Page 129 of Deceived Wrath

After wrestling with Scout to keep his coat and scarf on, we head out to the park.

There’s a fresh layer of snow on the ground that almost comes up to Scout’s knees, and he has an absolute blast wading through it.

“Fiona, look at this!” Scout lies back in the snow and starts fanning out his arms and legs.

“That’s an awesome snow angel.”

“You should do one too!”

I find myself genuinely laughing as I fall onto my back and start making a snow angel beside Scout.

Once our snow angels are finished, Scout grabs my hand and drags me from one pile of snow to the next, showing me how to make the perfect snowball.

The air is sharp and cold, but freeing.

For a moment, I forget all about the lies and the danger. Right now, it’s just me and Scout laughing in a world made of snow.

“Fiona, look!” He pelts a snowball past my shoulder. “Ialmosthit you!

“Almost? Please. You couldn’t hit me if you tried.”

He gasps, delighted by the challenge, and immediately starts packing another one.

I’m laughing again, really laughing, as he charges toward me.

I scoop him up before he can throw it, spinning him around while he shrieks with joy.

When I set him down, he bolts toward the small hill by the path, his small legs wading through the snow and his boots kicking up little sprays of powder.

“Daddy! Look at me!”

I turn with a smile, and it dies instantly.

Because Cormac is striding toward us from across the park with a murderous look in his eyes.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“What—”

“You have no right to take my son anywhere without my permission.”

“Cormac, I’m sorry, but?—”

“I leave you alone for less than thirty minutes, and the first thing you do is disobey me. You’renothis mother, Fiona. You don’t get to make decisions aboutmyson.”

“I know that. I just wanted to take him to the park rather than keeping him inside all day like a fugitive.”

Cormac’s eyes flash with anger. And for the first time ever, I find myself genuinely scared of him.

“I specifically told you not to go anywhere without letting me know first.”

“I did. It’s not my fault you turned your phone off.”

“I have meetings all day.”

“Clearly, you don’t because you’re out here spying on me.”

“I forgot my laptop, and I’m glad I did because, otherwise, I wouldn’t have come home to an empty apartment and my son missing?—”