Page 16 of Make Me Whole

“Hi,UncladMax,” Ella greeted in a high-pitched tone.

I frowned as she hugged my midsection then bolted to the staircase. Aiden followed her inside and hugged me as well.

“Hey, Dad. Thanks for lettingGrandfriencleAl get me and bring me here so I could play with Ella.”

My frown deepened, but I didn’t get an explanation for the nonsensical words. In a hurry, my son dropped his backpack at my feet and bolted after Ella to the playroom.

“When Aiden was born, I thought you were a genius for waiting until you were thirty-nine to have a baby,” Al said as he finally entered the house and closed the door. “By the time Marge got pregnant, you two had traveled the world, established careers, and you had the structure to welcome the little one without the struggles I faced with Skylar. But now I think you were just stupid. Forty-nine is too fucking old to have a ten-year-old. They are exhausting.”

I laughed. There were many times during Aiden’s life that I thought I was too old to have a kid that young.

“You’re right. Ten-year-olds are exhausting, but they’re fun too. Who else greets you with a hug and nonsense?”

Al rolled his eyes and started walking toward the kitchen. “Don’t get me started on thefriencoublingbullshit.”

My brows tugged together as I followed him. “What?”

“The fuck I know,” Al said with a shrug. “Ella was so excited when we got Aiden that she decided they needed special titles for each other since they’re not siblings or cousins but are definitely more than just friends. So they came up with that abomination of a non-word which led to a bunch of nonsense names for all of us. And don’t ask me what they are because I tuned out.”

I laughed again, glad for some levity on such a tense day.

“But kids are kids,” he said, face morphing from relaxed to worried. “They make us feel exhausted and worried no matter how old they get.”

I fidgeted, suddenly uncomfortable from the anger that still lingered in my bones. “She’s taking a bath. She was so scared and tense that I told her to go relax while I kept watch and waited for you.”

Al smiled and nodded. He walked to the coffeemaker, brewed us a fresh pot, then used an app to order pizza. I took a seat on the island.

“Thanks for taking care of my girl, man. I went all the way to Whiskey Glade, a fucking hour-long drive, just to get stood up by some clown. They didn’t even pick up the phone when I called to see if they were still planning to come look at the house or if I could leave.”

Eli’s face popped into my mind. Making a fake appointment to ensure Skylar would be alone and vulnerable seemed like something a little shit like him would do. My anger flared hot again, but I didn’t share my suspicion with Al. He didn’t need more reasons to worry.

Besides, I had a plan to keep Sky safe.

“You’re family, Al,” I said with a shrug and an honest smile. “There’s never a need to thank me, especially with Sky. I’d do anything for her.”

The appreciation on his face deepened. As did my guilt. Contrary to what Al thought, I didn’t want her safe because I was a good friend. I wanted her safe because I was a selfish, lustful prick.

“Now I feel bad for saying your kid was a handful.” I laughed at his joke, but even that was hollow and tinged with guilt. “Tell me what happened today.”

I told him everything from the moment I arrived at his street to the moment he entered the house. His knuckles turned white around his coffee cup as I described my conversation with the deputy, and when I got to part about the fear in Sky’s eyes when I found her, Al looked like someone who got punched in the gut.

He shook his head. “I never liked the weasel, but I never thought he was such a prick. We all know he doesn’t love Sky or care about his daughter. Why doesn't he just let them move on?”

“Control, I guess.” I shrugged. “Or maybe it’s an image thing. If he cheats, then he’s the stud. But if she leaves, he’s not good enough. Some guys can’t take that.”

Al huffed. “My wife cheated and walked out on us, so I say this with confidence. Neither is a good enough reason to become a creep.”

“You’re right. But he’s a prideful fool who won’t stop harassing her unless we stop him.”

Al gave me one of those cocked-brow, college-Al looks. “Are you offering toaccidentallybreak his face again?”

“Not exactly, but I’m not opposed.”

He chuckled. “How do we stop him from coming after Sky, then?”

“We move her and Ella to a safer place,” I explained. His brows tugged together. “Eli knows Sky is here alone for most of the day. That makes her vulnerable. She needs to be somewhere Eli can’t find and around someone who can watch over her. At least until the divorce is final and the custody’s settled.”

“As far as I know, witness protection doesn't apply to women who married assholes.”

---