Bren shoved past her, hitting the door open and almost taking out my mother-in-law on the way.
I think I was in love with this girl.
Zellman went right with her.
Taylor.
I started forward and heard from Zeke as I did, “What’s up, Mrs. Mason Kade?”
Heather put the palm of her hand on his forehead and pushed him backward. “Go away.”
He chuckled, but I ignored him and went inside, already hearing all the glorious yelling from the two people I wanted upset.
Tate and Helen.
Christmas came early.
33
Taylor
I was running to catch up now because as soon as Bren shoved inside, someone went tearing through the house.
“Z!” Bren barked, but she didn’t need to. Zellman sprinted past her. They split inside the house. Bren went left, and Zellman went right. Pounding footsteps could be heard outside, and a second later, there was a loud thud, and Bren was yelling again. “STOP RIGHT THERE! STOP!”
Zellman sped around the other side of the house. He was moving to intercept. A beat later, a whole cacophony of shouting was heard.
Heather and Samantha had stopped just past Helen, also trying to catch up.
I moved first, going by them and right back outside. I reached into my pocket as I did.
There, right there, the vision I was seeing was enough to make me come.
Tate was on the ground, Bren pinning her down with a knee between her shoulder blades. Zellman put a zip tie around her wrists behind her, and she was sat up once that was done.
Tate shoved up to her feet and started to run again.
Bren rolled her eyes and grabbed her, sticking a hand in front of her legs, but she caught her shoulders and eased her back down. She maneuvered Tate, so she was sitting, cross-legged, and the whole movement had been seamless and professional. I was impressed.
Zellman glared at her, standing in front of her. “Stay.”
Tate glared right back.
Zellman laughed. “Good dog.”
Okay, not so professional with that comment.
“Did you just call me a dog?”
“Better than what I want to call you.”
Bren was on her radio, and as Tate started struggling, trying to make another run for it, Zellman moved into her space, forcing her back down, or she would’ve needed to hit his body to get away again. She fell back to her butt with a huff, more glares.
Seeing she was compliant, Bren moved a little further away, still on her radio.
Helen stormed past everyone, going to the front lawn. She started for Zellman, pointing at Tate. “I’m going to get you arrested for this. You’re manhandling the mother of two of my grandsons.”
“Actually,” Sam spoke up, following right behind her and going around so Tate could see her. “She’s not, Helen.”
“What?”
I narrowed my eyes because Helen moved closer to Tate as if to protect her.
I moved in. “What are you doing?”
She swung her gaze my way, and a storm showed. Anger. Fear. Regret. But also indignant. What did she have to be indignant about? As long as I’d been with Logan, she gave no fucks about me. The only reason I hadn’t cared is that she treated Sam nearly the same. Almost, but she was scared of Sam too.
Helen asked, “What are you talking about?”
I motioned to Tate. “You were just told by your daughter-in-law that the woman you’re protecting isn’t the mother of two of your grandsons. You asked the right question, but you moved to protect her. For what? Why wouldn’t you want to know the information before going to guard her?”
“She’s the mother to my grand—”
Sam was riling up, but I did a Logan. I spoke up first, “She’s not, actually. If they’re James’s kids, then they have no relation to you. Don’t know why you’re getting that mixed up, but also Samantha was very clear in her statement. She.” I pointed at Tate, who looked like she was envisioning my death, but I just waved at her instead, speaking to Helen, “Is not the mother of your grandsons. The real mother of your grandchildren is the one who just spoke, but you’re still standing to guard Logan’s ex against Sam.” The more I spoke, the more my anger was churning. Finally, my hormones just woke up with an attitude. “You’re a moron.”
She gasped.
Heather started laughing.
Samantha was grinning too.
“Excuse me?” Tate’s mouth dropped.
I rolled my eyes. “Please. You have no place to act self-righteous. Mason called in a PI. It took her ten hours to find all the other men you’ve been screwing.” The glare lessened, being replaced by some caution. Her face got tight. She swallowed. I kept on, “The banker.” The blood was draining from her face. “The guy at the medical labs in Fallen Crest.” Even paler. “I’m betting if another paternity test was done, the results would be different.”
Helen’s eyebrows snapped together. “What’s she talking about, Tate?”
Tate continued to hold my gaze. I didn’t know why, if she was seeing if I was testing her, bluffing, but whatever it was, she saw, gulped again, and looked away.