Page 154 of Beyond the Temptation: Vol 2

“Hey, Leis, you forgot Pudge.”

We both turn to see my stepdad walking through the mudroom into the house.

“Are you the father?” Ilan advances on him, and I’m stuck between either nursing my son or jumping up to stop the train wreck that’s about to happen.

“No. I’m her stepfather.” He points at me. “But I suspect I know who you are.” He looks over at me. “You okay, Leis?”

“Yeah, Jim. Love you. Thank you”

“Love you too, kiddo. Kiss my buddy.” He sets Gideon’s favorite teddy bear down and then turns to walk out.

“Why didn’t the perimeter alarm go off to warn us he was coming?” Ilan swings back to me. I notice his eyes darken as he looks at me.

I look down and see that Gideon has pulled the blanket off his head. My fuller breasts can partially be seen. I pull my shirt down to just over his lips as he suckles away, acting like he’s starved.

“Sorry, he hates having his head covered.” I look back down.

“Alarm?” Ilan asks as he sits across from me on one of the side chairs.

“I don’t know. Ever since the company changed, it’s been acting up. None of the exterior alarms have worked regularly for months. The house one does, but it will randomly turn off.” I look at the panel and notice a blue light on. “Like look at it now. It never did that before.” I point at it, and Ilan stands and moves toward it. He growls and kneels down to the plug below it and pulls it out.

“Get your shit. We are getting out of here. Right now.” He moves to the kitchen and shoves his feet in his boots as he pulls his phone from his pocket.

“I’m not leaving with you.” I reach up and accidentally rub my forehead. I cringe when I touch the bump and cut that formed there after the attack this morning. My head is aching more, but I’m not going to the hospital because I know it’s from stress and not my symptoms getting worse.

“I’m not giving you an option. You can’t stay here. Someone hacked your system and has been watching you. I don’t know how much time we have until someone shows up. Come on. I’ll protect you and him.” He waves to Gideon.

“No,” I yell, causing Gideon to startle. “Sorry, little man.” I pull him from my breast and burp him. He sits up and looks around at Ilan.

Ilan moves over to me and kneels in front of us.

“How old is he?” he asks, and I see the pain in his eyes. Maybe he suspects the truth.

“You know,” I tell him. “I sent you the message.” I choke back the tears and the pain that causes my heart to clench. “I sent you so many messages.”

“He’s not mine.” He rises and moves away. “He’s too old. He’s almost a year old, isn’t he?” He throws his hands up, and I’ve had enough. I rise up and carefully lay Gideon on his stomach in the playpen near me.

“What do you think?” I square off against Ilan.

“You were pregnant before we got together. You should have told me. I would have helped you.” He reaches for me, and this time I let him touch me. His fingers drag down my cheeks and tears spring to my eyes. He doesn’t realize who Gideon is. He’s denying him. My heart shatters this time.

“Fuck you, Ilan.” I turn away from him.

He grabs me and spins me back to him. My body collides with his chest. One of his hands is on my butt and the other is at my waist. I look up and can’t stop my eyes from looking at his lips. They come closer, and no matter how much I hate him and how hurt I am, I let him kiss me.

“I missed you,” he says, his voice gruff and gravelly as he takes my lips in a deep kiss.

I give him access and start to fall into that place I always did before. We only had days together before, but it was everything and then not enough all at once. I’m lost to him. Until his hand brushes along my face and his fingers hit the bump and bruise. I cry out from the pain. He pulls away and carefully removes the bandage to inspect the damage to my skin.

He stares me in the eyes, and I watch as his jaw clenches and unclenches.

“Did his father do this to you?” He points to Gideon and then looks down at me.

I can’t stop the words. “No, his father doesn’t give a shit about him or me. He left me pregnant and alone so he could avenge his father’s death. Gideon is only five months old. He’s your fucking son, asshole. I emailed you so many times, but you couldn’t take the time for us. You ignored us, so I decided you don’t get to be a part of his life if you can’t even return a simple email and say hey. So fuck you!” All the words come out in my anger in one breath.

I push him away from me. His body falls back and lands in the chair behind him. He doesn’t stop me. I move to Gideon and take him to his bedroom, where I change his diaper and then put him in a thick blanket sleeper. I know I have to get out of here. Gideon lies in his crib as I pull out bags and throw clothes, diapers, and so much more into them. I don’t know where I’m going to go, but I can’t stay here. After what Ilan said about us being watched and with the attack earlier, I have to get away. I can head to Wasilla, Palmer, or even Anchorage. I don’t trust my car to make it north to Fairbanks.

When I pass through the living room to the master suite, Ilan is still sitting there in shock. He deserved it.

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