Page 76 of Alec’s Dream

“Daddy?” Rory shot back.

My eyes closed on a slow blink, my throat started to burn, going down to my lungs then into my belly where that burn turned into fire. A raging fire of regret and torture. The realization that I couldn’t protect my children from knowing the truth about Doug struck me like a two-by-four. It didn’t matter how badly I wanted to swaddle them and guard them—one day they’d learn who their father really was.

Caleb was already figuring it out. But my little Aurora—so young, so little, so innocent—did need to know.

Not now.

I was stuck in the middle of needing to keep the truth from Aurora and allowing Caleb to feel free to express himself and know I was listening. That I cared about his feelings. That he could trust me enough that he could tell me anything and I’d help him process and move on.

“Caleb—”

“You always defend him,” my son interrupted me and climbed off the bed. “I hate him. All of this is his fault!”

Oh no. No, no, no.

Had Caleb overheard the conversation downstairs?

My heart ached. Seriously fucking ached. I’d promised myself after Doug and I divorced, my children would never hear me speak ill about their dad. I’d gone to great lengths to make sure that happened.

“Son—”

“I’m not stupid,” he shouted, and Jocelyn jumped before she started to climb into my lap.

Poor Rory didn’t know what to say as she stared at her brother.

I needed to get my boy away from his sister so he could vent. He needed to get it all out but not this way, not in front of the girls. I wanted him to unload his burden and be free to say whatever he wanted. Just not here, not when Rory looked devastated, and Joss was crawling on me like she was frightened.

“Let’s talk about—”

“Everyone likes you,” Caleb declared, and to further his point, his hand came up and his finger jabbed my way. “No one would want to hurt you. This is all his fault. All of it. I’ve been thinking about it.”

Oh, shit, Caleb was putting it together and coming up with the correct theory.

Not good.

“I’m not stupid,” he repeated. “I heard what that man said, then dad takes off—like he always does—and then…and then that happens to your face and someone tries to kill us. I hate him. Me and Rory are never seeing him again. Ever. You can’t make us go!”

The bedroom door swung open, Alec’s large frame filled the space, and his deep-set frown took in the room, settling on Caleb.

“What’s going on?”

Before I could defuse the situation, which actually meant before I could come up with a bunch of bullshit to either deny Caleb’s accusations, meaning once again defending Doug, Caleb stood a little taller and faced Alec.

“Rory said you were gonna find the guy who hit Mom.”

“Working on it, bud.”

“After you do that, would you find my dad and tell him we’re never seeing him again? Neither of us. And he’s not seeing Mom either. That’s why you need to tell him. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

Alec gave my son a lift of his chin in acknowledgment then swung his gaze to me. There was nothing gentle about the man standing in the doorway. Gone was the carefully harnessed fire and back was Alec’s look of fury.

Oh, boy.

“Let’s take a walk, bud.” Alec’s deep rumbly voice confirmed his control was slipping.

I, in no way, thought he’d unleash his anger on my son. I knew that rage was in our defense. And somewhere deep that made me shiver. Alec’s desire to protect us was different than my dad’s or even Rob’s and I knew those two men loved us and would move heaven and hell to make us safe. But the way Alec did it was different. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt it.

“Maybe—”