Page 22 of Knox

“That was amazing.”

“It was. And if you give me a bit to recover, we’ll do it again.” He grinned at me and leaned in to kiss me once more. “We’ve got all fuckin’ day.”

I sighed, stretching and rubbing against Knox like a contented kitten. Hell, I felt like a contented kitten. “That sounds like the best idea ever.”

Chapter Eight

Knox

Danny didn’t show up that afternoon. In fact, he didn’t show up the following day or even the following week. It had been a month since I’d seen or heard from him. Even Crush had been unable to find much. From the looks of things, Danny and his wife had split, but he was still trying to get back into her good graces. He’d already tried to empty their checking account, but she’d moved everything to a new bank in only her name. I told my dad about what had happened the second he stepped on the place, though.

“If he shows up here, your mother may turn over in her grave, but I swear, I’ll kill him myself.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen my dad this angry. “He’s not been a father to those children since they were born. How dare he try to start now?”

“I can’t imagine his wife wants the children of his mistress. There has to be more going on.”

My father looked at me. “Find out what he’s up to, Knox.”

“Already on it, Pop. Should hear back from my guys soon.”

“Good, because I don’t plan on losing more of the most important people in my life. Not again.” Dad went inside, slamming the door for once.

I cursed low under my breath. I didn’t have to ask what he meant. He was talking about me and Mom. He’d said he essentially lost us at the same time. And we both knew if Danny got the kids, he’d use them as leverage. For money. He’d bleed us dry and make the kids’ lives miserable. Those two loved Evelyn. Watching them all together, it was easy to see. And Evelyn loved them just as much.

The next few weeks passed uneventfully. I’d pulled Luke aside and told him to watch out for his sister and not to leave school with anyone he didn’t know.

“It’s Danny, isn’t it.” Luke didn’t phrase it as a question. The kid knew. “He coming for us?”

“Not sure.” I gave him an encouraging smile. “I’d just rather be safe than sorry.”

Luke studied me for a few seconds, then seemed to come to a decision. “I saw him.” He lifted his chin toward a hole in the fence. That hole had been there since I was a kid. Danny and I had put it there so we could sneak into the neighbor’s yard and play in their pool when they were gone. “He tried to get me to come to him, but I got Aneshya and went inside.”

Everything inside me stilled. “He what?”

“I’m pretty sure he thought he’d get my attention and that Aneshya would follow me.” Luke shook his head. “I don’t want nothing to do with him no more.”

I had to tread carefully here. Even with what happened, that both Luke and Aneshya knew Danny was married to another woman and that Luke at least knew what that meant, Evelyn had been very careful not to speak badly of Danny around them. She never indicated why, but I was sure she just didn’t think it was appropriate to badmouth the kids’ father. He’d never hurt any of them physically, hadn’t verbally abused them. Sure, he was neglectful and that was its own abuse, but she tried to let them have the information and make their own conclusions.

“That’s your decision, Luke. You can talk to your mother about it if you want. But I don’t think she’s going to make you have a relationship with him if you don’t want it.”

“He hurt my mom.” Luke lifted his chin, angry in the extreme. “He never hit her or anything, but that day in the hospital, I could see it on Mom’s face.”

“Yeah, buddy. He did.”

“I don’t want nothin’ to do with anyone who hurts my mom.” That was said with the twelve-year-old looking straight into my eyes. I got the message.

“I understand. Completely.”

That seemed to be what Luke needed. He stuck out his hand and I took it immediately. “I’m Mom’s protector now. I ain’t big or strong enough to do much yet, but you are. So as her protector, I’m putting you in charge of keeping her safe. And keeping Danny away from her.”

I straightened, my grip on Luke’s hand tightening fractionally. “On my honor, Luke. I’ll keep her safe. In all respects.”

He nodded, then I let his hand go and he turned, heading back inside the house as I scrubbed a hand over my face. I hoped and prayed Dad saw Danny first. If it was me, there was the possibility no one would see the swine ever again.

Luke looked out over the big backyard. “You know, this place is pretty big.”

“Yeah. It is. Dad always hated mowing it, but my mom wanted a big yard. She used to have flower beds everywhere.” I smiled at the memory.

“Mom always said she wanted a house with a really big place to put a garden. She said her parents used to grow their own fruits and vegetables. She said she misses stuff like that.”

---