Page 70 of Broken Halo

I rub my jaw and try not to show my concern, but the CPS investigation along with the marijuana isn’t good. I sigh, put the papers down, and look back to her house, addressing the other issue at hand. “What’s up with the furniture?”

She absently looks through her house at the men moving around. “I’m donating it all. It’s going to the North Texas Women’s Shelter. Other than the bed. No one deserves the hex of the bed Robert slept in. I told them to burn it.”

I look around. “Everything’s going?”

“No,” she says like I’m the crazy one. “I like the family room furniture. Everything in the master is going, all his office shit, and the dining room. Even the china and silver his mother forced me to register for because it was her fucking family pattern. She must have super powers and know that I want that shit gone because, I swear, as soon as they started boxing it up, I was served with these fucking papers.”

I frown and look at the baby. “Do you always talk that way in front of him?”

She gives Griffin a bounce in her arms and kisses his clean cheek. “He barely says mama yet. He only torments me with dada, over and over again.” She looks up at me and her face falls. “I swear, I’m not just being a bitch. They’re not nice people. If the court makes me, I’ll let them see him but I will not allow him to be alone with them. I won’t.”

I reach in the vanilla wafer box and hand Griffin another cookie, because what the hell. “I need to figure out who planted the drugs.”

“They’re used to getting their way—in everything. They’re relentless.”

I start a text to Pettit to fill him in that I need him to speed things up on the Kettemans before looking back to Ellie. “I can be relentless, too. Lucky for you, I’m on your side.”

“You’re here again.”

Ellie and I turn at the same time, her brushing my chest with her shoulder and not moving away. There’s so much commotion going on, we didn’t hear him come in.

He’s just as happy to see me as he was the other day.

“Kipp.” I steel my voice as I greet the man who tried to fuck with the younger me. I put my hand low on Ellie’s back and feel her tense but I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my tone when I say, “Can’t tell you how good it is to see you again.”

* * *

Ellie

“Dad.” I suck in air when I feel Trig’s fingers flirt with the top of my ass. “What are you doing here?”

My dad, who is still glaring at Trig, demands, “What is he doing here again?”

I step away from Trig and flip my newest court documents facedown on the counter. I didn’t call my parents for a reason. I’m not proud of the position I put myself in by marrying Robert in the first place, that’s easy to admit. But I don’t need my mom looking down on me with her anguished, empathetic blue eyes while my father judges me with his harsh brown ones. When Jen didn’t answer her phone today, Trig was an easy second choice. I almost thought about calling him first, but wouldn’t allow myself. I don’t even want to think about the fact I’m not at all disappointed Jen was too busy to take my call and Trig, once again, dropped everything to deal with my latest catastrophe.

Trig narrows his eyes on me as I do my best to hide my latest legal issues before he folds his arms across his wide chest to take on my father. “Ellie doesn’t object to my being here, which makes it none of your business. But since you asked so politely, I’m here to make sure the movers do their job.”

I look up at him and shift Griffin in my arms, thankful he knows not to spill my latest catastrophe with my father. “I know you’re busy. Thanks for coming at the last minute.”

The side of his full lips tip as he gives me a secret smile—one that says he’ll be more than happy to keep my latest legal issue a secret, and oh, by the way, he just had unprotected sex with Kipp Montgomery’s daughter and he’s not even sorry. In fact, by the way he acted last night and again this morning, I’d say he’s pretty pleased with himself.

“C’mere, little cowboy.” I tear my gaze away from Trig when my father plucks Griffin from my arms and he gives me the eye—communicating he’s about as happy with my life choices as he was ten years ago. Basically, nothing has changed besides the fact he can’t boss me around any longer. Griffin loves my dad, who dotes over all his grandchildren. “I had some meetings in town and thought I’d stop by to see you two on my way home. What’s goin’ on with the movers?”

I shake my head and try to cover up my desperation to rid Robert from our lives like it’s not a big deal. “I’m just making some changes. I am my mother’s daughter after all. I can’t believe you’re even questioning it.”

He frowns and doesn’t mince words. “He can go—I’m here and can help with Griffin. I need to talk to you. Privately.”

“Dad—” I start, but Trig interrupts and he does it by leaning in and putting his lips to my temple.

I take a sharp intake of air when he kisses the side of my face outright in front of the man who clearly hates him. “It’s okay, angel. I need to finish up some work but I’m bringing you dinner. I guess barbecue is out of the picture with your I don’t eat meat phase?”

“No, you don’t have to—” I try but he keeps going.

“No worries. I’ll get you something green.” He reaches inside the box and grabs a handful of cookies along with the legal documents I was served today. Tossing one in his mouth, he talks around his vanilla wafer. “Be back in about two hours.” He turns to my dad. “Kipp, as always, it was an experience.”

My dad looks like the top of his head might blow but doesn’t respond.

I stand, unmoving, and watch Trig stalk out of my house through a slew of guys carrying my furniture.

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