10. Tessa

10

Tessa

I 'm all out of sorts. The events of yesterday have yet to sink in. In truth, I'm trying not to think about the awful moment when the man with the gun pointed it at me and my whole life flashed before my eyes.

The fact the kids were with me made it so much worse.

Harry has been quieter than normal. Instead of running around like he usually does, he's spent the last few hours glued to my side on the sofa while we watch a selection of DVDs Cin dug out of a cupboard.

I don't mind the break, if I'm honest. It gives me a chance to let my thoughts wander. Chloe's on the rug at my feet, playing happily with some toys Madden's sister left behind.

Being here hasn't unsettled her at all, which is a miracle. I guess it's because she's used to daycare, so moving from one place to another isn't such a change in her routine.

Speaking of daycare. I still haven't called them. I intended to ask Madden or Cin if I could borrow a phone, but they've all disappeared.

Cin's gone down the mountain to pick up some supplies, Madden went into his study a while ago, and fuck knows where Kade is. I thought he was heading back to my father today, but Madden told me fallen trees have blocked the road because of the storm, so until they can move them, Kade's stuck here.

No doubt he's pissed about that. I'm sure they all have better things to do than babysit me and my children. Maybe I should fetch my phone from Kade's car. Surely one quick call to the daycare won't hurt?

But then I remember what Kade said about the GPS tracking and huff with irritation.

"Everything OK?" a gruff voice asks. I jump, having been so lost in thought that I didn't hear him come in.

"Yeah," I start before deciding to be honest. "Actually, no, I need to let the daycare know the kids won't be in for a while. Can I borrow a phone?"

Kade pauses for a moment, then nods. "Sure, but please don't mention where you are."

I scowl at him. "Last time I checked, I'm not an idiot."

"I didn't say you were, Tessa, but there's a strong chance whoever is looking for you will go there asking questions."

I know he's right, but the inference I'm incapable of working that out for myself irks me.

"What about Marie and Savannah? Are they in danger?" I can't believe this has only just occurred to me. If some crazy Russian gangster believes I'm valuable for some inane reason, surely they will think the same about Marie. After all, she's our father's daughter too, even if she hasn't seen him since she was a little kid.

"Your father has men watching them. They are safe."

I exhale, feeling some of the tension leave my body. Thank God.

"I should let my friend Stella know I'm OK too. One of her guys works for the FBI, so if she can't get hold of me, he'll pull out all the stops to find me. And she's the worrying type," I add.

Kade's eyebrows shoot up, completely ignoring my comment about the FBI. "How many guys has she got?"

"Three, not that it's any of your business." How dare he be so fucking judgmental! Love comes in many forms.

"Hey, I'm not judging." Yeah, you fucking were. "It's just that three guys are a lot to handle."

"Too sausage-heavy?" I snap. "Personally, I think she's lucky. She has three guys who love her to bits, they have four incomes between them, four people to share the domestic duties, and their kids are spoiled rotten. What's not to like about that, eh?" I'm fully aware how bitter I sound, but given the shocking state of my life right now, I feel like a small pity party is justified.

"Suppose when you put it like that, it sounds like a good deal for her, but I don't know many guys willing to share a woman, though. Not permanently, anyway."

I shrug. "They make it work just fine. Can I borrow the phone now?" This conversation is getting old. Kade may be hot, and I'm truly grateful he showed up when he did last night, but he's winding me up and I refuse to sit here listening to him throw shade on my best friend.

"Sure, here you go."

He unlocks his phone and hands it to me. Just as I open the browser to search for the telephone number I need, a message pops up.

Candy: Miss u babe. You, me and a hot tub tonight? Xxx

"Candy misses you," I tell Kade with a smirk, glancing over at Harry. Thankfully, he's engrossed in a kid's movie and not listening to my conversation with Kade. "Hot tub? Gross."

He snatches the phone back with a growl. "Now who's being judgmental, eh?"

I feel bad for a few seconds. It's my fault he's stuck here and missing out on hot tub sex with Candy the Stripper. Because with a name like that, she has to be a stripper, right? Not that I'm jealous or anything. He can fuck who he likes.

"Sorry you're missing out on hot tub fun times. It's kinda nasty though. A yeast infection waiting to happen, dude."

"Thanks for the advice," he mutters, his fingers dancing across the screen. I assume he's replying to Candy, but I resist asking. It's none of my business, after all. "Here." He passes me the phone again. I'm tempted to scroll into his messages and read his reply but decide that would be a violation of his privacy.

It's a good job I'm not a nice person. I'll wait until he leaves his phone with me so I can call Stella and then look.

After a quick call to Janice at the daycare center, where I explain the kids are sick and we're staying with family for a while, I dial Stella's number. Fortunately, I know her number by heart. Otherwise I'd be screwed, as she doesn't have social media since her father's court case. While he was acquitted, there are still people out there who think he's guilty.

When Kade walks away to give me some privacy, I call Stella.

"Who the fuck is this? If you're trying to sell me something, fuck off and die. My husbands will hunt you down and make dog food from your rotting corpse."

"Jesus, woman, that's a bit dark, even for you?"

"Tessa? Why are you calling me from an unknown number?"

"Sorry, I lost my phone and haven't replaced it. Just wanted to let you know I'll be out of touch for a while. Me and the kids are staying with a friend of my father."

"Tessa, what's going on? You haven't spoken to your father in years!" Fuck my life. I should have known she'd spot all the holes in my story. That woman's sharp as a tack. "Look, it's a long story but the Cliff Notes version is that Enzo turned out to be a giant douche canoe, as you told me many times he was, and some bad people are after me, so I had to call my dad and his guy Kade rescued me from a Russian with a gun. We're staying in a house in the middle of nowhere with his two hot friends while my father tries to erase the problem."

Stella goes silent while she processes the information dump I've just thrown at her.

"So you're shacked up with three hot dudes in a house in the woods?"

"Really? That's what you took away from everything I just told you?"

"Three hot dudes," she chuckles. "It's about time you joined the sausage club." I hear Harley in the background say something, and she laughs. "Harley says if you need foursome sex tips, he's your guy."

"Hilarious." I roll my eyes. Should have known she'd focus on my new domestic arrangement . "Trust me when I say I'm not going there."

"Tess, do you need help?" All traces of humor are gone. "I can get Quinn on this. And Steve. That lazy bastard does nothing but work a desk these days. I bet he'd love to bust some mafia kingpins."

"Fuck no, leave Quinn, Norcross, and the FBI out of this. I'm in enough trouble as it is. My father and I don't have a great relationship, so getting the FBI involved won't help matters--" Kade snatches the phone from me before I can finish my sentence.

"Hey!" I yell, but to no avail. He ends the call and stands glaring at me.