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"Charlie faxed it over"

"You’re still keeping tabs on him?"

"I told you that I intended for him to pay for his crimes I kno corrupt it is down there My friend, Mateo, used to work for the police in Mexico before he quit because of the double-dealing fraudulence"

"So… what do these say?" I tapped the stack in front ofin prison It could take a year until he’s sentenced, but so far Charlie said it sounds like they have a pretty daainst him"

"Any chance he could pay his way out?" I asked nervously

"I’m sure there’s always a chance But for now there seees to keep him there" His words caused me to breathe a little easier "Don’t worry"

"I’ to trust that you will keep us safe, so I don’t want to hear his naets life in prison or the damn death penalty, please don’t tellfrom my proble hihts

"Deal" His quick response was finalized with another heated kiss

Sadly, I slid fro I had to face another unfortunate part of my life I wish I could bury forever My nerves were skyrocketing at the thought of seeing Ada about why he was here If he wanted more time with Braden, or even--God forbid--shared custody, I just didn’t knohat I would do I didn’t want to give up any of my time with Braden, and Adam didn’t deserve his time But could I keep Braden from his real father?

LANE -

I stood on the front porch with Raegan and waited for the asole to arrive Unfortunately, he pulled up at exactly seven pm He probably understood that I would have taken her out to dinner myself if he had been at all late, and there would be no second chances Damn him

She started to pull ahen he came to a stop in et out of the car… probably another good ed her back into ot my phone?" She nodded her head and I continued, "Call Jace if you needto secretly follow us, are you?" she asked, s and I didn’t like the idea of her being alone with hi I could do to stop it

"No!" she laughed "Lane, this will be over fast I’ll call you if I need anything"

"I don’t like this" I had to be truthful, even if itout with you guys any night" Her voice was filled with hter into my arms and kissed the top of her head

"This is only to talk about Braden, right? You’d tellelse?"

"Of course! I love you, Lane Please know that"

"I do Now, show your douchebag ex howher to do as I asked

She complied with ease as her hands wound behind h my short hair She rose up onto her tiptoes and lifted her face closer to mine I wanted her to takeit Her lips crashed againstshe loved about ht

I pulled back before she e for the rest of the night Her cheeks were flushed and I grinned fro" I swatted her ass and she giggled "Come back to me as quick as you can"

She skipped down the ay, and I noticed Adam had the n on his car I leaned over to view hi "Drive safe," is what I said What I knew he understood I was saying was, "If you do anything to her, I’ll hunt you down and tear you apart, limb from limb" And he kneas damn well capable of it, too

~~~~~~~

"Why are we at Uncle Jace’s house?" Braden asked from the backseat

I pushed the car into park and unbuckled an and her ex-boyfriend turned offto follow theht hadn’t crossed my mind a time or two today But I was really only here for one reason

"I need to hit the punching bag in Uncle Jace and Jaxon’s barn"

"Oh! I want to come too!" Braden exclaimed I reached back behind o see Auntie Audrey and the baby?" Kate asked I knew that she would ask that I loved how easily Braden and Kate had becoreat with them and accepted them as if they really were their niece and nephew I nodded my head at both of them "Yay! I hope Auntie Em is over there She’s so funny!"

At the sound of her name, Braden turned to look at Kate "I like Aunt Em too She’s pretty" I couldn’t believe it, but he actually blushed!

"Boy, you’re too young for that," I chuckled These two could help any rottenwas Ada onna go with Kate, okay?" Braden requested Guess Auntie E in the barn

"I’ll walk you guys in"

Jace and Audrey were lounging on the couch in their family roo away Audrey was stretched out across the couch with her head on Jace’s shoulder She was so happy now, and that was all I had ever wanted for her As Kate and Braden’s feet pattered across the hardwood, the two lovebirds looked over the back of the couch and suys," Jace called out

"Come join us," Audrey invited Kate was the first to crawl up next to her and Braden wasn’t far behind

Jace handed Jocelyn off to Audrey, and I kneouldn’t be long before she was in either Kate or Braden’s arms Jace stood and walked toward me

"Beer?" he asked

"You have beer in your house?" I laughed, because Audrey and Jace had never been drinkers Insane, I know

"Audrey buys it for y’all," he said with a shrug

"I’" I pointed down the road a bit, where I knew the big, red barn stood On the inside of it, Jace had strung up different weighted punching bags Soye and I’ll coed up the stairs, I noticed he was still in his suit from work

Kate and Braden had already settled in on either side of Audrey, as close as they could possible get to her Audrey was naturally such a motherly person that children had always flocked to her And she absolutely loved it She was bea in every moment They all sat and listened to Jocelyn coo at theled at her every noise