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“I’ll take your ass to court. I have the money and you don’t, so say your goodbyes now.” Panic fills me, if what he says is true, and he does have the financial backing, I’d be fucked. There is no way I can afford a lawyer or court fees. I won’t fucking let him take my son from me!
“Take me to court and I’ll tell them how you are a murderer. You and I both know I have the proof of your crime.” I keep my angry stare on Beckett but I hear the others climb to their feet, I’m out numbered. None of these people know me and I can already tell that nothing I say or do will sway them, they are loyal to the murderer that stands before me.
“You can try, but heed my warning,Valance,” Darius spits my name like it burns his tongue. “You run your mouth to anyone and I promise you that we will bury you six feet fucking deep and take that kid from you without remorse if you try to keep him from Beck.” Tears flow freely down my cheeks. I begin to feel the walls closing in on me. I look to Leah begging with my eyes for her help but I see it, in the depths of her green eyes, that she won’t stand against Beckett. I’m on my own. Beckett darts forward and tears Dawson from my arms. He screams for me. I attempt to reach for him but my arms are gripped from either side and I’m being pulled from the room. Dawson turns to me with tears flowing down his cheeks, the look of fear in his eyes will haunt me for years to come.
“Momma!” He reaches for me and I try to fight with everything I have to get free, to get back to my son but their hold on me is strong and I’m too weak to fight them off.
“Please, Beckett, don’t fucking do this!” I scream, the vacant look in his eyes scaring me. He doesn’t react or blink as Dawson begins to slap his face screaming for me. He keeps his gaze on me as I’m dragged from the fucking room like a criminal.
Beckett
It takes me a full three seconds after she has disappeared from the room to realize that Dawson is hitting me and scratching at my face as he screams for his mother. I look down at him unsure of what the fuck I am supposed to do. Five minutes ago, the kid looked at me like I was his favorite person and now, he looks at me with nothing but fear in his blue eyes–he has her eyes.
“Beck, let me take him,” Leah says as she comes to stand in front of me. I clutch Dawson against my chest and pin her with a look daring her to take him from me. She doesn’t protest or reprimand me she just smiles sadly. “He needs to be soothed, he’s scared and wants his mother.” Her words have my anger rising.
“He’s mine!” I snarl. Darius stands by Leah and pins me with a look of warning.
“She’s just trying to help, get him to stop crying or give him to someone who knows how to fucking make him stop.” I try to cuddle him but he fights against me.
“Mommy, I want my momma!” he screams so fucking loud I flinch.
“Little man, want to come with me and get a cookie?” Leah says but Dawson isn’t having it.
“I want momma!” he cries so hard he begins to gasp for air, fuck! Panic kicks in. Katie, Cody, and Saint round the table to stand in front of me as well, judging from the looks of the five of their faces they are clueless just like me.
“You need to take him to her, none of us know how to give CPR to a kid if he needs it.” The sheer panic in Saint’s voice mimics how I feel. I curse beneath my breath and push my way through them as I go in search of that lying bitch.
“Get the fuck off me, if you don’t give me my son, I swear to Christ I’ll fucking kill you!” I follow her shouts to the living room. Corvin and Crue have her pinned by her arms to the single seat, at the sound of Dawson’s cries she snaps her gaze to me–him. “Dawson!” she shouts. He swings his head around toward her and cries harder at the sight of his mother. My hold on him tightens as she fights harder to get free. “Give him to me… please.” Tears trek down her cheeks, and the sight fuels the anger inside me but the sounds of Dawson’s cries are the only reason I give in. I place him on his feet and nod to Corv and Crue to release her. She slips from the seat and drops to her knees with her arms open as Dawson launches himself at her. He wraps his arms around her neck and tries his best to lock his legs around her waist. She buries her face in the crook of his neck and holds him tightly against her.
“Who is Val to you, Becky?” Leah whispers. It takes me a minute to think of how to explain who the fuck she is to me. I keep my gaze on Dawson andheras I answer.
“A part of my past I wish had stayed buried.” Seeing her again causes memories of what I did to resurface. She fucking fled and I had no choice but to clean the fucking mess and run before she could turn me in. Valance lifts her tear-filled gaze to me, the anger and disgust I see in her eyes match exactly how I am feeling. The sight of her makes me sick, the knowledge that Dawson is–could be mine fuels the anger inside me to climb to new heights. I step down into the sunken living room. Valance tenses and quickly climbs to her feet awkwardly while still holding Dawson. His hold on her hasn’t lessened, I feel like shit for scaring him. She’s different but the same. I always knew Valance’s beauty would only enhance as she got older and I wasn’t wrong. Her auburn hair is longer now, her blue eyes filled with memories of a life lived. It’s so strange standing here in front of my family looking at the girl who sold me the fuck out.
“I go home, Momma,” Dawson cries out. She tenses for a second and darts her gaze around the room looking for an exit.
“Try it and you’ll regret it,” I say in a flat tone. She pins me with what I’m sure she is hoping is a glare that doesn’t fool me. She is a fucking con artist.
“I know baby, maybe… we could get your toys from upstairs and you can play while… mommy talks to… Beckett?” I grit my teeth in annoyance, her eyes plead with me to allow her to do this.
“I’ll go grab them. Where are they?” Saint asks. Valance purses her lips clearly wanting to deny him but she is smart enough to know this is her only choice.
“His books are on the bed. If you could bring his backpack down as well, that would be great.” Saint nods and takes off to retrieve the shit she asked for while the rest of us stand here in tension-filled silence.
“Momma?” Dawson pulls back and stares at her, her features soften the second she looks at him.
“Yeah, baby?” she says with a smile that I can tell is forced.
“I gopot-pot.” Worry fills her features as she turns back to look at me. I keep my face blank of all emotion except my anger, I allow her to see that.
“He needs to go potty.” I remain silent not giving a shit, that’s a her problem not a me one.
“Fucking hell,” I hear Cody grit out before she brushes past me. “Come on, I’ll show you where it is.” Valance smiles her thanks and moves to follow after Cody. Before she can take a single step past me, I grip her arm. Her gaze immediately snaps to mine, her eyes flick between mine searching for something.
“Don’t try anything, you won’t make it far,” I warn. She sighs, then nods her understanding before I let her go. Dawson frowns up at me as they walk past me to follow Cody. Saint crashes into the room holding the shit she asked for. He drops it on the coffee table and my eyes zero in on the book. I stand here stunned and utterly fucking confused as to how that fucking book is sitting here right now.
“Do you want us to leave you or…” I can’t peel my eyes off the book, I can’t even form words to answer Corvin so I just shake my head as I reach down and grab it. It looks exactly the same as it did years ago.Goosebumps, the title brings a smile to my face.
“Dat mine!” I swing my head to the side to see Valance standing there with Dawson. Cody moves over to where Corvin sits on the recliner. Valance drops her gaze to my hands and her eyes widen.
