Page 27 of Beyond the Temptation: Vol 2

“Yeah, see I think you’re lying. A minute ago, you told me you didn’t know anything and now suddenly you know one thing.” I move into his space and crowd him. “I think you know many things and I think my axe might help persuade you to tell me those things.”

“Who the fuck carries an axe around with them?” He’s sweating profusely now.

Colt chuckles behind me. “It’s King’s favourite weapon.”

My phone rings and since the ringtone alerts me to the fact it’s my oldest daughter calling, I retrieve it from my back pocket. Putting it to my ear, I say, “Holly. What’s up?”

Silence greets me for a moment before she says, “Are you okay? You sound angry.”

“I am, but not with you. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, shit. I’ve caught you in a moment, haven’t I?”

“Yeah, so let’s hurry this along.”

“Right. Okay. So, Cade’s having a minute. And I’d normally call Mum about this but she’s on her flight, so I’m sorry, but I need you to deal with it.”

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s refusing to go to school. Apparently, he got into it with one of the other kids yesterday and so he doesn’t want to go today.”

The asshole in front of me starts up with the leg bouncing again.

“Give me a minute, Hols,” I say before muting the call and turning to Colt. “Watch him while I take this call.”

A few seconds later, I’m outside and back on the phone. “Lily didn’t tell me about this.”

“Yeah, from what I’ve gathered, the school doesn’t know.”

“Put Cade on.”

I hear my son’s voice as he does his best not to take the phone from Holly, but she forces him to and then he comes on the line. “I’m not going, Dad.”

Fuck, my son is me and all my determined, defiant energy rolled into one.

“What happened, Cade?”

It takes him a few seconds to tell me. “Danny made fun of my grade on the math test yesterday.”

“And?”

When he doesn’t speak, I say a little forcefully, “Cade, tell me. You know I’m going to find out one way or the other. I’d prefer it to be from you.”

He blows out a long breath and I can picture his face right now, angry because he has to admit to something he doesn’t want to. “Fine. I hit him.”

“Does your teacher know?”

“No.”

I read between the lines. “But you think she’ll find out today.”

“Yeah.”

“What have I taught you, Cade?”

His defiant nature comes out swinging. “I’m not saying sorry! He shouldn’t have made fun of my mark.”

I eye the scene in the kitchen and think about the fact we’re on a tight timeline to find Roark today. But nothing comes between me and my kids. Fucking nothing. So, I take a deep breath and call upon patience I don’t generally possess.

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