Page 52 of Step Daddy

Gareth held Kit on the couch, not caring that the medics and Ted and everyone else had seen him soothing and loving on his boy. Actually, Ted’s stunned expression alone had been worth it.

Ted.

He’d about lost his shit when Detective Lang didn’t send in SWAT right away. The second Kit had cried out, Gareth had bolted from the van and raced to get to him, to save his boy. If he’d waited like the cops had planned on doing, Kit might not have made it. Gareth’s stomach churned as he recalled the moment he’d rushed in and seen Ted with his hands around Kit’s throat, Kit’s face so scarlet that Gareth feared the worst.

His own hand still hurt from punching Ted in the face. After he’d dragged Ted off Kit, it had been necessary for the cops to drag him off Ted.

Kit was still clutching Gareth, the sobs that wracked his body finally slowing.

“W-when can we go? I don’t want to talk to anyone else tonight, I can’t be here anymore.”

Detective Lang had instructed them to wait while Kit was being looked over by the medics, that he’d be back to question him. The tech had already removed the recorder and wire, so now they’d been sitting there for at least ten minutes. Gareth hugged Kit closer, kissing his face and head. He didn’t see why they couldn’t go back to the hotel now. He could simply bring Kit to the station in the morning.

“Oh my God, Gareth? Kit?”

Kit’s head jerked up as Gareth caught Cassandra’s shocked gaze. Her expression wasn’t filled with relief or happiness. If Gareth wanted to pick one word to describe her features, he’d have to go with revulsion.

“M-mom. Everything’s okay now. You won’t have to put up with him anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know where I was, but Ted scared me. But it’s fine, I’m doing great.”

She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Great?” She wrinkled her nose as she gestured between them. “This is the opposite of great, this is disgusting.” She glared at Gareth. “Was this going on while you were living here?”

Oh shit.

Kit gasped as Gareth vigorously shook his head. “No Cassandra, I swear to you. Never.”

“Mom!” Kit wailed. “How could you say something like that?”

Cassandra took several steps back as if they might give her a disease. “Get out. Get out of my house.” She covered her face with both hands. “I can’t deal with this right now!”

“M-mom?” Kit started crying again. “Please don’t be upset.”

“Come on, Kit,” Gareth whispered. “Let’s give her some space.”

The agony in Kit’s eyes tore Gareth apart, but the best he could do at that moment was take him back to the hotel. His boy needed to decompress and get away from all the madness. Cassandra had already left the room, Gareth surmising she’d retreated to the bedroom for her own needed privacy. Gareth gently helped Kit to his feet.

Right as Gareth began leading Kit out of the house, Detective Lang seemed to suddenly remember they existed.

“Hold on, I’m going to need to ask Kit some questions in a bit.”

“Sure.” Gareth wrapped a protective arm around Kit’s shoulders. “What time should we come by the station in the morning?”

Lang sucked in a breath as if to come back at him with a retort but then snapped his jaw shut. He glanced at Kit then back at Gareth. He nodded and let out a sigh.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll see you guys at nine.”

Gareth nodded back. “Make it ten.”

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