Page 16 of Wed to You

“Yes, sir.”

“Kaden, I’ve got to take care of something. You stay out here with Grayson. Maybe you can show him how fast you can run.”

“I’m fast.”

“So I’m told.” Grayson put a protective arm around Kaden that reassured Jagger.

Blowing out a breath, Jagger headed into the house, through the kitchen, and out to the foyer. He looked out the window, hoping Tanya had taken a hint and gone away. He saw her beat-up car, but not her.

“No.” Irritation and panic snaked through Jagger. He yanked open the door. “Tanya!” He stepped out onto the front porch, looking right and left. She was walking along the house, getting ready to turn and head to the back. “Tanya!”

She stopped and looked toward him but didn’t move to return to the front of the house.

“You take another step onto my property and I’m calling the police.”

“Jagger.” Her tone pleaded with him to reconsider.

“I’m serious. You’re trespassing.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Get over here.”

She looked toward the back of the house and he thought she was going to defy him. Apparently, she thought better of it. With a shake of her head, she made her way back toward him.

“I just want to see him. He’s my son.”

“You had years to see him every day.”

She looked down in what appeared to be shame, but Jagger was determined not to be swayed by her.

“I messed up. I was messed up. But I’m good now. I’ve been clean for a year. I’m ready to be a mom now.”

“Really? You think it works like that? You were a mom, and you selfishly abandoned him. You can’t decide when and if you’re ready to parent when you already have a child.”

“I know, I know. I can’t change the past. But I can make it right now.”

He shook his head. “Too little. Too late. He’s mine.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “He’s not. I’m his mother.”

“I’ve got papers that say he’s mine. Legally. I’m serious about protecting him and I will call the police if you don’t leave now.”

“You can’t just take him.”

Jagger laughed. “You’re a piece of work, Tanya. I didn’t take him.”

“You did. You took him from me when I was trying to leave.”

“You were high. I was protecting Kaden. I offered to help you, but you loved your drugs and dealer more than Kaden. Maybe if you’d shown up in court after G.W. died, you’d have had a chance. Maybe if you’d been there for his birthday or Christmas, he’d know who you are. But you didn’t, and now he’s mine.”

“I never heard about court.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“You probably didn’t try to tell them about me.”

Jagger shook his head at her stupidity. “The court knows there’s a mother. The fact that they couldn’t find you is your fault. You never told anyone where you were. And now it’s time for you to leave again and never come back.”

“Jag—”

Jagger held up his phone. “I’m calling the police now.” He dialed.

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