AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tucker thrusts a manila envelope at me, and my hand shakes as I reach forward to accept it. It feels deceptively light, considering it holds my potential damnation. Arrest. Arrest. Arrest. The word makes me sick, but the implications are even worse. If I get taken into custody, Theo would have to go with Frank. As his biological parent, custody would revert to him in the event of my incarceration.
“Am I being arrested, Officer?” I ask, horrified by the thick tears in my voice. Maybe I can talk them into waiting a couple of days so we can disappear. But something on my face must give that plan away.
“Hell no, you’re not being arrested. I already spoke on your behalf. And I was there at his rescue,” Tucker snaps, enraged by the entire situation. “You can fight this thing, Arden. But you can’t run.”
His eyes hold me captive, watching to make sure it sinks in. “You. Cannot. Run,” he says again, emphasizing each word. “I can’t help you keep Theo out of Frank’s hands if you flee.” And I know he’s right. Running right now would be considered kidnapping.
We’re stuck here. Sitting ducks.
“I hear you,” I say, my shoulders slumping forward and curling in. All the options run through my mind. Flee and lose Theo. Stay and be at Frank’s mercy. Can he get to us? There are no answers. The world shrinks, closing in around me, blurring at the sides of my vision. My heart beats wildly in my chest.
What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?
The sound of another vehicle making its way toward the house interrupts my downward spiral into the abyss. Who the hell is coming now?
An eerily familiar car rolls up toward the house slowly. The icy tendrils of fear coil around my heart, squeezing harder and harder until my chest tightens. My feet freeze in place, although my mind shrieks in alarm. Without hesitation, the man who stars in all of my nightmares pops the door open and springs from the car. Oh no. Where is Theo? Don’t let him take Theo.
The second his feet touch the ground, my whole world tilts on its axis, pinwheeling and sending me tumbling through time. Invisible fists pummel me, bruising my soul and blanketing my mind. Panic threatens to overtake all my senses, but in an instant, I’m flanked by two angry, growling dogs.
Blue and Mayhem stand on either side of me, snarling at the intruder and making it clear he had better not take one more step away from the vehicle.
“Hello, Dear Wife, aren’t you happy to see me?” he calls, an angry sneer on his face. And for the first time, I look at him. Really look. It’s been about eight months since I’ve been face-to-face with my monster and, to be honest, he looks haggard. He’s lost most of his muscle and gained a large protruding belly. His dark hair shines with grease, frown lines mar his once attractive face, and his skin is sallow. But one thing hasn’t changed at all—his mean little eyes that stare daggers at me, trying to stab me right in the heart.
“You aren’t allowed to be here. I have a restraining order,” I snap back. Hiding behind the useless piece of paper. My eyes dart to Tucker, wondering what he’ll do. In the past, officers have listened to Frank, dismissing my concerns—but I hope with everything inside me that this one is different.
Jeremy steps in front of me, not pushing me aside but using his big body to form a barrier between my ex-husband and me. He’s at least fifteen feet away, but it’s still too close, and Jeremy’s proximity is the only thing that gives me strength.
“The restraining order doesn’t matter. I’m here to get my son since you almost got him killed. You were always a shit mother. Look at how bad things have gotten without me to keep you in check,” he says smugly. All of my insecurities rise. Is he right? Did my poor mothering almost get my son killed?
“Mr. Jones, as I explained to you earlier, Theo got lost, and we were able to find him quickly because of Arden’s quick actions. He made a mistake, and Ms. Williams is not a danger to your child,” Tucker replies. Frank stares at him, looking shocked to his core.
“Is this how you treat your brother in blue?” Frank snarls at Tucker. “I want to see my son right fucking now, Arden. Get him out here—or you won’t like the punishment.”
Just the mention of punishment has my soul leaving my body. My legs quake so hard that my knees knock together. They wobble under me, threatening to give out, but Jeremy reaches back, snagging my hand. The heat of his calloused fingers ground me. I’m not alone this time—forced to take it.
“You have no right to see him. I have full custody and we can fight out your bullshit suit in court again. Leave Frank.” The words leave my lips and I roll my shoulders back, raising up to my full height and refusing to be cowed.
Frank’s face turns red with rage and he stomps forward. The dogs increase their growling, the low rumbles turning into fearsome snarls. His face goes from red to a mottled purple, and he splutters out nonsensical sounds that don’t quite form words.
“We’re gonna ask you one more time to leave before I press charges,” Jeremy warns, and Franks’ eyes bug out of his head. He looks like he’s on the verge of a heart attack, and wouldn’t that be perfect? But alas, no.
“Give. Me. My. Fucking. Kid,” he shrieks. A movement behind me catches my attention, and I whirl toward it. Theo stands behind the door frame, terror filling his eyes. And I have had enough of this.
“Make him leave Jeremy,” I whisper, releasing his hand and hustling back into the house with Blue following. Although he’s way too big for it, I lift my boy and hug him tight to my chest. His weight is hard to carry, but I manage it, walking us to his bedroom and laying on the bed with him. My fingers sift through his soft blond locks. “I promise he won’t get to you.”
“Why did he have to come here? Everything was perfect.” He shakes with silent sobs and my heart breaks. Blue jumps up to be with us, wiggling until Theo tosses an arm over him, and the dog hugs him right back. Spooning Theo, I wrap my arms around them both, cocooning Theo in love.
“It was. I wish he hadn’t come too,” I agree, kissing his wet cheek.
“I wanted to ask Jeremy to be my daddy. But now we’re going to leave again,” Theo cries. “I wish I hadn’t gotten lost. This is all my fault.”
My arms tighten around him. “This is not your fault. You got lost and did nothing wrong. Carrots needed you, and we found you,” I whisper fiercely. “We’re going to fight him. And we’re going to win.”
The room darkens as night falls, and Theo’s breath evens out, deepening as his body relaxes into slumber. My body aches to move, but the urge to stay right here watching over him is much more powerful. Jeremy’s large frame appears in the doorway.
Our eyes meet, and he walks on silent feet, padding over to the bed. He slides in behind me, the heat of his body pressing against my back, surrounding me with his reassuring presence.
“He’s gone,” Jeremy whispers softly. “And Tucker followed him all the way to town to make sure he didn’t double back. I updated my family on his threats. My brothers went to close and lock all the gates on the property. This isn’t a fortress by any means, but he shouldn’t be able to reach you easily.”
