Page 62 of The Sacrifice
After the door shuts, he grasps my shoulders. “What was that about? The Wyoming thing.”
“I was matched with a widowed father in Wyoming and received the message while they were here. But I’m not going. So don’t get upset.”
“I’m not upset.” His jaw flexes, and he growls, “Okay. Fine. I’m upset. I don’t want you to go, and the thought of you having an escape route if this becomes too much…. It’s freaking me out.”
“Hey, baby. Daddy missed you.” He takes her from me and kisses her neck, making a smacking sound like he’s eating her up. She giggles, and my heart can’t get fuller. Watching them together is my favorite pastime. That and sex toy time on the sofa. And doing laundry. And well…. Everything.
“Jackson.” I cup his cheek as Hadley scrambles toward him and latches onto his neck. “I love you, and I’m not going to Wyoming. Whoever this guy is, he’s got nothing on you. He’s probably broody and grumpy. And you’re a cocky player with an enormous heart.”
He kisses my nose. “You know the way to a man’s heart.”
I arch against him. “Why, yes, sir. I do.”
“Hmm…. Don’t forget what you were doing.” His eyes grow serious. “But we need to talk.” He laces his fingers through mine.
“Okay.” My stomach falls to my feet. Whatever it is, it feels important. And not something I’m going to like. “What’s wrong?”
“Let’s sit down.”
“Shit.” I shudder from head to toe. “This seems ominous.”
“It’s going to be fine. But I don’t want to leave you in the dark about anything.”
“Okay?” Is he sick? Did someone have an accident? Was he traded? My hand shakes as we walk to the dining room table.
After we’re seated, he inhales, and Hadley lays her head on his chest. “Roxanne messaged me and said she wanted Hadley back.”
“What? That’s not possible. She can’t.” I shake my head. “She has no business raising a child.”
“I agree. Eventually, she admitted to wanting money. I goaded her until she fessed up her true motivation. Mia, it’s going to be fine. I won’t let her spend one more day with Hadley. She’s looking for a money grab, and it’s not going to happen. I think this was her intention from the start. Playing on my heartstrings. Getting me to fall for Hadley, and then demanding her back in hopes that I’d throw money at her.” His jaw flexes. “It’s not happening.”
“She’s a bitch.” Anger rises inside my chest until it feels like it’s going to explode. How could she use her child as a pawn? Hadley is the sweetest baby alive. “Don’t let her win.”
“I won’t. I promise you that. She’s not touching Hadley again. And she’s not getting one dime from me.”
His phone buzzes. “Let me get that. It’s probably my attorney.”
As he checks his phone, rage makes my vision narrows until all I see is revenge. I’m not a petty person, but she makes me want bad things to happen to her. Damnit. I don’t want to be like this. My hands ball into fists. But I can’t stop it. When someone messes with the people I love, I want justice. Justice in hell.
He sets down his phone. “Baby, it’s okay.” He grasps my hand and laces our fingers together. “I promise. Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I trust you, but you’ve got to do whatever it takes to keep Hadley safe.”
“I will.” He nods, and the tension in my stomach eases. “That was my attorney. He’s spoken to the DNA company. An illness took their staff out of the office, so they’re sending my samples to another lab, and the results should be imminent.”
“Thank God.”
“And the company he has investigating her is looking into everything. Nothing is going in her favor, and if we give her enough rope, she’ll dig her own grave.”
I smile. “Wouldn’t that be if we give her enough rope, she’ll hang herself? Or if we give her a shovel, she’ll dig her own grave?”
“Exactly.” He winks, and the world rights itself. Hadley’s lips pucker and move in her sleep. “It’s time to end this situation. Hadley belongs with us, and there’s no judge in his right mind that will see things differently.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Four Hours Later
Jackson