"How did you know where I was?" Dawn asked, still shocked to see Anthony standing there.
"I followed you guys from the hospital. Nice of you to tell me you were shacking up with cover boy in there….and with MY baby".
"I don’t have to tell you where I’m living, Anthony, and I already told you I don’t need or want your help with the baby".
"What, you think that KID in there is gonna be much help? You think he’s gonna have time for you and that baby? You think when he goes on tour he’s even gonna remember who you are with all those pretty little, SKINNY girlies throwing themselves at him??" He glared at her.
Dawn was on the verge of tears when she heard AJ’s voice.
"Who’s at the door, sweetie?"
She couldn’t answer him, she couldn’t get any words out of her mouth.
"Oh, ‘Sweetie, huh?" He leaned closer to her. "Let me tell you something, no other man will raise MY baby."
AJ came up behind Dawn and opened the door wider so he could see who was there.
"What in the HELL are you doing here?" He yelled when he saw Anthony.
"Just checking on my baby,” he answered with a smirk as he reached out and touched Dawn’s stomach. "I was just leaving".
AJ moved Dawn out of the doorway and pushed Anthony’s hand away from her. Dawn had a hold on AJ’s arm, hoping to stop anything drastic from happening. Denise then came up behind her, trying to see what was going on, then Marcus joined them.
"What the hell…", Marcus’ voice trailed off when he saw what was going on.
"Take her in the house Mom,” AJ said as he turned around and pointed at Dawn.
He then stepped down onto the landing where Anthony was standing.
"Don’t EVER let me catch you anywhere NEAR my house or Dawn ever again,” he said, his face about an inch from Anthony’s.
Denise put her arm around Dawn and led her back into the house. She went, unwillingly, but tried to look over her shoulder at AJ and Anthony.
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it, little man?" She heard Anthony say to AJ.
"Oh god", she said. "Someone’s going to get hurt".
"AJ can take care of himself. If it gets out of control, Marcus will do something,” Denise reassured her.
AJ tried to keep his temper and emotions in check. He wanted so badly to punch Anthony square in the mouth, but he was trying to be the bigger man.
"That’s what I thought,” Anthony said turning around and heading back towards his car. Something in AJ snapped, he couldn’t stop himself.
"Oh, and one more thing,” AJ said, following behind Anthony.
Anthony turned around and AJ brought his arm back, punching Anthony as hard as he possibly could right in the mouth. Anthony fell to the ground, stunned.
"You son of a bitch!" Anthony said, wiping the blood from his lip.
He got up and started towards AJ. AJ didn’t really want to fight, but Anthony had gone too far showing up at his house. Especially knowing that Dawn wasn’t supposed to be under any stress.
At that moment, he couldn’t see anything around him, he was too focused on Anthony. Then, Kevin and Marcus came out of nowhere. Kevin grabbed him, but not before Anthony hit him square in the jaw.
"Let me go Kev!" AJ demanded.
"Bone, he’s not worth it. Think about what’s important,” Kevin said to him, still holding him by the shoulders.
"I’m gonna fucking kill him,” AJ insisted, seething, trying to break away from Kevin.
Marcus walked over to Anthony and pushed him towards his car.
"Get the hell outta here, and DON’T let me catch you around here ever again!"
Anthony turned in AJ’s direction as he got in his car.
"This is NOT over".
"Oh, it’s over," Kevin said, staring at Anthony.
He got in his car and sped away. Kevin finally let AJ go.
"Goddammit!" He exclaimed as he started towards the house.
They all followed AJ in the house. As soon as the door opened Dawn and Denise walked in the room.
"Oh my god!" Dawn exclaimed when she saw the blood gushing from AJ’s mouth.
"Calm down, I’m fine".
She got a towel and ran it under warm water.
"Let me clean that up,” she said, tending to his wound.
After it stopped bleeding, he looked her in the eye.
"I’m sorry, I just lost it".
Dawn wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest.
"I know, and I’m sorry to be putting you through this".
"YOU didn’t do anything,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Well, SOMETHING has to be done,” Jessica piped in.
"I agree, you guys can’t be dealing with that all the time, especially you, Dawn,” Denise said sternly.
"How did he even know where you lived?" Kevin asked.
"The son of a bitch followed us from the hospital, he had to have, that’s the only way he could’ve known,” AJ answered.
"He did,” Dawn said softly. "He told me".
"You two may want to consider moving,” Denise suggested.
Dawn and AJ looked at each other. They could both tell that each was seriously thinking about it.
"You don’t think he would find out where we moved to?" Dawn questioned.
"I don’t want you worrying about this,” AJ said. "I will take care of it. Why don’t you go lay down and relax for awhile".
"I probably should lay down, but I’m not tired. How about I just lay on the couch. That gives me the chance to socialize with our company for awhile, too".
"Okay, I’ll go get the blankets and everything", he suggested, giving her a tender kiss.
"What a guy,” Dawn gushed.
"I think I’m gonna vomit,” Jessica teased.
Dawn stuck her tongue out at her as they all piled into the living room.

Chapter 37
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