“I know.” He ran a hand down his face. “I just thought this was over, you know. Well, except for stripping Renee of her parental rights anyway.”
“We’re still doing that. I think this Clark guy has something that will help us do that.”
“Christ.” He scanned the street. “How the fuck did our fresh start get so fucked up?”
Keaton chuckled. “I heard about the nanny.”
“Who the hell—” Jake cut himself off. “Never mind. I’m sure Maz told Alyssa all about it.”
“Yep. Gave us all a good laugh.”
“Nothing funny about a naked woman chasing you around your house.”
Keaton burst out laughing.
“Yeah, okay, that sounded wrong.” Jake had a chuckle of his own. “Under other circumstances it wouldn’t have been an issue.”
“Hang on.” Keaton covered the phone on his end. “Roark and the team are here. We’re leaving now. See you when we get there.”
“See you then. And thanks.”
“No problem. Any time.”
They hung up and Jake scrubbed his fingers through his hair, digging his fingertips into the back of his skull. He needed to clear his head. Go over everything he knew and what he didn’t. But first, he needed to make sure histenantknew she was no longer welcome.
Going through the front door, he tossed his keys on the coffee table on the way past; they skidded across the smooth surface and fell off the far side. “Shit.” Walking around, he scooped them up and dropped them on the couch instead.
He knew Mallory—he couldn’t think of her as Lory right now—wasn’t home. Her car hadn’t been out front. There was probably no point even checking the apartment but he’d do it anyway. Then he’d sit on his couch and watch for her to return.
She’d told him she’d be back today, had even messaged him last night saying she’d be leaving San Francisco first thing this morning. By his calculations she should be here any minute.
Taking the stairs up to her door two at a time, he reached the top and pounded on the timber. The whole thing rattled like it would fall off its hinges any second. He looked at the frame and the door itself and decided they should both be replaced if he was going to continue renting the space out.
Of course he had to get rid of his current tenant first.
And she wasn’t answering his knock.
Shaking his head at his own idiocy, because he’d known she wouldn’t answer, he retraced his steps and headed back to his living room and the clear view to the street.
He still had to shower but he had no intention of letting her get past him. He’d been keeping a lid on his anger until now. Or maybe it was the betrayal that had dulled the anger until now. Whatever the reason, while he waited, his anger had gone from a light simmer to a boil.
He’d trusted Mallory with the most precious thing in his life and she’d betrayed him with her lies and secrets.
What the hell she’d been doing he didn’t want to even guess at. He’d ask her.
Then again, maybe he’d just kick her out and never talk to her again.
That would suit him fine. He never wanted to see her, her stepmother, or her fucking bitch of a sister for as long as he lived.
Jake had no idea how long he sat there stewing over this morning’s event or the fact Renee had managed to wiggle her way out of being in jail with that ridiculous postnatal depression claim but a flash of blue pulled him from his thoughts and focused his attention on the woman getting out of her car in front of his house.
With a growl, he pushed to his feet and stalked through the house and out the back door. He didn’t want to confront her on the street but there was no way he wanted her in his house either, so the backyard was the only choice. He’d tell her to get out, give her ten minutes to pack—he’d seen her stuff, there wasn’t much of it—then he’d do what he’d done with her stepmother and watch her drive away.
He stood on the deck, arms crossed and waited for her to come from behind the house. As soon as she stepped into view, he shouted, “Hey.”
“Oh.” She put a hand on her chest. “You scared me.”
“Get your shit and get out. Don’t ever come back,” he said in a voice rough with emotion.
