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"What's the plan, Rylee?"
I don't let Jackson's accusing tone distract me from my task. "None of your business." Entering the closet, I find my small stack of jeans and sweatshirts, knowing I won’t need them in the next few days. I leave one sweatshirt out just in case, though.
"Bullshit," JJ snaps, kicking my box out of the way when I toss my clothes towards it. "Whoever this asshole is that you are running from isn't even here!"
Grinding my teeth, I snag the box and place it on my bed. Refolding the clothes that scatted across the ground, I do my best to ignore the pissed-off fumes coming from the man in my bedroom. All he's fucking doing is making me even more anxious.
"What did he do to you, Rylee? What has you so fucking scared that you are dragging your child from state to state? You ever going to settle down? You ever going to do something about the fact that this Mason guy is after you? This is not safe."
"Who are you to tell me how to live my life or keep my daughter safe?!" I can't control the anger that shatters my silence. "He won't stop till he has her! We have to keep moving!"
"Running is not the answer! Layla should be starting school. What are you going to do about that if you are constantly on the road? And what happens when he does catch up to you, huh? This isn't the fucking answer!"
I push past the ball in my throat, praying like hell my voice comes out calm and collected. "Please leave, Jackson." He doesn't leave. He takes a step closer. I'm not scared of him, but the alpha energy is making my chest feel tight and my tongue loose.
"I'm not leaving, and neither are you. Should Mason be in jail for what he did?" JJ's tone calms a bit, but his fists are still firmly clenched.
"Yes," I grit out. "He should be rotting in hell." I can't help but give him the truth. Exhaustion and weariness are setting in hard. I just have to leave.
"Why?" He waits for an answer I don't want to give him. "Dammit, Rylee! Why should Layla's father be rotting in hell?"
Maybe if I told him, he would finally let it go and see that this is the best option for my daughter and me. Nobody in their right mind would suggest waiting for an abusive asshole to show up on your doorstep and take your child away. Maybe it's best he finally knows.
Before I say can begin my tragic tale, Jude pops his shaggy head of blonde hair around my doorframe. "Hey, guys. Uh, Layla woke up because of all the shouting." My stomach twists uncomfortably, hating that she heard us.
He steps into the room, Marcus and Leo following close behind. Marcus says, "Gabby and Tate took her outside so she wouldn't be able to hear." My eyes blur with tears, the four of them standing in a line. Staring me down. Judging me.
"I see all of you judging me. I'm not a bad mom." Each of them begins to protest, but I cut them off, not wanting to be placated. "I'll tell you why we have to keep moving. Maybe then you will finally understand why this is absolutely necessary. I'm not just doing this because I think it's fun to drag my five-year-old around the country. Never giving her a home or allowing her to be comfortable in a place for too long. There is a reason I need to start packing."
I'm not surprised when Jackson crosses his arms over his chest and probably bites his tongue. I am surprised when Leo comes to stand beside me and gently encourages me to sit on my bed. He settles himself beside me, but thankfully, nobody takes the other open spot. Marcus sits between Leo's legs on the floor. Jude settles himself a few feet in front of me on the carpet as well, and Jackson takes up his post, leaning against the wall across from me. It feels like actual story time in school.
"I want no interruptions. And when I'm done talking, I need to continue packing. We aren't leaving today since I don't have a place set up quite yet, but as soon as I have a legitimate plan, we have to go."
I wait for their nods of understanding. Leo is solemn, and it looks like he's struggling with something. Hopefully, Marc can help him since I am incapable right now. Marc and Jude nod with no expression whatsoever, and Jackson jerks his chin with a look of fury.
Good enough.
"I'll just start at the beginning, I guess. Layla's father, Mason, and I started dating when we were teenagers. He’s almost five years older than me, but my parents didn't care when I was still a minor, and he was a legal adult. His parents were even richer than us. We were in love. I remember thinking it was the greatest thing for my parents to support us. I'm not even going to get into my family life. I'm sure you can imagine rich, neglectful parents."
I focus on my lap, just now realizing I'm still in my silver dress from last night. "Anyway, Mason and I were great. I had Tate, my parents took notice of my life and loved that I might marry into a well-established family. When I was seventeen, I found out I was pregnant. Mason had his own house by then, and I figured that since my parents supported us, things would be fine. I was dragged out of the house that night and disowned. So was Mason. Turns out a getting knocked up by a twenty-one-year-old would bring bad press." I shrug, feeling numb and refusing to look into their eyes.
I sigh and ignore the rumble coming from Jackson and the sniffle beside me. "Things changed when I moved in with him. I couldn't do anything right. When he scared me, I would shift my baby bump away from him."
"He fucking hurt you while you were pregnant?!" If Marcus seemed calm before, he absolutely is not now. I shoot him a glare.
"That's when he started getting the idea that I was keeping my baby away from him. Um, what else? I guess, yeah, he started hurting me early on. After I gave birth, it got worse." I wave to my damaged wrist, not wanting to get into the nasty details. "He got home late most of the time, so Layla would already be asleep. Or if he was there, she was bonded and attached to me already, so I guess that looked bad."
Jude stiffens at my mention of Layla. His broken voice hurts my soul. "Mason didn't hurt her, did he?"
I fight the urge to lean forward and console him. "No. The opposite. At first, he wouldn't hurt me in front of her, but as she got older, Bug would come to see what was happening. She would try to stop him. Cue the gifts. He would beat me and give her everything a little girl would ever want."
"Son of a fucking bitch!" JJ hisses and slams his hand against the bathroom door.
"Uh, yeah. She never took well to seeing him hurt me. I guess she learned gifts mean something bad happens to me. So no, he never hurt her. He just failed to win her over. Which unfortunately made him even angrier with me."This sucks."My Nana passed last year and left a huge chunk of money to me. I used the gift, grabbed my child, and ran as far and fast as we could."
Leo's leg brushes against mine, and it's the first time I realize that he's fucking quivering. My chest squeezes, uncertainty and fear instantly making me go on high alert. "Leo? Hey, what's wrong?" I go to reach out and cup his cheek, but think better of it and flick my eyes to Marc, hoping he will do something.
"Shit!" Marcus is up and leaning against my headboard in a flash. Shuffling Leo around, he has him curled against his chest and soothing him before I can offer to help. "Shh, baby. It's okay Ry, you can continue."
