It's fine, baby, she will be fine and when she wakes up in the morning she will be happy to see me, I can even go get her breakfast or something, you'll see." Claire knew that Carter is not a man who takes no for an answer and so with that she opened the van door and got Lizzy out of her car seat.

Claire put Lizzy in her bed, gave her some Tylenol and kissed her head before receding out of the room. Carter sat on the couch watching Claire like a lion ready to attack its prey. Claire put the medication box back at the top of the shelf on the kitchen counter and reached for a glass to get some water. Carter quickly and quietly came up behind Claire and placed his hands firmly on her hips, causing her to slightly lose focus on what she was doing. Carter placed kisses all along her shoulders and neck and pressed himself against her, trapping her in the corner of the kitchen and counter. Claire melted to his touch, Carter was a man who made sure he got what he wanted and, when he wanted it, that was the part of his personality that scares Claire.