Chapter 3 #2
Grant flipped Byron off. In his defense Mitch was practically best friends with Mac.
“Daddy!” Caleb shouted from across the yard. “Bad!”
Grant held his hands up and smiled at his boy. “Now you’re getting me in trouble,” he mumbled.
Both Byron and Jace laughed at him.
“Mac and Hayley,” Jace said. He hummed low. “I can actually see it.
“Me too,” Byron agreed. “The boys don’t have a clue. I can’t wait until they figure it out.”
Grant looked at Hayley with renewed interest. The sweet boy was a little like Avery. Grant could see that appealing to the hitman. Mac was protective of their boys. He had a soft spot for them and all their pets.
“You’re not going to tell Mitch?” Grant questioned.
“Not yet. I’m hoping that Mac will confide in him.”
Grant nodded. Ever since Mac had been responsible for Mitch’s father going to jail, Mitch had blossomed.
Not being held under his father’s thumb was exactly what Mitch had needed.
Even though Grant had his suspicions about Mac he had to admit that what the hitman had done was best for Mitch.
And Mac hadn’t killed anyone that Grant could prove.
At least when he took Mitch’s horrible father down Mac had worked within the law. Sort of.
Grant couldn’t look away from murder. The detective in him wouldn’t allow it. But Grant could also see the benefit of some of what Mac had done to ensure Mitch’s father’s prison term. There was a gray area that Grant didn’t like to admit.
“Hayley would keep Mac on his toes. That’s for sure,” Grant commented.
“Shit, that means he’ll be around Avery more,” Jace bitched. “I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping Mac at a distance. No way will that continue if he gets together with Hayley.”
Grant didn’t have the heart to tell Jace that he hadn’t been doing as good a job as he thought.
Grant knew for a fact that Mac made weekly appearances at the coffee shop where Avery worked part-time.
Avery had even called Mac one of his favorite customers.
Avery not putting together that Mac was the hitman they talked about.
“Face it,” Byron said. “The contract killer is in our lives to stay.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Grant had to know. Mitch was the friendliest with Mac.
“I’d be better if he’d stop breaking into our house,” Byron grumbled.
Grant chuckled. Mac had only done that once. Grant had pulled a gun on him and told him to knock next time. Mac knocked now. Not that Grant thought Mac was afraid of him. Once a line was drawn, Mac seemed to respect it.
“This is going to be an interesting holiday season,” Jace commented.
Groaning, Grant threw his head back. “We’re going to have a hitman at our Thanksgiving table, aren’t we?”
Byron drained the rest of his beer. “Yep.”
* * *
Jace
“But, Daddy,” Avery whined, “I’m not tired.”
Jace had gathered all of Avery’s candy, some leftover food, and the diaper bag. All he needed was to wrestle his boy into his car.
“I know, baby,” Jace told his boy. “But Hayley and Mitch already left. Grant is ready to clean up and get Caleb ready for bed.”
Poking his bottom lip out, Avery looked around the living room. “Maybe we should help clean up.”
“I thought you’d prefer a bath before bed.”
Avery narrowed his eyes. “A bath? Really?”
“If you can stay awake until we get home, you can take a bath.”
“And play,” Avery stressed. “I can take a bath and play.”
Since there was no way Avery was going to stay awake once he was buckled in, Jace nodded. “Bath and play. But only if you stay awake.”
“K.” Avery looked around. “Caleb! I have to go home now,” he yelled.
There was a commotion before Caleb came running down the hall from his bedroom. Caleb was still in his purple dress but it hung from one shoulder. The dogs and cats followed behind him, happy to have been let out of the room for the night.
“No running in the house!” Grant’s voice boomed from the backyard where he was cleaning up.
Not only did Caleb slow but so did all the fur babies. Funny.
“I’m so glad you came.” Caleb grabbed Avery, hugging him tightly.
“Best Halloween ever,” Avery mumbled into Caleb’s shoulder. He was trying to hide the fact that he was yawning. Jace knew though.
“I’m going to take our stuff to the car and pull it closer. Will you stay with Avery for a minute?”
“Sure,” Caleb instantly agreed.
Jace still hurried. The sugar crash had hit his boy hard. Not only was Avery exhausted but he was also going to need to be changed. Jace set everything in the back seat before he climbed behind the wheel.
Carefully pulling closer to the house, Jace noticed the dogs doing their business as Avery and Caleb leaned against each other. Two tired but happy boys.
Grant came out of the house and walked down the steps just as Jace reached the boys.
“Say good night, baby boy,” Jace instructed as he pulled his boy close.
“Good night. Thank you so much for inviting us to your party. It was the best party I’ve ever been to.”
“Thank you for coming, Avery,” Grant responded.
“Yes, thank you, Avery. It wouldn’t have been a party without you.” Caleb beamed tiredly at them.
Avery gave a small smile in return before yawning again. Okay, that was it. Time to get his boy home. Jace picked Avery up and carried him to the car. “We’ll talk soon,” he called back.
“Be careful driving home. We’ll have lunch this week.” Grant waved before picking up his own boy.
“Give me a call.” Bending over, he sat Avery in the seat before he buckled him in, hearing the front door close behind them.
Crouching down, Jace brushed Avery’s hair off his forehead. “My boy is going to need a haircut soon.”
Avery nodded. “Can we go to that place in the mall?”
“The one next to the toy store, you mean?” Jace teased.
“Yes! That one.”
“If you’re a good boy for me.” Jace said the words even though Avery was always the best boy.
“I will be.” Avery snuggled into his seat.
Jace stood and retrieved Avery’s lily from the diaper bag. By the time he was putting it over Avery’s shoulder, his boy already had his binkie in his mouth. There was no way that Avery would make it all the way home without falling asleep.
It was cute that Avery wanted to try.
Jace gave Avery’s forehead a quick kiss. “I love you.” Fuck, but he loved Avery more than he’d ever thought possible.
“Love you, Daddy,” Avery mumbled.
It was time to go. Jace closed the door carefully. Tomorrow would be a day of staying home and letting Avery have a full little day. The boy was going to need it after the excitement of the night and with his new job starting soon.
Things were changing for Avery, big changes, but Jace would be there every step of the way.