I give two weeks’ notice at Evolutions, wrap Nonna’s ring in a black velvet gift box, and drive west to bumfuck nowhere, otherwise known as the Jared Jameston ranch, all by noon. He needs to know that I’ll be civil, but training him is out of the question.

I’m going to marry Makenna, and that probably won’t go over well with him.

A plan, a fairly complicated plan that involves Ryder, brews in my head.

But first, I have to make it through this meeting with Jared. I open the gate with the code he gave me and drive to the front of the house. Makenna’s vehicle is parked near the door.

Strange. Or not so strange since I know she brings Ryder to see his dad.

I hesitate outside my car and stare at the front door. Jared had said to come around back to the fitness room, because he wouldn’t hear the door. I walk toward the front door anyway. Makenna’s here, so surely Jared doesn’t want to begin a session until she’s gone.

A guy, the one following us the night of our date at Dastardly Bastards, steps out of the door. “Go to the patio door,” he says. “Go on in.”

“Thanks, Alpo,” I say.

“Aldo,” he grunts.

“Right.”

I smile to myself as I head around the corner and jog to the back. There’s a gated area to a pool, covered with a green cloth and waiting for summer to arrive. I wind my way through too many patio chairs, a chiminea, and a grill.

Figures that Jameston must excel in backyard socializing.

The place is quiet and my footsteps slap against the concrete. Funny. They must have Ryder tied up if he’s so quiet I can’t hear him. I can’t wait to see the kid. I realize he’s not here to spend time with me. Still, I’ll be glad to lay eyes on the tyke.

I approach the rear windows and I see the outline of two people. My steps slow.

The two people embrace. Makenna and Jared. My heart stutters and my lungs scream. Then his hands grab her back, pulling her close. Makenna pushes at Jared’s chest.

My body floods with adrenaline, a feeling I well recognize from competitive sports. I step forward, my muscles shaking with the effort of restraint.

I want to kill him with my bare hands.

Makenna lifts her head, and we make eye contact. Time stops, like we’re in some action freeze-frame and things might reverse at any second. My heart beats loud, louder, louder, until the pressure threatens to burst.

She’s only ten yards from me, and I sense her frustration. Her anger. What’s going on? What has he done to her?

I’m going to fucking beat him. I grasp the door handle, but it doesn’t turn.

I step away. I’m thrumming with a need to do something violent, and I’m not the violent type. But this guy deserves a beating. I imagine the satisfaction I’ll feel from hitting him.

Two more steps back and I bump into a metal patio chair. I spin and grab the chair arms. This will do. Striding back to the door, I check to make sure she’s far from it. Then I lift and pull the chair up and back.

Crack. It pops and shatters the glass. Slam again.

“Stop,” Makenna screams and runs for the door, twisting the handle and opening it.

A siren screams throughout the house, some sort of security system. Jared walks over to a panel and presses a button.

“Are you OK?” I ask her, ignoring Jared for the moment. I’m sucking air in through my nostrils, trying to control my temper.

Jared takes a step toward me. Asshole is smiling. Makenna inserts herself between me and Jared. “It’s not what—”

“Are you OK?” I repeat. Hell, my voice is shaking.

She doesn’t answer for heart-stopping seconds. Her voice is tighter than a guitar string. “Yes, but I wasn’t…”

“Good. Can you do something for me?”

“Anything.” No hesitation. No doubt.

I nod once. “Can you take Ryder home? I have something to take care of here.”

She stares at me. “No. Whatever you’re about to do, no.”

I shake my head at her. “Don’t protect him. Do what I ask.”

Jared steps to the side and shoots me a cocky grin. “This is called breaking and entering. The cops will gladly add this to your felony list.”

The lack of sleep slows me down, but for only seconds. He knows. The son-of-a-bitch knows about last night. “What did you say?” I narrow my eyes at him.

One corner of his lips curl. “I said you should get your criminal ass out of my house. My son doesn’t need to be around garbage like you.”

White-hot anger burns close to the surface of my control. My nostrils flare and I fist my hands at my sides. “You asked me here so I’d find you with Makenna. If you ever touch her again, I’ll—”

“She only hooked up with you to make me jealous.” Jared snickers. “Someone needed to tell her about your night in jail. She doesn’t need to be with someone unstable. Her daddy almost ruined her life by being a whack job.”

“Shut up,” Makenna says. Her voice doesn’t hold its typical strength. She holds my gaze. “I’m getting Ryder. We’re leaving.”

“Mommy!” Ryder yells as he runs into the room. I’m surprised he didn’t come running sooner after the alarm went off. He skids to a stop and jerks his head from one person to the next in the room. “Daddy. Aiden,” he says.

“I just want to get out of here,” she says to me and stoops to pick up Ryder.

We leave through the front door. I walk with them to her vehicle. She leans against the car door. “You’re following me home, right?”

“Go on, baby. I’ll catch up with you in a while.” If I don’t end up in jail again over this.

“Aiden,” Ryder says and holds out his arms. “Play with me.”

“Later, big man,” I say.

“No,” Ryder says and kicks his legs. “Down, Mommy.”

Jared walks out the door. “Mak? Remember what I said. You’re mine. That boy is mine.”

Mak flips him the bird behind Ryder’s back and clicks the key fob. She opens the passenger door to put Ryder in his car seat.

“Nope, Jameston,” I say. “You have that wrong. You’re mine. We’ll let them leave before we have a little talk.”

Aldo walks outside to stand beside Jared. “This is private property. Do you need me, boss?”

“No,” Jared answers. “I can take care of it.”

Makenna straightens and eyes me. “Come with me. Don’t do this. I’m begging you. Please. Come with me.”

“Mommy,” Ryder yells and struggles in his car seat. “I wanna play.”

Jared takes the brick steps of his porch quickly and I tense, moving forward. I register the look on his face. He’s decided to rush me with his kid watching.

“No,” Makenna screams from the side. “Stop.”

Jared’s fist hits my jaw before I have a chance to dodge. The impact pushes me back several feet and I stagger only for a second, a metallic taste filling my mouth.

I regain my focus and slam my fist forward, but he moves aside. I underestimated him. It won’t happen twice.

“Come on,” he taunts. “You think you’re man enough to take her?”

Ryder cries distract me. “No, Daddy. No Ade.”

My next punch lands, a sharp jab to the temple and he stumbles forward and then back. “Back off,” I shout, the fight making it difficult for me to speak calmly. I lower my voice, so only he can hear. “Ryder doesn’t need to see this.”

“My son needs to see me take what’s mine.” Jared rushes me a second time, knocks me to the ground and jumps to straddle my chest. His fists connect twice with my face. I slam him in the kidneys hard, hook my elbow into a triangle around his neck, and secure his face away from me.

“Daddy,” Ryder screams.

“Not the throat. Not my throat,” Jared says through the chokehold.

“Yeah. That golden throat. We’re done then,” I grind out. I blink through the liquid streaming down my face. Pushing him away, I roll up and get to my feet. I hold a hand out to Jared and he stares at me. Blood covers his white pressed shirt. Ryder’s high-pitched cries drift across the lawn.

My hands, my teeth, even my eyes feel sticky with what I know is blood. Jared takes my outstretched hand and gets on his feet.

Jared points a finger at me. “Man, she’ll choose me. If it’s between the two of us, she’ll choose me.” He turns in her direction, but I’m afraid to take my eyes off him in case he’s stupid enough to rush me again. “Choose Mak. Just remember what I said earlier.”

“Mommy,” Ryder screams.

Jared and I turn to see Aldo lift an unconscious Makenna off the ground.