Page 148 of Fought and Freed

Jace scowled. “God knows you don’t want him left alone with Amber.”

“You’re right.” He kissed Maddy and Jace, hugged Torr, shook hands with Lucca, and waved at Ryder and Cody. “I’ll see you at home.”

They said goodbye and got into the elevator.

As he headed back to the room, Amber’s voice drifted out. “How could you fail?”

What was she up to now? He paused to listen.

“I don’t care how bad you’re hurt Scott,” she snapped. “You did a shitty job, and I’m not paying you for failing.”

With a sense of alarm, he turned around, walked to an empty room, and called his brother. “Hey, Cody, is Maddy with you?”

Concern filled his brother’s voice. “Yeah, why?”

Anger shivered through him. “Does she remember the names of the cops who came and talked to her?”

Cody asked Maddy, then came back on the line. “Yeah, she has their card. Why?”

“My gut is telling me that Amber had something to do with her hit and run, and Scott helped her.” He told Cody about what he just overheard. “Plus, Amber’s comments when Maddy came in were really suspicious. She was in on it.”

“Okay, we’ll take care of it. You go enjoy your son. And don’t forget to FaceTime Mom and Dad,” Cody reminded him.

“I’ll do it now.” He hung up.

Back out in the hall, he walked to the nurse’s station. “Can E.J. and I use that empty room, so we don’t disturb Amber? She wants to sleep.”

“Sure, we don’t need that room for now.” She made a note. “I’ll inform the nurse where to bring E.J. once they’re done with him.”

“Thank you.” He walked back to the room, and true to her word, a nurse brought E.J. back a few minutes later.

He was now swaddled with a little blue hat on his head and lying in a clear crib attached to a cart on wheels.

The nurse smiled as she brought him over. “He’s the little man.”

“Thank you.” Skylar lifted E.J. and cradled him against his chest. “Since Amber doesn’t want to breastfeed, can someone show me what to do with the formula?”

“Sure thing,” she said. “We’ll bring some in along with the diapers, so you’re situated for the night.”

She left, and Skylar lay down on the bed before he dialed his mom.

Her cheerful face filled the screen. “Do I have a grandbaby?”

“You do.” He shifted his phone to focus the camera on his son. “Meet Ethan Jared. He was born at five forty-five pm, and he weighs seven pounds and three ounces.”

“Oh my God, Skylar, he looks just like you. Look at his curls,” his mom gushed.

“Let me see my grandson.” His dad pushed his mom out of the way and drew the phone close to his face, squinting to see better. “You did good, son. I can already tell he’s going to be a rascal just like you were.”

He smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”

His mom gets back on the phone. “How’s Amber?”

He told them how she refused to touch E.J., then about what happened to Maddy.

He dropped his voice. “Mom, I think Amber had something to do with it.”

“You have good instincts.” Her eyes narrowed with righteous anger. “If you think she had a part in it, you have to tell the police.”

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