Page 42 of All Our Secrets

My nostrils flared. “Not for long.”

“What are you going to—” I hung up before Gerald could finish.

Five minutes later, I spun gravel as I pulled into Peyton’s driveway. She ran out onto the porch as I slammed the truck door, worrying her bottom lip, gripping the baby tighter as she looked over her shoulder.

“Silas,” she said quickly. “What are you doing here?”

The nervous way she kept peeking behind her as she ran down the steps told me she knew exactly why I was there. When she stepped in front of me, as if to keep me away, Iknewmy Peyton understood the situation.

“Don’t, Peyton,” I warned. “I don’t want you upset, so I’m getting rid of your trouble for you.”

“No, Silas,” Peyton started.

But I sidestepped her, heading for the door. “Where are they?”

“Asleep,” she whispered, following me.

“Not for long.” I stopped at the screen door and scowled. “Did they really call the cops on you?”

“No.” She glanced down, unable to meet my gaze.

“Tell me the rest.”

She sighed. “I don’t want any problems, Silas. Just leave it alone.”

“What did your mom’s boyfriend do?” My voice was quiet, dangerously so.

“Nothing,” she lied. She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Jesus, Silas, how do you already know about this?”

“Peyton.” My voice dropped an octave.

I didn’t know if it was the sternness of my voice or something in my gaze, but her shoulders drooped, and all the fight bled out of her. Good. She knew I wouldn’t be stopped. Not when it came to her well-being.

I wasn’t prepared for her answer, though. “He kept saying he mistook my bedroom door for the bathroom.”

Anger crawled up my spine. And this fucker was still in the house? I saw red.

Without another word, I threw open the door in time to see her mother stepping into the hallway. Her eyes were half-lidded from sleep. More than that, her entire face was sunken, the dark circles and gaunt features pronounced. Long-held addiction was easy to spot. Even if Peyton hadn’t told me about her mom years ago, I would have assumed.

“What’s the ruckus for? We were up all night,” her mother began, then frowned at me. “Who’s this? God, what happened to you?” Her lip curled as she stared at the right side of my face.

“Mom!” Peyton huffed.

“You haven’t been threatening your own flesh and blood, have you?” I asked, getting straight to the point.

The sleep left her eyes as she glowered. “Who are you? Peyton, I won’t have your—”

“You and your boyfriend have thirty minutes to pack your shit and leave.”

“Peyton—”

“Don’t speak to her,” I shouted. “Hell, better yet. Don’t even look at her.”

T. J. started crying.

“Silas.”

My insides shriveled up at the baby’s wailing and his mother’s soft voice trying to calm me down.Fuck.I turned slightly, grabbing Peyton’s shoulder. She’d probably had enough confrontation to last a lifetime. I didn’t want to add to that burden,butI wouldn’t sit by and let this go. If she didn’t understand, she would. I would protect her. All of her. Her son. Her body. Her emotions.

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