I could tell that had been hard for him to say. Lane would never be able to respect a man who ditched his child. Neither could I.

Adam stared at him for a heated moment, and I watched something similar to confusion cross his face. Surprisingly, he didn't respond to any of Lane’s questions, but instead asked, “Have we met before?”

“I’ve met a lot of deadbeat dads, but I think you’re a new one…” Lane shrugged. “Maybe I’ve arrested you before. Ever been handcuffed by a New York cop?” Lane was getting worked up and Adam shifted on his feet while looking at me again.

I turned to face Lane and looked up into his eyes until he reluctantly pulled his glare away from Adam. His hazel eyes, which had more green in them than usual, slid down to mine and I gave him a small, pleading smile.

“Let me take care of this. Please?” I tried to whisper, but honestly I didn't care if Adam heard as well. He had been uncharacteristically silent after Lane had torn into him. Probably a survival instinct. Without a word, Lane stepped back inside and closed the door. Adam’s eyes averted to the window, and I assumed Lane was leering at him through the glass.

I was actually surprised Lane hadn’t grabbed me and planted his lips on me so hard that there would have been no question as to what my relationship with him was. But instead of marking his territory, he had quietly stepped back like I had asked and now I wished I had let him stay. I needed his strong presence. I guess in a way, Lane didn't need to physically mark his territory. One look and you knew not to cross him.

“Why are you here?” I finally asked Adam.

“For you,” he replied. “And Braden, of course,” he quickly added, as if it were a hard thing to remember.

“You’re about five years too late for me. I want to say you’re too late for Braden as well…”

“Let me take you out, please,” he asked softly. “I miss you so much.”

“Are you insane? No!” I replied with clear agitation.

“He’s my son, Raegan. I have rights and I’ll find a way to establish them.”

My molars scraped together as I considered his words. “You’ve never wanted anything to do with him. Why are you even here?”

“I told you, I miss you. You’ve been gone for years. How would I have ever been able to rectify our situation?”

My hands flew up in the air. “Gone?! We weren’t simply gone, you… dumbass! We were kidnapped!”

“And now you’re back, so why can’t I at least get a shot at making things right again? You’re clearly okay,” he stated in a frustratingly casual tone.

“Clearly…” I grumbled sarcastically. “How did you even find us here?”

“Those bastard cops questioned me. I overheard that you were in Texas with a guy named Lane Parker. He wasn’t hard to track down. Seems he doesn’t take your safety into consideration.” His voice was annoying me and I could feel the beginning of frustrated tears, so I pulled in a deep breath and made myself calm down.

“You’ll never have me in any way, shape, or form. And I’ll let you know right now I’ll fight for Braden. I don’t care if this battle takes years in court, I’ll fight for him.”

“And I’ll fight harder, sweetheart. I know you can’t afford the legal fees, so unless you’re gonna get your juiced-up boyfriend to go into bankruptcy for you, I suggest you and I discuss a few things.”

Damn him, he was right. I would never be able to gather enough income in time to even come close to paying a lawyer, let alone a good one. I couldn’t burden Lane with that either. He didn’t sign on for all the baggage I was now toting around.

“Face it, babe, he’s my son. He shares my DNA and don’t think I won’t play the distraught father who has missed his son for four long, agonizing years in court.”

“You’re a bastard,” I seethed.

“All I’m asking is for you to come out with me and discuss this. I’m not asking to take my son home with me.”

“You’ll never be alone with him,” I quickly bit out.

“We’ll see. You either come to dinner or I call up my lawyer tonight.” He tucked his hands into his pocket, waiting for me to respond and looking as if we were discussing whether or not I wanted chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Not something as serious as my son’s life.

“We discuss Braden and nothing else.” My words were tight, and I hated that he was making me feel helpless.

“Tonight?” he asked. I shook my head and he quickly asked, “Tomorrow night?” I just couldn’t. It was too soon.

“I need a week. Next Friday?”

“A week!?” he almost shrieked. “I gotta get back…”

“You don’t sound like a guy that wants to be in his son’s life,” I growled at him.

“Fine!” he half-shouted, sounding exasperated and utterly frustrated. “I’ll be here Friday. Seven sharp. Be outside, I don't want to have to deal with your guard dog.” His chin lifted toward the window and I really hoped Lane hadn’t heard that. He started to walk down the path toward the driveway and I turned to face the door.

“Raegan,” I heard him call out, his voice softer than before. I looked over my shoulder at him with my hand on the knob. “You look amazing.”

I sneered at the bastard and walked back to the man who was good for me. Good for Braden. All Adam was going to do was rock our peaceful boat, although right about now I felt like he was about to completely capsize it. Why couldn't we just be happy for once? Lane’s arms were open wide when I stepped back inside, and I crashed into his warm embrace, burying my nose into the clean scent of his shirt.

“I need a drink,” I mumbled into his chest.

“You’re still my girl, right?” he asked into my hair. I could tell he had tried to hide his vulnerability, but it was laced in every word he spoke. I reached up and ran my fingers up the sides of his face and roughly into his hair. He closed his eyes on contact.

“Of course, baby.”

“Then I’ll buy you a drink, and after that, you can tell me what the hell went on out there. But right now, we’re taking advantage of our empty fucking house.”

I nodded my head because besides finding Braden and running away to some super-secret hidden location where Adam would never be able to find us, I needed what Lane was offering. So with that, he secured the front door and then pulled me back to our bedroom. I could tell this wasn't going to be slow and loving. No, Lane was feeling a fire raging through his veins, and my body began to vibrate at the anticipation of what he was going to dole out. Oh yes, my man was about to mark his territory.



- SEVENTEEN -

LANE -

“’Bout damn time everyone got together again!” Jaxon bellowed over the music while we watched our girls playing pool. Audrey was schooling all of them, but apparently she’d picked up shit like that when she had to drag her drunk-ass dad out of a bar three to four nights a week.

Jaxon was right. We were finally all out on the same night. Cole, Jax, Jace, and all the girls. This time my girl was part of that. My girl. I had a girl. Actually, I had two girls. I know, I know, I’m a lucky bastard.

Em brought over clothes for Raegan to borrow since they were about the same size, and all Raegan owned right now were t-shirts. I tried to get her to wear this sexy little black dress that showed off her amazing legs, but Raegan was feeling self-conscious about the scars on the back of her leg and wasn't ready just yet for the world to see them. It’s a shame because I would have enjoyed watching those stems all night in their full glory.

She was currently leaning over the pool table with jeans that might as well have been painted on because I could see every damn curve. I also lost the battle on her top, the one that was cut so damn low I didn't even know what the point was in wearing a shirt in the first place. When she leaned over the green felt of the table, her tits were resting on top and I got lost in the valley between—along with every other horny guy within twenty feet of her.

“Lots of eyes on your girl tonight,” Jace muttered.

“Yep.” It was my only response. I was still feeling the situation out.

“Doesn’t bother you?” Cole asked.

“If it did, would it make them stop?” I asked. Cole shook his head and I said, “Raegan’s my girl. She’s not gonna let some jackass touch her.”

“She’s the only one over there without a ring on her finger. Better fix that,” Jaxon smarted off while tipping his beer back.

“Em pregnant yet?” I flung back. I was pleased with his reaction because he spit his beer clear across the damn bar.

“No reason to start playing dirty,” he scoffed. I grabbed a bottle the bartender placed in front of me and took the first swig. “I’m just saying, if that guy was as close to Emerson as he is to Raegan… he’d be missing his balls.”

The dick in question was leaning over the table next to Raegan, trying to point out the best shot. He was clearly into her but he wasn’t touching her, so I wasn’t going to be hasty. I trusted Raegan’s instincts.

“Hey!” Jax called out across the bar. “Two feet, dude. Step back two feet, right now.” We all looked to see that another douchebag had joined the girls and he had apparently stepped too close to Jaxon’s wife. Then with his hands, Jax motioned that Emerson belonged to him.

Em turned wide, angry eyes our way and huffed at her husband in annoyance. She straightened her spine and tugged her shirt down a fraction of an inch. Em, like Raegan, had a lot going on for her in the chest department. A wicked smile spread across her face and she marched over to the jukebox near their pool table.

“Shit…” Jaxon groaned.

Em grabbed Raegan’s hand before leaning over and whispering something to the waitress.

“You did this to yourself, man,” Cole laughed boisterously.

“Oh, like you would have let that fucker get close to Quinn,” he seethed.

“No, you’re right, I wouldn’t. But I also know my girl. Looks like you haven't learned that Em doesn't like to be put in a bubble where no one may trespass,” Cole schooled.

“Sit back, Lane,” Jace laughed. “We’re about to get a show.” He rubbed his hands together in mock preparation. Jax crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at Em. Quinn looked across the way at Jax and gave him a look, as if asking why he thought he could have gotten away with that.

Whatever was about to happen, it was going to be good. The music commenced, pumping an energetic beat. It felt familiar, but I really had no clue what song was coming.

“She’s about to teach you a lesson,” Quinn informed Jax as she joined us.

“I know and it drives me fucking crazy, but I can’t help but love it so goddamn much at the same time.”

“Oh my God! You picked a song I actually know!” Raegan called out, clapping her hands. Did I mention that Raegan was about two drinks too many into her night?

“Why’s she gotta bring my girl into this?” I moaned.

“I don’t know this song, Quinn,” Jax said loudly above the music. “Give me some idea what I just got myself into!”

Quinn giggled and said, “Well, um… it’s about a promiscuous girl.”

I couldn’t hold it back because it was all just so damn funny. My head flew back and I let out a sidesplitting laugh.

Jax continued to look at Quinn for more. “It’s by Pussycat Dolls,” she told him. Then it clicked for me, and I knew exactly where this was going. She continued, “It’s about a girl asking a guy to take off her clothes…” She waved her hand as if to say, ‘catch up man!’ Jax groaned but then leaned forward in his chair to watch the show.

“It’s a bad girl anthem,” Audrey added, as she saddled up beside Jace. He kissed the side of her neck and smiled at her, probably happy she wasn’t about to unleash her inner bad girl.

The beat dropped and so did Em and Raegan, who both crouched down and began to bounce with the tune. The guys around them quickly forgot their games and it was clear they had found their new entertainment. Two of them stood to make their way toward them, and I caught my girl imperceptibly shake her head over Em’s shoulder.

My girl.

God, this girl.

I loved this girl.

Still dazed by my new revelation, I watched as she moved her hips to the beat. Her little waist rotated and she could probably give whoever was actually singing this song a run for their money. Em and Raegan moved closer to one another and they grabbed at each other’s hips, which were still swirling to the rhythm. My heart stopped. Actually, it dropped to the damn floor, along with my jaw.