Chapter 30

"I've never been in a house before—only apartments and the dorm at school."

"I'll try. I'm knackered." He dutifully got out his iPad, but his drowsy eyes told her it was unlikely he'd manage to keep away the sandman. Especially with the dog curled beside him. When she returned to the living room, she spotted Beckett getting out of his car.

"Too personal to tell me?"

"I can rectify that." He grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her toward him.

The pain from his grip made her gasp. "Let go of me!" Savannah's pulse raced, and she shoved against his chest.

He immediately released her and held up his hands as he took a step back. "Sorry, but you made me so mad." His hand shook as he swiped it through his hair.

"What's going on here?" Hez's deep voice came from her left side, and he bounded up the porch steps to reach them.

She lifted her head. "I'm glad you came when you did."

His eyes narrowed and his jaw flexed. "It looked like he was manhandling you. Are you all right?"

Hez frowned when he saw her arms. "Beckett did that?"

"Yes." Beckett's strength had surprised her. "He got so angry so fast. It was a little scary."

He looked over her right shoulder, and his mouth dropped open as he stared through the window into the living room. "Who's the kid?"

"You're scaring me, Savannah. What's this all about?"

"I can stay with him, but I'm confused. Why would she hide him?"

"She doesn't want his father to know of his existence."

"Erik?"

"Yes. He's ten and a great kid." She tugged at Hez's hand. "Come meet him."

Hez didn't give her the opportunity to decide. He smiled down at the boy. "I'm your uncle Hez. It's good to meet you. I guess you and I are going to hang out tomorrow." He settled on the sofa beside Simon. "You a gamer? I can bring over my Sony PlayStation."

Simon sat up and didn't look sleepy any longer. "Brilliant!"

***

Jess gasped. "What? Is he all right? Where did he go? Someone could have snatched him."

"He's fine. They found him right away, but the headmaster didn't mention how far he'd gotten. He's very unhappy at the school and wants to be with you."

"That's not possible." Jess swept her hand around the tiny cubicle. "Obviously."

"Thank goodness you agreed to go. Did it take much convincing for him to let Simon stay on?"

Jess half stood. "You told Hez?"

"No. I took Simon to the hotel for the weekend like you'd arranged, but I had no choice but to bring him home with me."

"Other kids grow up in boarding schools. It's a common enough thing. You have to get him out of town before anyone sees him." Realization dawned on her face. "Who has him now?"

"Hez is with him at my cottage. He seemed the safest person to tell since he's your attorney."

Jess was shaking her head before Savannah finished talking. "That's not possible. I have to save Tupelo Grove."

Jess pressed her lips together. "Just do what I say. We can talk about what happens next when I'm out of jail."

"That's going to be months away—if Hez can get you acquitted. Simon doesn't want his nanny. He wants his family, his mother. Let me keep him, Jess." Her voice trembled, and she cleared her throat. "He reminds me of Ella in so many ways. He's got her coloring and eyes. Until I saw him, I hadn't realized how much she resembled you. He's a wonderful boy and deserves to be with people who love him. We could say I'm his foster mother."

"Sarita loves him. He'll be fine with her."

A guard opened the door. "Time's up."