Chapter 34

[Mavis]

Clay has so many questions, and I want to tell him everything. While I am exhausted, I am also wired.

Once we are ushered inside, I am still trying to mentally catch up with all that happened. Plus, there was my dad suddenly in the driveway flanked by two men I didn’t recognize. The club is changing. I don’t want the details.

Unfortunately, the audience in Clay’s house quickly closes in on me when I know his family means well. They’d rallied to be here for him, and they deserved my story for the worry it caused their brother.

Still, I feel uneasy and pressured.

Sensing my hesitation, and maybe recognizing that Dutton and I need food and a hot shower before anything else, people slowly peel away from Clay’s place. From our home.

First, Sebastian and Ford. Then Judd. Vale told Clay about some dish she’d made and was ready to be heated up while Stone gathered papers and equipment off the kitchen table. As local law enforcement, he’d linger to hear what happened.

Before each family member left, I am given a tight hug and encouraging words.

Glad you’re back.

Glad you’re safe.

Gave him quite a fright.

Happy nothing happened to you .

Had nothing happened?

With only Stone and Clay remaining, I set Dutton up in his room with another Princess Power video, explaining I needed a few minutes to tell them what happened. Still, I hesitated before closing his door.

“Can you leave it open a sliver?” he asks, eyes wild. He’s been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours as well as me, and I worry about the emotional damage this latest incident will bring him.

“Of course, little bear. I’ll only be in the living room with Stone and Clay.”

I blow him a kiss and he weakly smiles, settling into his bed when it’s only mid-morning. We are definitely calling today a snow day from school and a sick day from work.

I hadn’t forgotten that I’d missed yesterday and should be at the hospital today. Vale told me she’d called Trinity, hoping she could help with my sudden absence. Vale explained about the accident and then said I had a family emergency. I hadn’t called in because I’d left my phone behind in my haste.

I was going to owe both Trinity and Vale for their help, which I’d said to Vale.

“Family doesn’t owe. We love,” Vale assured me.

The thought nearly brought me to tears. I suspect more tears would come later.

Entering the living room, Clay has a fire burning in the fireplace and he motions for me to take a seat beside him on the couch. Wrapping his arm around me, he tugs me to slouch back into the familiar cushions.

“Want some tea? Coffee?” Stone offers.

Coffee would be great, but I shake my head, wanting to get this interview over with.

“I’d like to bring you into the station to take a statement, but I thought it might be best to chat here first. I know you’ve been through an ordeal, but I want you to tell me everything while it’s still fresh.”

I nod and Clay presses a kiss to my temple.

Starting at the beginning, I tell them about the accident and how my phone was left behind. I tell them about Darren’s arrival, where he took us, and our long stay in the motel.

Stone holds up a hand. “Did he hurt you? Or Dutton?” His gaze falls to the bruising beneath my eyes.

“They’re from the accident. The airbag.”

Clay relaxes beside me.

Then, I explain who Darren is in relation to Dutton.

“He’s his father,” Clay gasps. “Where the fuck has he been for six years?”

I appreciate Clay’s upset on Dutton’s behalf and even Stone gives a tight smile of support, but then he clears his throat, warning his brother not to interrupt me.

“He’d disappeared. Gone rogue, is what the club calls it. He didn’t confirm or deny my suspicion that he might have been trying to find who killed my sister.”

“Butterfly,” Clay hums in sympathy, pulling me tighter to his side.

“He claims he loved her and rejected her to protect her. Her and Dutton. He worried that if he took Cecilia and Dutton as his family, they’d always be in danger. It hadn’t mattered.” I swallow hard, tears filling my eyes.

“Maybe we can talk about this later?” Clay looks at his brother who is watching me. I shake my head, knowing I need to get it out now.

“What did Darren want with you and Dutton?”

“He wanted a meeting with my dad. Wants to explain his absence. I’d told Darren the less I knew the better.” I didn’t want to know where he’d been or who he’d seen or what he’d done.

Stone nods in understanding.

“So he held you as hostages? Kidnapped you?” Clays voice rises. “You need to press charges.”

“No charges.” I stare at Stone instead of Clay. “This is club business and I’m letting Dad handle it.”

While my father isn’t always reasonable, or even just, for that matter, I gave him my word that I believed Darren had legitimate information the club would want to hear. And that made it club business, not mine.

“I’m never going to really be free from them,” I whisper. “They are my family. But again, the less I know and the further I am from them, the better we are. Dutton and me.”

Stone keeps his gaze on me. Clay is shaking his head.

“I return to them and live in fear. Or I live my life.” And maybe still live in fear. But I’m not looking backward. I’m not going backward. I want the life I’m hoping I still have with Clay.

“He simply let you go when your father agreed to meet him?” Stone asks.

The most shocking concept, and one I’m still concerned will come back to haunt me, is that Darren let us go. “He did.”

“I don’t like this,” Clay argues, stiffening once more beside me. “Will he be back? Will he use them again? Will he try to take Dutton from us?”

“He won’t be back.” While I wouldn’t normally believe a word Darren said, he gave Dad his word he’d never come near us again. If the club took him back, and it was a strongly worded if, along with a few other expletives, then Darren forfeited any claim to Dutton. The club would always be more important to Darren, and he didn’t know his son. He had no rights to him.

But I stumble after explaining all this on what Clay has said and turn my head to look at him.

“Us?” I question.

“Us?” Clay’s brows pinch. “You and me. Dutton is ours .” He says is so plainly, so easily, like it’s something we’ve already discussed and agreed upon. Ours . He isn’t asking; he is claiming. And I am not complaining. I don’t have the bandwidth to think or argue or make more decisions.

Clay kisses my forehead before turning toward Stone. “So now what? What else do you need?”

Stone straightens where he’s been seated on the ottoman. “I don’t think I want to know where their meeting is being held.” He sighs. “And I’m going to send out a call that you and Dutton have been found.”

Returned .

“What will you say about that?” I ask.

Stone purses his lips, thinking long and hard. “You had an accident. Didn’t have your phone. Thought you were headed toward town on foot and got turned around. Let’s say you spent the night in an abandoned barn and then figured out where you were in the morning. Closer to home than you thought.”

Stone is good.

“What about Dutton?” Clay asks, turning his head from me to Stone and back.

None of us want him living a lie, or feeling he needs to tell one.

“What’s most important for him is he is home. Safe and loved. And he won’t ever see this Darren again.” There isn’t a question in Stone’s voice. His furrowed brow hammers home the thought.

I shake my head. I don’t intend to return to Florida, and if my parents want to see Dutton, they can come to Sterling Falls.

“Don’t forget to tell her about Wesley,” Stone states and I glance at Clay.

“What about him?”

With a slow smile, he states, “They found him. He’s been arrested in Minnesota.”

What a relief, but also one more thing I can’t process yet. For now, I’m simply free , knowing justice will be served by Wesley and Darren will pay his dues to the club.

Stone stands, and Clay shifts to his feet as well. They clasp hands and pull each other into a hug.

“Thank you,” Clay states. “For everything.”

Stone simply shakes his head, cupping the back of his brother’s neck. “This is what we do for each other.”

Clay nods and I stand, too. Holding open my arms, Stone pulls me into a bear hug of an embrace.

“Thank you for looking after him,” I mutter to his chest.

Stone surprises me by kissing the top of my head. “Now you look after him.”

Our voices are not quiet, so I’m certain Clay hears all. His hand comes to my lower back as I step out of Stone’s embrace.

“I plan to.”

+ + +

The remainder of the day, we are simply lazy, sticking close to one another. Clay keeps the fireplace lit, and we watch kid movies and horse videos. We eat Vale’s casserole, and Dutton and I nap on the couch pressed into Clay. When bedtime arrives, Dutton had already taken a real bath in the middle of the day, and eagerly climbs into his bed, happy to be back in familiar sheets with his beloved Violet bear.

“Sleep tight,” Clay says smoothing the covers over Dutton, which are pulled up to his neck. “Violet bear is here to keep you safe. Just like your mama and me.”

“Mama bear and papa bear,” Dutton says, keeping his gaze on Clay.

“Papa bear.” Clay swallows hard, before lowering toward Dutton, and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You need anything, we are right down the hall.”

If I asked, Clay won’t mind sleeping with Dutton between us. He wants both of us as close as I want both of them. But I need some alone time with Clay as much as I think he wants that time with me.

“Love you, little bear.” I say, taking a turn to kiss him again.

“I love you, too, Mama.”

Tears burn my eyes again.

“Love you, buddy,” Clay adds as I swipe at my cheeks as they spill over.

“Love you, buddy.” Dutton rolls his lips inward while a grin curls his mouth, fighting back a little hint of sass.

He’s such a good boy, and with Clay and I here for him, he’s going to have a great life.