Page 90 of Tough Love

They both freeze.

“Amelia, get back inside,” Evan orders as Tristan tosses him aside.

The devil from my past stalks my way, a malicious grin on his face as he approaches. “Peaches.”

“You don’t get to fucking call me that again,” I snap, my hands shaking with the sudden rush of adrenaline. “Ever.”

“Or what?”

I recoil as he gets closer, disgusted by the changes over the years. His face is covered in tattoos, his eyeballs inked black, and huge gauges fill each side of his nose. He looks absolutely revolting.

“Step back.” Evan appears between us, placing his hand on Tristan’s chest.

“No,” he answers cockily. “I don’t think I will.”

“Step away,” Evan orders in a scarily level voice. He’s flipped to policeman mode, keeping his emotions out of it.

Smart move.Otherwise he’d probably be buzzing like I am, wishing I had a knife, something that could cause this fucker in front of me even an ounce of the pain he put me through.

“Go get him,” Tristan orders. “I want to see my son.”

“No.” I shake my head. “You will never see him, so long as I have anything to do with it.”

He tips his head to the side, eyes flicking between Evan and me. “You want to play it like that? Fine.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap.

“It means—” He licks his lips. “—if I have to get rid of you to get my son, then I will.”

“You placing threats now?” Evan asks, body blocking me as Tristan inches closer.

“Making promises, my boy.”

Enough. I’ve had enough. “Get off my property.”

“When I’m good and ready.”

“Now!” I step around Evan and shove my hands into Tristan’s shoulders, catching him off guard.

He stumbles before regaining his composure. “Touch me again, cunt, and see what happens.”

I reach out to shove the fucker again, yet Evan cuts me off, pushing my arm down. “Not now, okay?”

Then when?I convey my question with the look I give him.

Tristan laughs, pulling out a pack of smokes. “You two are cute. Deranged, but cute.” He sparks up a stick, blowing the smoke in our faces. “I’ll be back next week, and Iwillsee my boy then.” He points to each of us with his cigarette between his fingers. “Try and fucking stop me.”

He spins on his heel, stalking off through the complex toward the gates. I watch, angry, as he scales the fence and drops over the far side of the locked gates.So much for security.

“You okay?” Evan asks.

I pull in a deep breath and turn to face him. “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”

His Adam’s apple bobs, and he stares off at where Tristan disappeared. “Not if I can help it.”

THIRTY

“You’re back,” Briar says happily as Evan walks through the door and drops his keys on the table.

---