Chapter Fifteen

On Thursday, Slade’s contact, Rick Morales, called to touch base. Avon updated him on all the bizarre occurrences of the week while Robyn and Matt made dinner.

 

“Listen. This has to be connected,” Avon insisted in a low voice as he peeked around the corner. He watched Robyn help Matt measure a cup of heavy cream. They were making chicken alfredo pasta from scratch, and the smells were driving him wild with hunger. “Lisa doesn’t feel safe anymore, and my entire MC is crippled. I think Keenan is behind all this shit. It’s like he’s trying to mount evidence that me and Robyn aren’t fit to be guardians.”

 

Morales heaved a sigh through the phone. “Yeah, the warning signs are clear. Sounds like whoever it is, is sending a message. We should put Matt into protective custody.”

 

Avon stilled his tongue before he could shoot back with No. “Why?”

 

“Things will continue to escalate,” Morales said. “A weekend in custody will help take the pulse of the situation, too. It’ll confuse whoever’s behind this. I think we put Matt in custody and you and Robyn get out of town. We’ll monitor the apartment while you’re out, and see if this screws up the bad guy’s plan. What do you say?”

 

Avon rubbed his forehead, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen. “I need to talk to Robyn about it.” She turned at her name, question marks all over her face. He waved her off when she raised a spatula as if to say Do you need me?

 

“All right. Call me within the hour though. I’ll need to start making preparations ASAP.”

 

“Got it.” Avon hung up and sauntered into the kitchen, taking a deep inhale of the cooking food. “Damn, it smells good in here. Matt, is this all you?”

 

Matt’s crooked grin made Avon’s resolve falter. How could he leave this boy again? He’d already failed him once. Protective custody didn’t convince him, either. The only safe place was under Avon’s wing.

 

“Robyn helped,” he said.

 

And there it was – the familiar spark in his voice. Matt really could recover, and he was recovering.

 

But what if this recent flare of bullshit got in the way of that again? Avon smoothed his palm over the kitchen island as he came around to Robyn’s side. Maybe protective custody really was a good maneuver. He hated all the options before him; he just wanted to run away with Robyn and Matt and never look back.

 

“Who was that?” she asked in a low voice, knocking him with her hip.

 

“Oh, just a friend.” He paused, watching Matt before continuing. “Morales.”

 

Robyn sent him an inquisitive look. His gaze fell back to Matt. He didn’t want to discuss it at all, but Morales needed his answer. “Matty, can you run off to your room for a second? Get your homework and take it out into the living room so we can look at it.”

 

Matt nodded and scampered off, leaving the two of them in tense silence. In a low voice, Avon said, “Morales wants to send Matt into protective custody for the weekend.”

 

Her mouth rounded, gaze dropping to the skillet full of creamy sauce. “But why?”

 

“Look at all the shit that’s been going on. All this shit can’t be a coincidence. Someone is behind it, and they’re trying to make our lives hell.”

 

Robyn pinched the bridge of her nose. The sauce burbled softly in the pan.

 

“It could get worse,” Avon said. Matt darted past the kitchen and disappeared into the living room. “Hell, it probably will. I think Morales is right. We can send Matt into custody for the weekend and see what else happens. If it gets worse. And he wants an answer within an hour.”

 

Robyn’s mouth turned into a thin line as she stirred the creamy sauce. Then, after a long while, she nodded.

 

“Yeah. Maybe you guys are right. It might be safer for him.” She sniffed, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “God help us if it does get worse though. I’m afraid to see whatever this person might be saving up.”

 

Avon crossed his arms over his chest, studying the seam of the tiles on the kitchen floor. “I don’t want to let him out of my sight though.”

 

Robyn leaned against the counter next to him, tilting her head to search his face. Anxiety melted under her soft, compassionate gaze. There was something about her he might never get enough of.

 

“It sounds like you already know what’s best though.” She picked at the hem of his kutte. “And it sounds like you should call Morales and tell him we’re ready.”

 

Avon squeezed her hip, overcome by the desire to pin her to the countertop and show her all the different ways he was crazy about her.

 

But Matt singing to himself in the other room snapped him back to reality. He fished out his phone and dialed Morales before he could second-guess himself or convince himself of a better way.

 

“Hey,” he said after Morales picked up on the second ring. “You’re right. Let’s do it.”

 

The phone rustled from the other end. “Great. I’ll take care of Matt’s details. Now, about you two…”

 

Avon creased a brow, looking back at Robyn. She’d returned to the pasta sauce, her back to him. “What about us?”

 

“You two need to get out of town too.”

 

Avon nodded even though Morales couldn’t see him. Getting away wouldn’t be a bad idea. In fact, he was more than ready for plenty of alone time with Robyn – show her all the ways he’d come to cherish every square inch of her and make sure that nothing could interrupt them, not until they got their fill.

 

“Got any plans on where we should go?”

 

At his voice, Robyn snapped her head up, looking back at him with curious eyes. A smile spread across his face as Morales went on.

 

“Up to the mountains. Make sure you don’t have a tail. We’ll reimburse whatever you spend. Just make yourselves scarce, and stay that way until Tuesday.”

 

A forced vacation. No, Avon wouldn’t complain about that one bit.

 

“I’ll let the lady know,” Avon said before he hung up. He could practically taste Robyn’s curiosity as he sauntered her way.

 

“Spill it,” she said as he slid his arms around her waist.

 

“We’re going to the mountains, sweets,” he said into the hollow of her neck. “Doctor’s orders. Gotta get lost until Tuesday.”

 

Robyn let out a low hum as she swayed against him, her ass rubbing against his crotch. “Well, that doesn’t sound half as bad as I was expecting.” She snapped off the burner, sending him a mischievous smile. “Dinner’s ready.”