62. Tessa

62

Tessa

C in stomps around the penthouse, more furious than I've ever seen him, while Madden does his best to maintain his temper.

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Cin rages. "It's not safe for us to leave Tessa on her own!"

"Kade is on his way. We'll only be gone for three days, four at the most." He rubs the bridge of his nose before throwing me a tight smile.

Our little fuck-fest from two nights ago seems like a distant memory. When I woke up the following morning, they were both gone. The only reason I knew we'd had another threesome was the soreness between my thighs.

I half-hoped one of them would sneak into my room last night, but no such luck. Harry had another nightmare and crawled into bed with me around midnight. He then proceeded to spend the next few hours kicking me in his sleep.

Needless to say, I feel like death this morning. So hearing from Madden that he and Cin have been told they must fulfill their contractual obligations and provide security while Jewel Silver appears on the Terry Waters chat show, didn't exactly fill me with joy.

Not that I blame them for leaving. Madden has a business to run and I never expected him and Cin to give it all up for me. I know my father's paying them to provide security for me and the kids, but it's unreasonable to expect them to do it indefinitely.

"I'll be fine," I say, hoping to defuse the tension in the room.

"You better be fucking fine or Jewel Silver will be a dead bitch walking," Cin mutters.

"That's enough!" Madden snaps. "Get your shit together. Once we complete the job, she's blacklisted and we never have to work with her again."

"Honestly, Cin," I say, attempting to smooth things over. "I'm sure we'll be OK. Nothing's happened since we got back. Whatever was going on seems to have resolved itself." Whether that's true or not is debatable, but I refuse to hide in this apartment forever.

It's time for me to start looking for another job. I spoke to Janice at the daycare center this morning and she's agreed to take Chloe back. For now, Chloe will attend two sessions a week so she can socialize with other children her own age. It will be good for both of us, as Madden rightly pointed out when he found me sobbing into a pile of laundry.

As much as I love my children, I need to have a purpose in life. Stella has her writing to keep her sane. I love that she's a successful author, making her mark on the world, one smutty reverse harem book at a time.

I wish I had a talent like hers, but other than the ability to keep smiling while dealing with obnoxious customers, I have nothing.

Stella suggested I go back to college and retrain. Maybe she has a point. I have thought about it over the years, mostly while suffering through another soul destroying shift at the diner.

With my English Lit degree, I could get a teaching certificate and become licensed in as little as a year. The idea of teaching literature to high school students appeals, and I would love to make a difference to kids' lives.

But right now, it's all a pipe dream. Until Chloe starts school, working or studying full-time isn't viable. The cost of childcare would be too prohibitive. Still, it's something to think about.

"Kade will be here in 15 minutes," Madden tells me, breaking me out of my thoughts. "We need to leave to catch our flight. Set the alarm as soon as we go, OK?"

"Yes, Daddy," I smirk, rolling my eyes.

Cin's eyes light up with mirth for the first time today, and he grins as Madden yanks me into his arms.

"I think someone's looking to be punished when we get back," he growls before claiming my mouth in a heated kiss. "Sass me and I'll spank you so hard you won't be able to sit down for a month, baby girl,"

My thighs tremble when he releases me and he smiles, knowing full well the effect he has on me. Not to be outdone, Cin pulls me close for a kiss, too. By the time he lets me go, my panties are so wet I'm going to have to take a cold shower.

Damn these guys!

"Be a good girl!"

"I'll FaceTime you this evening, sweetness!"

Madden's phone pings to say their cab has arrived and, after one last kiss, they disappear. Once the elevator doors close, I ensure the alarm is activated.

I hope being in the apartment without Cin and Madden acting as a buffer isn't too awkward. Kade has been conspicuously absent since we arrived back here. No doubt he's too busy making time for Candy the bitch.

A small snort escapes. Being jealous of a woman who may or may not be fucking a man who barely acknowledges I exist is ridiculous. Especially when I had two other guys in my bed two nights ago.

Talk about thirsty.

Ugh.

I need that cold shower, stat.

Unfortunately, the minute I decide to head to the bathroom, Kade arrives looking sinfully edible in a form-fitting black shirt and tailored pants. By the time I've stopped drooling, he's smirking like an asshole.

Buttons barks excitedly as he steps out of the elevator. She loves him almost as much as she adores Harry, and I know she's missed him the last few days. And from the way Chloe babbles happily when she toddles in from the living room, she's delighted to see him, too.

"There's a pot of coffee on the side," I tell him, willing my cheeks to stop glowing bright enough to show up on satellite images.

"Thanks," he grins. "I'll go get changed and grab one.

The visual of Kade stripping off is the last thing I need, so I pick up Chloe and disappear into my bedroom as fast as my legs will carry me.

If this is how all our interactions go over the next few days, I'm in big trouble.