Jack

“You didn’t answer your phone…” Ember is curled in a ball in the center of her bed sobbing when I find her in her apartment. “I drove as fast as I could. I went to the cottage—”

“Jackson, help me…” She sits up, reaching out her slim hand.

I can’t bear seeing her cry. I drop my keys, everything at the door and climb to the center of her bed. She’s on my lap in a sweep, holding the lapels of my blazer, burying her face in my shirt.

My stomach is in knots, and I’m seriously panicking. “Is Coco okay?”

She nods against my chest. “I think so. Momma has her… She won’t let me see her! Oh, God, Jackson.”

Holding her on my lap, my arms are around her. “Shh… now. I’m here. I’ll fix this.”

“She has this strange cop at the house, and he wouldn’t let me in… ” Ember’s voice goes high. “Coco was upstairs calling me, and he wouldn’t let me in!”

She covers her face with her hands, and my insides twist. Rocking her in my arms, I smooth my hand down the back of her head. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

A sniff, and she lifts her chin. “I went to pick her up from school, and her teacher said Momma had already picked her up. So I went to the house. She kept saying it was for Coco’s safety… she said the situation was dire. I don’t even know what that means! She’s taking her away from me…”

Her whole body shakes, and I hold her tighter. “Listen to me,” I say gently. “Your momma might have power here in Oceanside Village, but you are Coco’s mother. She can’t take her away from you without proof of some sort of imminent threat.” Another tremble moves through her. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“She said it was because we were living together.”

“Impossible.” My mind is racing through all the potential solutions. “Judges don’t take children from their mothers over living arrangements. Unmarried people live together all the time and raise children.”

“She said Brandon got a court order placing Coco in her custody…” Her voice is small, and my brow tightens.

“Brandon is the father?”

“Yes.” She nods against my chest again.

I’m quiet a moment, thinking of who I know in family law. She shudders with another sob, and I hug her tighter. “Okay, but you’re still the only parent Coco has ever known. Judges care about that. Brandon forfeited his custodial rights years ago.”

“I said we were going to be a family, and she said that would never happen.” She buries her face in my chest. “Oh, Jackson—she can’t do this to us again.”

My fingers thread in the back of her hair. “Hush now, she’s not doing anything to us. I told you I’m going to fix this. I am.” The panic of Coco being hurt or worse has subsided and anger is driving me now. “I want to see that order.”

I’m just pulling out my phone when the door bursts open and Tabby runs in followed by Chad Tucker.

“Sorry I was gone longer than I expected.” Tabby’s voice is sharp with the same anger flooding my chest. “Jackson! Thank God.”

I give Ember another hug, speaking right at her ear. “Sit tight. I’m going to see what I can find out.” Her small hands tighten on my shoulder blades, and I hate letting her go, even to make a phone call. “Tabby’s here. I won’t be far.”

I give her best friend a nod and slip out of Ember’s arms. I immediately hate the cool absence of her body sheltered by mine, but I’m determined to get Coco back with her mother tonight.

Chad meets me as I go to the balcony. “I talked to the trooper. He said it’s a judge Anniston who signed the order.”

“I don’t know him, but I’m not familiar with all the judges in this area.”

“I had no idea this was happening.” His voice is laced with frustration. “I would never have let this happen.”

“There’s not much you could have done. I’m going to see if I can find another judge to issue a temporary restraining order. Worst case, Marjorie can’t hold her longer than seventy-two hours without just cause.”

“This is bullshit.” Chad’s fists flex, and I like this guy.

“I agree.” I’m scrolling through my contacts, looking for a number.

We’re standing on the balcony when I hear the voices rising inside. “How dare you come here?” Ember shouts, and I hop back into her apartment.

Her mother stands in the doorway with her hands on her hips. I’m frozen in place when her eyes lock on me like lasers.

“I see you’re back,” she says in a low tone.

“I see you’re up to your same old tricks.” My voice is equally low and furious.

She shakes her head and dares to laugh. “You can’t make me the bad guy in this scenario, Jack Lockwood. I called my detective the night you came back. Phillip is very good at his job.”

My brow lowers. I guess she thinks she’s intimidating me. “I’m sure he is.”

“Why, Momma?” Ember’s voice is strong, but I hear her waver. “How can you do this? You want Brandon to take Coco away from us?”

Turning on her heel, she looks straight at Ember. “I would rather see her with him than here in this toxic environment.”

Ember clutches her head and does a little growl. “What toxic environment? Love? A real home? Are you afraid Jackson’s going to take your place?”

“If only it were that innocent.” Marjorie’s voice crackles, and she turns to face me as she addresses her daughter. “Did you ask him why he came here? Did he tell you the truth or did he lie like I said he would?”

Rage filters through my blood. My fists clench—I’ve never wanted to hit a woman before…

“He came back for me…” another waver in Ember’s voice, “He came back to find me.”

“He didn’t even know you were here.” Marjorie’s brow lowers, and my heart beats faster. “He came here because he was running away. Tell her the truth, Jack Lockwood.”

My eyes flicker to Ember, and she’s looking at me with round eyes. She’s still mine, I can see it in her posture, but her mother has successfully thrown her off balance.

“You’re right, I didn’t know Ember was still here,” I say, controlling my tone, restating the truth I believe in my heart. “The moment I saw her, I knew I’d come back for her.”

“Liar.” Marjorie’s voice is even. “He came back because he’s running from sexual assault charges. His law firm put him on professional leave for forcing a young woman named Tiffany Rogers, the receptionist at his office, to perform despicable acts against her will. She filed a police report—”

“That is not true!” Emberly screams at the woman. “How dare you?”

“How did you…” I can only whisper.

Phillip is very good at his job…

“It is absolutely true,” Marjorie continues, watching me.

“What the hell?” Tabby shouts at me.

“For that reason,” Marjorie continues. “I will allow Ember to come home with me tonight and be with Coco. I don’t agree with her choices, but I know she is not a threat to my granddaughter.”

Tabby’s arms are tight around her friend, and Ember looks up at me through damp lashes and a deeply furrowed brow.

“Jackson?” The fear and confusion in her voice shoots ice through my stomach. My eyes meet hers, and they’re flooded with tears. “Is what she’s saying true?”

“Yes, but—”

“Oh, God,” she gasps, holding out a hand and shaking her head. All signs she’s still mine are gone. She’s backing up on her bed, defensively holding onto her friend. “What does that mean?”

“It means you’re coming home with me now.” Her mother holds out a hand to her daughter. “Jack Lockwood is a sex offender. I will not have my daughter or my granddaughter anywhere near him.”

“Jackson?” Chad’s deep voice cuts through the panic paralyzing my mind. “What’s this about?”

“It’s a smokescreen. That’s not why they’re after me—it’s about a case. They’re doing this because I found evidence—”

“Come, Ember.” Her mother stands at the door, holding it open.

None of my words are making it through to my girl. I can tell by her body language she’s completely shut down. She’s shaking and crying. Tabby helps her to stand, still keeping her arms around her shoulders. I take a step forward, and I’m cut off at the knees by her icy green glare.

“Step back, Lockwood,” Tabby snaps. “You’ve done enough.”

Fuck this. Fuck all of this! I was searching for Tiffany to fix it. I dropped everything to race back here when I got Ember’s call.

My fists clench and unclench. I want to shout my innocence at all of them. I want to snatch Marjorie Warren by the shoulders and shake her until her teeth rattle. I want to take Ember in my arms and carry her with me to the cottage and convince her this is a sinister lie…

But even in the fury and absolute violence blanketing my thoughts, I heard the most important thing—the only thing that matters right now.

Marjorie is letting Ember be with Coco tonight.

Nothing I could do would make that happen. Her detective found Brice’s lie, and she’s using it to reinforce her own controlling agenda, whether she knows it’s a lie or not.

Ember hesitates at the door and looks at me, her broken heart in her eyes.

Marjorie’s voice snaps from the stairwell. “Make your choice, Emberly Rose. Come with me now or stay here with this monster.”

I’m breathing hard, fighting every instinct in me to stop her, but I don’t.

Coco needs her mother.

Emberly needs Coco.

“Go.” My voice is ragged, and my heart dies when two crystal tears hit her cheeks.

A soft noise like a sob follows her down, and I collapse against the wall, holding my cramping stomach. Emberly is devastated, we’re apart, Marjorie is wielding Coco like a sword to cut us in two…

“Fuck,” I groan.

“You’d better tell me what’s going on.” Chad stands over me like a brick wall.

“How much time do you have?”