Page 58 of Centering Kaos

“Yeah, no. That’s not gonna happen. Aunt El has…” clearly lost her mind, “company.”

Raised voices came from the other side of the door.

“Are they fighting?” Dylan asked, sounding concerned.

“They’re…” crazy. The whole situation was insane. My strait-laced, brilliant scientist sister was sleeping with… Rabbit? “Ironing out their differences.” And my sister was nothing like me. She’d told me she was okay, and I believed her. She was always honest, and she had a history of marching out of any situation she didn’t want to be in.

If Rabbit was here, I had no doubt Elenore had invited him.

I shuddered against the thought, practically shoving Dylan out the door and grabbing my suitcases along the way.

“You’re acting weird,” he said.

“I’m just anxious to get back to Kaos’s.” And I was pretty sure my sister was off her rocker, but Dylan had seen enough, and he didn’t need to bear witness to that insanity. I’d have to tell Kaos about it, and maybe he could send Tap to check out the situation.

But all thoughts of my sister’s predicament fled as we hurried out of the building and turned down the path that would lead to the parking garage, almost running smack into my worst nightmare.

Matt.

17

Tina

ANASTY, SCORNFUL smile played on Matt’s lips as his gaze took in me, Dylan, and our luggage. “Exactly where are you two off to in such a hurry?” he asked.

Icy fingers of dread threatened to cripple me even as my hand went to my pocket, searching for my phone. Matt zeroed in on what I was doing and opened his jacket just enough to give me a glimpse of the handle of a gun holstered at his side. I looked to Dylan, hoping he hadn’t seen it, but his eyes were wide as saucers and laser-focused on the weapon.

“Dad, why do you have a gun?” he asked.

Matt’s smile turned smug. “Because my wife has forgotten her place and needs a little reminder of who she is and what her duties are. You miss me, Tina?”

Miss him? His presence made my stomach curdle. I wanted to throw up.

Matt sidled up next to me, and something hard pressed into my side. The gun. Had to be. He was pressing it to my side in a silent threat. I met his gaze, and the hate that stared back at me turned my blood to ice. I had no doubt he’d use that gun in a hot minute. The look he was giving me… it was like he was begging for an excuse to fire. Desperate, I scanned the area for help, but the little walkway we stood on between the condo building and the parking garage was off the street and secluded by trees and bushes. Matt had found us in the most inconvenient place. The building only had about a dozen residents, and unless one of them happened by, I was screwed.

Panic threatened to squeeze the air out of my lungs, but one look at Dylan’s terrified face forced me to take a breath. I was Mom. Moms didn’t get the luxury of panic attacks or mental breakdowns, especially not while being held at the business end of a gun in front of their kid. I couldn’t freak out. I had to think and figure a way out of this nightmare.

My phone vibrated against my hip. Probably Elenore calling to explain whatever was happening in her bedroom. Maybe if I bought some time, she’d get dressed and come down here to see if she could catch us. Better yet, maybe she’d send Rabbit. Kaos was in the garage. The entrance was only a few yards away, but the distance separating us seemed like miles. Continents, even.

“How… how’ve you been?” I asked, trying to get Matt talking, hoping I could remind him that I was a good person.

The question only seemed to enrage him further. “How the fuck do you think I’ve been? My wife and son vanished off the face of the planet. I found your car parked beside some… some motorcycle gang hangout.”

I needed to deescalate the situation. Quickly. So, like always, I accepted all the blame. “I’m sorry. I… I messed up. I shouldn’t have left.”

He yanked on my arm, jerking me against him and digging the gun deeper into my side. I gasped at the sharp pain.

“No, you damn well shouldn’t have.”

“But you found us.” I tried to give his bruised ego a little boost. “How’d you find us?”

“I’m resourceful.”

I didn’t ask him to elaborate, didn’t play his game, because I knew the chance to brag would eat him alive until he gave in to it. And Matt didn’t disappoint. Huffing out a breath, he finally admitted what he’d done. “Paid someone to install a hidden camera by the door. Figured you’d show back up and I’ve been monitoring the feed on my phone, and I just happened to catch you two walking into the building with…” His eyes narrowed. “Who the fuck was that guy? Pretty sure I’ve seen him before.”

While I was still trying to figure out an answer that wouldn’t result in my immediate death, Dylan piped up with, “My hockey coach.”

As far as answers went, that wasn’t a bad one. Far less damning than any I could think of. At least Matt hadn’t realized Kaos was the one who’d served him divorce papers. That probably wouldn’t go well for any of us. Relieved, I nodded enthusiastically.

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