Page 74 of Alec’s Dream

“He’s right.” Macy’s voice was sure and strong and when Alec turned to see her walking his way. Her shoulders were back, head held high, and with a look of determination he’d never seen before on her face.

It was absolutely stunning.

“I’d already called my attorney on Friday,” she announced. “Before bullets and mayhem, I had a talk with Caleb. He doesn’t want to see Doug anymore. He’s feeling uncomfortable—he’s heard Josh make death threats against Doug and wants away from it. He also knows Doug’s game. Hell, Caleb’s the one who pointed it out. So I was already making moves to get his visitation taken away. After today? He will never get near my kids again. I will do whatever I need to do to make sure of it, and that includes taking Alec up on his offer to bury Doug.”

Macy stopped next to Alec and placed her shaking hand on his forearm before it slid down and her fingers wrapped around his.

Goddamn, that felt good.

Macy had never sought him out. It had always been him getting close, getting in her space, kissing her, never the other way around, and the simple gesture of holding his hand filled him with joy. Something he didn’t think he was capable of feeling after that day’s events.

“I think Jocelyn’s hungry.” Macy softened her tone. “I didn’t want to bring the kids down without telling you. Do you mind if I go through your kitchen? Find something for her to munch on?”

“Yeah, babe. Help yourself. McKenna, Kennedy, and Silver will be around soon to stock us up. They also wanted to know if you needed anything from the store. I told Nix to ask them to grab some girly shampoo and shit for you and Rory. Caleb should be good with what I have.”

Macy’s face gentled in a way he’d never seen. The change was so beautiful it took his breath. He knew what was behind all the barbs and walls was going to be worth it, but he didn’t know the reality of it would knock him on his ass.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“It’s just shampoo.”

“No, it’s not. You’re looking out for us.”

“Told you I would.”

“Yeah, you did. I’m gonna find something for Joss. Do you mind us eating in your bed?”

“No, baby, have at it.”

She nodded and turned to leave but Jonny called her name, stopping her.

“Can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re all safe,” Jonny muttered. “Fucking kills me, Macy, that it’s come to this. Whatever you need, I have your back. My parents, too. They love you and the kids.”

“Thank you, Jonny. If you want to help—find him before Alec does. I’m not saying that because I give a rat’s ass what happens to Doug, but I do care about Alec. And I don’t have it in me to try to talk him out of doing whatever he has planned when he finds him. So I’m counting on you to find the hole your brother has slithered into and tell him to stay gone for good. Because if he comes back here, I’m not asking Alec to stand down. Today, one of my children could’ve taken a bullet for him. The patience and kindness I’ve shown are history. Today, I teach my children a new lesson, and that is, once someone you love is threatened, you fight. And Jonny, my kids will know that their mother is willing to do anything to keep them safe—including unleashing the wrath of God on their father if he is what’s putting them in danger.”

With that, Macy squeezed Alec’s hand before she let go and sauntered into his kitchen like she’d belonged there, that she’d done it a million times and was comfortable doing it. It wasn’t lost on him how much he liked seeing it and he planned on making it so she never wanted to leave.

“You were saying?” Alec asked.

“Never thought I’d see the day Doug pushed sweet Macy so far she’d take the kids from him.”

What the fuck? Alec’s eyes narrowed and his muscles bunched.

“Not saying I hadn’t hoped for it,” Jonny continued. “He doesn’t deserve those kids and he never deserved Macy. But Macy’s Macy. Sweet, kind, loving, all about those kids and making sure they have everything they need. Including a dad, even if he jacked her around and treated her like shit. She’s not the type of woman to share that with her kids and turn them against their father. As pissed as I am that Doug’s finally broken the last of her generosity, I can’t say I’m not pleased as fuck to see it.”

“You do understand what pushed her was bullets flying through her home?”

“Yep. Pissed as fuck about that, too. But now those kids will be free of him.”

The man was not wrong—one way or another, Caleb and Aurora would be free of the dickhead. For good this time. No more extended periods of neglect only for him to come back and play mind games and spread his asshole cheer around. Doug Spencer was gone.

“I take it you didn’t see a car or the shooter?” Jonny asked.

“Negative.”

Alec spent the next ten minutes telling Jonny what happened. By the time he was done, Jonny was looking at his shoes. He hadn’t sugar-coated shit and knew Jonny was feeling it. The man was in a tough spot all the way around. He was a lawman with the job of catching the perpetrators, but also an uncle. With the added stress that his own brother was the reason behind the attack.

So, yeah, Jonny was feeling it. But Alec didn’t give the first fuck. His only priority was Macy and the kids. With that in mind, he filled Jonny in on what Caleb had told Macy, including that the boy had heard his father was headed to Florida.