I just needed to get there. Needed to know they were okay.
I slowed when I neared their house.
A disorder rumbled in my chest the closer I got.
An awareness.
An unease.
A sixth-fucking-sense.
I didn’t know.
All I knew was the hairs prickled at the back of my neck, standing on end and sending a slow ripple of disquiet skating across my flesh.
It was different from when I’d seen the results of Evan’s tests.
This was cold.
Protective and harsh.
A midnight blue car sat in front of Hope’s house.
It almost blended in with the deepening twilight sky.
Almost.
All except for the fact it was one of those flashy bits. Not just nice. But the kind that screamed pretension.
The kind of car someone bought because they wanted you to know they were better than you in their own fucked-up, inflated heads.
I couldn’t see anyone standing around it.
But I knew. I fucking knew.
My chest spasmed. Heart threatening to beat right through my ribs.
I didn’t know how I’d look at him without pounding the bastard into the ground for what he’d done to Hope and Evan.
How I’d remain standing when I’d look at him and see her eyes.
This had to be the most savage, ruthless reminder of my failure.
But there was no consideration when Hope’s porch finally came into view.
No hesitation.
Because the fucker had ahold of Evan and was dragging him out the front door.
Hope screaming and trying to free her child.
Panic and terror rippled through the dense air.
And there was nothing but the base, fundamental need to protect these two.
29
Hope
I sometimes wondered if people were born evil. If they were bred that way. If they had no chance of compassion. No chance of giving love or providing protection.
Or did life’s tragedies and disasters seed it, allowing it to grow and grow until it was twisted and vile?
I wondered it as I came to an abrupt stop at the opening of the hall that led to Evan’s room and found Dane Gentry standing in the middle of my living room.
Wearing one of his impeccable suits and hate in his eyes.
My heart climbed to my throat and my stomach sank to the floor.
Nothing but fear freezing my veins in shards of ice.
The instinct to protect Evan swelled inside me, and I pushed him farther behind me, my hand on his arm, trying to give him reassurance.
It did nothing to stop the quiver I felt shake through him, head to toe.
I couldn’t let this happen. Not again. I had to find a way to put this madness to an end.
“Get out of my house,” I warned.
Dane laughed a morbid sound and took a step forward. “Did you really think you could erase me so easily?”
My eyes went wide at the way he phrased it, my already pounding heart taking off at a sprint.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The defense trembled from my mouth. It might as well have been a confession of guilt.
A smirk ticked up at the corner of his mouth. Cruel and biting. “Always so innocent and pristine. Yet, she doesn’t hesitate to tell lies or commit felonies.”
An alarm sounded inside my head, so loudly I could hear it blaring in my ears.
There was no questioning it then. He definitely knew.
A shudder rocked my spine, and I gulped, lifting my chin and trying to pretend as if he didn’t intimidate me when I was shaking so bad I didn’t know how I managed to remain on my feet.
“This ends now, Harley. Get your things and get in my car.”
My head shook. “You’re insane,” I told him again. He had to be. Crazy. Crazy for coming here. Crazy to think I’d just jump and do his bidding.
“Come with me now or rot in prison, Harley. Your choice. It seems like a simple one to me.”
Or maybe I was the insane one. The one who had thought going down this road was smart. But at the time, it’d felt like the only way.
“I have no idea what you’re saying,” I maintained, but I knew it was a losing battle.
I knew there was no way to talk my way out of this with the way his eyes gleamed in victory.
Because he knew. Oh God, he really knew, and the true consequences of that were just sinking in when he took another oppressive step forward, coming closer and closer to my son.
My son who he wanted to reject. Do away with. Toss him aside like garbage.
Try again.
“I warned you that you’d regret it if you took this any further, Harley. And you’ve gone too far. Now get in my fucking car before I drag you there.”
Sickness roiled. I was overtaken by desperation. Every nerve and cell in my body flooded with the wild, violent need to protect my son.
I could feel Evan peeking out from behind me. His small frame shook with fear and confusion, his silent questions ricocheting from the floors as if he were shouting them into the air.