Page 68 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

“How’d you find me here?” I ask, cautiously approaching the door. “I’m pretty sure I told you to stay away from Maisie and me the last time we met.”

“I know, but I had to make this right,” he says and takes out an envelope. “I’ve got cash here. It’s four months’ worth of childsupport. I’ll put the rest together after Christmas. Consider this a show of good faith, maybe?”

Reed stares him down. “What the fuck are you doing at my doorstep, Mr. Ellis?”

“I’m here to see my wife,” Keith retorts, visibly and instantly insulted.

“Ex-wife,” Reed and I say at the same time.

Keith shakes his head. “I’m sorry. Ex-wife. Mother of my child. Love of my life,” he says and looks at me. “Please, just take the money. I’ll do better, I promise.”

“How did you know where to find her?” Reed insists, his tone catching a menacing note that is exceedingly rare for him. My blood runs cold as I, too, wonder the same thing.

“I asked the neighbors where I could find you. They sent me to the community center. I stopped there, talked to a few people, and one of them said you’d moved in with Reed Faulkner. I’m guessing that’s you?” he asks Reed.

“What is going on down here?” Archer cuts in as he makes his way down the stairs, also wearing nothing but a towel, also looking fucking glorious at the worst possible time.

“Who’s there?” Maddox adds, coming in third and just as scantily clad.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter to myself as I see the look on Keith’s face shift from surprise and indignation into pure dread as he takes each of them in, mouth gaping wide as he struggles to find his words. Suddenly, he’s no longer able to play the charming former hubby who’s seeking forgiveness, transforming into a quivering mess as he stands before threegiant former marines staring down at him.

Keith chuckles nervously as he tries to address the situation, realizing that he’s in over his head. “I suppose you’re brothers?”

“Who’s this genius?” Maddox bluntly asks.

“Keith Ellis. Dakota’s ex-husband,” Reed sternly replies. “The guy who walked out on his wife and child because he couldn’t hack it as a dad.”

“Hey, no need to get personal here,” Keith tries to interject.

Archer scoffs. “It’s the truth, right? What’s in the envelope?” he asks, but he doesn’t wait for Keith to reply. Instead, he just snatches it from his hand with lightning speed and looks inside. “Oh, look at that, Dakota. Your outstanding child support,” he quips and gives Keith a hard glare. “It’s a little light, don’t you think?”

“I’ll get the rest by January,” Keith says with a tremor in his voice, then looks at me with genuine confusion. “Are you okay? Where’s Maisie?”

“Since when do you give a shit?” Archer is relentless and unforgiving.

The guys are aware of the texts and the impromptu meeting in the supermarket from a while back. They’ve been adamant they’d crack his head open if they ever ran into him. I just didn’t think he’d be foolish enough to do something like this—show up out of nowhere at the Faulkner brothers’ house.

“I’m still Maisie’s father,” Keith says.

“You’re just the sperm donor. Now, get the fuck off my property, or I will call the cops,” Archer shoots back.

Keith gives me a confused look. “His property? I thought you were living with Reed here,” he says. “What’s going on, Dakota?”

“You’d better mind your words before you lose your teeth,” Maddox replies, and I know it’s not just a threat. It’s a promise.

“It’s our house,” Reed replies. “Dakota moved in with me. We’re sharing a bedroom, while my brothers have rooms of their own, as does our son, as does Maisie. So, you’d better be careful about what you imply, Keith.”

“Oh, I’m not implying anything,” Keith sneers. “It’s bad enough there’s one grown man walking around half-naked with my daughter inside, but all three of you? What the fuck, Dakota?”

Maddox takes a step closer, but Archer holds him back. Rage oozes from them in waves, the air practically rippling around them. My stomach tightens, and nausea threatens to turn this morning into one hell of a disaster unless Keith does the smart thing for once and just leaves.

“Keith, you need to go,” I say. “Thank you for the money. Maisie is fine, and you don’t need to worry about her. Please, just go.”

He shakes his head in dismay, eyes glistening with outrage. “This isn’t over. I’ll be seeing you in court, Dakota. I don’t like this. It’s not a safe environment for my daughter.”

“I’ll give you to the count of three to get off my property,” Maddox replies, “or I will tear you a new one long before you manage to call the cops.”

“And once my brother is done with you, I’ll get the lawyers involved. Given your history and the way you abandoned your wife and daughter, trust me, we will bury you in court,” Archer adds. “And if you show up here again, we’ll slap stalking chargeson top of it all.”

---