Chapter
Twenty-Nine
It was nearly the end of the week, and I was excited to be seeing Drew come the weekend. Vice and I were lounging on the couch at his house; it was after I’d been back to Mom’s to feed and check on Puss-it. I’d decided to have another night off from making jewelry. Vice was a bad influence; then again, I was happy to spend some one-on-one time with him because it usually led to naked, orgasmic time with him.
After a sip of my wine, I curled back into Vice, and asked, “Do you like it?” We were watching Kingsman, one of my favorite movies.
“I have you pressed up against me, and it’s an action movie. What’s not to like?”
I smiled, looping my arm around his waist and felt him press his lips against my temple. We went on our first official date the other night where Vice took me to a restaurant. It had been amazing, especially after we tried out his Jacuzzi in his bathroom. I wanted to spend every moment I could with the man beside me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever find my happy ever after, but I did. Kenzie had been right.
His hand on my hips tightened. “Addy?”
“Yes, honey?”
“Love that.”
“What?” I asked, shifting my head back on his chest to meet his gaze.
“You calling me honey. You use if for those you really care about.” He shrugged. “Love that I’m one of them.”
“Me too.”
“That wasn’t what I was going to say though.”
“No?”
He shook his head, leaned in, and touched his lips to mine. “You still looking for a place to live?”
Thinning my lips, I nodded. “Have you found one?”
“Yes.”
Grinning, I said, “Great. Is it on the net? Can you show me it?”
“You’re in it now.”
My brows dipped, even when my stomach woke with butterflies. “Sorry?” I breathed.
“Would you and Drew think of moving in here?” He watched my face, but I wasn’t sure I had an expression on there because I was frozen.
“A-are you asking us to move in with you?”
He winked. “Yes.”
“Move in with you?”
He chuckled. “Yes, baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“Been waiting for the right one. Never thought she’d come along until I found you. We’re not young, Addy. I don’t want to waste time with you living somewhere else when I have the room here, and I’m not up for only seeing you every second night or something. The thought of having you and Drew living here is the right one. Where I want us to go, means we have a future. It’s about moving forward together to make sure that future is the best one we can have.”
Sitting, I straddled his waist and threw my arms around his neck. A sob took hold. I buried my head into his shoulder as he wound his arms around me.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” I mumbled, then sniffed. “I want a future with you too.”
He kissed my neck. “You’ve made me happy, Adalyn.”
Pulling back, I wiped under my eyes. “I’ve always been a happy person, content in life, but you’ve made my dream come true. I never thought fairy tales were real until my annoying, but charming prince came into my life.”
His grin was big. “Love you, baby.”
My eyes widened. “Are you sure it’s not too soon? How do you think Drew is going to take it? I mean, I know he loves you and your house, but it’s a big step.”
He tucked my hair behind my ear and then played with my earlobe. I closed my eyes and just about purred. Of course, he laughed. “I think Drew will be fine as long as you are.”
“I know I will be.”
“Then everything will be good. We’ll talk to him before it happens. Even though everything in me wants you to move in right now, we’ll wait for Drew to come home. And if he doesn’t go for the idea, we’ll wait.”
“You would?”
“Of course. But if he’s okay with it, are you happy to run your business from here instead of at your mom’s?”
“Heck yes.”
“Good, there’s also something I have to tell you—”
My phone chose that moment to ring. “Hold that thought. I have to check it.” Twisting around, I grabbed my phone off the coffee table. “It’s mom.”
“Grab it.” Vice nodded.
Hitting Accept, I placed it against my ear. “Hi, Mom. Not long until you’re both back.” I smiled at Vice.
“Adalyn, sweetheart, we have a problem.”
“What?” I breathed like I was just punched in the stomach.
“Addy?” Vice called.
Looking up from his chest, I asked Mom, “Is Drew all right?”
“Yes, but there’s something else.”
Moving off Vice’s lap, I gripped the top of my hair and snapped, “Mom, talk to me.”
She sighed deeply. “The week has been great. John’s been fantastic with Drew, spending all his time with him.”
“I don’t care about that, Mom. Tell me what’s happened that has you worried.”
“Sweetheart. Is Vice with you?”
Glancing at him, I said, “Yes, he’s here.”
“Good. Because what I have to tell you, you’ll need him.”
“Shit, Mom, you’re scaring me.”
Vice’s arm came around my shoulders. I felt like shoving him off and pacing, but I knew from the way his jaw ticked, he was just as worried as I was, and he was seeking the comfort I needed also.
“Your sister is here.”
“What?” I screeched. “Hang on, what’s my sister being there got to do with anything?” I hadn’t heard from Cammy since the last time she called. She never rang Mom the next day, and when we tried again, she didn’t answer.
“Okay, all right. Apparently, she works at the resort. I didn’t know this until she and John came to my room while Drew was sleeping. To say I was shocked to see her was an understatement. Adalyn, they’re threatening to keep Drew here with them.”
My body solidified.
“They think they have a case against you for being unfit to look after Drew. It’s all bullshit of course, but they told me they’ll be in contact with you soon about it. However, they would have known I’d call you. Sweetheart, Cammy is with John. As in they’re getting married soon, and they think Drew is going to love the idea of living with them here.”
“Addy? Baby?” Vice called. But I wasn’t there. I was in my mind ripping John and Cammy apart. My sister, my own flesh and blood was going to fight me for my son.
* * * *
Vice
Fucking hell, fear burned in me from Adalyn’s frantic voice and solid body. I could hear her mom calling for her through the phone, but my woman’s mind was elsewhere. I took the phone from Addy’s hand and watched her arm drop. Then she sat there glaring out into space.
“Jenny? Vice here. What in the fuck is going on?”
“Vice, thank God you’re there. I knew she wouldn’t take it well.”
“Take what well, Jenny? Tell me so I can help her.”
“Right. Long story short. Cammy, whom I’m unsure if I can love after this, and that says something about a mother losing love for her own daughter—”
“Jenny,” I clipped.
“Okay. Sorry. Cammy’s here, and she’s gotten in John’s ear. They’re going to try for full custody over Drew.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and moved my gaze to my woman. No wonder she was lost. Drew was her world. If she lost him, she’d lose a part of herself.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
“We’ll be there shortly.”
“What?” Jenny asked, shock evident in her tone.
“I’ll get Addy packed and on a plane. We’ll let you know when we land.”
“Okay. God, thank you, Vice.”
“Keep watchful and talk soon.”
“Yes, right. I’m on it.”
As soon as she was off the phone, I placed it back down on the coffee table. Picking Addy up in my arms, I put her ass to my lap and turned her head so I had her eyes. They were dark. She was probably murdering her ex and sister in her mind. I’d let her have her time to process. I had to get us moving though.
“Right, Addy. We’re going there. They aren’t fucking keeping Drew.” After I got nod from her, I helped her up and into my room. Her overnight bag was already packed so I threw some of my shit in there and ordered Addy to get some bathroom items. Robotically she did. When she was out of the room, I took my phone out and hit Grayson’s number.
“Vice, how’s things?”
“Not good.”
“Talk to me.”
Cursing every second word, I finally told Grayson what the deal was, and his reply was “I’ll make sure the plane is fueled and ready for you both. Do you need me to come?”
“Thanks, Gray. But I’ve got it.”
“Call me if you don’t or if I need to bail you out.”
Snorting, I said, “I will.”
“Is Addy okay?”
“Shit, I’m not sure. She hasn’t said a word.”
“It’s a lot to take in, especially with her sister involved.”
“I know. I’ll get her through this somehow. No one will take Drew from her.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. Talk soon.”
Adalyn walked back into the room. Her fists were clenched around a moisturizer bottle and a bottle of pain meds, from when I injured my back a while ago. I wasn’t sure if she was going to massage them into backing off or just poison them. I knew I’d prefer the second option.
“Addy, come here.” Once she was close, I wrapped my arms around her. “We’ll get there, baby, and sort it all out. One way or another, we won’t be leaving without Drew.”
She nodded and then I heard a sniffle before her body stiffened. She wanted to stay strong. I understood that. So I took her hand in mine, grabbed the bags, and we made our way out of the house. Fuck the toiletries. It was time to fight for Drew.