Page 129 of Your Last First Kiss

Even Landon lit up at the sight of him, while Gage holds out his hand. Dillon’s eyebrows relax when he reaches into his pocket and pulls out more candies. He sets one in front of each kid’s plate. “You can’t eat it until after dinner.”

They all nod happily, then his posture shifts again, and he turns his scowl on Kai.

“This ends now. Get your coat on,” he demands.

Kai looks scared but defiant and sits back in his chair with crossed arms.

Dillon goes to him and leans down into his face. “Unless you want me to call the sheriff myself, you will get your coat on. Now.”

“I—I didn’t—”

“Save it, Kai. I have cameras all over the TAC. Do you really think there’s anything that happens there that I don’t know about? I own a security company, for crying out loud.”

“What’s going on?” Nerves settle deep in my gut.

Dillon pauses to smile at each of the kids, who are all staring at him, then turns back to me.

“Penny, he’s gone too far this time. I know he’s hurting, but I’m tired of sitting back and watching him lash out at everyone except the one person who should be on the receiving end of his anger.” He turns a foreboding expression on Kai. “Now, Kai. I mean it. You do not want me to help you out of this house.”

Kai stands, knocking his glass over in the process, and stomps to the foyer. Landon is quick to jump into motion and mops up the spilled water with his napkin.

Dillon rounds the table and holds up his phone.

“No. Oh no,” I gasp. On his phone is a photo of one of the new TAC vehicles painted with the words “go home” across the side. Deep gouges run along the length of the SUV. “He did this? What am I doing wrong? Why can’t I reach him?”

I turn my back away from the kids so they can’t see the new tears forming. Dillon stands in front of me and gently places his lips on my cheek.

“I have an idea. I just need to take him somewhere for a little bit. He’ll fight it, but trust me enough to do what’s right for him.”

“W— What are you going to do with him?”

“Give him an outlet for the rage rotting inside him.” The front door slams shut, and Dillon searches my eyes. “Trust me,” he pleads.

“I do trust you.”

“He won’t be in any danger, and I’ll bring him home when he’s ready.” And with that, he makes his way around the table, kissing all the kids’ heads. My kids now.

“Bye, Dewey. I wub you.”

He pauses at the door and turns to smile at Lia. “I love you too, princess.” He makes a point of catching each of their eyes, then says, “All of you.”

God help me because I know it’s the truth.

* * *

Mercifully,the kids all go to bed without too much of a fuss. I’ll need to figure out a more permanent situation soon, though. There are not enough bedrooms for everyone. Mari is in with Landon and Lia is on the bottom bunk in Gage’s room.

I’ll add it to my list of worries for another day.

Right now, I’m curled up in the chair near the window that faces the TAC. A million scenarios run through my head, but I still have no idea what Dillon is doing with my son.

Because I’m watching the window, I see Miller pull into my driveway. I stand quickly to let him in before he wakes up the kids. Mari has been an especially light sleeper lately.

I open the door before he can knock.

“What are you doing here?”

He walks past me and tosses his jacket and shoes before heading to the family room. I shut the door and follow him.