I shook my head. “You don’t get to make those kinds of choices for me.”
“Your friends are trying to help you. I called Macon because you wouldn’t have. He’s not trying to take over your life. He’s not attempting to take your son from you. But we both know that somebody might.”
“Myra,” I whispered.
“I know. It hurts. It’s horrible. But it’s the truth. So, you and me? We’re going to figure this out. Along with everybody else. But I called Macon because you wouldn’t have, even though you needed to. Somewhere, deep down, you knew you wanted him to be there. And you may hate me for it, but I will always take care of you.”
“I hate that you may be right.”
“I’m your best friend. I’m always right.”
That made me snort. “I don’t know what’s going on between Macon and me,” I whispered.
We were off to the side where nobody could hear us, but I still felt like eyes were on me. Was it Adam? Or was it just the normal busybodies of Boulder, Colorado?
“So, something is definitely going on between you if you don’t know what to call it,” Myra said.
“You say that, and yet I feel like I should be the one turning it back on you when it comes to another Brady.”
Myra raised her chin. “You’re welcome to try, but some things are better left unsaid.”
“And yet you’re trying to get me to talk about Macon.”
“What happened last night?” she asked softly.
“How do you know something happened?”
“Because something changed since the last time I saw you. Maybe multiple things.”
I sighed and ran my hands over my face. “I found a cat with four kittens, and I called Macon for help.”
“Are they okay?” Myra asked, leaning forward. “How old are they?”
“Macon says about four weeks. He took them into the vet this morning.”
Myra gave me a look. “This morning?”
“He stayed the night. Again.”
“Tell me everything,” Myra said.
“It’s not as exciting as you might think. He has spent the night at my house twice. With nothing happening either time. But it’s like he’s meant to be there, and I don’t understand how that happened.”
“Dakota. It’s okay that it’s happening.”
“It’s really not,” I whispered. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Maybe it’s all right that you feel like you’re floundering. You’re in control with so much in your life, perhaps this is the moment when you can allow someone else to step in and shake things up for you. At least when it comes to your heart.”
“I don’t know if I like the sound of that,” I grumbled.
“You may not have a choice.”
I sighed and frowned as I looked down at a note under the condiments container on the table.
“What is that?” Myra asked.
“Someone left a note or something. The writing looks familiar…”
Chills broke out over my back as I looked down at the words. I held back a scream.
I’m always here.
Watch your step.
Or I’ll take him.
Bile filled my throat, and I looked around the room, but I didn’t see anyone.
“It’s him. This is his handwriting. He was here. How did he know I’d see it? Because he knew I’d sit here? Or because he figured someone would show me?”
“You’re not talking about Macon, are you?”
I shook my head and looked around, nearly spilling Myra’s coffee as Pop came over with it.
“What’s wrong?” Pop asked, her eyes narrowing.
“Adam was here. He left a note.”
“I’m calling the cops.”
“I’ll call the detective,” I said. “He’s who I need to contact.”
“There’s someone else you should call,” Myra added.
“The school. Yes, I need to call the school.”
“Okay, make that, multiple someones you need to call,” Myra said, pulling out her phone. “I’ll work on our group text. But you need to call Macon.”
I shook my head, even though I knew she was right. Macon would want to know, and for some reason, I felt like he had a right to. Something was changing between us, and maybe it was wrong for me to want him. Perhaps it was wrong for me to lean on him. But all I knew was that having him near soothed me, even as it excited me.
I was probably all wrong about this and making a mistake…yet…I wasn’t sure if I cared.
Myra started calling our friends as I called the detective. I hated the man, the way he spoke down to me. But I followed protocol, even though I knew it didn’t matter. Because nobody was going to listen to me but my friends and myself. But at least I tried.
I called Joshua’s school, and they said he was fine. They even checked on him for me, even if I felt like I was losing my mind.
And then I called Macon.
“Dakota? What’s wrong?”
I let out a breath. Again, those were his first words to me. What would happen when I called him simply because I wanted to hear his voice? I was almost afraid I would never allow myself to let that happen.
Or if I did…that we’d run out of time.
“Adam was here, at the café.”
He cursed. “Okay, shit. I’m just now seeing the texts from the others.” He paused. “Thanks for calling me. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. Joshua’s safe. But I just want him home, you know?”
“I’m staying the night.”
“Macon,” I whispered.
“I need to make sure you’re both safe. I know it’s irrational, but that’s what I need. Will you let me?”
“I think I need it, too,” I whispered.
He was silent for so long, I didn’t know what he would say next. My heart raced, and I swallowed hard.
“Good. I’ll be there. I’ll always be there.”
I wanted to believe him—knew I needed to.
But I also knew what happened when you trusted someone, and it didn’t work out.
I didn’t want that to happen again.
Chapter 12
Macon
* * *
I wanted to hit someone. I needed to do something. Only if I resorted to using my fists, I’d fuck things up more and scare the hell out of Dakota in the process. So even though the dreams where I could hear the screams and feel the pain came on harder and more often, despite feeling helpless as to what to do about Dakota, I didn’t go to the ring.
And I didn’t know when or if I’d be back. I’d ignored Bob’s calls, instead texting back to say I was taking some time off. Hopefully, he’d believe me and let it go. I didn’t know what the right answer was, but worrying Dakota even more than she already was wasn’t it.
“The more you glower over there, the more likely it is Dakota will walk away,” Prior said from my side. I frowned and looked over at my brother.
We were at Cross’s house, all of us having gathered for dinner to discuss the game plans for keeping Joshua and Dakota safe.
Dakota hadn’t been a fan of everybody rallying around her, but somehow, Myra had convinced her that it was the only choice. Adam had left that note two days ago, and nothing had been done. The detective hadn’t said much, and Adam was still allowed out on parole, wandering free to terrorize Dakota.
Now, all of my siblings and the pact sisters were at Cross’s home, although Arden and Liam were out of town and couldn’t join. I’d had to bring the mama cat and her four kittens with me because I couldn’t leave them at the vet clinic. They were all healthy, the mama cat was unchipped, and there weren’t any flyers or notices in any of the groups that we were part of that matched her description. So far, she was a stray, and nobody was coming to claim her.
I didn’t know where she would end up, but I was watching her and the babies for now. And Joshua was in love. Hell, every person in this house had already held a baby, petted the mama c
at, and were cooing and falling head over heels.
If I wasn’t careful, I would end up with a whole clowder instead of the cat or dog I’d thought to adopt earlier. Though that was if my siblings didn’t take one for themselves.
“I’m not glowering,” I said after a moment, remembering Nate’s snark.
“You’re scowling, but that’s fine.”
“Can I please name her?” Joshua asked, nearly bouncing on his feet.
Dakota glanced at me across the living room and gave me a pleading look.
I cleared my throat. “How about this, Joshua?” I began. “If we still can’t find her family by next week, we will pick a name for her because I have a feeling she’s going to be staying with me.”
Dakota’s brows rose, but then Joshua started to do a little dance in the living room, kicking out his feet.
“Now you’ve gone and done it,” Nate muttered.
“I can’t let an animal go back out onto the street or into a shelter if I can help. You know this. And it has nothing to do with Dakota.”
“That’s a lie,” Nate muttered, but then he was gone, and the others were kneeling and playing with the kittens or working on dinner.
I went over to Dakota and lowered my head. “Sorry if I went too far.”
“No, I want her to be safe, as well. And you are going to be a great cat dad. You already said you were looking for a pet, well now, one’s fallen into your lap. Or rather mine, and you’re helping me.”
“I don’t know about all the kittens, but we’ll find them homes if I can’t handle them.”
“I know we will. Or rather you will. But I don’t think everybody came here to discuss the cats.” She gave me a strained smile, and I ran my hand through her hair.
I nodded tightly. “No, we are here to talk about you.”
“And that’s a great segue,” Myra said, coming up to us.
“What kind of segue is needed?” Dakota asked, and I instinctively leaned closer to her so we were side by side.
Myra noticed the action, and I just stared at her. I didn’t need her judging me. I did that enough to myself as it was.
“We are here today to ensure that we can make a plan.” She glanced over at Joshua, who was playing with the kittens. Hazel cleared her throat.
“Hey, Joshua, will you help me move the box of kittens to the dining room? I want them to be in there while we’re eating in case they need anything. I don’t know if cats and food go well together, but we’re going to make it work.” Hazel clapped her hands.
Hopefully, Joshua didn’t notice the tension in the room as we all helped them move the cats into the dining area. Before Myra could continue, however, my phone rang, and I looked down at it and cursed.
I nearly declined the man’s call, but figured he’d just keep calling, and I’d never get rid of him.
“Just answer it,” Nate said, meeting my gaze.
“It’s Bob,” I replied, as everybody gave me weird looks.
“As I said, just answer. Get it over with.”
Everyone looked at me, so I sighed and hit accept. “Bob.”
“It’s about time you answered me. Are you going to come in for another fight? I have four that need to be scheduled, and you’re good with each of them. None of them will be too hard on you, and they’re not stupid fighters. I know you don’t like the dumbasses.”
Bob kept talking, and I pinched the bridge of my nose, aware that everyone was staring at me. Bob wasn’t exactly quiet, and I knew they could all hear what he was saying.
Cross’s gaze darkened, the same with Prior’s.
They glared at Nate, who didn’t look surprised, but Dakota came to my side and put her hand on my forearm.
I looked down at her skin on mine and let out a breath. “Bob. It’s over. I’m done. Okay?”
“Just like that? You’re just going to call it like the fucking pussy you are?”
I must have found a new way to handle most of my rage because his taunts didn’t get a rise out of me. “I am. Call Jackson. He fights just like I do. And he still likes it. Dave and William are great, too. But I’m out.” I was going to call the guys I liked, however, to tell them I was done, just in case Bob went off on them like he was doing with me. Plus, there were a few others at the gym that I worked with or made sure they got to their cars safely that I wanted to check in with. I couldn’t leave everyone high and dry, even if I hadn’t really thought about the connections I’d made in my short time there.
“You’re going to regret this. You drop me now? You’ll never get back into it.”
“I’m just fine with that, Bob.”
“Whatever. But don’t you dare crawl back to me. I won’t take you,” Bob snapped before ending the call.
I sighed and put my phone back into my pocket. I couldn’t help but notice the relief on Dakota’s face.
“Thank you,” she whispered. I didn’t know if it was for herself or for me.
“You want to tell us what the fuck that was about?” Cross asked.
“Cross, Joshua’s in the other room,” Myra whispered.
Prior snarled. “And Hazel’s with him, and she’ll make sure he doesn’t hear me yell at my fucking brother for being a fucking idiot.”
“Fighting?” Cross asked again.
“And it looks like a couple of people in this room knew,” Prior snapped. “Were you going to tell us, Nate? Or were you guys just going to keep hiding shit from us? What the hell is going on? And we need to fucking tell Arden, or she’s going to be even more hurt than we are. We don’t keep fucking secrets in this family. Not anymore.”
Everyone started talking at once, and I held up my hands. “Okay, let me just talk this out because this is not why we’re here.”
“We’re here to keep our circle protected,” Cross said slowly. “And I guess that means we’re going to start with you.”
“He just told his trainer or whoever that he’s quitting. That should calm you down a little bit.” Dakota raised her chin.
I nearly staggered back at her confidence in me. At her tone of defense. I didn’t fucking deserve it. But hell, I liked it.
“Why don’t we let Macon speak?” Dakota said after a moment. Then she looked at me. “If that’s what you want.”
I let out a sigh and nodded. “Looks like I don’t have a choice.”
“Don’t be like that,” Cross replied. “You made a choice to not tell us and when you decided to put yourself in danger. Talk to us. That’s all we ask.”
“After the shooting, I needed an outlet for my rage. I know it’s stupid. I knew it was idiotic the whole time. But it’s what I wanted to do. And so, I did it. I was as safe as I could be. Except it wasn’t completely safe. But I didn’t do it every day. I only fought those who fought at my level and played by the rules instead of going against them. Boxing is a sport,” I reminded them.
“But you’re not a boxer,” Nate said softly.
“No, I’m not. I’m a veterinarian who got a bullet in his chest and is still trying to figure shit out. But I’m not going to do it anymore.” I looked at Dakota rather than at my family. “I’m not.”
“I know you won’t. But you still should have told them,” Dakota argued, chastising me.
I shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m still figuring out my thoughts. I’m sorry, you guys. I’m not doing it anymore. As Dakota said, that was my trainer. It’s not happening again.”
“Okay, okay.” Paris held up her hands when my brothers started to shout at me. “We don’t have time for this,” she said. “We’re here for Dakota, remember? Yes, Macon, you’re an idiot. But we’re glad you’re safe. And if you do it again, and if Nate holds it back from this family again, then I will have to make this a problem. And you do not want me to be the bad guy here.” That made me smile, and Paris just narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t think I’m being funny. I’m not.”
I just smiled. “Okay.”
Paris flipped me off, and I rolled my eyes. “Now, let�
�s get back to Dakota.”
“I don’t want to be the center of this,” she said.
I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but you are the reason we’re here.”
“Let’s go back to talking about you.” She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. Without thinking, I brushed her hair back from her face and noticed the others’ sidelong glances.
They all wanted to know what the hell was going on between Dakota and me. Well, I wanted to know, too.
But this wasn’t the time for that. I had no answers anyway.
And, Jesus, I just wanted to hold her close and tell her that everything was going to be okay, even if I knew it wasn’t. At least not yet.
“So, what did the detective say again?” Myra said, looking down at her phone. “I have notes from that day, but I want to hear it once more.”
“You took notes?” Nate asked.
Myra glared like the ice queen she pretended to be. “My friend is being stalked. Of course, I took notes. And I’m sure Paris has it in her pretty little planner. If you have a fucking problem with that, Brady, have at it.”
“Okay, okay.” Dakota put herself between them and held out her hands. “Stop it. Both of you.”
“I mean, we can also spend the time talking about what the hell is going on between you two if we want,” Prior added.
“Nothing is going on between us,” Nate and Myra said simultaneously and in the same cadence.
I just stared at them, and Nate turned away and stalked towards the couch before sitting down and folding his arms over his chest.
Myra leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and looked like a prim and proper little princess.
Jesus Christ, I didn’t have enough brainpower to deal with all of this.
“Back to Adam,” Cross said, his voice low. “Hazel isn’t going to keep Joshua away for long, regardless of the cute kittens. Let’s make a plan. Because you’re one of us, Dakota. We’re not letting you get hurt.”
“Damn straight”, I growled.
Dakota reached out and squeezed my hand, and I wanted to hold on, bask in the warmth, but I didn’t.
Far From Destined: A Promise Me Novel Page 11