Page 45 of First Surrender

For Dec, I amend it in my head.

I hate that a part of me trusts him. I hate that I know he’s not as bad as the other men in my life.

I hate that he sees me at my worst even though I love seeing him at his.

It’s an endless cycle that ends today.

Declan will be released. There is no reason for Jackson to keep showing up. His involvement, law enforcement’s involvement with him, is over. These courtroom appearances are over.

“Miss Halstead. Are you listening?” The judge calls to me directly. That has never happened before.

“Yes.” There is no way he could hear me as much as he saw my mouth move.

“Mr. Randolph will be a free man and because I understand that you currently have guardianship of his son, Declan Randolph Jr., I assume we’ll be seeing you in family court.”

“What?” My brain isn’t processing what he’s telling me. I feel everyone in the room’s eyes on me, including my “stepfather’s.”

“Declan will be pursuing custody of his son as his rights as his biological father.”

The world is spinning, suddenly.

This can’t happen. He’s going to try to take Dec from me.

“Miss Halstead, I suggest you have your priorities straight and your ducks in a row. You’ll be joining us in court soon. This is me extending a courtesy to you. Obtain a lawyer.

“Mr. Randolph, I hope you learned your lesson during these proceedings. A criminal record will not help you keep custody of your son if that becomes the case. I suggest you stay away from this side of the justice system.”

“Yes, your honor,” Declan replies with false sincerity. He hasn’t learned his lesson. He is not a changed man. He might be wearing a cheap suit instead of a jumpsuit but he is still a criminal.

“Go home, Mr. Randolph. Court dismissed.” The gavel bangs and my shoulders jump.

The pack of men behind Declan break out into celebration again but I do my best to ignore them. My ears are ringing enough that I can’t tell what they’re shouting anyway.

As they all start to file out, Declan stops at the end of my row to stare at me. I sense Jackson standing up from his seat behind me as if the shadow of a mountain blanketed me. Declan’s eyes flick to the giant of a man but return to mine quickly.

“Be seeing you real soon, Nat.” I flinch at his voice. At the nickname.

“Court’s over. Get out,” Jackson snaps. His voice is laced with more malice than he’s ever used against me, and I want to weep.

Declan chuckles, all of his gaggle does, but they ultimately leave. The only two remaining are me and my supposed enemy, bracing his hands on the back of the wooden bench on either side of my shoulders. If his thumbs moved mere centimeters on either side he’d be touching me but the empty space feels like miles.

“Listen to me, Natalie. We’re done playing this game. You and Dec are moving into my house. You are going to get a damn good lawyer and you aren’t going to stress about surviving every damn day. You are going to let me help you. No more paying me back, no more working at that damn coffee shack. Your only focus from here on out is to keep Dec.”

His words are fuzzy in my brain and I know it takes me longer than necessary to process what he’s saying, but he doesn’t rush me. He doesn’t say another word as the minutes tick by.

There are a million reasons that I should protest, a thousand reasons I should scoff in his face, but only one reason has me nodding my head up and down in the hollow silence of this courtroom.

I will do whatever it takes to keep my brother safe and now I know that Jackson will too.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jackson

“This is my house,” I announce awkwardly as Natalie squeezes past me through the door into the entryway. Dec’s been here before so he flies past her, launching onto the gray sectional that takes up most of the living room.

“Dec, be respectful,” she scolds quietly.

“It’s okay, this is your home now. He can be himself.” I wink at Dec as he plops back into the oversized cushions with a Cheshire grin.

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