LOGINRoberta's POV Brett kept the gun steady across the room."Nobody does anything stupid," he said. "I already called the police. They are right behind me."Irene looked at the gun.Then she looked at Brett.Then she laughed.The laugh of a woman who had never once felt genuinely threatened by anything in a room."You came to rescue your little princess." She shook her head slowly. "Look at you. Barging in here like you're in a film." Her eyes moved over him with open amusement. "I know your family, Brett Temples. Your father. Your grandfather. The Temples name has existed in this city for a long time." Her voice cooled. "Walk away from this. From her. Before it becomes something you can't walk away from. This is your one opportunity."Brett didn't move.He didn't blink."I would rather die," he said, "than walk away from her."The words landed in the room like something dropped from a height.I stopped breathing.I was sitting in that chair with my wrists still raw from the ties and my
Brett's POV The van's taillights were two red dots ahead of me, and I drove like they were the only things in the world.My phone was already at my ear."Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?""A woman is being abducted." I said it clean and fast. No panic in my voice because panic was a luxury, and I didn't have time for it. "Black van, no visible plates, southbound on Churchill Avenue. Multiple suspects. She's inside the vehicle, and I am in pursuit.""Sir, we strongly advise you not to follow—""My name is Brett Temples. I need units southbound on Churchill immediately. Track my location and send everything you have."I dropped the phone on the passenger seat.Reached under the seat with my left hand, keeping my right on the wheel and my eyes on those taillights.My gun was there. It was always there.I pulled it out and set it on my thigh, and pressed the accelerator harder.She screamed my name.They left the main roads after ten minutes.The van turned onto a narrow road that di
Brett's POVI kissed her. How could I?I pressed my hand against my face. The cut above my eye was still tender. The bruise on my jaw was already forming. None of it mattered.I kissed her, and she pulled away. She ran. She probably thinks I'm just like him. Just like Jace. Taking what I want without asking.I sat down heavily on the couch. Put my head in my hands.I'm not better than him. I'm lying to her. I'm keeping the biggest secret of all from her. And yet I had the audacity to beat up her husband and kiss her like I was some kind of hero.I thought about the way she looked at me. The confusion in her eyes. The fear. The way she pulled back like she had been burned.She trusts me. She trusts me, and I'm lying to her.I stood up. Paced the room. My footsteps were heavy on the floor.I took her daughter's slot. I took her daughter's chance. I took her daughter's life. And I kissed her like I had the right to.What kind of man does that?I walked to the window. Stared out at the da
Jace's POVMillie’s words hung in the air between us, soft and hopeful.“Jace… let’s get married.”I was still inside her, breathing hard against her neck. Married. The word felt heavy. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it. Not really. Not with everything spinning in my head. But she was looking at me with those wet eyes, and I couldn’t say no. Not after I just yelled at her. Marry her. She wants to marry me. She's been waiting for this. She gave me a son. She gave me everything. I should want this.But the words wouldn't come. Not the ones she wanted to hear. Not the ones that felt true.“Yeah,” I said anyway, my voice rough. “Let’s do it. Make it official.”Her face lit up. I pulled out slowly and turned her around to face me. I kissed her deep, trying to feel something solid. She kissed me back like I was her whole world. When we broke apart, she pressed her forehead to mine.“I love you so much, Jace. We’re going to focus on our family now. You, me, and Nolan. That’s what matters.”I nod
Roberta's POVThe kiss consumed me—his lips warm and insistent, his hand cradling the back of my neck like I was something precious. For a heartbeat, I melted into it, kissing him back with every fractured piece of myself. Then reality crashed over me like ice water.I pulled away abruptly, stumbling to my feet. My lips tingled. My chest heaved.Brett’s eyes widened, filled with immediate regret. “Roberta… I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. It won’t happen again. I crossed a line.”I nodded quickly, unable to meet his gaze. “I… I should put the first aid kit away.”I gathered the supplies with shaking hands, clearing the table in mechanical motions. I could feel his eyes on my back the entire time—heavy, worried, longing. It made my skin burn. When I finished, I paused at the doorway.“I’ll be in my room,” I said softly, without turning around.***I closed the door behind me.I leaned against it. My chest was heaving. My heart was pounding.I pressed my fingers to my lips. I co
Roberta's POVJace stared at him. His nose was broken. Blood dripped down his chin."You're going to regret this," Jace said. His voice was nasal. Gurgling. "Do you know who I am? Do you know what I can do to you?""I don't care who you are." Brett stepped closer. "I don't care what you can do. If you ever come near her again—if you ever lay a hand on her again—I will end you. I don't care what it costs me."Jace laughed. It was wet and ugly."She's not worth it," he said. "She's nothing. She's garbage. She's—"Brett hit him again. Harder this time. The sound of flesh against flesh echoed through the quiet cemetery. Jace's head snapped back. He stumbled. Jace swung back wildly. His fist landed on Brett's jaw. A glancing blow, but enough to split the skin. Brett's head turned with the impact, but he didn't stagger. He didn't even blink.Then he moved.He grabbed Jace by the collar. Slammed him against the ground with so much force that Jace's head bounced off the dirt. Brett's knees
Roberta's POV He hesitated. I watched him weigh protocol against the look on my face — whatever that look was, it must have carried something because his posture softened slightly."This isn't standard procedure," he said. "Normally, we'd need consent from both parties for a paternity comparison."
Roberta's POV Then I signed. Not slowly. Not emotionally. Deliberately. The pen scratched against the paper—moving across the line with the weight of a decision that had been building for years and was finally, irrevocably, done.I set the pen down.Desmond took the document. His expression gave n
Roberta's POV I lay in the guest room in the early morning and stared at the ceiling and replayed yesterday.Not the pantry. Not Jace's hands on Millie in my kitchen. Not the sounds they made while my daughter was cold somewhere across the city.The hallway.Brett's hand on my wrist. The way he ha
Roberta's POV She was only a few feet away now. I could see the determination in her eyes. My hand tightened on the shelf behind me. Please, God. Not like this.Just as Millie reached for the pantry door, Jace’s arm snaked around her waist and yanked her back against him. Hard. Possessive.“Not ye







