A screech inside had them all looking through the open door. Mallory’s jaw dropped when Jake came charging into the kitchen, a naked Shelly on his heels.
“What the fuck, woman?” He pushed her away when she attempted to climb him. “Get off me.”
“Shit. Go!” Rylan spun around and went inside, closing the door behind him.
Mallory looked at Mazey—both of them had their mouths open, eyes wide in shock.
Mazey gripped her forearm and dragged her off the deck. “Let’s go. And I’m not listening to Ry. I’m calling Grant on the way to our place. And I think we’ll just stay there. We can go to the park another day.”
“Okay.” Keeping up with Mazey’s pace, Mallory held Maddox tighter. Something crashed inside, making them both jump. “I hope she doesn’t destroy the house.”
“Definitely calling Grant,” Mazey muttered. Pulling her phone from the side of Zane’s baby carrier, she had it at her ear before they hit the sidewalk. “Grant?”
Mallory kept pace, staying half a step behind Mazey while she talked on the phone.
“Listen. Jake has an issue with the nanny he hired. It’s a long story but he’s trying to get her to leave his house and—” Mazey nodded. “Yes, yes, I have Mad.”
Mallory couldn’t hear what the other man said but whatever it was, Mazey agreed with him.
“Okay. I’ll be at our place with the boys. Ry’s staying with Jake so he’s got a witness.” More nodding and then a smile. “Excellent. Thanks.”
She waited until Mazey had put the phone down before saying, “And?”
“He’s on his way. He’s also getting the closest patrol unit here.” Mazey glanced over her shoulder. “They’re still inside.”
Mallory twisted to look. They were only four houses down from Jacob’s but they had a clear view of the yard and front door. Mazey was right. No one had come outside yet. “This is crazy.”
“I know. I can’t believe Jake and Mad have another crazy woman to deal with. After the last one I figured they’d had their share of drama.”
She bit her tongue. She knew what they’d been through and wanted to agree with Mazey except the other woman didn’t know Mallory knew all about the past. Or her connection to it.
One more reason to finish what she’d started. She needed to make sure Jacob and Maddox had the resources to remove Renee from their lives once and for all, and that meant keeping her stepmother from coming to Sunnyville. It also meant making sure Clark, the lawyer she’d hired to represent Maddox and his trust, pushed through the fraud charges against Renee.
That was what was on today’s to-do list. Only now she found herself being pulled further into Jacob’s life. With each step back she took, she ended up two closer. She hated deceiving everyone and while she hadn’t outright lied, an omission fell far too close to that line between lie and truth.
As they turned the corner at the end of the street a patrol car sped past, lights flashing. Mallory didn’t look back again. The little boy in her arms needed her full attention.
He’d been quiet. Quieter than normal. And he’d burrowed in so close his face was pressed into her neck. As they made their way down the street toward Mazey and Rylan’s house, she tried to engage him in conversation. “We’re going to go play at Aunt Mazey’s house with Zane. That will be fun, won’t it?”
He made a small sound, more a hum than anything else, and Mallory looked at Mazey, who frowned at Maddox.
“Are you hungry, Maddox? Do you want a cookie when we get there?” Mallory asked him.
Expecting his usual shout and excitement, her stomach clenched when he snuggled in closer still, pressing his face so deep into her neck she wondered how he could breathe.
Dread settled in her heart. He’d been through so much with Renee, and now Shelly, the woman paid to take care of him, had somehow hurt him. Whether that was physical or emotional, Mallory aimed to find out.
As soon as they got to Mazey’s house she’d give him a bath and hope the warmth and water play would bring him out of this dazed state.
“How about we have a bath at Aunt Mazey’s? Would you like that?” She glanced at Mazey, tried to convey with her gaze what she was trying to do. If she understood or not, Mallory couldn’t tell, but the worry on her face validated her own concern.
“What about some bubbles? I’ve still got your favorite bubbles.” Mazey looked at her over Maddox’s head. “I can put together some food and drinks and bring them up to the bathroom.”
“Sounds good. I don’t know if he ate this morning or not.” They didn’t know anything. Except Mallory couldn’t help but fear he hadn’t, especially after she’d seen the way Shelly had all but ignored the boy yesterday and the fact she was positive the clothes he wore were the ones from yesterday. “We’ll get him cleaned up with a full belly before…”
“Before his daddy comes home from work,” Mazey added when Mallory couldn’t come up with what to say.
“Yes.” Mallory spotted Rylan and Mazey’s house, recognizing it from the photos in the PI’s report, as soon as they took the next corner. “Daddy will be home from work soon, Maddox.”
