Page 50 of Alec’s Dream

“Yeah?” I snapped.

“Alec isn’t anything like Doug.” I appreciated him whispering so Rory couldn’t hear but really, I didn’t have time for the nonsense.

Alec couldn’t factor into my life.

“It really doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t.” Damn, I wasn’t this person. Not even after I’d been attacked on my own porch, a time when most everyone would get a pass for being bitchy. I couldn’t do it. “I know he’s not,” I sighed. “He’s a good dad.”

“He’s more than a good dad. He’s a good man,” Jonny corrected.

“Fine. I’ll give you that, too. But it doesn’t change anything. I don’t have time for…God, I don’t even know what I don’t have time for anymore. I need to concentrate on the kids. Things aren’t going to get better are they?”

“No, they’re not. I think you need to contact your attorney and fill him in, see if you can get an emergency injunction. Doug shouldn’t have any custody at this point.”

“I hate this.” The salty tears stung as they rolled down my cheeks over the abrasions. “I never wanted this. I didn’t want to take their dad away.”

Jonny gently pulled me into his embrace and I sank into the feel of it—familiar, safe even. So very different than the way Alec held me, and not just because Jonny was my ex-brother-in-law and friend. Alec’s touch was different than the way anyone had ever held me. Not even way back in the beginning had Doug’s hold ever been reassuring. It hadn’t even been comforting.

God, I’d been so stupid.

“You’re not doing anything. Doug is. He’s made it unsafe for them to be around him.”

That may’ve been true but it didn’t make it any easier. Rory was going to be upset but my bigger fear was Caleb would be happy he didn’t have to go back to his dad’s.

The last few days since he’d been back from Doug’s house had been hard. Caleb had been snappy and in a bad mood all week. But when I’d asked him, he refused to talk about it.

“Do you want me to call Becky for you before I leave?” Jonny asked.

“No, I’ll do it. Thank you for everything today.”

“We’re gonna find Josh and arrest him.”

I warred with myself over telling Jonny what Alec had said about making Josh pay. I didn’t want Alec to get into trouble and I hoped Jonny could stop him from doing something he’d regret but I held my tongue. Even though the two men were friends, Jonny was the law, and telling him about Alec’s threats felt like a betrayal.

“I hope you find him soon.”

“We will. In the meantime, Alec will set up a rotation with his team and I’ll get my guys to drive by as much as possible.”

“What does that mean? Alec will do what?”

“He’ll make sure someone’s outside watching the house.”

I started to argue because that was too much. I didn’t want Alec more involved than he already was.

“It’s non-negotiable, Macy. I agree with him. I want you protected. I want Aurora and Caleb safe. You can try to fight with Alec on this but he won’t budge. He’s taken a stand and that man will not back down.”

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered.

“Yeah, we will. You know I love you and those kids. I’d do anything for you. If I thought he’d hurt you or them in any way, I’d set him on his ass and make sure he never got near you. But I trust him with more than my life—I trust him with yours. So you can fight and argue all you want but it won’t make a damn bit of difference because he’s going to protect you regardless.”

Done with any conversations having to do with Alec Hall, I changed the subject.

“Do you have everything you need?”

“I do. We’re all headed out. Jameson’s still outside until Alec gets back.”

Whatever. I had bigger issues to worry about, like calling Becky and making sure she didn’t have a shit hemorrhage when she found out why I needed her to leave work and go pick up Caleb.

“Okay. I’m going to go check on Rory.”