Page 52 of Under His Embrace

They had to be so confused. So surprised. Caleb’s dashing in here was a huge shock. I felt the burn of all their stares on me, but I couldn’t focus on them. I couldn’t spend my energy on explaining that I was a mother and this darling boy was my son.

The only person I owed answers to was his father.

Franco.

If Caleb was here…

Confusion kicked in now. I held Caleb close, letting his presence soothe me, but I racked my brain for how in the world he’d just appeared here.

“Liam,” Eva said from the side of the room.

Wait. Liam is back. That means Franco must be too. And if they came here with Caleb…

“Oh, God…” I mumbled. I was lagging horribly, delayed in my reaction time with Caleb showing up unexpectedly like this. My confusion lingered, but as I made the connection that Liam and Franco must have brought Caleb here…

“Mommy, I met Daddy!”

Oh, fuck. Oh,fuckme.My heart raced again. This time, not in elation and joy at seeing my son, but in trepidation and dread.

“You… did?” I opened my eyes, facing the music.

Franco entered the house. He stood in the foyer, staring at me with such an unreadable expression. I sensed his pain, the anger he tried to keep inside.

He was furious, and rightly so.

My big moment of truth was here, all right. And because I waited too long to tell him a thing, it was all exploding in a huge, chaotic mess.

I stood on shaky knees. My stomach dropped, sinking with all the knots of shame, guilt, and anxiety.

I knew I should have told him sooner. I should’ve come clean immediately, but nothing about this was simple. Not a thing was cut and dry, easy to determine.

I felt so lost since the moment the deli was shot up. Now, my mistakes were catching up to me.

“Look, Mommy,” Caleb said as he tugged my hand and pointed. “He’s right there. He and his buddy came to tell Wes to get lost.”

I widened my eyes, looking at Franco for confirmation that Wes was gone.

Liam cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, Mr. Morrison wasn’t around.”

Caleb sighed, dejected. “Next time, then.”

I frowned at my son and squeezed his hand, prompting me to face me. “What do you mean, next time?”

“He came to Brent’s apartment all week. I saw him and made sure he couldn’t see me. Like you taught me.”

“Did you tell Mr. Ethan?” I asked, so pissed that danger tagged after my son. When would it ever end?

It will end when Franco kills him, that’s when.

“No. Because I knew if Wes was looking for me, he couldn’t be bugging you or looking for you.”

Oh, Jesus.I hugged him to my side. This sweet, protective boy, trying to watch out for me when it was my job to take care of him.

Looking at Franco, I sucked in my lower lip and strained to explain. All the words I rehearsed didn’t come.

“Is Caleb my son?” he asked.

His voice was dry and dull, monotone, as if he were numb.

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