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Frantically, Madison pointed towards the door. “Stone...stop him. I need...”
What? What do I need?She racked her brain for an excuse—any excuse—to send her mom after him. “I need him to come back here and...return this damn toy to Jordan.”
Madison gestured towards the adult toy, postured like a trophy above the fireplace.
Joy rushed to the mantle. “I’ll take it to him.”
“No!” Madison exclaimed. “He has to come back and get it because...it’s...used.”
Squeamish, Joy’s face contorted in horror.
TheWhat the fuck are you doing?was written all over Jess’s stunned face.
Madison shook it off and double-downed. “And take Damian with you. Don’t let Stone leave.”
Perplexed, but willing to comply with her daughter’s eccentric demands, Joy nodded. “Consider it done.”
Chuckling under her breath, Jess plopped herself down beside Madison, swiping a bite of her food. With a mischievous glimmer in her eyes, she asked, “Used?”
In hushed tones, Madison leaned closer to Jess. “I need Stone back here,” she whispered urgently. “He took something. Something I desperately need to get back.”
With a swift flick of her wrist, Jess revealed the envelope, holding it up for Madison to see. “You mean this?”
Wrapping her friend in a tight hug, Madison exclaimed, “But... how?”
Jess shrugged nonchalantly. “Tiny Tim isn’t the only pick-pocket in these parts. Now,” she said, rising to her feet with a s’more in hand, “let me go intercept them before Joy tackles Stone and Damian hits him with a TASER.”
CHAPTER9
ALEX
Alex stood frozen, his mind reeling. The resemblance between the young boy and himself couldn’t be explained away as a fluke or bizarre coincidence.
The same disheveled hair, the aura of rebellion, and the baby-cub version of a smoldering stare. It was like looking in a mirror.Fuck, it’s like staring at the ghost of Christmas past.
“Holy shit,” he blurted out beneath his breath.
From the boy’s stone-cold expression, a potent mix of anger and indifference radiated, plucking a chord deep within Alex’s soul. It was as if he were peering into a mirror, confronting a reflection that stirred up emotions he thought were long gone and buried ten feet deep.
A past that was two seconds from staring him right in the face.
With a hand through his hair, the young boy turned. Alex’s eyes widened.
This was it, the surreal, slow motion moment of truth. He swallowed hard.Truth and consequences. Heart pounding hard, Alex stood tall, prepared to face reality head-on.
That is, until a sudden, forceful shove to the arm had him crashing to the floor. Thanks to his swift reflexes and a well-timed push-up, narrowly escaping a collision with the floor and a mouthful of expensive Italian marble.
What the—?
It was Jordan—master of diversion and apparent power lifter— forcing him to the ground in a decisive move, managing to shield Alex from the young boy’s line of sight.
Fuck, she’s strong.
“Well, well, well,” Jordan purred, her heels clicking along the sleek floor as she moved further in the room. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Paco?” Jordan said, entering into the room as Cole helped Alex to his feet.
Back against the wall, Alex listened intently.His name. I need to know his name.
Curt and tense, Paco replied. “No.”
