“Mack,” I whisper.

“Then was a long time ago, sweetheart.”

“Mack.”

“We’re in the now. And right now, the only things I want are you and my son.”

I kiss him, shutting him up the way he shut me up. I kiss him hard, deep and long. He returns it, his fingers leaving my hair and going around my hips, pulling me closer and giving me everything that’s inside him. I know this isn’t a miraculous transformation, and that things won’t be easy, but he’s trying, and I’ll take whatever I can get.

“Now,” he murmurs, pulling back and running a thumb down my jaw. “As much as I’d like to stay and bend you over that railing and fuck you, we gotta talk about my brother.”

I nod.

He leads me inside, and we sit down at the table. Maddox sits, too. Santana has gone to bed, exhausted, so it’s just us three.

“Shit is gettin’ worse, and she’s in danger,” Mack says, not holding back.

“What are we gonna do about that?”

“I need to make contact. See what it’s goin’ to take to get him to back down.”

“That won’t work,” Maddox mutters. “He’s pissed, and he’s made it clear that ain’t gonna change anytime soon.”

“Not sure what else I got,” Mack grunts. “He fuckin’ hates me, and the feeling is mutual. This ain’t just goin’ to go away.”

“Then you need to let us step in, and you need to step back.”

“Not gonna happen.”

I stare between the two of them, my eyes darting from one to the other.

“No other choice. He’s messin’ with your girl and your baby. If somethin’ happens to them, it’s on you. Right now, he’s gettin’ too close. He walked right up to the front door.”

“We up security,” Mack growls.

“Not enough; he’s too smart. Best thing for you to do right now is take them away for a few days, let us find him and then we can go over what we’re goin’ to do when we do.”

“I know what you’re trying to do,” Mack grunts. “Not goin’ to work.”

“You got a baby. Don’t forget that.”

Mack flinches, and I know Maddox has hit him hard.

“Go away, a few days, let us find him and figure some shit out. Then you can come back and we’ll end it.”

The two stare at each other, but I can see Mack already knows this is best. He nods jerkily and turns to me. “Anywhere you wanna go?”

My heart pounds and I nod, softly.

“Where, honey?”

“To see my mom.”

He turns to Maddox. “You goin’ to make sure we’re not followed.”

He nods.

“Then we’re goin’ to visit your mom. Best you let her know.”

Oh, yes!

~*~*~*~

A knock sounds at the door, but Mack is quicker than me and he rushes toward it, not hesitating. He swings it open and a low, feral growl leaves his throat.

“Please!”

That’s a familiar voice.

I’m midway through packing and at the sound, I stop. I’ve heard that voice before, so many times.

“Get the fuck out of here.”

“Please, you have to help me. He’s after me. He’ll kill me.”

Samuel.

I close my eyes, exhaling loudly. I put the shirt I was holding down and turn, walking out and over to the front door. Mack is standing, arms crossed, no sympathy whatsoever emanating from his powerful body.

“I said, get the fuck outta here.”

“Please,” Samuel practically squeals.

Yeesh.

I step beside Mack and gasp at the sight of my ex-boyfriend. He’s skinny, pale, with dark rings under his eyes, and his once blond hair is dull and fluttering about. Not to mention, he’s high. I see nothing changes.

“Why are you here, Samuel?” I mutter.

Mack tenses, but says nothing. He does, however, move his arm so it’s hooked around my waist. Samuel watches this and his pale face gets even paler, if that’s possible.

“Jaylah,” Samuel squeaks.

“Why are you here?” I repeat.

“Gregor is after me. I’ve been running. I need somewhere to stay; I’m scared. Please, help me.”

My heart flutters a little. It’s hard not to feel that way. Once, I cared about Samuel. I didn’t love him, but I cared. Then he fucked me over and I nearly got my life taken for it. He repayed me by fucking someone else, then he shot a massive drug lord and wants my help. A part of me, a big part, wants to help him, because it’s not in my to purposely see someone hurt.

The other part thinks of Diesel.

“You shot him,” I point out.

“I was trying to save you!” he screams.

“Save me?” I laugh bitterly. “You got yourself tangled in that shit, I so stupidly tried to pull you out of it, and then you fucked another woman and left me with your debt, enough for me to get abused by Gregor until you decided to be a hero.”

“I made a mistake,” he says frantically.

“You’re high right now.”

“I have nothing else!” he cries.

“Samuel, we’re done. You put yourself in this situation, I told you to stop, so many times, but you didn’t’ want anything to do with it, and now you’re living the consequences.”

He scowls and his body flinches. A mood swing. These happened a lot, too. “Maybe I should have kept fucking Esmeralda.”