by Lexi Blake
“I don’t know what to say,” Wade admitted. “I’m still reeling from finding out that all these years you’d been trying to save my family.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” The past was the past.
“It does and I’ll protect you with everything I have. We’ll pack your things and you’ll come with me to Dallas. My place is secure and I’ll make it even more so. I’ll have the boys come out and set up cameras and motion detectors. If it gets bad, I’ll move you to the club while I handle the situation.”
She didn’t need him to do that. At least not for her. “I can handle the situation myself. I wasn’t asking you to protect me. I need you to protect my son.”
His jaw tightened. “Of course, I will. I’ll protect both of you.”
She watched him carefully, his face illuminated by the light from the dashboard. He’d tried to go stony, but for a mere second, she’d seen his distaste. His distaste for her son. Well, she should have expected that. In her mind, Wade was still some kind of all-American hero, despite the fact that he hadn’t come back for her. She’d decided that had been for the best, but she hadn’t expected his hatred for Brock to transfer to her son.
“I’ve changed my mind. I think we’ll be fine.” When Clint got back from his honeymoon, she would ask about Ash staying with him and Lori for a bit. Or maybe a long time, if things went wrong. If she went to jail, she’d already made arrangements. And if she died, well, she’d tried to make arrangements for that, too. “Drop me off at home and I’ll get out of your hair.”
She maintained her composure this time. Years of keeping a bland expression on her face even as she ached from some wound her husband had inflicted made it fairly easy. She wouldn’t let him know how much it hurt inside that she couldn’t trust him with her son.
“What did I do?” he asked quietly, his eyes on the road.
She thought about shrugging him off, but she’d moved past niceties and sparing others’ feelings. “You can’t stand the thought of my son.”
He was silent for a moment, the truth sitting between them. “I’m thinking about him as Brock’s son and that’s hard for me. I know you won’t believe me, but Clint was right. I never got over you. I tried. Believe me, I tried. I’m sure the night you sacrificed yourself to that bastard I was in some other woman’s bed.”
He was on the edge in a way she hadn’t expected. She’d never heard that hitch in his voice, never heard him anything less than confident. “It’s in the past.”
“Maybe it is for you, but it just happened to me.”
“You’ll get over it.”
He shook his head. “That’s what I’m telling you. I never got over you. I never got over you when I thought you were some flighty bitch who picked money. What the hell do I do now that I realize you’re practically a saint and I was fucking someone else, drinking and partying while you were being raped? Who the fuck am I?”
She’d thought she’d used up all her tears, but there they were. The truth was it felt good to cry, to feel anything at all. And to feel sympathy for him proved she hadn’t lost her whole soul. But she was tired, so damn tired of all the pain, all the blame. “You’re Wade Rycroft. You’re the man you’ve become, and from what your brother says, that man is pretty incredible. You were a child. I was a child. We did foolish things. Drive me home and we can shake hands and maybe finally move on with our lives.”
“I don’t want to move on.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I had a bad reaction to thinking about your son. Your son. You’re his momma and that means he’s probably a spectacular kid and I’m going to watch over him. And you.”
“It’s late. I’m going to get some sleep and make a decision in the morning.” The truth was if Ash was in Dallas being watched by a professional bodyguard, she would feel better about doing what she had to do. Still, she needed to consider the fact that Wade might be too close to the situation to be able to do the job.
“If you don’t want me, I’ll hire someone from my firm. Shane Landon is a good man and an excellent bodyguard. I would trust Shane with my life,” he said.
“I can’t afford to hire someone. I was coming to you because I thought you owed me.”
He shook his head as he made the turn into her sad trailer park. “I’ll take care of it. Let me stay with you tonight. I’ll sleep on the couch. In the morning, we’ll talk more.”
That seemed like a bad idea, but she got the feeling he wasn’t going to go back to his brother’s and there weren’t any motels in town. The nearest one was twenty miles away. It seemed wrong to make him drive that far when she was asking him for a costly favor. Besides, it would give her a chance to see if he could honestly be nice to her son.
She shouldn’t make emotional decisions. Hadn’t she learned that a long time ago? “All right. Though I’ll warn you, the couch is pretty crappy. It’s really more of a love seat.”
“I can handle it.” He let out a breath as though he was happy to not have to fight her on that one.
“I’m the single wide at the end of the lane on the right.”
He pulled in front, the headlights illuminating the sad state of her living arrangements. He stared at the dilapidated trailer for a moment.
“You’re thinking about killing your brother again, aren’t you?” It was odd. Sitting beside him made her feel more like herself than she had in years. How long had it been since she’d joked with anyone but Ash? And that was all about making sure he wasn’t scared, keeping his spirits up.
“I can feel his throat in my hands,” he agreed.
“If it makes you feel any better, he and Lori offered me a room at the house. They also offered to put me up in an apartment.”
“Why didn’t you let them?”
For so many reasons. “I need to stand on my own at some point. I need to build something of my own, something for me and Ash.”
“This isn’t properly built, Gen.”
Laughter bubbled up inside her. It was ridiculous. It was surreal. Maybe this plan of hers could work. Maybe she could find a way. Or maybe she would be in jail or dead, but in that moment, she wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. “It’s horrible and I like it way better than that damn mansion. The heater doesn’t work at all and it’s still warmer.”
Wade killed the engine and turned in his seat. “Genny?”
With a long sigh, she sat back. “Not tonight. We’ll talk in the morning. I can’t do anything else tonight. I’ll answer all your questions in the morning.”
“All right.” He opened the door and got out.
Before she could get her own door open, he was there helping her to the ground. She couldn’t resist putting her hand in his and letting him help her down. His big hand encompassed hers, warmth flooding her system. She forced herself to let go when her feet were firmly planted on the ground. “Thanks. I’ll introduce you to Ash. Just to prepare you, he wasn’t in a good mood when I left. He thinks he’s far too old to have a babysitter, but I wouldn’t leave him alone.”
He nodded, staring at the trailer in front of him. At least it was clean on the inside. She’d gotten a lot of Lori’s old furniture when her friend had moved into the Rycroft ranch. Once she got Wade inside, he might stop thinking about how poor she was.
He stopped at the base of the stairs that led to the door. “Genny, thank you for giving me another chance.”
She wasn’t sure how to answer that because the last thing they had was a second chance. Still, she opened the door and invited him inside.
* * * *
Wade watched as the door closed behind the older woman who’d been watching over Asher. He was almost sure the woman had a gun and holster under her sweater. Genny was afraid. He needed to figure out what Brock was doing to scare her from a prison cell.
Genny locked the door, making sure she latched the chain that wouldn’t actually keep anyone who wanted in out. The door itself was flimsy. If the windows locked, he would be surprised. He needed to get her out of
here if there was any kind of threat at all.
“Mom?”
She turned and for the first time all night, he saw her face light up in a genuine way. “Hey, baby. How was your night?”
Asher Howard was roughly thirteen years old, with the skinny body of a boy who wasn’t even close to becoming a man. He was almost the same height as his mother, and that wasn’t where the similarities ended. The kid had dark hair that needed a cut and clear blue eyes that mirrored his mother’s. Wade couldn’t help but stare because if there was a drop of his father in him, he couldn’t see it. That child was Genny’s.
Genny had a son. He’d dreamed of having kids with her and here was her son. She was asking him to protect her child.
“Mavis is surprisingly good at Xbox.” He looked across the tiny living room and his eyes widened. “Wade Rycroft?”
“Yes.” Damn, but he looked like his mom. “That’s me. I’m an old high school friend of your mother’s.”
“You were her high school boyfriend. You were the reason why she married my father, though I firmly believe dear old Dad would have found another way. If it hadn’t been you he used as leverage, it would have been my grandfather. But you could have come back for her. That was a dick move.”
Genny’s jaw dropped. “Ash!”
“No, he’s right. It was a dick move.” He crossed the space between them and held out a hand. “One I won’t make again. It’s good to meet you, Ash.”
The boy solemnly shook his hand. “It’s good to meet you. Thanks for coming with her. I was worried she would pull a gun on you.”
This was good. Genny went a bright pink and Wade was starting to understand that the kid knew his mom well. “She did. And then she attacked me and then I found out what a dick I’d been. It was a rough night, but tomorrow we’re going to talk about getting the two of you out of here.”
Ash shot his mom a quizzical stare. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Tell me what?” Wade asked.
“We’ll talk about everything in the morning. For tonight, let’s settle in. I’ll get the extra sheets and make the couch up.” She disappeared down the hall.
Ash turned somber eyes his way. “Are you going to say yes? Are you going to take care of us?”
That stare. He knew it well. Genny had to love this kid so fucking much. If they’d gotten married, the kid in front of him would be his, and suddenly it was easy to look past who his father was. He had another chance with Genny. It had been all he’d been able to think about on the way here. He’d screwed up. He hadn’t been faithful and true to her. “Yes. I don’t understand the situation, but I’m going to do everything I can to protect you and your mom. I take it this is about your dad.”
“Biological donor,” Ash corrected. “I watched him beat her. He is not my dad.”
He took a deep breath, trying to push his anger at Brock down. His anger at a lot of people was bubbling up, but this wasn’t the place. “I won’t let him touch her again.”
Ash nodded. “All right then. I’m going to make some tea. Mom likes herbal tea before bedtime. I know this place looks shitty, but it’s the best. No one watching us all the time. Mac and cheese is great, you know. Mavis made some for dinner. It’s quite delicious. She made cookies, too. Chocolate chip. I’m totally addicted to sugar. I didn’t understand it before.”
Wade thought about leaning against the bar but worried it wouldn’t hold his weight. “You sound like you’ve never had them.”
Ash filled a kettle with water from the sink before settling it on the ancient stove and turning on the burner. “Never. Not until Brock went to jail. The Howards are serious about proper nutrition. I wasn’t allowed anything that wasn’t on Grandmother’s list of acceptable foods. She would say my mother’s genes could run true, and she wouldn’t have a fattie for a grandson. Brock kept it up after she died. The day he went to jail my mom took me to get a burger and fries and a milkshake. I was sick all night and it was worth it. I’m on what I like to call an extended food tour. I’ve been working my way through the candy aisle whenever we have some extra cash. And cake. Mom bought me a birthday cake even though my birthday isn’t for a few months. But I want to try more flavors. I liked the yellow cake.”
The kid had never had candy or cake? No chocolate bunny on Easter or cupcakes at a party? “I have a friend who makes some of the best desserts you’ve ever tasted. He works in a restaurant. He used to be in the Army, but now he’s a pastry chef.”
Ash’s eyes lit up. “Cool. He can kill people and bake cookies.”
The kettle started to whistle and Ash pulled down a couple of mugs. “Would you like some tea?”
He shook his head. “Nah. I’m not much of a tea guy.”
“Here we go.” Genny walked in from the hallway, a set of sheets in her hand. She glanced over as Ash was prepping her tea. “Thanks, sweetie. I appreciate it.”
“Ash was telling me about his food tour.” He said the words lightly but he was serious. He wanted to know how bad it had gotten. Had she been put through the same things?
Her shoulders got tight, her eyes focusing on the couch and her task. “He’s enjoying some of the freedom we’ve found. Brock was very controlling. I’m sure he would tell you it was because he wanted the best for his family.”
“It was because he was a massive asshole,” Ash replied with a smile. “Here, you drink your tea and I’ll make up the couch.”
“You have to stop cussing,” she said with a sigh, taking the tea. “Freedom doesn’t mean you get to do anything you want.”
The kid shrugged. “I only use those words when nothing else will do. Sit down, Mom.”
Genny eased onto one of the barstools and took a sip of tea. She glanced up at him, apology in her eyes. “Sorry. He’s still adjusting to life outside the mansion, as we call it.”
He focused on her, taking in the subtle ways she’d changed. “It sounds like life inside the mansion wasn’t very good.”
She nodded, taking another drink of tea. “It was insufferable, but it’s over and we get to move on. I know I said you owe me tonight, but I don’t want you to feel guilty about this. My son is probably right. Brock would have found something else to use against me. He meant to have me one way or another.”
“I always knew he was interested in you in a way you didn’t understand. I didn’t think he was obsessed with you.” No matter what she said, guilt formed a hard kernel in his gut, weighing him down. It was hard to believe that when he’d woken up this morning he’d thought he’d known how the world worked. Now it was all confused. “I thought it was about me. He hated me since we were kids.”
“He hated all of you,” she replied, holding the mug in both hands. “Your brothers and your family. It took me a long time to figure it out. At first I thought it was because you were more popular. Brock was the son of the wealthiest family in town and that made people tread cautiously around him, but it didn’t help him find friends. He was always weird. I grew up with him. I was used to his odd mannerisms, but the kids in school made fun of him.”
“Yeah, well, kids don’t like the kid who costs them cupcakes,” Ash added. “Kindergartners are mean and believe in a certain amount of biblical justice. I still have a scar from that rock.”
Genny hid a yawn behind her hand. “His grandmother ruled the school. Any class Ash was in had a set of rules meant to keep him on his diet and turn him into a proper Howard. She would have sent him to boarding school but she was worried that she’d made a mistake doing it with Brock. Like I said, Brock was fairly under control until his mother died, but she knew he was violent.”
Wade didn’t want to think about how bad it had been for Ash. It was easier to focus on Brock. “I can’t say I was friendly with him. I was a kid. He was mean. The first time I remember ever seeing him, he was torturing a dog. I was eight or nine and put him on his ass and took the dog with me. The sheriff came out to the ranch and explained to my parents that if I ever touched the kid again, they�
�d send me to juvie.”
“Well, that’s why he hated you. You made him feel small,” she said softly.
“Everything and everyone made him feel small.” Ash moved to his mother’s side. “It’s because he was small. He had a small mind and I’m sure he has a tiny little…”
Genny slapped her hand over her only child’s mouth. “Don’t you even.” Her eyes were sleepy and she yawned again. “Wow. I got tired really fast.”
Wade noticed Ash hadn’t done what he’d said he would do. The sheets were still neatly folded on the couch. Well, he could do it himself. “Why don’t you go on to bed? I can handle things out here.”
He wouldn’t sleep a wink. He would sit up all night long thinking about what she’d been through, wondering if things could have been different if he’d tried harder, believed in her more.
“Or you could go ahead and pass out,” Ash urged. “It’ll make things easier.”
What had he done? Wade looked from the mug in Genny’s hand back to the counter. Sure enough, there was a small bottle of medication sitting there.
Genny sighed and her eyes were unfocused. “Something’s wrong. I didn’t drink much at the wedding. I only had the one drink. Why is my brain fuzzy?”
“Because I slipped you a mickey, as they would say in some noir film. It’s okay. I checked the dosage. You’ll be out for eight to ten hours,” Ash assured her. “You can use the sleep.”
“What the hell?” Wade rushed over to the bottle. They were sleeping pills prescribed to Genny, but the date was months old and it looked like she’d never used them. Until her son decided she needed some bedtime.
“Wade? I don’t think I can get to bed.” The words slurred as she pushed back from her chair.
He managed to catch her before she hit the floor. She weighed next to nothing in his arms. There was a reason her clothes didn’t fit her. She was too thin, and not in a naturally healthy way. He clutched her to his chest and looked for the kid he was about to have a serious talk with. Maybe there was more of his father in there than he’d thought.