Page 6 of Tactical Revival

“Toy security company?” I let out a humorless laugh. “I’ll be sure to tell Michael that. He’ll get a kick out of your appreciation of his company. Either way. What I do and who I hire is none of your business. Get out.”

His expression softens, and he runs both hands over his face. “Fine. But can we please talk, Margot? I’ll meet you at the diner. I really just have some things I want to discuss.”

“I don’t?—”

“Please,” he says again, his tone a bit more anguished than before. “I really messed up with our son, and I want to make it right.”

The part of me not completely obliterated by his betrayal understands his need to make things right with Matty. And even as I know our son cannot stand his father, I also know there’s a part of him that wishes things were different. “I’ll hear you out,” I tell him. “But I won’t make Matty do anything he doesn’t want to. And that includes seeing you.”

Chad smiles, flashing that boyish grin that once had me weak in the knees. “Done. Diner tonight? Seven?”

“Fine.”

Chad turns and leaves, completely ignoring Silas. When the door closes behind him, the newest addition to Knight Security moves closer to my desk. “Are you okay?”

“Annoyed. Angry. Grateful you showed up.”

“Elijah called. He’s on monitor duty since Michael, Jaxson, and Lance are with Sheriff Vick right now. I was close, so I was able to get over here quickly.”

A bite of panic pushes past my anger at Chad. “Is everything okay?”

“I haven’t gotten the update yet,” he replies. The man is all business every time I see him. Except when he’s out with his four-year-old niece, the little girl he’s been raising ever since her parents passed. “You good, though? I can hang out a little longer if you’re worried he’ll come back.”

“No, it’s okay.” I wave him off. “Thanks, though. Chad got what he wanted. He won’t be coming back.”

Silas offers me a single nod, then turns and leaves the B&B. The little bell over the door jingles as it closes behind him. Taking a deep breath, I lean my head forward and try to steady my nerves.

Surely Chad isn’t coming after me for partial custody. Not after he already gave up his rights. Can he do that? Can he come after me now that our agreement is finalized? Anxiety fuels my panic, so I head into the kitchen for a glass of water.

No. Chad cannot have Matty. I told myself that I would never stand in the way if Matty wanted a relationship with his father, but I will fight tooth and nail to keep my son from being forced to share a space with his cheating, abusive alcoholic father.

Not that anyone knows about the abuse. I never told a soul—especially not Micheal. My brother would have killed him.

The former Army Ranger would have made my ex-husband disappear, staining his soul with the blood of a man undeserving to even breathe the same air as him.

It was not a risk I could take, so I kept it to myself.

The bell dings, and a stab of panic shoots through me. Is he back?

“Mom?” a familiar voice calls out.

I press a hand to my heart and take a deep breath. “Back here!” After setting the water down, I head out of the kitchen and meet Matty near the front desk. Anthony Bell, Matty’s best friend since kindergarten, is with him. “Hey, boys. You got here early.” I glance at the clock, surprised that it’s not actually that early.

“We ran.” As evidenced by his red cheeks and breathless smile. “Mom, can I stay the night at Ant’s? We’ve got a science fair project due in a month and we both really want to get working on it.”

I study him closely, looking for any tells that it’s a lie, but get none. Anthony is a good kid. One of the only boys Matty hangs out with who is an actual good influence on him. Is it possible my son is finally getting back to normalcy? Back to the study-loving, happy boy he was before his world imploded?

A wave of hope flushes through me.

And then the remnants of Chad’s desire to get close to him seeps in. What if Chad ruins it? What if seeing him reverts Matty to the troublemaker he was right after Chad left, tagging police cars and stealing candy from the corner store?

“Your parents are home?” I ask Anthony.

“My dad will be. Mom is working the night shift at the hospital. I can have him call you if you’d like, Mrs. O’Connell.”

I try not to wince at him calling me by Chad’s last name.

“Anderson,” Matty corrects, elbowing his friend lightly.

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