How can this be happening?
She paused, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. A headache was growing in her temples, and the urge to scream until she could scream no more was building. The urge to run also became overwhelming.
“So you’ve graced us with your presence, whore. I wondered when you’d show up.”
Her heart stuttered, and a shot of adrenaline surged into her system.
Sitting on one of her living room chairs was Gary. A nasty sneer was pasted on his face. His hair was shorter than when she’d last seen him. He seemed to fill the space, the chair, with his wide shoulders and thick, meaty biceps. His fingers were curled over the ends of the arms, tapping, pinkie to index finger, over and over.
It was as if all the air in the room had been sucked out and she gasped for breath. “Where … where’s Zak?”
“In the bathroom.” He paused. “Where’s your ugly-assed MC boyfriend?”
She rushed past the kitchen area to the bathroom and flung open the door. Sure enough, standing beside the sink with his hands in soapy water was Zak. Perfect. Pure. Within reach.
He turned. “Mommy, did you see? Daddy is here.”
“Oh, Zak.” She raced to him, dropping to her knees andwrapping him in her arms. “I was so worried. You should have waited for Mommy to get you from school.” She pressed him closer. “I always pick you up. Only me.”
“But Daddy said you’d sent him and wanted me to go with him.”
“I didn’t, and I would have told you this morning, wouldn’t I?” She kissed his cheek, over and over, peppering him with kisses. He was okay. He was in her arms. Nothing else mattered.
Except it did.
Gary was in her living room, and if she’d had any doubts before whether or not he knew she was seeing someone else, they’d evaporated.
“Where’s your ugly-assed MC boyfriend?”
“We have to go,” she said, looking up at the bathroom window. Could they squeeze out that way? No, but they probably could get out of the bedroom window. “Come on this way, be quiet now.” She gripped his wet hand.
“Where are we—?”
“Shh.”
She stood, scooping him up, but when she turned, Gary was filling the doorway.
“Going somewhere?” He set his hands on the frame, completely blocking her exit.
“Zak’s hungry,” she said, trying to keep the shake from her voice. “He always is after school.”
“So make him a goddamn snack.” He dropped one arm.
“Can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” Zak asked, his little arms looped around her neck, his legs around her waist.
“Sure, you can, buddy.” She went to step past Gary, but he didn’t move. Instead, he leered at her, hatred in his eyes and menace dancing on his features.
“You don’t scare me anymore, Gary.” She tipped her chin.
“You sure about that?” He gave a nasty laugh. “’Cause from where I’m standing, you’re white as a fucking sheet. Oh, except for that fucking hickey on your neck which I should slice the hell off with a kitchen knife.”
She gulped. “Don’t curse in front of Zak. And I’m white because I just went to pick up my kid from school and he wasn’t there.” She pushed at his arm, causing him to step back.
“You were late,” he said, following her to the kitchen. “Off screwing lover boy, were you? Letting him latch on to you like a vampire.”
She didn’t answer.
“Didn’t take you long to hook up with someone else, did it?” he went on. “Not even fucking divorced, are we? Which, by the way, I’m not granting. You can’t just fuck off into the sunset with my goddamn kid and think I won’t fight.”