Chapter 29 #2
The last thing I wanted was to speak to him about anything, but more important, I didn’t want him hounding me any longer. I was finished with dealing with shit in my life. It was way past time I took control in a way that made me happy.
I lifted my gaze to Steel who was standing a few feet away. While he’d allow me to fight my own battles, he also had no intention of leaving me alone. That said everything I needed to know about his character.
“Fine, Kenneth. Say what you need to tell me and go away. You don’t care about Damon and that’s obvious so just finish this.” I honestly don’t know what I expected, but when he pulled out an envelope, I was taken aback. “What is this?”
“It’s money.”
For a split second, I thought it might be what he owed in child support, but I knew better with Kenneth. “What is this, a bribe?” I made certain my beautiful son wasn’t anywhere around. I refused to allow him to be hurt any longer. Enough damage had been done.
“Your guess is right, Violet,” Steel threw out, taking his time walking closer. “Why don’t you tell her, Kenneth? Or would you prefer I do?”
I shifted my gaze from Steel back to Kenneth.
“Why don’t you tell me, Kenny? You’ve never worried about telling me anything before, like how you were married and had another life.
Or that you wanted nothing to do with your son.
Well, guess what? I don’t care about you and haven’t for a very long time. ”
Kenneth was befuddled.
“He’s running for Congress, Vi,” Steel said. It was the first time he used a nickname and the one my mother had used.
Kenneth grumbled about not being the one to tell me the great news. “Oh, I get it.” I opened the envelope, pulling out the check. “Wow. Five hundred thousand dollars. To shut me up. Is that it?”
“It’s merely an incentive.”
I laughed in Kenneth’s face while shoving the envelope against his chest. “I don’t want your money.
Don’t worry. You won’t be hearing from me on the campaign trail, but if you’re so eager, you can sign your rights away as his parent and I’ll accept.
That way you won’t need to worry about child support or thinking about him on his birthday. All I want is for you to leave.”
As I backed away, throwing up my hands, his entire face turned red. I was determined to get away from him, but he made the mistake of yanking me backward.
“That’s not good enough,” he snarled.
“You just made a huge mistake,” I whispered, the tone filled with glee while my voice was hushed.
I expected my savior to come to my rescue. What I didn’t expect was my son to come stomping toward Kenneth, pushing his legs.
“Get away from my mother. She doesn’t want you here and neither do I.” I’d never heard so much conviction in my son’s voice. If I was being honest, I’d say he sounded like someone I knew. Someone ready to beat the crap out of Kenneth.
Kenneth was furious, his face twisting in rage, and not only was Damon’s protector in Steel eager and willing to beat the man to a pulp, so was the majority of the crowd, including Axe who stood only a few feet away.
Maybe my ex was smart to realize he was outnumbered. His features softened as he peered down at Damon. I couldn’t help but think at some point my son would be much taller.
“I’m your dad, Damon.” Interesting how he accentuated my child’s name.
Damon peered up at him with a thoughtful expression. “No, you’re not. If anyone is, it’s Steel.” He backed up on purpose until he was standing only inches from the powerful smokejumper. “You’re not allowed to hurt my mother any longer. She doesn’t need you.”
“He’s right, although I’ve never needed you. Take your money, Kenneth. Like I said, you’re not wanted here.” I yanked my arm free, tossing the envelope at his feet.
“We’ll see to it he leaves, Violet,” Axe assured me.
“Thank you. Come on, Damon. We have a birthday to enjoy.”
“Okay, Mom.” My son did one more thing that surprised me; he took my hand into his. Even more shocking, he grasped Steel’s with the other.
There was no harm done because Damon immediately went back to what he was doing. When I tried to tip my head over my shoulder, Steel stepped in front.
“Have you ever heard the expression it’s time to stop looking in the past?” He lifted a single eyebrow.
“I know. You’re right. I’m just angry.”
“I get it. Trust me. If I see that ugly mug of his again, I’ll beat his ass.”
Now I could smile as I peered at him. “I would really enjoy seeing that happen. But don’t tell anyone I told you that.”
“I won’t tell a soul.”
“Scout’s honor?”
He held up his fingers. “You bet. I will say that money would have gone a long way into helping you build your life.”
I looked away just as Kenneth was shoving the envelope into his jacket pocket. What had I ever seen in the man? “Yeah, I know, but I don’t ever want Damon to think there’s a price for his love. He’s my little rock.”
“And exactly like his mother. You both have a big heart.”
As I brushed my palm against his chest, the same tingles drifted through him. However, I also noticed a gleam in his eyes. “What?”
“What do you mean what?”
“I can tell you’re up to something.”
“I am not.” He acted outraged.
So I punched him in the gut. “Tell me or else.”
“I’ll let you in on a little hint,” he teased. “I don’t mind experiencing your threats.” He laughed while I punched him several more times. “Alright. Fine. I have a birthday present, but it’s going to require your help.”
“Too big to carry?”
“No, more like help for years to come.”
Leaning back, I scrunched up my face. “What does that mean?”
When he stuck his fingers into his mouth, issuing a shrill whistle, instinctively, I knew what to expect. With a hard gasp that I tried to hide, I watched as the crowd parted and Axe, who’d obviously been in on the surprise, let go of what he was holding.
Zorro.
As soon as the pup was released, he bounded away and toward only one person. His little boy.
I’d heard my son squeal before, countless times, but never in the way I heard when seeing his beloved dog who was wearing a huge red bow. Everyone in the crowd cheered.
“How did you manage?” There was no sense in bothering to try to stop the tears. I would soon be blanketed with them. Happy tears.
Steel shrugged as if it was no big deal when this was the most special gift anyone could give to my son.
“The couple who had him realized they weren’t a great fit.”
“Uh-huh.” I could tell by the fact he wasn’t looking at me that he was lying. “How hard did you yank their chain?”
“Pretty hard. I plied them with a few bucks but in the end, they heard the story and knew Damon deserved to be with the pup.”
“You are an amazing man. Even if you don’t often show it.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, finally turning toward me.
“Oh, yeah.” I inched closer until we were almost touching. Almost.
“Hmm…”
“Hmm…”
“Mom! Look. Look what I got for my birthday!”
In a blur, two figures came rushing toward us, one laughing up a storm. The other barking his head off.
And we were mere obstacles in the way.
“Look out.” Damon’s words were too late.
We were barreled over by one strong pup, knocked flat on the ground. The wind was knocked entirely from my body.
When the two of them tried to run off, I did my own version of whistling as Steel had done. “Hey, kiddo. What do you say to him about your present?”
“Thank you, Steel.”
As the two ran off to play, I stared at the sky. “Well, that was a hit.”
“You think?” he asked, groaning as he did.
“You bet. My entire body aches.”
“You’re not mad.”
As soon as I laughed, a moan swept from my throat. I was getting too old for this. “Not in the least. I might even give you a reward.”
The blip on my phone was the reason for me to groan. Not the pain coursing through every inch of my body. While I struggled, I managed to jerk it free, trying to make out the words in the sun.
When I did, I sat straight up.
“What is it?” Steel asked, half laughing.
I read the text again. “It’s Eric, my boss. He said the pictures were perfect and after some tweaking, they’ll go to press.”
“Well, that’s great. What’s wrong?”
I turned my head. “That means the project is over. He wants me to head back to LA.”
* * *
An arrest was finally made. After two weeks, about time.
I flicked through the story from a Missoula television station, thankful they’d caught the kids.
Only they weren’t high school age, but college kids on break.
The parents of one of the kids involved had lived in my house.
Well, the rental house, and their lives had fallen apart.
So their son had been angry, using the key he’d already had and crashing there.
Then they used it for a party space and he and his friends developed a plan of taking revenge on people who’d wronged his parents.
Maybe some would call that noble. Apparently, the night Damon had discovered them, they’d been planning on burning down the rental house.
My son had been permanently added to the hero list. Steel would be proud.
Shit. I’d tried very hard not to think about Steel. Oh, how many nights of sleep had I lost?
“You look half a million miles away,” Brenda said as she dropped by my office.
“How could I be somewhere else when I’m right here?”
“You’re staring at an article from a city where you don’t live but should be living.”
Office? My somewhat larger cubicle. Who was I kidding? I sat back, closing my eyes. “That obvious?”
“Yeah, girl. It is. Are you okay?”