Page 42 of The Hot New Single Dad Next Door

“He’s got the kids, too! Want me to take over so you can say hi?”

“Get rid of her,” Mark growls again.

“No!” I say, blood trickling down my hip. “It’s fine, Mika! Hey, did we move the cajun ranch? Or did Bruno take it off the menu?”

There’s a short pause. I pray she heard me correctly. “Off the menu?” Mika repeats.

“Yeah,” I say, hiding my relief. “No worries! I’ll find it!”

“Okay…”

Mark waits, listening closely as the door to the diner floor opens and closes again. “Move,” he says in the quiet.

“Mark,” I whimper. “You?—”

“Move.” He pushes me forward, but stays close, and we shuffle together into the back room. “Alleyway. Go.”

I stumble. “Where are we going?”

“Just go.”

“Mark, please let me go.”

He yanks me around to face him. “You thought you could take my son away from me and I’d let you get away with it?”

I pull myself from his grasp. “You had your chance to be a father, and you blew it!”

“Go.” He shoves me toward the alleyway door. “Now.”

I dig my heels in. “Where are you taking me?”

“To the fucking cemetery if you don’t move your ass.”

Mark pushes me outside and I stumble, falling to my hands and knees on the concrete.

“Get up!” he shouts behind me.

“Mr. Myers!” Down the alley, Sheriff Spelling points his gun. “Drop any weapons you have and put your hands on your head!”

Mark curses under his breath and tries to grab me. I slap his hand away, shuffling on my hands and knees to put as much distance between us as I can.

A shot fires.

I scream, frozen solid, as Mark rears back.

“Mr. Myers!” Sheriff Spelling says, his gun pointed at the sky. He lowers it again, taking aim at Mark. “Hands up or I will fire!”

I look at Mark and choke on a gasp.

Scott!

He moves stealthily in our direction from the opposite side of the alley. As we make eye contact, he touches a finger to his mouth, signaling for me to be quiet. I shake my head, too scared of what will happen if Mark notices him.

“Mr. Myers!” Sheriff calls out again, keeping Mark’s attention.

Scott sneaks forward. Only a few feet away now…

My heart stalls. I sit still, tears falling down my face as Mark twitches on his toes, ready to run.

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