Page 83 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“I wish she didn’t feel bad. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Noah,” Brody murmured. “Stop.”

“Send him home, Brody.”

Brody had planned to do just that—but after hearing what the attorney had to say, he realized sending the boy back to Stacey and Geena was practically handing Noah back to his father. They would realizeexactlywhere he was and would snatch him the first chance they got. “I can’t do that, Geena. Not now. Not until Walt and Abbie Lee are out of his life.”

Geena spun to Brody. “Neither of you are welcome in our home. Not until this ends. Not until Noah comes home with us.” She turned and headed for the door. “And don’t consider seeing Parker. There’s no way he’d understand whatever this is between you two.”

The silence that filled the apartment after her departure was heavy. Brody was sick, and all he wanted to do was scream for hours to rid himself of the emotion.

Noah turned to him. “I’m so sorry.”

Brody shook his head. “Go finish your statement. The sooner we have that, the better.”

Noah stepped forward.

“Stop,” Brody said under his breath. “Go.Finish your statement.”

Noah walked away, silent.

Brody finished assembling his gun, his mind raging at the world. Everything was falling apart around him. For what?

His gaze drifted to Noah, typing away at the laptop.

For him.

* * *

Days had passed since Noah had submitted his statement. His mother had delivered the copy of his birth certificate to the office, as well as the copy of the police report from his attempted abduction. She’d never called or contacted him, not that he’d anticipated she would—but he was surprised she still helped him considering their situation.

Even angry at him, she helped protect him. It nearly broke him imagining that… considering the parents he’d run from. The pair who never would’ve lent a hand in the same situation. He’d hurt her and Geena—taken Parker away from Brody—and sent Brody into some dark, twisted rage. All because he’d been selfish and unable to keep his mouth closed.

They hadn’t been together since that night in the loft when things had most definitely crossed the line. Brody had moved Noah’s belongings into the guest room and without being told, he was aware that he needed to give the man distance.

The nights had been cold and lonely, realizing the man he was falling for was sleeping alone in the next bedroom.

Falling for? There’s no such thing as love.Yet, he knew deep down he was falling in love with the man.

Finally, he got the call. A court date the following Monday.

Brody and he showed up to court along with Mariah St. Claire, Esquire. He was nervous, and it didn’t help that the judge was an imposing-looking man. As the judge sat down, he heard a door open. Glancing behind him, Noah saw his father and Abbie Lee enter the courtroom.

Shit.

He spun forward, trying to ignore them. His body shook, fear nearly overwhelming him. Ms. St. Claire reached over and squeezed his arm. “It’s okay, kid. We’re going to get through this.”

Noah wasn’t so sure she was right. He glanced over his shoulder again, but saw Brody had moved… he was blocking Noah’s view of his father and stepmother. Their stares met, and Brody nodded encouragingly.

Still, when Noah was called to speak, dread nearly stole the ability from him.

“Mr. Butler, I’ve read your statement. Is there anything else you wish to add?”

Noah rose, urged to by his attorney. “No, Your Honor. I believe I covered everything in my statement.”

The judge smiled weakly. “I got a call from your grandfather. Well,step-grandfather, I suppose. He related to me his interest in this case and implied you were mentally unwell. Are you mentally unwell, Mr. Butler?”

“No, sir.”

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