Page 56 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Borrow Billy’s. Send another email.”

“What?”

“Don’t just show up here. Find a way to warn me first.”

“I sent you—never mind. Paige, don’t you think this is a little much? It was a misunderstanding.”

I drop everything, spin around, and cut him off. “Did he tell you? What he overheard? What exactly was said?”

He holds my glare and shakes his head. “No. He wouldn’t tell me. He couldn’t get the words out, and he was … I needed to calm him down, you know?” Trevor waits for me to say something, but I remain silent. “Can you tell me? If he lets you know?”

“Yeah. He said that your parents don’t love him, don’t even like him, but he wouldn’t explain why he thinks that.” I meet his eyes. “I’ll tell you, but right now, it’s time for you to go. I’ll tell Jacob you went to Edgewood to get a phone if he wakes up later.”

I expect him to argue about staying longer, but he doesn’t. He leaves, and I finish cleaning the house, then make dinner. I get a load of laundry running, making sure Jacob’s favorite shirt gets cleaned. I set my schedule for the week, including working with Abigail, with Cassian, Jacob’s classes, and the doctor’s visit I haven’t decided if I’m going to tell Trevor about.

I do all of this while tears run down my face, but I do it.

Chapter Twenty

TREVOR

My alarm goes off at four in the morning, but it was useless to set. I never fell asleep. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about the words my son said. How my parents make him feel unworthy, unloved. It was the final straw—the moment my plans went from bowing out amicably from the family business to dismantling it from the inside out and tearing down the walls around my father.

Walking out that door and leaving my family behind, I’ve been armed with a clarity I haven’t felt in months, possibly even years. Certainty settles inside of me for what I need to do next. I’m not going to burn my world down. I’m going to meticulously demolish everything my father holds dear while I rebuild my own home into something far stronger than it ever has been before.

I spent the evening on my new phone with Billy about a temporary place to stay, Carter’s parents about one of their cars, my buddy, Joseph Banks, about business law questions, as well as domestic questions, and finally, Asher Wolfe, our precinct’s hotshot young detective about my concerns with the legality of what’s happening inside the bank. Asher had me on the phone the longest, and even stopped by Billy’s Autoshop to chat.

Once I finished with all of those phone calls, Carter dropped off the car for me, and I picked up a pack of new legal pads to keep track of my priorities. Once I was back in the apartment, though, I was hit with the silence. I took a long, cold shower and cleaned the already clean apartment. However, when I went to lay down each time, deep brown eyes, full pink lips, and a sweet tinkling laugh filled my brain. My body knows it’s missing its other half.

Yet, despite the lack of sleep, I’m up and ready by four thirty.

I know Paige isn’t thrilled with the solution I gave her yesterday, but it makes sense to me. I’ve always made breakfast before our mornings got all messy, but now, my priorities are clear in my mind.

I have bacon, eggs, and toast in the oven on different plates, made to their preferences. Paige’s crispy bacon and cheesy scrambled eggs, with toast just shy of burnt. I have butter ready for hers. Jacob likes his bacon chewier, fried eggs with salt and pepper, and pale-ass toast.

I’ve been cleaning as I cook, but I have a few pans to wash then I’m done.

“Why are you already here?” Paige’s voice calls quietly across the kitchen. I put down the pan I’m scrubbing and go to the oven without looking at her. I know what she’ll look like. She’ll be beautiful and sleep ruffled. I pull out her plate with an oven mitt, though it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable. I place it on the island where Paige usually sits and lean back against the counter opposite.

“I remember how ravenous you would get first thing in the morning with our last baby, and you have work so early. I was worried you’d get sick, left to your own devices.”

“It’s not up to you to take care of me anymore. You’re here for our son. Nothing more.” I try not to flinch at the voracity of her words.

So stubborn. I open the fridge to get some orange juice. “Don’t make yourself go without to prove a point, Paige.” I know I made a mistake as soon as the words are out of my mouth.

“That’s not fair, Trevor.” Her voice breaks on the whisper, and I slump at the sound. I grab the jug I want and close the door, gathering myself before I turn to her.

“I’m sorry. You’re right.” I finally look at my wife and take in how fucking pretty she is, but also how tired she is. Dammit, I want to hold her. Grabbing her favorite glass from the cabinet, I turn back to her and pour her a glass, placing it directly next to where I set her food. “Yo⁠—”

Behind her, I see my boy, not much better off, clomping down the steps. A low, whiney groan makes me fight a grin. Jacob is wearing his favorite T-shirt and a pair of Toy Story pajama pants. He lifts his head when he hits the bottom of the stairs, and at the sight of the spread in front of his mother, he suddenly gains a spring in his step. I meet him with his own plate at his normal spot.

“Good morning, kiddo. Freshly made, just how you like it.” Jacob reaches to rearrange the plate closer to him, but I stop him. “Whoa, it’s super hot, kid. I’ll scoot it for you. Grab a cup for your juice, and I’ll get the two of you forks, yeah?”

Jacob grunts his acknowledgment, but does what I ask, grabbing his favorite cup from where it’s waiting on the counter. When he settles in his seat, he looks over at Paige and pats the chair next to him. “Come on, Mom. It’s time to eat.”

Paige and Jacob finish their meals, but then they’re both out the door within fifteen minutes. Watching my woman and child scarf down the plates I made for them satisfies a part of me I know is primal—a part of my genetic makeup as a man. Provide. At first, I thought I screwed it all up when my stupid mouth opened up and let shit fall out. Maybe if things weren’t so tense, I could get away with making throwaway chiding comments like that, but things are tense, and my words hurt my wife.

I keep hurting her.