Page 61 of Live Love Steal
I shook my head. When we got divorced, I didn’t have more than the building to my name. I almost had to sell it, but luckily, she wanted nothing to do with the gutted shell of an old garage.
“Good. Miss Kayne, I suggest you decide what you want out of life. Do you want to be a mother, or a kept woman? I’m going to be very honest with you right now; if you try to have both, you will fail. I’ve been on the bench for too long and seen too many cases like this. Your ex-husband has shown extraordinary restraint here today, and I commend him for it. He’s come a long way since that time he crossed paths with me in juvenile hall. If there were more evidence of negligence on your part, I would not have given you a choice. Your son would be with him and him alone. But there isn’t, yet. And I hope, for Noah’s sake, I never have to see him in my courtroom for that or anything else. Do you understand?”
Her jaw stretched tight.
“Adjourned.”
My lawyer leaned toward me, “I can file another motion.”
“She can’t leave the state with him, right?” I asked.
“Correct.”
“I’m good. Thank you.”
I stood up and followed Sharon out of the room. Jackson stood front and center. Bear had Noah protected under his arm. His huge hand splayed across my son’s chest, covering his heart. There was a bit of possessiveness clinging to Bear’s grumpy demeanor that made Sharon stop dead.
Jackson waited until the legal team wandered off. He held out a hand. “I remember you.”
He wasn’t angling for a handshake or a kiss. In his fingers was a check.
I’d bet it was ten grand or less.
Sharon stepped forward and pulled the paper from his fingers. She studied the amount, then Noah. “It isn’t enough.”
If it wouldn’t lose me every chance at happiness… I’d…
Jackson snapped the paper back and examined it. “Oh, right. It isn’t.” He pulled another check out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Is this better?”
She put it in her pocket.
Twenty-five grand. Damn. At least she was better than my mom. She sold me for crack cocaine and a needle.
“You’ll bring him to the coast for visits, won’t you?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, still hesitant to rejoice. This was fucked up, and my son got to see it in all of its ugliness.
Sharon knelt so she’d be on eye level with Noah. “I know you don’t like Jimmy, but I do. And I know you want to be with your dad, so…”
Noah glanced at me. I tried to pour my heart into the silence between us. There were no guarantees he was going to be with me forever because last night was messy. And I’d fucked up royally by being where I was and doing what I did, but I’d fight it tooth and nail to remain free for him. And, from now on, everything was going to be weighed against the scale of “would I lose my son if” when it came to accepting any of Jackson’s dirty jobs. I wasn’t as worried about the immediate club. We had to keep our noses squeaky clean to enjoy what we built here.
“Bye, Mom.” Noah hugged her and didn’t cry.
“I’ll see you in the summer. There’s some great beaches.” She begged me to agree. I could make that happen.
“July. He’s coming with me in August.”
Her face soured. “You’re not taking him to Sturgis.”
Like hell I wasn’t. But that fight was for another day. I’d had enough victories, and she needed one to keep the peace. “He’s going to come with me one of these times.”
“Not until he’s old enough.”
From the weight in my son’s eyes, he was old enough ten minutes ago. I kept my mouth shut.
She patted the check in her pocket and gave Noah another hug. Then walked her ass out of his life. My throat got tight. I wanted more for him than this.
Jackson slapped my back. “You won. Cheer up.” He shoved a crumpled piece of paper into my hand. “Get rid of this, will ya?”
