“Adam?” I ask, confusion lacing my voice. There’s no reason for him to be here. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you, I needed your help for our meeting.” His demeanor is a far cry from the one in the coffee shop during the week. This Adam isn’t the nervous, chatty person who was asking favors. No, in his place is a cold, sneering businessman, eyes narrowed with determination and mouth in a tense line.
“That meeting wasmeantto be this morning, you fucker, but you didn’t show.” The anger rolling off Kyler is palpable, and I place a hand on his chest to try and calm him—or at least stop him from lashing out. His fists are already curled at his sides, ready to take action at a moment’s notice.
To his credit, Adam doesn’t get riled by Ky’s comment and ignores him.
“Ky’s right, I waited for you this morning, but you told me the meeting had been postponed.”
“It has,” Adam tells us, “it’s taking place right now.”
I frown because surely he can’t be right. Adam knew I wasn’t available this afternoon so why would he even ask if I could attend it with him? I reiterate this to him again. “I told you I couldn’t go with you this afternoon.”
Adam laughs, a tinge of malice lacing the sound. “You really are clueless, aren’t you Thea?”
This time Ky pushes against my hand and steps forward, leaning into Adam’s space. “Watch your fucking mouth,” he tells him, lips curled and nostrils flaring. The anger is coursing through his body.
“Actually, I think it’s in your best interest to watchyours.” Adam turns to me and continues. “You see, Thea, I really did need your help. It’s true, we have found Austin’s baby mama. We just didn’t know what her exact location would be this weekend. Your problem is you’re too trusting. How easily you turned your phone over to me so I could update my contact details. And how easily I managed to turn on the Find My Friends function.”
“And you,” Adam’s talking to Kyler now, a smirk forming on his face. “I knew I recognized you. I’d seen your face before, and it bugged the hell out of me. So, I dug out some of Austin’s belongings and there you are. In the background of a photo he has of a girl who is smiling lovingly at him through the camera lens.”
Slowly, and horrifyingly, the pieces start to fall into place: the times Adam mentioned he thought he had met Ky before, and how I dismissed him; the immediate contempt Adam felt for Ky without really knowing him; the comment Mr. Nelson said at Thanksgiving about the “trailer-park trash” and how he’s developing the mobile home park she lives in. The realization is a stark slap in the face and my stomach drops to the floor.
“No, Adam . . .”
“What thefuckare you talking about?”
Kyler’s and my words clash with each other, but it’s the gasp behind us followed by the sound of plates crashing the ground, that draws our attention.
Ally’s face is as white as a sheet, but it’s the sheer terror in her eyes which has us following her line of sight back to the entrance and to Carl and Andrea Nelson who’ve just walked in.
“Th-that man,” she cries, “No, no, no . . . he promised. He can’t take her. Hecan’t.”
“Ally, it’s okay, we’ll make him leave,” Ky’s by her now, bringing her into a protective hug and tucking her into his body.
“No, Kyler, you don’t understand. That man?” Ally slowly raises her hand and points at Mr. Nelson. “He’s Lacey’s grandfather.”
Twenty-Six
Kyler
Mr. Nelsonand I have a stare down. He’s smug, pompous, and thinks he can do whatever the hell he pleases because he has money. Ally cries behind me, saying Lacey’s name repeatedly in between sobs. When I look at Thea, and subsequently Adam—who is just as arrogant as his father—I see nothing but red. Pure fucking hatred.
“Thea, take Ally and Lacey to the bathroom and lock the door. Do not open it for anyone but me.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see her nod and take off. Adam makes a move to follow her, but I step forward. “One more move from you, and I’ll end you.” The conceited bastard scoffs, and I step closer. I’m taller than him and much stronger. “Wanna find out if I can do it? I’ll even give you the first punch.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be.” Again, I step toward him, closing the gap between us.
“All right, boys, this isn’t a pissing contest.” Mr. Nelson touches my shoulder to move me away from his son. My arm flies up and knocks his arm away. He stares down at the ground and huffs. I don’t care if my reaction pisses him off. Behind him, his wife looks on, a look of either shock or contempt in her eyes. I don’t pretend to care what she’s thinking. She’ll be out of our lives soon enough.
I turn my focus on him and look into his soulless eyes. “What kind of man interrupts a child’s birthday party?” I ask him. “What kind of man tries to scare a mother? What kind of man—”
He holds his hands up. “My timing may be off, but I was assured this would be the best location.” He looks at his son, and for one iota of a second, I see a hint of sincerity in his eyes, but it’s gone in a flash. They planned this ambush and did it with my girlfriend's help.
“Everything okay here?” The manager comes up to us. I shake my head slowly.
“These people are harassing my family, and I’d like the police called.”