Page 132 of Contentious

Carson watched in the mirror as she stared back at him without changing her impassive expression.

“Answer me!”

“You didn’t ask me a question.”

“That’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“You very quickly showed that you weren’t worth my time or attention because you don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

“I should blow your pretty face off.”

Ty lunged toward her, throwing his arms around her. “Leave my mommy alone!”

“Aw, look at that widdle mama’s boy you’re raising. What a shame. He could’ve been a real man.”

“Like you?” Cresley asked. “Hard pass.”

“Watch your mouth, bitch. It would give me great pleasure to end all three of you before I make my great escape.”

“How’d you find us anyway?” Cresley asked.

Marlon’s nasty laugh came with a gust of disgusting breath. “I’ve had an AirTag in your car for two years. I always know where you are.”

“What a creep,” she said. “So obsessed with a woman who doesn’t want you.”

“I could make you want me.”

“Not in this lifetime or any other.”

Carson was unreasonably proud of them both and how they’d fought back against Marlon’s cruelty. Depending on traffic, it could take up to three and a half hours to get to the Mexican border. His only focus was on battling through the pain, remaining conscious, keeping his eyes on the road and getting Cresley and Ty home safe.

* * *

Minutes after he completed his final meeting of the day, Julian was in the elevator on the way to the parking garage. Since Isla and the kids had come into his life, leaving work on time had become a priority. He had better things to do than work, and he was always eager to get home to them.

It’d been just over a month since he first laid eyes on her, and his life today bore no resemblance whatsoever to his meager existence prior to her. Then it had been eat, sleep, work, rinse and repeat. The only deviation in his routine had been the nights he played with the band or when he had dinner with his siblings or hooked up with someone for no-commitment sex. Otherwise, it’d been same shit, different day.

He took a call from his grandfather as he drove through Beverly Hills on the way to Laurel Canyon. “What’s up, Gramps?”

“Where’s Carson?”

“With Cresley at Isla’s rental in the Canyon. He got discharged earlier.”

“He’s not answering his phone.”

“He might be sleeping.”

“That kid never sleeps through a ringing phone.”

“He’s never been stabbed before.”

“Don’t get cheeky with me, young man.”

“Sorry,” Julian said with a chuckle. “That was a gimme. I’m on my way over there now to check on him. I’ll tell him to call you.”

“Very good. What’s new with you? You never call, you never write…”

“That’s not true.”