Page 43 of All Our Secrets

“Go to Gerald’s and stay until they’re gone. I don’t want to upset the little guy.”

Despite the malice crawling over me, I caressed T.J.’s tiny head as Peyton bounced him in her arms. Instead of doing that, though, my Peyton blinked those pretty brown eyes at me and tilted her head but didn’t budge.

“This is ridiculous,” Peyton’s mother muttered as the guest bedroom door opened.

The culprit finally stumbled out with a cast on his arm. “What’s going on?”

So Theodore really did get the fucker.Good.

“Oh, fucking fantastic. I’m glad you’re awake. Go pack. You’re leaving,” I told him.

“Peyton,” her mom shouted, making her flinch.

“I said go pack your shit, or I’m throwing it outside. Andyou,” I stalked toward him and grabbed him by the shirt collar, “outside.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” her mother screamed as I dragged the man toward the door, dodging Peyton, who stepped out of my path.

“Let go of me,” the man snarled.

“Peyton!”

“Stop saying her name. After the shit you put her through last night, you don’t deserve to.” I looked at Peyton. “Do you really want this sick fuck staying here?”

The first tear slid down her cheek before she shook her head vehemently. With that, I shoved the man outside, causing him to stumble off the porch steps. The second he started yelling, I came at him and slugged him in the jaw. He fell on his ass.

“What was that for?” he demanded, holding his face.

I glared. “Youknowwhat.”

I stepped back onto the porch as Peyton stepped out of the house, ignoring her mother, who was yelling in my ear.

I placed a gentle hand on T.J. again. “Go upstairs if you don’t want to go next door.”

“No, I’m good.” She held her chin up, wiping her face and scowling at her mother. “I want them gone.”

Her mother’s mouth widened before she said, “I’ll remember this, Peyton.”

“You better,” I agreed. “Because if you ever want to be a part of your daughter and grandson’s life, you’ll straighten the hell up and drop the loser.”

The woman didn’t say a word. With a huff, she scurried down the steps to check on her boyfriend.

∞∞∞

I walked Peyton’s mother to their vehicle while her man child pouted in the passenger seat.

“I can’t believe Peyton would do her own mother like this,” the woman went on.

“I can.” I gestured toward the vehicle. “Look at the creep you have in your life.” She averted her gaze.Ah,so she knew, but she still chose to defend him over her daughter. The anger that had begun to abate burned anew. Goddamn—it was on the tip of my tongue to tell her what a piece of shit that made her. But then I thought of Peyton. The woman causing her all this pain was someone who had once given her great comfort.

I sighed and shook my head. “You’re missing out, is all I’m saying. But I won’t repeat myself. Don’t come around here again until you’ve cleaned up your act.”

“It’s Peyton’s fault, not mine,” she grumbled as she opened the driver’s door.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“We can’t leave until she gives us money. We won’t even make it home.”

I rubbed my jaw and swore. “So that’s why you’re here.” Pulling out my wallet, I took out all the cash inside it and handed it over.

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