38. Lana
38
LANA
“ Y ou’re what? ” I screech, the room going silent around me as my stomach threatens to throw up the three things I’ve eaten since getting here.
“Jacob showed up and?—”
“Is everyone okay? Are you okay? Jesus, Mason, what happened?”
“Ma’am?” a deep voice says on the other side of the phone, and I swallow the sob that tries to escape as Bea wraps her arm around me, Cal and Ellison coming to stand in front of me.
“Yes, I’m here.” The man introduces himself and asks me to do the same, and it takes everything in me not to shout at him to tell me what happened.
“Can you tell me who should be at your house today?”
“My boyfriend, Mason Amato, and my kids, Beck and Holland. God, are they okay?”
“They’re fine, ma’am. What about Jacob Richards?”
“He shouldn’t be there. We’re divorced and I bought that house after we were no longer together. We have a custody agreement through the court, and while I know that’s civil, it’s not his weekend anyway.”
There’s a commotion and then his deep voice is back on the line.
“At this time, Ms. Richards, your ex-husband has several charges including resisting arrest.”
“But my kids are okay?”
I practically weep, my body shaking. “Yes, ma’am. Your son got the fight on video.” Your son got the fight on video. “I’m gonna leave my card with Mr. Amato if you have any questions or concerns.”
“Thank you,” I choke out, my phone falling into my lap as the call ends.
“I’ll drive,” Ellison says as she hands my keys to Cal. “Follow us in her car so she has it.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Bea soothes, grabbing my hand and my purse and leading me toward the door, my body in a state of shock as I let them lead me outside.
MASON: We’re all okay
MASON: Cops left with Jacob
LANA: I’ll be there soon
Ellison keeps looking at me from the driver’s seat, obviously trying to determine whether I’m about to break.
But I’m not.
I can’t.
And the longer we drive, the more pissed I become. That bastard came to my house and terrorized my family—and for what?
“Lana,” she says, her voice more serious than I’ve ever heard it.
“What?”
“I have whatever resources you need, so if it comes to any of that, don’t think twice about it. Our pockets are deeper than he can imagine, so it’s no contest. We’ll bury him.”
“I appreciate that more than you know,” I say, loving the vehemence in her voice and the determination in her stare.
It bolsters my own confidence, and by the time we pull into my driveway, I’m damn near ready to battle.
I thank them and then jump out of the car as Beck races across the lawn toward me. I drop my purse in the grass and meet him in the middle, his body so big and yet so small.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
“He hit him, Ma. He hit Mason but Mason didn’t hit him back and Dad kept yelling and Holland was crying and?—”
He hiccups, and I can’t tell if my tears or his are soaking his shirt.
“I’m so sorry. But you were so brave; you protected your sister and Mason. You are so brave, Beckham Howard, do you hear me? I’m going to make sure nothing like that ever happens again, okay?”
“Can we have ice cream for dinner?” he asks, pulling back but taking my hand as we grab my purse and head for the door.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I think we could all use a little ice cream tonight.”
“Mommy!” Holland yells as soon as I’m inside, jumping into my arms and squeezing me tight.
“Are you okay?” I ask and she nods into my shoulder as my eyes lock on Mason’s. “Why don’t you and Beck get everything out to make sundaes? There’s probably a frozen pizza in there we can make too.”
Holland wiggles her way out of my arms and runs to help Beck as I cross the kitchen and step right into Mason’s space, cupping his face in my hands and kissing him hard.
“Thank you,” I murmur against his lips as he holds me close to him, his body sagging against the counter. “Thank you for protecting my babies.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them,” he whispers and I nod.
“I know.” I brush my fingers gently over his jaw, a red mark forming on his skin. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ve endured far worse for far less.” He swallows. “He was out of control, but I wasn’t gonna hit him.” Lowering his voice, he adds, “Not here at least.”
My lips twitch and I kiss him again. “Ellison said she’d help with expenses or whatever I need, so whatever it takes, I’ll do it and I’ll figure the rest out after.”
“We’ll figure the rest out together.”
“Ma, can I have chocolate chips and peanut butter cups?” Beck asks as I turn in Mason’s arms, my son very much a little boy in this moment, with a spoon full of candy hovering over his bowl.
“You can have it all,” I say with a laugh as Mason’s arms tighten around me, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“Yes, we can.”