Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

DALLAS

Dallas's house wasn't the most conveniently placed in town, so it wasn't often the guys all convened there, but a week after his second meeting with Monty, they all agreed since Audra was teething, and she wasn't happy unless she was in her swing with a cold gummy toy.

She was finally napping by the time they got to lunch, and it was the first hot meal Dallas had eaten all weekend. Frey and Renato had stopped for a massive Mexican spread, and Dallas was halfway into his burrito when someone began pounding at the door.

Everyone froze.

"Uh," Frey started, and then something hit the door.

Dallas was pretty sure it was a boot. Was someone seriously trying to break in with three extra cars in his driveway?

Adele climbed to his feet, squaring his shoulders. "Give it a second."

Dallas opened his mouth to reply, but then there was shouting on the other side. " Let me in, you fucking asshole! "

Katie .

" I'm going to rip your fucking balls off, do you hear me? "

He started for the door immediately, but Frey grabbed his arm and held him back. "She doesn't sound okay."

Dallas knew what it was. She'd been served. He'd expected her to be pissed. He and Monty agreed it would be best done on the weekend when he had Audra because he knew she was going to be upset.

But he hadn't expected her to show up at his house.

"She got the papers from Monty about mediation and the custody request," Dallas said.

" Do you fucking hear me? I'm literally going to cut your fucking throat! You think you can take my daughter away from me? I'm going to have you arrested! "

Dallas started for the door again, but Adele held him back and shook his head. "Don't. What did Monty tell you to do if she tried to take Audra early?"

Dallas let out a soft puff of air. "He said not to let her. That I was the custodial parent on my court-ordered time and that she couldn't take her from me." He also told Dallas that although there was a custody order in place, if Katie refused to give Audra back, the police wouldn't force her to do it. So, he'd have to accept the fact that he might not see his daughter again until the mediation. Or the hearing, if she took it that far.

And right now, it was looking like she would.

"I'm going to speak with her," Adele said. He was in his uniform shirt, and he looked very official. Dallas realized that was probably the best idea. He nodded, but he followed Adele to the door, then stood behind it so Katie couldn't see him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Frey in the hallway with his phone out, recording the whole thing. He was pretty sure those videos weren't admissible in court, but it didn't hurt to get it on record.

"Where's my daughter?" Katie demanded.

Adele held the door in his hand, and it was clear she was trying to push it. But he was unmovable. "She's asleep in her swing, so I'd suggest you keep your voice down. She doesn't need to hear this."

"She's a fucking newborn. She won't remember it! Dallas! Get your fucking ass out here now!"

"He's not coming to the door," Adele said mildly.

Dallas couldn't see her face, but he knew she was seething. She didn't like being told no. "Give me my daughter."

"No. This is Dallas's time with her. You'll get her back on the scheduled drop-off."

"I'm calling the cops. This is kidnapping. I am not putting up with this shit!"

"Please do. It's probably better if we involve them, considering your current demeanor." His voice was so calm, and Dallas was terrified because she had never reacted well to someone who didn't match her energy.

Adele didn't give her the chance to answer though. In spite of her efforts to keep it open, he managed to get the door closed and locked. Dallas stood there with his heart racing as she rattled the knob and kicked it several times.

"She's probably going to call the police," Adele said. "Do you have your custody order?"

"Yeah. I…yes." Dallas had it out and ready since he'd brought a copy to Monty's. "I should probably call my lawyer."

"And pack a bag. Y'all are coming to stay with me tonight. Cops won't make you give the baby over," Adele said as he led Dallas back to the living room. Audra was awake now, and Lane was rocking her gently from side to side as she gummed on his shoulder. "But I don't trust her to leave you alone."

Adele was right. His stomach sank all the way to his shoes. He knew it was going to be bad. He just hadn't realized he might be chased out of his own home for it. A wave of fatigue stole over him, and he almost tripped over Bowen's prosthetic leg before Frey saved him and got him to the couch.

"I'll pack. You call," Frey told him. He shoved Dallas's phone at him.

His hands were shaking so hard he nearly dropped the damn thing. His entire body was starting to ache from tension, and he rolled his shoulders several times before he could force his feet to move. The guys were staring at him. He could feel their gazes like a physical touch, but he couldn't bring himself to look up.

"Go, honey," Frey urged, softer this time. Kinder.

Dallas nodded, then shuffled down the hall and into his office. The door shut with a soft click, and it was when the silence descended that his throat got thick. He wanted to scream. He wanted to run back out there and force her to see reason. She hadn't been like this before. He didn't know why she was acting this way now.

He'd been far too kind to her during the divorce. He gave her child support. He didn't drag her dirty laundry out in front of a bunch of strangers. When their mutual friends all cut him off because she told them all he'd been a terrible husband, he just took the blows.

So why this? Why now?

All he wanted was the right to see his daughter more.

His fingers trembled as he pulled up Monty's contact. There was the office number where he could leave a message or his personal one he said to use for emergencies. Dallas supposed this counted.

It rang three times before Monty picked up. "I was hoping I wouldn't hear from you tonight," the lawyer said.

Dallas let out a sigh and cleared his throat to keep his voice from trembling. "It's bad."

"How bad?" Monty asked, his voice suddenly sharp.

Dallas dragged his hand down his face and groaned. "Katie is outside my house right now, screaming and threatening me and demanding I hand Audra over to her."

Monty was quiet for a moment. "Don't give the baby?—"

"No, I know," Dallas interrupted. "I haven't. I'm with my friends right now, and they're keeping Katie from getting inside. I'm going to go stay at one of their houses tonight."

"Okay. You two have joint custody," Monty reminded him. "Which means if you have your daughter in your possession, your ex can't make you hand her over. If you do ?—"

"I won't," Dallas stressed. "I knew she was going to be pissed. I didn't realize she was going to take it this far. I'm not giving Audra back until she's calm."

"I need to make a couple calls," Monty said. "You can leave once it's safe, but make sure you're listening for your phone."

"Okay." Dallas didn't feel better, but he didn't feel worse. And the fact that he was told not to give Audra over by someone who knew the law helped. "Talk soon?"

"Don't worry," Monty said like he knew Dallas needed to hear that, "it's going to be okay."

The line went dead, and Dallas dropped his back against the door and squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't hear Katie anymore, but he didn't trust she was gone. He wanted to leave, but he couldn't risk her trying to physically grab Audra out of his arms either. Fuck, what a mess.

Staring down at his phone again, he opened up his messages and stared at the last ones he'd exchanged with Kylen. He wanted him right then. He wanted to hear his voice, to let his low rumble comfort him. But he was also shit-scared that the moment Kylen realized how dramatic his situation could—and would—get, he'd take off running.

It all felt so fragile. He had just started accepting both himself and the idea that he could have this one good thing with Kylen, and now it felt like it was about to shatter.

Maybe he was being punished. He didn't know what about him could be so awful that the universe would want to torment him like this, but maybe, deep down, he really was a bad person.

"Knock, knock?" It was Adele.

Dallas stepped away from the door and opened it, casting his friend something close to a smile. "Sorry."

"Don't start that shit. Not now." Adele walked in, shut the door behind him, then yanked Dallas into his arms.

The moment they wrapped around him—warm and safe—he collapsed. He didn't cry. He didn't scream. But all the fight drained out of him like Adele had pulled a plug, and he was nothing more than a hollow shell.

"It's going to be okay," Adele murmured. "What did your lawyer say?"

Dallas swallowed heavily. "To keep Audra. He's making some calls right now. I don't know what's going to happen. I still want to leave, but I'm afraid she's still out there."

"She left," Adele told him. "I watched her drive off. Frey packed your stuff, and Lane got Audra ready. She's knocked out in her carrier. I'm pretty sure Katie just went to call the cops, but if we take off and have someone else drive your car, she'll follow them, and we can get to my place."

He was filled with a rush of anger. He shouldn't have to do all this to get away from his ex—to keep his child safe. He hadn't committed a crime. He hadn't threatened to take Audra from her. He just wanted to see his daughter without having what little time he was allowed interrupted by his ex.

"I hate that she's doing this."

Adele nodded and used a finger to lift Dallas's chin. "She's scared. She's scared that a judge is going to think you're a better parent and take her baby away from her. She's afraid what she did is going to come out and tarnish her character in court."

"I don't want to take Audra from her. I just want what's fair!" Dallas shouted, then stopped because he knew that Adele was right, and it wasn't fair to take his temper out on a member of his family. "Sor?—"

"No," Adele said like he was scolding a dog.

Dallas rolled his eyes but managed a smile. "Thanks. Uh…well. I think I like your plan, so I guess we should go?"

"Bowen already left in your car, and Lane's going to put Audra in mine." He gripped Dallas by the shoulders and forced their gazes to connect. "It's going to be okay."

Dallas wanted to believe that. Desperately. But his faith was hanging by a thread, and the universe seemed to be holding a big pair of shears beside it with a cruel, sadistic grin.