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Chapter Twenty-Six
Jaxson
Heading back to Eagle Tactical, I parked the truck out front.
Mason climbed out first and headed inside to talk to Declan and Aiden. He wanted to know what was going on with Hazel and if they had any new intel since the last time we checked in with them a few minutes earlier.
Lincoln pulled up beside me and killed the engine. “I’m going to swing by the local clinic and have them take a look at Harper.”
“I’m fine!” Harper said, waving her hand dismissively at him.
He shot her a look. “You might be, but I need to know our baby is fine too.”
Lexa and Jayden climbed out of the backseat. They’d driven back with Lincoln.
“Do you mind if we tag along? Lexa should probably have a doctor examine her.”
“I’m fine, Uncle Jayden,” Lexa said, and rolled her eyes. “I just want to go home, take a hot bubble bath, and relax.”
Jayden stalled, probably waiting for one of us to interject.
I unbuckled Izzie from the backseat of my truck and opened the main door. I paused, exhaling a heavy sigh.
I wasn’t sure when to do this, to break it to Skylar that her invitation to stay with me was retracted. Now seemed as good a time as any.
“Skylar, you need to find someplace else to crash. You’re not coming home with us except to pack your bags.”
Skylar’s eyes widened. “We’re family, Jaxson. You can’t kick me out.”
“The hell I can’t!” my voice grew louder as I spoke. “You just had my daughter, and my girlfriend kidnapped. If it were up to me, I never want to see you again.” I refused to lower my gaze.
She needed to know what she’d done hurt. It went beyond betrayal. She’d cut my heart and made me bleed.
“I have work to do. We still need to track down Hazel and Ariella. I expect you to clean out your shit and be gone when I get home tonight.”
Skylar shoved her hands into her jeans. “If that’s what you want.”
“I don’t trust you, and as long as you’re making company with him,” I said and pointed at Jayden, “you’re not welcome in my home.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but just as quickly shut it.
Good. I didn’t want to hear her lame excuses to justify what she’d done.
I stormed inside the building, leaving Skylar outside without a ride. Jayden or Lincoln could help her if they were so inclined.
It was doubtful that Lincoln would offer Skylar any help.
While they’d been chummy months ago, before he’d fallen for Harper, she’d betrayed him just like she’d betrayed me.
* * *
Izzie sat at the table where Ariella worked. We’d moved the computer and given Izzie a pencil and a handful of colored pens to doodle with on some blank computer paper.
We weren’t prepared for a kid in the office. I didn’t have crayons or a coloring book, and while I usually kept those things in a spare bag in the truck, I didn’t have it on hand today.
I hadn’t planned on going on an excursion.
“Tell me you have something,” I said to Aiden.