Page 59 of Centering Kaos

“You’re letting Dylan play hockey?” Matt asked, his tone suspicious.

Due to my desire to keep my son from danger, I could fully understand Matt’s skepticism. “Yep. I did some research, and it turns out team sports are good for kids.”

He snorted. “No. You’re not playin’ hockey, Dylan. That’s not even an American sport. Basketball’s where it’s at. You wanna play a team sport? I’ll sign you up for basketball. You really should have asked me first, Kristina.”

My mother had named me Kristina after herself. I’d gone by Tina since the day I decided I didn’t want to be anything like her. Matt knew I hated the name, and he used it like a weapon… reminding me of where I came from. Of whose daughter I was. Usually, it served as an effective whip to keep me in line, but today, it just pissed me off. I was so tired of his games and manipulations. How dare he show up at my sister’s with a gun! In front of Dylan, no less! Gritting my teeth, I let the anger fuel me and burn away the panic that wanted to settle in as he tugged me forward, angling toward a trodden path that veered off the walkway.

My gut clenched, and I knew if he got us out of here, I’d never survive.

“Where are you taking us?” I asked.

“Home. Where you belong.”

Doubtful. He might take Dylan home, but my body would probably end up elsewhere. “That’s not our home. Not anymore. What are you gonna do? Hold me prisoner?”

He backhanded me.

I barely registered the movement of his hand before my face exploded in pain. Head whipping around, I would have lost my balance and ended up in the bushes if Dylan’s little hands hadn’t landed on my back to keep me vertical.

“Run,” I whispered, desperate to save him. Kaos said he’d be in the garage. If Dylan could get to him, he’d be safe. Kaos would never let anything happen to my boy.

Instead of obeying, Dylan’s eyes hardened. He stepped around me, squaring up with his dad. “Do not hit my mom,” he ground out.

Ignoring him, Matt glared at me. “What the fuck did you do? Turn my own son against me?’

“No,” Dylan said, refusing to be ignored. “You did that yourself.”

Rage flared in Matt’s eyes. Seeing the danger Dylan was in, I tried to push him behind me, but he resisted, widening his stance.

“You’re nuthin’ but a… a nar… narcissistic asshole!” he shouted at his dad.

Oh no.

Dread felt like a weight in my stomach as Matt whipped out his gun, sneering at our child. “I don’t know what the fuck kind of lies your mom has been feeding you, but you do not get to talk to me like that, boy. I’m your fucking father!”

“I don’t want you to be,” Dylan said, his voice barely a whisper as the truth of his words crashed into him. He used to idolize this man. He wanted to be just like him, and now, he acknowledged his dad for what he truly was, and my heart broke for my kid.

Matt leveled the gun at Dylan.

At my sweet boy. At my world.

Dylan had never talked back to him before, and now… Matt had clearly lost his mind.

I couldn’t let him hurt Dylan.

Fear and rage for my son drove me to act without thinking. Shoving Dylan into the bushes, I dove for Matt, tackling him as the gun went off.

* * *

Kaos

Pulling my iPad out of my bag, I settled into the driver’s seat of the Escalade, preparing to check my email and maybe play a game or two. I’d given Tina a lot to think about, and was hoping she’d have a nice little chat with her sister, realize she missed me as much as I missed her, and then call to let me know she was ready to go home.

Home.

It was strange how I’d never really considered my house home before. Home had always been the place I’d grown up, the house my parents now entertained their horde of grandchildren in. My house was where I slept and kept all my shit, but it had never felt like a home.

Not until Tina and Dylan came along and made it feel that way.

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