Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Carson took a call from Julian. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Just checking on you. How’re you doing?”
“Glad to be out of the hospital.”
“You need anything?”
“Nah, I’m good, and looking forward to Isla’s chicken parm.”
“You’ll love it. She’s a hell of a cook.”
“And a very nice person, too. It was good of her to cook for us.”
“I’m glad you’re getting to know her a little better. Maybe you can see why…”
“I can see it, Jules.”
“Can you see it now because you’re also feeling it?”
“Maybe.”
“Funny how that works, huh?”
“Hilarious.”
Julian laughed. “Perhaps we were a bit premature in making that vow to each other.”
“Possibly.”
“So… You and Cresley, then…”
“Are you fishing, brother?”
“Just wondering… That’s all.”
“It seems that we’re… together. And I’m not exactly sure how that happened, but now that it has…”
“Best thing ever, right?”
“Yeah, for sure.”
“I get it. Trust me.”
“I know you do, and I’m sorry I was a dick about Isla.”
“You weren’t a dick about her. You were a dick about me suddenly changing my mind about things I always said were important to me.”
“Yeah, you were a dick to do that.”
“Wait, we’re talking about you being a dick, not me!”
“Please don’t make me laugh.”
“Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Do we agree that you’re the dick?” Julian asked.
“My life was saved for this nonsense?”
“I’m very thankful your life was saved, even if you’re a dick.”
“You’re not making me laugh, remember? And was there a purpose for this pointless phone call?”
“I was just checking on you before a meeting with a new client who’s divorcing her husband and seeking sole custody of their daughter because he allowed his mother into the delivery room after she specifically said no to the woman’s demands.”
“Whoa. Speaking of dick moves.”
“Right? Who does that?”
“Someone who doesn’t give a shit about his wife or her wishes,” Carson said, wondering what was keeping Ty. And where had Cresley gone?
“You up for a quick visit later?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, I’ll text you when I’m on the way home. Any word from the cops about Beckett?”
“Not yet. Make sure you aren’t followed.”
“Will do. See you later, then.”
“Thanks for calling.”
He ended the call and read a text from Griffin, inviting them to McKenna’s place next Thursday night to meet their niece.
Carson noticed his parents weren’t included in the invite and wondered if they were getting a private audience with their granddaughter or if Griff was intentionally excluding them.
Ty came running back into the living room. “Mom made me do my homework before I could watch the movie.”
“That’s a smart mom.”
“Of course you’re on her side.”
“Always, pal. She knows what’s best for you.”
“I know, but homework is so boring.”
“Now it’s done, and you don’t have to think about it again tonight.”
“That’s true. Mom said we can watch Iron Man on Disney.” He picked up the remote and found the movie in about ten seconds, or so it seemed to Carson.
“Is she going to watch with us?”
“She said she needed to answer a few messages, and then she’ll be in—with snacks.”
“Yay for snacks. You want to sit with me?”
“Is that okay?”
“Sure is.”
As Ty settled in next to him, bringing his favorite LA Clippers blanket, Carson experienced a wave of contentment that took him by surprise.
Usually, he was most contented when he was at work, gathering info that would help their clients and putting together pieces of puzzles that added up to something useful to their cases.
But this, hanging out with Ty while Cresley was close by and knowing none of them had anywhere to be but together…
That was a whole other level of contentment.
One he could get used to, in fact.
His phone vibrated with a text from Kaidan. How are you? Where are you? What the heck is going on with my brothers lately?
Carson responded with, Good, Laurel Canyon and the shrugging emoji.
That’s it? Just a shrug to explain the unexplainable?
That’s all I got.
So you’ve got a wife and kid now?
Hardly… I’m enjoying spending time with both of them and thankful I survived getting stabbed. That’s about the extent of it at the moment. Nothing to worry about.
Right. My brothers are driving off a cliff after swearing they’d never go there, so what do I have to be worried about?
We’re fine, Kay. Don’t worry.
Famous last words spoken to a DIVORCE LAWYER who knows better, you dipshit.
I hear you, and I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine, and from what I can see, Julian is, too. Better than fine, in fact.
So now you’re on Team Julian and Isla, too? I seem to recall a few weeks ago when you were as concerned as the rest of us, and now you’ve gone over to the dark side.
Nothing dark about it. Gotta watch Iron Man with the boy. Talk soon. Love you.
Grrrrrr.
Carson chuckled at his sister’s reply. He understood her concern.
He truly did. But nothing any of them said could convince him that being with Cresley and Ty was wrong or bad or anything other than delightful.
Would it stay that way forever? He had no way to know, but for as long as it felt this good, he wasn’t going anywhere.
Cresley stood in the bedroom she’d been using, staring at her worst nightmare—Marlon Beckett pointing a gun at her. He was filthy, with a full beard and a gash on his face that looked infected. She could smell him from six feet away. “Wh-what do you want?”
“Gather up your little family, send the security goons packing and drive me to Mexico.”
“What? I can’t do that! Carson just got out of the hospital after you stabbed him!”
“You think I give a flying fuck about your boyfriend? Leave him, for all I care. Go get the kid, tell the security you don’t need them anymore because I’ve been found in San Pedro or whatever you gotta tell them, and let’s go.”
“Marlon, please… Just get out of here. I’ll give you the money. Leave us out of it.”
“Oh, now you want to deal. How funny is that?”
“Just take me. Leave Ty here.”
“Nah, we’re not doing that. If you don’t want me to start shooting people, you’d better go deal with the security, and don’t think about calling the cops, because I’ll kill Ty and your fuck toy before they get here.”
“You’d kill your own son?”
“When you have nothing left to lose, who cares who gets hurt? Make it happen, or I’ll kill your precious kid first and make you watch.”
Cresley had never been more terrified in her life. She believed him when he said he had nothing to lose and would kill them all if she didn’t follow his orders. On legs gone wooden with shock and fear, she walked to the living room, where Ty was sitting with Carson, watching the movie.
“Carson… Could I speak to you for a minute?”
“Not now, Mom. We’re watching Iron Man.”
“Right now.”
Carson must’ve sensed her distress because he immediately moved to get up, grimacing as his wounds fought back. “Be back in a minute, buddy.”
“Hurry, this is a good part.”
He limped toward her, his expression intense and on guard. “What’s wrong?”
“Marlon is here, in the house, with a gun, and he wants us to drive him to Mexico, or he’ll kill us all, starting with Ty. He said to tell the security he was arrested and send them away so we can get out of here. Please.”
Carson held her gaze as he reached for his cell and called Anthony. “Hey, we just got word that Beckett has been arrested, so you can stand down. Send everyone home with my thanks.”
“Well, that’s great news. Will do, boss. Glad you guys can have some peace.”
“Thanks.” He put the phone back in his pocket. “They’re leaving.”
“Carson…”
He took hold of her trembling hands, infusing them with his warmth. “Where is he?”
“In my bedroom.”
“Did you offer him money?”
She nodded. “He says it’s too late for that now. He wants us to get him out of here.”
“Then let’s do that. Let’s give him what he wants and be rid of him.” Carson went to the door to look outside. “My guys are gone.” He turned toward the living room. “Ty, come here.”
“I’m watching the movie.”
“Ty. Now.”
Carson had never spoken to him in that tone before, and it got the child’s attention.
He got up and came over to them.
“We’ve got a problem, and I need you to do exactly what your mom and I tell you to do. You got me?”
“Okay.”
“Go get in the back seat of the Range Rover and wait for us.”
“Are you… What’s wrong?”
“Please do as Carson asks,” Cresley said. “It’s very important.”
“Okay,” Ty said, glancing at them over his shoulder as he moved toward the door.
Carson waited until Ty was in the car with the door closed. “Beckett! Come out here.”
Beckett strolled out of the bedroom and into the foyer, keeping the gun pointed at them. “You’re not giving the orders here, fuck boy.”
“You want something from us that we’re willing to give you, but you need to leave the gun here.”
“That’s not happening.” He waved the gun at them. “Leave the phones, and let’s go. I’ve got no time for bullshit.”
Carson put his phone on a table inside the front door and gestured for Cresley to do the same.
She felt like she was watching a TV show or something. This couldn’t be happening in real life. How had he found them and gotten into the house without being detected with the LAPD and FBI looking for him and Carson’s guys all over the place?
“Don’t try anything, or I swear to God, your precious kid will be the first to die.”
“We’re not trying anything,” Carson said. “We’re doing what you want us to do.”
They walked outside with Marlon following them.
Cresley saw Ty’s eyes go wide when he realized what was happening.
“You drive,” Marlon said to Carson.
Carson was in no condition to drive for hours. He could barely sit up.
He shook his head to discourage her from saying anything.
“Get in the back,” Marlon said to her. “And keep the brat quiet.”
“He’s not a brat, but you wouldn’t know that because you’re a terrible father.”
“Shut up before I shut you up forever.”
“Cresley, get in the car,” Carson said, his voice even but his eyes harder than she’d ever seen them.
Cresley trusted him with her life and Ty’s, and even though he was still recovering from grievous injuries, she had faith that he’d help get them through this.
She got in the car and reached for Ty’s hand.
His eyes were wild as his father turned to him, making sure the child saw the gun. “Behave or else.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because your mother is a selfish bitch. That’s why.”
“No, she isn’t.”
“Ty,” Cresley said, shaking her head.
“Get us out of here without being detected,” Marlon told Carson. “And be quick about it.”
“How are we supposed to get into Mexico without passports?” Carson asked.
“Get me close to the border. I’ll take it from there.”
Carson glanced in the mirror and caught Cresley’s gaze, hoping to offer some comfort. What he saw looking back at him was abject terror. How could Marlon talk so nonchalantly about killing his own child?
He wished he had the strength to push Marlon out of the moving car, but he wouldn’t dare risk failing to complete the job. His gun was locked in the glove box. If he could get Marlon out of the car, he might have a chance of getting to the weapon, but that was a very big if at this point.
His body ached fiercely from sitting upright for so long, as well as the tension gripping every muscle.
He would get Cresley and Ty out of this alive if it was the last thing he ever did.
Before long, someone would be looking for them.
Their phones would be going right to voicemail.
Julian had planned to stop by later. He’d call their grandfather, who tracked all their locations as a hobby.
Julian would sound an alert when he couldn’t find them.
Anthony would be curious about how Marlon’s capture had gone down and would realize right away that something was wrong when he didn’t find mention of it online.
Those thoughts gave Carson a measure of comfort.
It wouldn’t be long until the police would be looking for them.
With that in mind, he decelerated to sixty miles per hour.
“Why are you slowing down?”
“I assume you don’t want me to get stopped for speeding when you’re holding a gun on us.”
“Is this smug loser what does it for you these days, Cresley? I gotta say… I don’t get it. A girl like you could have anyone. Why’d you want to be with a washed-up heroin addict anyway?”
Carson gripped the wheel tighter, outraged that Marlon would say that in front of Ty. Not that he wouldn’t find out eventually, but that didn’t have to happen when he was seven.
“I talked to some of my boys about you. Found out you were a professional junkie back in the day. Wheeling and dealing to get your next fix. Heard you did some really depraved shit to score. Does Cresley know about all that?”
Carson wanted to punch his teeth out, but that was exactly the reaction Marlon wanted.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Cresley said, “but I already know all about it and how Carson turned his life around and helps other addicts do the same. Hearing his story made me admire him more than I already did.”
Later, when he’d think about the moment when he was certain he’d fallen in love with her, it would probably be that one, when she came to his defense without knowing a fraction of the nasty shit he’d been involved in once upon a time.
He knew without asking that the nasty shit wouldn’t matter to her nearly as much as his redemption story did.
She saw who he was today, and that was what mattered to her.
“There was this one guy… You remember Lucifer, Carson? That guy had some stories about you, man. Like when you took a dead guy’s wallet and used his cash to score, or the time you stole another guy’s dope and got the shit kicked out of you by him and his boys.
Remember that? I bet those were some good times.
Heard you lost some teeth that time,” he added with a laugh. “Not such a pretty boy then, were you?”
Carson refused to give him any reaction, even as he died on the inside from Cresley and Ty hearing such awful things about him.
And Marlon was just getting started.