Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
So when I opened my mouth again, I spoke softly. “I love you, Twitch.”
He kept his eyes on the road, but his grip on my hand tightened. The cocky asshole replied, “I know.”
I wanted to smack him then, but I didn’t.
Instead, I smiled gently out into the open road. “Good.”
The utter bliss I felt at that moment felt so consuming, so strong, that my mind just had to go ruin it.
Yeah. You’re happy now. But how long will it last, Lexi?
Just like that. Mood ruined.
My anxiety returned tenfold. My mind wandered. My insides flipped almost painfully.
We would be fine.
I mean, what else could go wrong? Everything was as it should be.
My mind laughed.
Don’t hold your breath.
But because I believed in us and wanted this to work so badly, I did.
I shouldn’t have.
Chapter
Forty-Six
Lexi
My heart stuttered the moment I saw the familiar police car parked out front.
“Twitch,” I muttered as I sat up straighter, my lips parting in dread.
His brows pulled down in confusion, and he spoke softly, obviously sensing I was easy to spook. “It’s probably nothing.”
He was probably right. But what if it wasn’t?
I had already undone my seatbelt by the time Twitch pulled into the drive, and when the car came to a stop, I flew out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me, and rushed toward the house with a racing heart and wide eyes. The second I opened the front door, I called out, “A.J!”
He didn’t respond. My apprehension turned to sheer terror. And when I made it down the hall, I stilled in my steps, meeting Gabe Blanco’s solemn eyes. I held those eyes, and I breathed heavily as I asked an unsteady “Where’s my son, Gabe?”
My back warmed as Twitch stood protectively at my six.
I wasn’t expecting the answer I received. “Child Protective Services.”
My mouth gaped. My stomach dropped.
From behind me, Twitch uttered in complete disbelief, “Say again?”
Gabe sat at our dining table, sipping on the coffee he’d helped himself to, and shrugged. “I don’t know what you were expecting, Falco.” He leveled us with a stare that I was sure was used to intimidate the worst of criminals. “You refuse to give a statement. Refuse to let us talk to the boy—”
Twitch stepped past me, his eyes thunderous, and boomed, “He’s not ready. He’s healing.”
“We have questions, Twitch. Questions you refuse to answer.” Gabe stood, meeting Twitch move for move as he raised his voice. “And now, a higher power has decided they’re done waiting for you to be ready. So, well done.” Gabe spun around, running a hand through his short brown hair. “Fuck!” He twisted back and glowered at Twitch. “You think I wanted this?” He shook his head. “Look at me like that all you want, asshole.” He pressed his pointed finger into Twitch’s chest. “You caused this, not me.”
I was listening, but it was hard to comprehend.
What did this mean?
The silence was thick enough to carve with a knife, and when Twitch slapped away Gabe’s hand from his person, I felt the blood roaring in my ears.
My query came out monotone. “You’re taking our son from us?”
It was my worst fear come to life.
Gabe looked heavenward and placed his hands on his hips. When he lowered his head, he refused to look at me. “I’m not doing anything, Alexa.” His lips thinned. “I told you, this is out of my hands.” He took in a deep breath and talked through the slow exhale. “If it’s any consolation, Molly is with him.”
Tony’s cheek ticked. “I swear to God, you piece of shit, if anything happens to him—” Twitch took a menacing step forward, but I took a handful of the back of his shirt, holding him back.
“Stop, baby.” My voice was barely audible.
We had to be smart here.
To my surprise, he stalled in his tracks, breathing heavily through his nose, his body vibrating with pent-up anger.
I was a qualified social worker. I knew the system. I knew it inside out.
They couldn’t do this.
They couldn’t.
They could.
No. Not with my son they couldn’t.
Sure. Tell yourself that, Lexi.
Feeling a stinging ache in my chest, I pondered this new development. We weren’t dealing with just anyone here. We were dealing with a system higher up than the Australian Federal Police. That only meant one thing.
We were now dealing with ASIO.
Jesus freaking Christ.
This was not good.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization. And an organization like that got shit done. An organization like that had no rules.
I swallowed hard, gaining my bearings, and wrapped my hands around Tony’s arm to stop him from taking an unsuspecting lunge at an Australian Federal Police officer. “What do we need to do here, Gabe?” When he didn’t respond, I pled through my grief. “Please,” I uttered. “Don’t do it for us. Do it for A.J. He’s probably terrified.” The thought made my stomach dip.